Dataset: Geescroft wilderness accumulation of organic carbon

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Summary

The accumulation of organic carbon in soil and tree biomass has been measured on two contrasting sites at Rothamsted that were fenced off in the 1880s and left to revert naturally to woodland. Geescroft, on acidic soil and Broadbalk Wilderness, on calcareous soil. Previously, both sites had been in arable cultivation for centuries.

The figure shows the accumulation of organic carbon in the soil, and tree root, litter and above-ground biomass in the Geescroft Wilderness, 1883-1999. This selected data is from work published in Poulton et al. (2003).

Methods

TREATMENTS

• No fertilizer or manure has been applied since 1878.
• Received small applications of chalk 1840s-1880s
• Regenerating natural woodland site since 1883 (unplanted) - previously long-term arable (field beans, Vicia faba, 1847-1878; bare fallow 1879-1882).

SOIL SAMPLES

• 1883: 8 separate samples from the long-term arable site
• 1904: 2 separate samples
• 1965: 4 separate samples
• 1999: 8 separate samples

Technical Information

The Geescroft site was previously a long-term arable site, with natural regeneration of deciduous woodland following abandonment of arable cropping. It was originally part of an experimental field that grew beans (Vicia faba) from 1847-1878, with frequent breaks due to crop failure. This was followed by four years of bare fallowing 1879-1882. Clover was then grown 1883-1885, and last cultivated in spring 1883. In January 1886 the Wilderness area was fenced off and left uncultivated. Reversion is presumed to have started in spring 1883, after the last cultivation. The Wilderness covers part of the previous experiment on beans which included phosphorus treatments. Where possible, data has been given for soils taken from areas which had received no P fertilizer, although Jenkinson (1971) found no effect of P on the build up of organic C or N.

The acidic Geescroft Wilderness is now a deciduous wood dominated by oak (Quercus robur). In contrast, Broadbalk Wilderness is now dominated by ash (Fraxinus excelsior), with sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) and hawthorn (Craetagus monogyna).

The soil has been sampled to an equivalent depth of 69cm (see Poulton et al, 2003 for further details). Because the soil has become acidic, it is now covered by a permanent litter layer, in contrast to Broadbalk Wilderness, where each year's litter fall decomposes before the next arrives. This site has gained 2.00 t C ha-1 year over the 118 year period (0.38 t in litter and soil, plus an estimated 1.62 t in trees and their roots). Data on the accumulation of nitrogen is also available from the e-RA curators.

Related Documents

• Poulton et al. (2003) Accumulation of carbon and nitrogen by old arable land reverting to woodland :
• Blake et al. (2002) Effects of atmospheric deposition, soil pH and acidification . . . :
• Vegetation changes during 100 years of development of two secondary woodlands . . . :
• Blake et al. (2001) Changes in soil chemistry accompanying acidification . . . :
• Poulton (1996) Geescroft Wilderness, 1883–1995 :
• The accumulation of organic matter in soil left uncultivated :

Related Datasets

• Broadbalk Wilderness accumulation of organic carbon

Contributors

• Sarah Perryman: Data curator
• Margaret Glendining: Data curator
• Andrew Macdonald: Project manager
• Paul Poulton: Researcher
• Richard Ostler: Project leader
• Ruth Skilton: Data collector
• Nathalie Castells: Data manager
• Daniel Hampshire: Data collector
• Jeanne Day: Data collector
• Xiaoyun Zhou: Data collector

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: Sarah Perryman (2015). Dataset: Geescroft wilderness accumulation of organic carbon Electronic Rothamsted Archive, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, UK https://doi.org/10.23637/KeyRefOAGEWoc

Please review our How to Credit Datasets guidance for more information.

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