Dataset: Woburn long-term liming experiment soil chemical properties 1962-1996

Tweet this dataset

Example dataset derived from the data. Lime applications indicated by +

Summary

The experiment tests the effects of different amounts of lime (and thus soil pH), P and K on a sequence of arable crops, on a sandy soil at Woburn Experimental Farm, from 1962-1996. Mg, Mn and S were tested on split plots at different times. Target soil pH was 4.5, 5.5, 6.5 and 7.5. This dataset contains soil pH, Olsen P and exchangeable cations (Ca, K, Mg and Na, ammonium acetate method) on soil sampled several times between 1962 and 1996. There was also a baseline sampling before the experiment was established. There is a parallel experiment at Rothamsted Experimental Farm. This experiment was discontinued in 1997. This dataset was updated January 2nd 2024, see technical information

This dataset was partially funded by the BBSRC Institute Strategic Programme Soil to Nutrition (BBS/E/C/000I0310).

Methods

Period 1 (1962-1980): four lime levels with and without fertilizer P and K. Magnesium was tested on split plots 1974-1978. Period 2 (1981-1996): four lime levels with four P levels. Manganese was tested on split plots 1987-1990; Sulphur was tested on split plots 1991-1996. There are two replicates.

• Soil pH measured in water: 1:2.5 soil: water suspension using a standard electrode and pH meter.
• Olsen P (plant-available soil P) soil extracted with a solution of 0.5 M NaHCO₃, buffered at pH8.5, after the method of Olsen et al, 1954. Shown as mg PO₄-P/kg dry soil.
• Exchangeable cations measured in sieved (<2mm) air-dry soil leached with 1 M ammonium acetate, adjusted to pH 7. Leachates analysed by emission or atomic absorption flame spectrophotometry. Since 1989, the extracts have been analysed by ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectrometer).

Technical Information

Air-dried soil, sieved (<2mm). Topsoil (usually 0-23cm) and some sub-soil measurements. For topsoil 12-20 cores were taken from the central area of each plot and combined to make one sample. For subsoil, generally 5-6 cores were taken and combined. Baseline soil pH measurements were taken in February 1962, before the first lime application. Soil samples were generally taken in the autumn, after the current crop was harvested and before the soil was ploughed for the next harvest year, so that the soil properties could be related to the treatments applied in the previous harvest year. The soil was analysed shortly after sampling.

Olsen P data for 1982 removed in this version, as the data is unreliable. Olsen P data for plot 50, 1972 removed as this plot was not sampled in 1972 and it was shown in error in V1.

Related Documents

• Bolton, 1971. Paper describing setting up the experiment and results from the early years. :
• Bolton, 1977a. Paper describing liming response of potatoes and oats to P, K and Mg. :
• Bolton, 1977b. Paper describing changes in soil pH and exchangeable calcium over first 12 years :
• Holland et al, 2019. Paper describing yield response of all crops grown, 1962-1996. :
• Woburn long-term liming experiment plans 1962-1996 :
• Woburn long-term liming experiments lime and fertilizer treatments 1962-1996 :
• Goulding et al 1989. Paper predicting the lime requirement of soils, using this data. :
• Holland et al, 2024. Long-term effects of lime and P on Olsen P on two arable UK soils :

Related Datasets

• Woburn long-term liming experiment crop yields 1962-1996
• Rothamsted long-term liming experiment soil chemical properties 1962-1996
• Woburn long-term liming experiment grain mineral composition

Contributors

• Margaret Glendining: Data curator
• Nathalie Castells: Data manager
• Steve McGrath: Project manager
• Keith Goulding: Project manager
• Jonathan Holland: Researcher
• Melanie Brookman: Data collector
• Wendy Wilmer: Data collector
• Mark Durenkamp: Data collector
• Chloe Garwood: Data collector
• Adrian Crosland: Data collector
• Ian Shield: Project 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: Margaret Glendining, Jonathan Holland, Steve McGrath, Keith Goulding (2024). Dataset: Woburn long-term liming experiment soil chemical properties 1962-1996 Electronic Rothamsted Archive, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, UK https://doi.org/10.23637/wcs10-soil-02

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.