Ecosystem properties and copper contamination at a former wood impregnation site, including soil physicochemical properties, microbial biomass, soil respiration and plant and birch leaf properties

The site "Televerket Björkhult", located in Kinda kommun, Sweden, was used between 1916 and 1944 for impregnation of telegraph poles by the so-called Boucherie method using 1.5-2% (m/m) copper sulphate solution. After 1944 the site was abandoned and presumably unmanaged.

Therefore the site represents an unique opportunity to study long-term ecosystem effects of soil copper contamination. The data reported here are concentrations of metals, soil physicochemical properties (carbon, nitrogen, and their stabile isotopes d13C and d15N, pH, water holding capacity), microbial biomass, in situ soil respiration (basal respiration and substrate-induced respiration), plant biomass and C and N elemental concentrations and stabile isotopes in birch leaves and grass leaves.