This data package contains data on mesquite bush soils at the Jornada Experimental Range (JER) during the early years of Jornada Basin LTER (LTER-I and II). The purpose of this study was to analyze nitrogen concentration in soils associated with mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa). The mesquite soils were sampled at 4 habitats (playa, coppice dune, arroyo, and grassland), and an ecosystem dominated by the Larrea tridentate (creosotebush) and no mesquite was included as a reference. Samples were taken from two depths (0-15cm, 15-30cm) for three beneath canopy positions (stem base, mid-canopy, and edge of canopy) and one non-vegetated interzone position for each shrub. Four shrubs were sampled at each site. The soils were analyzed for Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN), N03 nitrate, NH4 ammonium. The data set was collected on October 1, 1986 and is complete.