Dataset: Broadbalk Wheat 10-year mean yields 1852-1967

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Summary

10-year mean wheat grain and straw yields for each treatment strip of the Broadbalk Wheat experiment, 1852-1967. Data taken from tables 3.16 and 3.17 of Dyke and Garner (1969), converted to tonnes/hectare. Also details of the fertilizer and manure treatments applied.

Methods

The Broadbalk experiment started in autumn 1843, and for the first eight years, the fertilizer treatments were varied, to test specific questions. From 1852 a scheme of fertilizer treatments was established, which remained largely unaltered until 1967. The mean yields are taken from this period. The treatment strips extend the whole length of the field, each testing a different fertilizer or manure treatment.
From 1852-1925 winter wheat was grown continuously, apart from occasional fallowing fallowing (of the top or bottom half of the experiment) to control weeds. Weeds were originally controlled by hand-hoeing, but this became impractical, so sequential fallowing was introduced to control weeds. In 1926 the experiment was divided into five Sections (I-V), crossing the strips at right angles. After a transition period, a fallow cycle was introduced in 1931. Fallowing was mainly in a five-year rotation of one-year fallow with four successive crops of wheat. In 1955 Section I was divided into two; IA received herbicides as required and was no longer fallowed, IB continued in the five-year cycle. In 1955 Section V was divided into two; VB received a single application of lime, VA did not. In 1963 Section VB was no longer fallowed and received herbicides as required, while VA continued in the five-year fallowing cycle. The 10-year yields are means of all cropped sections, 1926-1967.

Technical Information

Yields are of total grain (which has not been cleaned or 'dressed' to remove chaff, etc). Since 1954 dry matter (DM) of grain and straw has been measured at harvest, and by convention the yields are shown at 85% DM. Before 1954 % DM at harvest was not measured but it is reasonable to assume that this would usually have been at about 85% DM. 10-year means, except 1922-25 (the end of the Continuous wheat period) and 1926-1934 (the Transition period). By convention, the year is that of harvest (not sowing).

Related Documents

• Garner & Dyke (1969). The Broadbalk Yields :
• Johnston & Garner (1969). Broadbalk: Historical Introduction :
• Broadbalk Wheat plan and cropping 1852-1925 :
• Broadbalk Wheat plan and cropping 1926-1967 :

Related Datasets

• Broadbalk mean long-term winter wheat yields 1852-2016

Contributors

• Paul Poulton: Researcher
• Margaret Glendining: Data curator
• Nathalie Castells: Data manager

Dataset Access and Conditions

Rights Holder

Rothamsted Research

License

This dataset is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Licence (4.0).

Cite this Dataset

YOU MUST CITE AS: Rothamsted Research (2023). Dataset: Broadbalk Wheat 10-year mean yields 1852-1967 Electronic Rothamsted Archive, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, UK https://doi.org/10.23637/rbk1-meanyld5267

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