Objectives: To assess the effects of minimal tillage and contour cultivation on soil erosion, surface runoff, soil loss and crop yield on a sandy soil at Woburn, England
Description: Eight plots situated on a slope of about 5 degrees, (7-13%), each separated by a grass bank. The eroded soil and runoff were collected in tanks at the end of each plot after recent erosion. Four plots were cultivated and drilled parallel to the contour, and four up and down the slope. All plots grew the same crops each year, in a rotation typical of the sand soil of Bedfordshire. Four plots received standard cultivation and four minimal tillage.
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)).
Experimental Design
Description
2x2 factorial, two blocks. Two directions of cultivation (cultivated and drilled parallel to the contour v up and down the slope). Two types of cultivation (standard cultivation, residue removed v minimal tillage, residues retained). The two blocks had slightly different cropping histories before the experiment began. Standard cultivation was by moldboard plough to approximately 25cm depth. Minimal tillage was by shallow tines or discs to 10cm depth.
Design
Period: 1988 - 1998
Number of Plots: 8
Number of Replicates: 2
Number of Harvests per Year: 1
Crops
Crop
Years Grown
Spring Barley
Potatoes
Winter Wheat
Winter Barley
Sugar Beet
Fodder Beet
Fallow
Factors
Factors are the interventions or treatments which vary across the experiment.
Tillage Process
Description: Cultivation direction
Levels
Level Name
Amount
Years
Frequency
Crop
Method
Chemical Form
Notes
U: Up and Down the Slope
1988 - 1998
Annual
A: Across the Slope
1988 - 1998
Annual
Tillage Process
Description: Two types of tillage.
Levels
Level Name
Amount
Years
Frequency
Crop
Method
Chemical Form
Notes
M: Minimum Tillage, Cereal Straw and Potato and Beet Tops Retained, Partially Incorporated, Cultivated to 10cm Deep.
1988 - 1998
Annual
S: Standard Practice, Cereal Straw Baled and Removed, Potato and Beet Tops Raked and Removed. Mouldboard Ploughed .
1988 - 1998
Annual
Measurements
Variable
Unit
Collection Frequency
Material
Description
Crop
Yield Trait
t/ha
Annual
AllCrops
Water Flow from Plot
Water and soil flowing from each plot were chanelled to a collecting trough and through a pipe to two 2000litre storage tanks were they were stored until sampled. The amounts of runoff and soil loss from each plot were measured as soon after each runoff event as practically possible and usually within 48 hours.
Soil Loss from Each Plot
kg/ha
Water and soil flowing from each plot were chanelled to a collecting trough and through a pipe to two 2000litre storage tanks were they were stored until sampled. The amounts of runoff and soil loss from each plot were measured as soon after each runoff event as practically possible and usually within 48 hours.
Total Soil Phosphorous
kgP/ha
Total P in sediment sampled determined by ICP after aqua regia digest.
Mrp
Molybdate reactive P (MRP) in drainwater and runoff was determined following the method of Murphy and Riley (1962) following filtration using an Alpkem segmented flow colorimetic analyser.
Total Soil Nitrogen
kgN/ha
total nitrogen lost in sediment
Total Soil Potassium
kgK/ha
Soil
total potassium lost in sediment
Soil Total Carbon
%
Soil
changes in soil carbon content in soil and soil carbon lost in sediment
Description: Arable field, subject to periodic erosion since at least 1950 (Catt, 1996). Field site managed as an experimental farm since 1875. The two blocks had slightly different cropping histories before the experiment began (see Quinton et al, 2006, Table 2).
Management: Conventional management for non-treatment factors.
Type: Arenosol
Derived from Lower Greensand, ranging in texture from loamy sand to sandy loam, corresponding to the Cottenham and Lowlands series, defined by Claydon and Hollis (1984). In the US Soil Taxonomy (Soil Survey Staff 1999) these correspond to Lamellic Ustipsamment and Udic Haplustept respectively. Classified as Lamellic Arenosol and Fluvic Cambisol in the FAO system (FAO, 1998).
Quinton, J.N. and Catt, J.A.(2007) "Enrichment of heavy metals in sediment resulting from soil erosion on agricultural fields", Environmental Science and Technology, 41, 3495-3500 DOI: 10.1021/es062147h
2006
Quinton, J.N. , Catt, J.A. , Wood, G.A. and Steer, J.(2006) "Soil carbon losses by water erosion: Experimentation and modeling at field and national scales in the UK", Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 112, 87-102 DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2005.07.005
2004
Quinton, J.N. and Catt, J.A.(2004) "The effects of minimal tillage and contour cultivation on surface runoff, soil loss and crop yield in the long-term Woburn Erosion Reference Experiment on sandy soil at Woburn, England", Soil Use and Management, 20, 343-349 DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-2743.2004.tb00379.x
2001
Quinton, J.N. , Catt, J.A. and Hess, T.M.(2001) "The selective removal of phosphorus from soil: Is event size important?", Journal of Environmental Quality, 30, 538-545 DOI: 10.2134/jeq2001.302538x
1998
Catt, J.A. , Howse, K.R. , Farina, R. , Brockie, D. , Todd, A. , Chambers, B.J. , Hodgkinson, R. , Harris, G.L. and Quinton, J.N.(1998) "Phosphorus losses from arable land in England", Soil Use and Management, 14, 168-174 DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-2743.1998.tb00636.x
1994
Catt, J.A. , Quinton, J.N. , Rickson, R.J. and Styles, P.(1994) "Nutrient losses and crop yields in the Woburn Erosion Reference Experiment", Conserving soil resources: European Perspective (R.J. Rickson - CABI Int, Wallingford, UK), 94-104
For further information and assistance, please contact the e-RA
curators, Sarah Perryman and Margaret Glendining using the e-RA email
address: era@rothamsted.ac.uk