Title of the dataset:
Data underlying the publication: Designing a flexible method selection tool for the inclusion of soil biology measurements in the assessment of soil multi-functionality

Creators:
M.J. Zwetsloot, Soil biology Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
G. Bongiorno, Soil biology Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

Contributors:
J.M. Barel, Laboratoire Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France
D.P. Di Lonardo, Soil biology Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
R.E. Creamer, Soil biology Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

Related publication:
Zwetsloot et al., 2021, Designing a flexible method selection tool for the inclusion of soil biology measurements in the assessment of soil multi-functionality (in press)

Description:
These datasets represent the input of a user-flexible tool to support decision-making during the selection process of soil biological methods for monitoring soil functions. 
The decision support tool is based on a structured and conceptual framework that connects soil biota to soil functions through their contribution to different soil processes.

Keywords:
method selection, logical sieve, monitoring, soil biota, soil functions

Temporal coverage:
The datasets and related R script were created between 2020-2021, and they contain information from papers published between 1960 and 2020.

This dataset contains the following files:
-R script connected to the logical sieve decision making tool: 'BIOSIS_method_selection_tool_March2021'.
-csv file with scoring of the soil biological methods that is used with the R script: 'Supplementary information_Methods_scores'.
-csv file with weighting factors: 'Weighting_factors'. In this document the weighting factors are all set to 1. In the R script 'BIOSIS_method_selection_tool_March2021'
is explained that users can adjust these weighting factors manually to indicate the importance of different technical criteria to their assessment program. 
-excel file with methods references: 'Supplementary information Methods references'. These references were used to give the scores present in the file 'Supplementary information_Methods_scores'
-csv file with explanation of the variables contained in the files: 'Supplementary information_Methods_scores' and 'Weighting_factors'.

Explanation of variables:
The variables used in the files 'Supplementary information_Methods_scores' and 'Weighting_factors' are explained in the csv file 'Explanation_variables'.

Methods, materials and software:
For a complete description of the methods used to collect and generate the data and the R script we refer to the publication 
Zwetsloot et al., 2021. 'Designing a flexible method selection tool for the inclusion of soil biology measurements in the assessment of soil multi-functionality'.

Access:
An embargo on this data and R script is required until the paper 
Zwetsloot et al., 2021. 'Designing a flexible method selection tool for the inclusion of soil biology measurements in the assessment of soil multi-functionality' is published.

This dataset is published under the CC BY (Attribution) license.
This license allows reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format, so long as attribution is given to the creator.

