Multivariable field trial data sets of organic and extensive cropping systems for agro-ecosystem modelling in 1992-1998 from Müncheberg,Germany

A multi-year (1993-1998) coherent data-set for a four-field crop rotation (sugar beet - winter wheat - winter barley - winter rye - catch crop) under organic and extensive cropping systems located at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) Experimental Station, Muncheberg, Germany, is documented in detail. The experiment targets crop rotaion response to different cropping systems at sandy soils (Eutric Cambisol) taking into account rain-fed and irrigated conditions. Weather, soil and crop processes were intensively monitored and management actions were consistently recorded. The data set contains data for soil (water and nitrogen contents), crop (ontogenesis, plant, tiller and ear numbers, above-ground and root biomasses, yield, carbon and nitrogen content in biomass and their fractions, sugar content in beet), weather (standard meteorological variables) and management (soil tillage, sowing, fertilisation, irrigation, harvest). The methods for measurements and observations are briefly described.