Woburn Long-term Liming Experiment
- Experiment Code: W/CS/10
- Experiment Site: Woburn
- Objectives: To study the effects of different amounts of lime (and thus soil pH), P and K on the yields of a sequence of arable crops. Mg, Mn and S treatments were also applied.
- Description: Yields of various crops were recorded from 1962-1996 and papers published (Bolton, 1971, 1977 a,b; McEwen et al, 1990; Holland et al, 2019). The experiment is now discontinued.
- Date Start: 1962
- Date End: 1996
Key Contacts
Margaret Glendining
- Role: Data Manager
- ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6466-4629
- Organisation: Rothamsted Research
- Address: West Common, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom
Sarah Perryman
- Role: Data Manager
- Organisation: Rothamsted Research
- Address: West Common, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom
Andrew Gregory
- Role: Principal Investigator
- ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7123-0784
- Organisation: Rothamsted Research
- Address: West Common, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom
Funding
- The e-RA database, including the published datasets generated from it, is part of the Rothamsted Long-Term Experiments - National Bioscience Research Infrastructure (RLTE-NBRI) , which also includes the Long-Term Experiments, the Sample Archive and Rothamsted's environmental monitoring activities including the weather stations and its role in the UK Environmental Change Network.
- The RLTE-NBRI is supported by the Lawes Agricultural Trust and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (Grants BBS/E/C/00005189 (2012-2017); BBS/E/C/000J0300 (2017-2022); BBS/E/RH/23NB0007 (2023-2028)).
Keywords
- arable farming, arable soils, barley, crop yield, experimental design, fertilizer, liming, long term experiments, mineral content, oats, phosphorous, rothamsted research, soil fertility, soil ph, trace elements, wheat
Experimental Design
Description
- Four lime treatments with and without P and K (4 x 2 x 2 factorial with two replicates, 32 plots) within randomised blocks and with plot sizes of 6 m x 18 m. The experiment was fallow in 1969, 1979 and 1980. In 1962 columns of 4 plots were split for uninoculated v inoculated seed. In 1964 plots receiving both P and K were subdivided for a comparison of method of application, broadcast versus drilled. In 1974-1978 a comparison of with and without Magnesium was applied to the 64 sub-plots.
Design
- Period: 1962 - 1980
- Experiment Design Type: Randomized block design
- Number of Plots: 32
- Number of Replicates: 2
- Number of Sub-plots:
- Number of Harvests per Year: 1
Crops
| Crop | Years Grown |
|---|---|
| Spring Beans | |
| Spring Barley | |
| Potatoes | |
| Spring Oats | |
| Spring Rapeseed | |
| Fallow |
Factors
Factors are the interventions or treatments which vary across the experiment.
Liming Exposure
Description: four rates of lime: control, low, medium and high. Applied in 1962/63 and again in 1978. Amounts given are the total amounts applied, see comments for splits.
Levels
| Level Name | Amount | Years | Frequency | Crop | Method | Chemical Form | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control Exposure | 0 t/ha | 1962 - 1980 | |||||
| Lime Low | 6 t/ha | 1962 - 1980 | twice | ground chalk | 5 t/ha in 1962, 1 t/ha in 1978 | ||
| Lime Medium | 14 t/ha | 1962 - 1980 | twice | ground chalk | 12 t/ha in 1962, 2 t/ha in 1978 | ||
| Lime High | 23 t/ha | 1962 - 1980 | twice | ground chalk | 19 t/ha in 1962, 4 t/ha in 1978 |
Phosphate Fertilizer Exposure
Description: Two P fertilizer treatments, nil and P.
Levels
| Level Name | Amount | Years | Frequency | Crop | Method | Chemical Form | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control Exposure | 0 kgP/ha | 1962 - 1980 | |||||
| Superphosphate P | 27.5 kgP/ha | 1962 - 1978 | annually | triple superphosphate | 55 kgP/ha applied to potatoes and 0 applied in fallow years 1969, 1979, 1980 |
Potassium Fertilizer Exposure
Description: Two treatments, nil and K
Levels
| Level Name | Amount | Years | Frequency | Crop | Method | Chemical Form | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control Exposure | 0 kgK/ha | 1962 - 1980 | |||||
| Potassium K | 104 kgK/ha | 1962 - 1978 | annually | muriate of potash | In 1968 and 1974, 156 kgK applied to potatoes. Not applied to fallow years, 1969, 1979, 1980. |
Magnesium Nutrient Exposure
Description: Two magnesium treatments applied to sub-plots 1974-1978, nil and Mg
Levels
| Level Name | Amount | Years | Frequency | Crop | Method | Chemical Form | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control Exposure | 0 kgMg/ha | 1974 - 1978 | |||||
| Magnesium | 112 kgMg/ha | 1974 - 1978 | Annually in spring | magnesium sulfate | Not applied in 1975. Applied as Epsom salts 1974-1977 and as Kieserite in 1978. |
Rhizobium Leguminosarum Exposure
Description: Spring beans seed inoculated with Rhizobium
Levels
| Level Name | Amount | Years | Frequency | Crop | Method | Chemical Form | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control Exposure | 0 | 1962 - 1962 | spring beans | ||||
| Inoculated | 1962 - 1962 | spring beans |
Measurements
| Variable | Unit | Collection Frequency |
Material | Description | Crop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yield Components | t/ha | annually | AllCrops | Crop grain yields at 85% dry matter for cereals, 90% dry matter for oilseeds and fresh weight for potatoes. No straw data. | |
| Soil pH | every few years | Soil | pH in water 1:2.5 soil: water suspension from topsoil (0-23cm). Sampled in autumn/winter after harvest and before sowing the next crop. | ||
| Plant Available Phosphorous | ppm | every few years | Soil | Olsen P (plant-available P) in soil, ppm in soil. |
Description
- The experiment was modified in 1981. The 4 lime treatments continued, the PK treatments were replaced with 4 P levels with two replicates (4 x 4 x 2). The main plots were split into sub-plots 1987-1990 to test foliar Manganese, and in 1991-1996 to test Sulphur.
Design
- Period: 1981 - 1995
- Experiment Design Type: Randomized block design
- Number of Plots: 32
- Number of Replicates: 2
- Number of Sub-plots:
- Number of Harvests per Year: 1
Crops
| Crop | Years Grown |
|---|---|
| Spring Oats | |
| Potatoes | |
| Spring Barley | |
| Winter Triticale | |
| Spring Lupins | |
| Linseed | |
| Spring Beans | |
| Winter Rapeseed | |
| Winter Lupins | |
| Winter Wheat | |
| Fallow |
Factors
Factors are the interventions or treatments which vary across the experiment.
Phosphate Fertilizer Exposure
Levels
| Level Name | Amount | Years | Frequency | Crop | Method | Chemical Form | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control Exposure | 0 kgP/ha | 1981 - 1996 | P0 | ||||
| P1 | kgP/ha | 1981 - 1996 | Superphosphate at 25, 25 & 50 kgP/ha applied in 1981, 1982 & 1983 and 25 kgP/ha applied 1988 | ||||
| P2 | kgP/ha | 1981 - 1996 | triple superphosphate | Superphosphate at 25, 0 & 50 kgP/ha applied in 1981, 1982 & 1983 and 25 kgP/ha applied 1988 | |||
| P3 | kgP/ha | 1981 - 1996 | triple superphosphate | Superphosphate at 75, 25 & 100 kgP/ha applied in 1981, 1982 & 1983 and 75 kg/ha applied 1988 |
Liming Exposure
Description: Continuation of 4 treatments in Period 1 Further applications made after period 1. Applied in 1981, 1982 and 1986. Amounts given are the total amounts applied, see comments for splits.
Levels
| Level Name | Amount | Years | Frequency | Crop | Method | Chemical Form | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control Exposure | 0 t/ha | 1981 - 1996 | |||||
| Lime Low | 3 t/ha | 1981 - 1996 | 3 times | ground chalk | Total application over the whole experiment = 9 t/ha. Total amount applied to plots previously receiving 6 t/ha chalk between 1962 and 1978. Chalk was applied at 2, 0 and 1 t/ha in 1981, 1982 and 1986 respectively. | ||
| Lime Medium | 11.5 t/ha | 1981 - 1996 | 3 times | ground chalk | Total application over the whole experiment = 24.5 t/ha. Total amount applied to plots previously receiving 14 t/ha chalk between 1962 and 1978. Chalk was applied at 5, 5 and 1.5 t/ha in 1981, 1982 and 1986 respectively. | ||
| Lime High | 22.5 t/ha | 1981 - 1996 | 3 times | ground chalk | Total application over the whole experiment = 52.5 t/ha. Total amount applied to plots previously receiving 23 t/ha chalk between 1962 and 1978. Chalk was applied at 10, 10 and 2.5 t/ha in 1981, 1982 and 1986 respectively. |
Manganese Nutrient Exposure
Description: Manganese fertilizer applied to split plots 1987-1990 only
Levels
| Level Name | Amount | Years | Frequency | Crop | Method | Chemical Form | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control Exposure | 0 kg/ha | 1987 - 1990 | Manganese applied to split plots | ||||
| Manganese | 0.3 kg/ha | 1987 - 1990 | annually | manganese sprays | Applied twice a year as foliar spray |
Sulfate Fertiliser Exposure
Description: Sulphur applied to split plots
Levels
| Level Name | Amount | Years | Frequency | Crop | Method | Chemical Form | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control Exposure | 0 kgS/ha | 1991 - 1996 | |||||
| Sulphur | 30 kgS/ha | 1991 - 1996 | annually | calcium sulfate |
Measurements
| Variable | Unit | Collection Frequency |
Material | Description | Crop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yield Components | t/ha | annually | AllCrops | Crop grain yields at 85% dry matter for cereals, 90% dry matter for oilseeds and fresh weight for potatoes. No straw data. | |
| Soil pH | every few years | Soil | pH in water 1:2.5 soil: water suspension from topsoil (0-23cm). Sampled in autumn/winter after harvest and before sowing the next crop. | ||
| Plant Available Phosphorous | ppm | every few years | Soil | Olsen P (plant-available P) in soil, ppm in soil. |
Site: Stackyard Field Section 3 - Woburn
- Experiment Site: Woburn
- Description: The site is an old arable site, which had not grown beans for many years. The soil was acidic and deficient in P and K. The intial pH ranged between 5.6 and 6.3. The experiment was started in 1962 and cropped until 1996. In 1997 the experiment was discontinued.
- Management: From 1962-1996 the site was managed according to conventional practices. In most years N fertilizer was applied to crops at a rate appropriate for the crop and site, and a range of conventional pesticides were used to control weeds, pests and diseases.
- Visit Permitted?: No
- Visiting Arrangments: The experiment is now finished
- Elevation: 89 Metres
- Geolocation: 52.0003, -0.6149
Soil
- Type: Arenosol
Sandy loam, Cottenham series. Brown sand on Lower Greensand Brown sands (Soil Survey England & Wales) Udipsamments; Udalfs or Udults (Arenic) (US Soil Taxonomy) Cambic and Luvic Arenosols (FAO)
Soil Properties
| Variable | Value | Reference Year | Is Estimated | Is Baseline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coarse sand content | 50% (Percent) | 1974 | NO | NO |
| Find sand content | 27% (Percent) | 1974 | NO | NO |
| Silt content | 7% (Percent) | NO | NO | |
| Clay content | 11% (Percent) | 1974 | NO | NO |
| Soil total carbon | 0.82% (Percent) | NO | NO | |
| Total soil nitrogen | 0.08% (Percent) | 1974 | NO | NO |
| Soil weight | 3400t/ha (tonnes per hectare) | 1934 | NO | NO |
| Soil pH | 6 (pH) | 1962 | NO | YES |
Datasets available
| Title (hover for a longer description) | Year of Publication | Identifier | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
Crop nutrient data | |||
| Woburn long-term liming experiment grain mineral composition | 2021 | https://doi.org/10.23637/wcs10-wltlgrain-01 |
01 |
Crop yield data - Annual | |||
| Woburn long-term liming experiment crop yields 1962-1996 | 2020 | https://doi.org/10.23637/wcs10-wltlyields-01 |
01 |
Soil data | |||
| Woburn long-term liming experiment soil chemical properties 1962-1996 | 2024 | https://doi.org/10.23637/wcs10-soil-02 |
02 |
| Woburn long-term liming experiment exchangeable cations re-analysed | 2023 | https://doi.org/10.23637/wsc10-wltlcation-01 |
01 |
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Plans and treatments details
- Plans 1962-1996 Woburn long-term liming experiment plans 1962-1996. Standardized experiment plans, showing plot numbers, layout and treatment factors. doi: 10.23637/wcs10-Plans
- Treatments 1962-1996 Woburn long-term liming experiment details of the lime applications, fertilizer treatments and basal fertilizer applied, 1962-1996. doi: 10.23637/wcs10-Treatments-01
Key References
2024
- Holland, J.E. , White, R. , Haefele, S.M. , Goulding, K.W.T. , McGrath, S.P. and Glendining, M.J.(2024) "Long-term effects of lime and phosphorus application on soil extractable (Olsen) phosphorus differ between two arable UK soils", Soil Use and Management, 40, e13160
DOI: 10.1111/sum.13160
2021
- Jordan-Meille, L. , Holland, J.E. , McGrath, S.P. , Glendining, M.J. , Thomas, C.L. and Haefele, S.M.(2021) "The grain mineral composition of barley, oat and wheat on soils with pH and soil phosphorus gradients", European Journal of Agronomy, 126, 126281
DOI: 10.1016/j.eja.2021.126281 - Jordan-Meille, L. , Holland, J.E. , McGrath, S.P. , Glendining, M.J. , Thomas, C.L. and Haefele, S.M.(2021) "Rothamsted long-term liming experiment grain mineral composition data. ", Electronic Rothamsted Archive, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, UK
DOI: 10.23637/rcs10-rltlgrain-01 - Jordan-Meille, L. , Holland, J.E. , McGrath, S.P. , Glendining, M.J. , Thomas, C.L. and Haefele, S.M.(2021) "Woburn long-term liming experiment grain mineral composition data", Electronic Rothamsted Archive, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, UK
DOI: 10.23637/wcs10-wltlgrain-01 - Clarke, A.(2021) "Why regular liming can raise profits by up to £436/ha/yr", 05-Feb-21
https://www.fwi.co.uk/arable/land-preparation/soils/why-regular-liming-can-raise-profits-by-up-to-436-ha-year
2020
- Holland, J.E. and Behrendt, K.(2020) "The economics of liming in arable crop rotations: analysis of the 35-year Rothamsted and Woburn liming experiments", Soil Use and Management, 01-Nov
DOI: 10.1111/sum.12682 - Glendining, M.J.(2020) "Rothamsted long-term liming experiment plans 1962-1996", Electronic Rothamsted Archive, Rothamsted Research
DOI: 10.23637/rcs10-Plans - Glendining, M.J. , Holland, J.E. , McGrath, S.P. and Goulding, K.W.T.(2020) "Rothamsted long-term liming experiment crop yields 1962-1996", Electronic Rothamsted Archive, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, UK
DOI: 10.23637/rcs10-rltlyields-01 - Glendining, M.J.(2020) "Rothamsted long-term liming experiment lime and fertilizer treatments 1962-1996", Electronic Rothamsted Archive, Rothamsted Research
DOI: 10.23637/rcs10-Treatments-01 - Glendining, M.J.(2020) "Woburn long-term liming experiment plans 1962-1996", Electronic Rothamsted Archive, Rothamsted Research
DOI: 10.23637/wcs10-Plans - Glendining, M.J.(2020) "Woburn long-term liming experiment lime and fertilizer treatments 1962-1996", Electronic Rothamsted Archive, Rothamsted Research
DOI: 10.23637/wcs10-Treatments-01 - Glendining, M.J. , Holland, J.E. , McGrath, S.P. and Goulding, K.W.T.(2020) "Woburn long-term liming experiment crop yields 1962-1996", Electronic Rothamsted Archive, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, UK
DOI: 10.23637/wcs10-wltlyields-01
2019
- Holland, J.E. , White, P.J. , Glendining, M.J. , Goulding, K.W.T. and McGrath, S.P.(2019) "Yield responses of arable crops to liming - An evaluation of relationships between yields and soil pH from a long-term liming experiment", European Journal of Agronomy, 105, 176-188
DOI: 10.1016/j.eja.2019.02.016
2017
- Watts, C.W. , Glendining, M.J. and Castells-Brooke, N.I.D.(2017) "Woburn Experimental Farm Soil and Field Maps", Electronic Rothamsted Archive, Rothamsted Research
DOI: 10.23637/ws-soil-maps-01
2016
- Goulding, K.W.T.(2016) "Soil acidification and the importance of liming agricultural soils with particular reference to the United Kingdom", Soil Use and Management, 32, 390-399
DOI: 10.1111/sum.12270
2006
- Kemmitt, S.J. , Wright, D. , Goulding, K.W.T. and Jones, D.L.(2006) "pH regulation of carbon and nitrogen dynamics in two agricultural soils", Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 38, 898-911
DOI: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2005.08.006
1993
- Wang, G.M. , Stribley, D.P. , Tinker, P.B. and Walker, C.(1993) "EFFECTS OF PH ON ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZA .1. FIELD OBSERVATIONS ON THE LONG-TERM LIMING EXPERIMENTS AT ROTHAMSTED AND WOBURN", New Phytologist, 124, 465-472
DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1993.tb03837.x
1990
- McEwen, J. , Yeoman, D.P. and McGrath, S.P.(1990) "effects of pH, phosphate and manganese on spring-sown Vicia faba L.", FABIS Newsletter , , 18-20
1989
- Goulding, K.W.T. , McGrath, S.P. and Johnston, A.E.(1989) "Predicting the lime requirement of soils under permanent grassland and arable crops", Soil Use & Management, 5, 54-58
DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-2743.1989.tb00760.x
1986
- Sanders, J.R. , McGrath, S.P. and Adams, T.M.(1986) "ZINC, COPPER AND NICKEL CONCENTRATIONS IN RYEGRASS GROWN ON SEWAGE SLUDGE-CONTAMINATED SOILS OF DIFFERENT PH", Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 37, 961-968
DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.2740371003
1977
- Bolton, J.(1977) "Changes in soil pH and exchangeable calcium in 2 liming experiments on contrasting soils over 12 years", Journal of Agricultural Science, 89, 81-86
DOI: 10.1017/S0021859600027210 - Bolton, J.(1977) "Liming effects on response of potatoes and oats to phosphorus, potassium and magnesium fertilizers", Journal of Agricultural Science, 89, 87-93
DOI: 10.1017/S0021859600027222
1976
- Bolton, J.(1976) "Liming and interaction of soil pH with responses to P, K and Mg fertilizers", Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 27, 593-593
1971
- Bolton, J.(1971) "Long-term liming experiments at Rothamsted and Woburn", Rothamsted Experimental Station Report for 1970 , Part 2 , 98-112
Get from eRAdoc: ResReport1970p2-98-112
DOI: 10.23637/ERADOC-1-34802
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