Dataset: Fosters Ley-arable experiment soil chemical properties 1948-2014

Tweet this dataset

Example data derived from dataset: Block 1 %SOC

Summary

This dataset gives the % soil organic carbon (SOC), % total nitrogen (N) and other assorted soil measurements in the topsoil (0-23cm) of selected plots of Blocks 1-4 of the Fosters Ley-arable Experiment, 1948-2014. Not all plots are sampled on every occasion, particularly in the early years of the experiment. The experiment was started in autumn 1948, with baseline SOC measurements taken in September 1950 from parts of the site where the experiment had not yet started. These are assumed to be very similar to the starting values in 1948. The soil was then sampled at irregular intervals of several years. Soil N was measured from 1987 onwards. Total C, Inorganic C, Soil pH, Olsen P and exchangeable cations are measured from 2000 onwards. Originally there were 12 blocks, but blocks 5-12 were discontinued from 1968. See Johnston (1973) for a discussion of the effects of ley and arable cropping on SOC in blocks 5-12, 1949-1972.

Fosters Ley-arable experiment is a comparison to the Highfield Ley-arable experiment. The two sites have the same soil type but very different histories. Fosters was in long-term arable, with little SOC at the start, in contrast to Highfield which was old permanent grass and consequently had more SOC at the start.

This dataset was assembled by Fergus Blyth from September 2022 to August 2023 as part of a placement year for an MSci Degree from the University of Glasgow.

This work was also supported by the Natural Environment Research Council [NE/S007423/1], through the ENVISION Doctoral Training Partnership, Research Experience Placement scheme.

Methods

Ley-arable experiments at Rothamsted on Fosters started in Autumn 1948 on a site that was previously an old arable field for several centuries with no long leys - some plots stayed continuous arable, some went into permanent grass, others alternated between leys and arable. Its purpose was to look at the effects of different cropping systems - reseeded grass (now grass/clover), permanent arable and alternating ley/arable - on yield and soil organic matter (SOM). The soil is a silty clay loam. Some plots were ploughed and immediately re-seeded, some went into continuous arable cropping where 3-yr arable Test crops followed 3-yr arable Treatment crops and other plots alternated between 3-yr leys as the Treatment crop and 3-yr arable Test crops. Originally, six blocks, one for each of the six phases of the rotation, were put down in duplicate, making 12 blocks in each field (with 120 main plots). From 1968, only four blocks on each site continued with original treatments (with 40 main plots). Yields have not been taken since 1990. The newly sown grass plots were grazed until 1961. They were then split to compare grass+N or grass/clover (clover was under-sown in the grass sward); the whole plots have been treated as grass/clover since 1991. Three types of leys were originally tested; 3-yr lucerne, 3-yr grazed ley or 3-yr cut grass. These, and the arable Treatment and Test crops have changed over the duration of the experiment, with major cropping changes being implemented in 1961, 1990 and 2009. See Rothamsted Experimental Station, 1966; 1970; 1978 and Johnston, 1973 for details about the early years of the experiment and Yields of the Experiments, 1990 (and before) for later details. Further details are available through e-RA.

Technical Information

Yields from Fosters were halted in 1990 but soil chemical properties are still measured. Analysis of soil organic carbon (SOC) was by the Tinsley technique except 2000, 2008 and 2014 which are by combustion (Total C by LECO minus CaCO₃-C). Analysis of % nitrogen in soil was by Kjeldahl method in 1987 and by combustion by LECO from 2000 onwards. Exchangeable soil potassium, calcium, magnesium and sodium were all measured using ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectrometer). Soil pH in water was measured using a 1:2.5 soil:water suspension. Plant-available phosphorous was determined by the Olsen P method.

For 1950, 1956, 1961 and 1967 soils were sampled to a depth of 0-5 and 5-10 inches or 0-6 and 6-12 inches; later soils were all sampled to 0-9 inches (0-23cm). A 0-23cm value for the earlier soils has been calculated.

Soils were sampled in 2000/1 to measure bulk density and soil weights using an open-ended metal box 15cm x 15cm x 23cm deep for the permanent arable (A) and reseeded (R) plots only. Permanent arable is assumed to be unchanged and the starting value for all plots in 1948. The soil weights for the R plots in other years have been derived by extrapolation or interpolation.

Related Documents

• Details of the Classical and Long-Term Experiments up to 1967 :
• Details of the Classical and Long-term Experiments 1968-1973 :
• Guide to the Classical and other Long-term experiments at Rothamsted :
• Rothamsted Experimental Station Report for 1972 Part 2 :
• Soil Chemical Properties :
• Rothamsted Experimental Station Report for 1948, p. 98 :
• Fosters Ley-arable experiment supplementary information 1949 onwards :

Related Datasets

• Rothamsted Ley Arable Soil Organic Carbon 1948-2008; Fosters
• Fosters Ley-arable Experiment cropping sequence 1949-2023

Contributors

• Fergus Blyth: Researcher
• Sarah Perryman: Data curator
• Paul Poulton: Researcher
• Margaret Glendining: Data curator
• Andy Gregory: Project manager
• Nathalie Castells: Data manager
• Ruth Skilton: 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: Fergus Blyth, Sarah Perryman, Paul Poulton, Margaret Glendining, Andy Gregory (2023). Dataset: Fosters Ley-arable experiment soil chemical properties 1948-2014 Electronic Rothamsted Archive, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, UK https://doi.org/10.23637/rrn2-FLAsoc5014-01

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

Conditions of Use

Rothamsted relies on the integrity of users to ensure that datasets are used appropriately and Rothamsted Research receives suitable acknowledgment as being the originators of these data. Please review the Conditions of Use before downloading.