Dataset: Exhaustion Land Experiment P test annual crop yields 1986-2023

Citation:  Poulton, P., Gregory, A., Glendining, M., Haefele, S. (2025). Dataset: Exhaustion Land Experiment P test annual crop yields 1986-2023 Electronic Rothamsted Archive, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, UK DOI : https://doi.org/10.23637/REX4-PTESTYLD78623-1
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Exhaustion Land Experiment plan 1986-1992 P build-up phase, P test plots

Exhaustion Land Experiment plan 1986-1992 P build-up phase, P test plots

Summary

This dataset contains annual crop yield data for the "P Test" plots (plots 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9) of the Exhaustion Land Experiment, 1986-2023, grain and straw uptake of phosphorus (P) and agronomic details. The plots were divided into four sub-plots testing four rates of P fertilizer 1986-1992. Maintenance applications of P were then applied to all plots except the P0 from 2000 onwards.

The residual effects of fertilizer and manures applied in 1876-1901, and the additional P applied in 1986-1992 have resulted in a wide range of plant available P in the soil. This is the crop data reported by Haefele et al. (2025). Soil Olsen P is published as a separate dataset.

Methods

The experiment was established in 1856 with four large plots, a fifth was added in 1876 and each was divided to create 10 plots (1-10) in 1876, each receiving a different fertilizer or manure treatment until 1901. No fertilizer or manure was applied 1902-1939. Basal nitrogen (N) fertilizer was applied to all plots 1940-1974; no other fertilizer or manure was applied. No crop was grown in 1975. In 1976 the plots were divided into four sub-plots, and four N fertilizer treatments were applied 1976-1985.

In 1986 half the plots (1, 3, 5, 7 and 9) received four different P treatments, in the P build-up phase. These plots are known as the "P Test" plots. No P was applied 1993-1999. From 2000 onwards maintenance P fertilizer was applied to all plots, except the Nil (P0).

Fertilizer P treatments (kg P ha-1 yr-1, as triple superphosphate):

  • 1986-1992: the plots were divided into four sub-plots given four rates of P: P0=0, P1=44, P2=87 and P3=131 kg P
  • 1993-1999: no P applied. Shown as P0 (P0), P0 (P1), P0 (P2), P0 (P3) in the dataset

Maintenance P (kg P ha-1 yr-1, as triple superphosphate):

  • 2000-2008: 20 kg P to all plots except to the previous P0 treatment (61.5 kg P applied in error in 2000). Shown as P0 (P0), P (P1), P (P2), P (P3) in the dataset
  • 2009-2015: 15 kg P to all plots except to the previous P0 treatment. Shown as P0 (P0), P (P1), P (P2), P (P3) in the dataset
  • 2016-2023: 15 kg P to all plots except to the previous P1 and P0 treatment . Shown as P0 (P0), P0 (P1), P (P2), P (P3) in the dataset

Refer to Exhaustion Land Experiment plans and fertilizer treatments, Phase IV and V for more details (see Related Documents).

Technical Information

Grain and straw yields: Grain and straw subsamples were taken at harvest from each sub-plot, oven-dried and ground < 0.5 mm. Yields are reported at 85% dry matter. The straw yields do not include stubble.

Crop P content:

  • Total P was determined until 1996 after dry ashing (Piper, 1942), on a Spekker Technicon Auto Analyser, or using Alpkem Flow Injection Analysis, using the method of Fogg & Wilkinson (1958). From 1996 onwards total P was determined by open tube nitric perchloric digestion (Zarcinas et al., 1987), and analysis by ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry, Optima 7300DV ICP-OES, Perkin Elmer, CT, USA).
  • P uptake in grain and straw is calculated from the yield at 100% dry matter and %P in the grain and straw.

References:

  • Fogg, D.N. and Wilkinson, N.T. (1958). The colorimetric determination of phosphorus. Analyst, London, 83:406-414.
  • Piper, C.S. (1942) Soil and plant analysis. The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
  • Zarcinas, B.A., Cartwright, B., Spouncer, L.R., 1987. Nitric acid digestion and multi-element analysis of plant material by inductively coupled plasma spectrometry. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 18, 131-146.

Related Documents

Related Datasets

Contributors

Dataset Access and Conditions

Rights Holder

Rothamsted Research

License

Creative Commons License This dataset is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Licence (4.0).

Cite this Dataset

YOU MUST CITE AS: Poulton, P., Gregory, A., Glendining, M., Haefele, S. (2025). Dataset: Exhaustion Land Experiment P test annual crop yields 1986-2023 Electronic Rothamsted Archive, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, UK https://doi.org/10.23637/REX4-PTESTYLD78623-1

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.

Table Of Contents

Individual plot yields were taken from Rothamsted Research archives. Agronomic information (sowing dates, variety, etc) taken from Rothamsted Experimental Station Annual Reports. The P content is derived from analysis made by the Analytical Chemistry Unit, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden.

In accordance with the Joint Code of Practice for Research at Rothamsted, data processing in e-RA follow rigorous standard operating procedures to ensure the quality and correctness of data collected in the field through to depositing in the e-RA database. The Analytical Chemistry Unit follows the Joint Code of Practice (JCoPR) and participates in European Quality Assurance programmes. All performance is strictly monitored using certified external standards alongside in-house standard materials. Standards and check samples are monitored and recorded.

  • The dataset Exhaustion Land Experiment P test annual crop yields 1986-2023 is a published dataset from the e-RA Database. e-RA is part of the Rothamsted Long-Term Experiments - National Bioscience Research Infrastructure (RLTE-NBRI), which also covers maintenance of the Long-Term Experiments, the Rothamsted 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 funded by UK Research and Innovation - Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (UKRI-BBSRC) under award BBS/E/RH/23NB0007 (2023-2028). The RLTE-NBRI is also supported by the Lawes Agricultural Trust. e-RA has been part of a National Capability since 2012, previous awards from the BBSRC were Grants BBS/E/C/00005189 (2012-2017) and BBS/E/C/000J0300 (2017-2022)
  • Please read the conditions of use.

Additional Funding sources

This project received specific funding from the following sources

  • Rothamsted Research receives strategic funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council of the United Kingdom. We acknowledge support from the Growing Health Institute Strategic Programme
    - BBS/E/RH/230003B (WP2), BBS/E/RH/230003C (WP3)
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