Dataset for depth-dependent effects of grazing enclosure on soil carbon, carbon stock, nitrogen, and bulk density in Sub-Saharan African grasslands

It compiles quantitative observations extracted from 31 peer-reviewed studies published between 2007 and 2024, covering 229 study–parameter–depth combinations. The dataset includes treatment and control values for enclosed and grazed systems, with means, standard deviations, and sample sizes extracted for four soil response variables: bulk density, soil nitrogen, soil carbon, and soil carbon stock.

Observations are harmonized into four standardized soil-depth classes: ≤10 cm, ≤15 cm, ≤20 cm, and ≤30 cm. The dataset also includes information required to calculate standardized effect sizes, including Hedges’ g, and to conduct random-effects meta-analysis by soil property and depth class. It is intended to support reproducibility, transparency, and reuse of the evidence base underlying the manuscript on depth-dependent effects of grazing enclosure on soil carbon dynamics, nitrogen, and bulk density in Sub-Saharan African rangelands.