EuroSOMNET - a European database for long-term experiments on soil organic matter

Long-term experiments are usually connected with a large volume of data published in many different papers. Centralised storage of information in the form of databases is a suitable way to make the data more accessible for possible users. Although a collection of metadata exists on long-term experiments in Europe, related to the turnover of soil organic matter, a convenient method to access the actual data was required. The EuroSOMNET database has been designed in order to save detailed information from those experiments. The data model contains five pools of information: basics, climate, soil information, field management and results. Dataholders decide on the state of accessibility of their dataset (related to each experiment). Possible states range from private (access only for dataholders) to public (access to all Internet users). The most important advantages of this system are a standardised yet flexible data structure that facilitates the data exchange between different users. At this time there are 25 experiments at different states of data processing stored. The sites extend from Russia to Great Britain. Land use systems contained are arable systems, grassland, bare fallow and vegatable production. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.