Dataset: Exhaustion Land wheat growth and nutrient uptake over two growing seasons

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Example data: above-ground crop P uptake, 2013

Summary

Winter wheat was sampled several times over two growing seasons in 2013 and 2014 to measure crop growth and uptake of Ca, Cu, K, Mg, Mn, P, S and Zn on six plots on the Exhaustion Land experiment, with two different P treatments. Changes in soil moisture and available P and N dynamics, and baseline soil chemical properties in May 2012 are published as separate datasets.

Methods

Crop samples were taken at frequent intervals throughout the wheat growth period, commencing at growth stage (GS) 11 or 13 (Zadoks decimal system, Zadoks et al, 1974). Winter wheat variety Xi-19 was sown in the autumn. Samples were taken from six plots: two P treatments - Control (P0) and P added (P3), each from three main plots: Plot 3 (FYM 1876-1901) Plot 7 (NPKNaMg 1876-1901) and Plot 9 (P only 1876-1901).

Annual P treatments:

• Control (P0): no P fertiliser applied since 1901
• P added (P3): 131 kgP/ha 1986-1992, 20kgP/ha 2000-2008, 15kgP/ha since 2009, all as triple superphosphate.

Technical Information

On each sample date, four 0.5m rows (0.25m²) of wheat on each plot were cut at ground level with secateurs. Crop samples were washed thoroughly with deionised water to remove any soil. From GS60 (the beginning of anthesis) the wheat plants were separated into stems, leaves and ears and analysed separately.

• Crop dry matter yield was determined by oven drying at 16h at 80 degrees C. g/m2
• Nutrient concentrations The dried wheat samples were ground to pass a 0.5mm mesh using a Glen Creston Hammer Mill and digested with high purity concentrated nitric and perchloric acids (18/15 v/v) in a heating block (Zhao et al, 1994). Total element concentrations in the plant tissue were determined using ICPOES (Perkin Elmer optima 7500 DV, Waltham, MA). mg/kg soil
• Nutrient uptake was calculated from nutrient concentrations and crop yield. g/m2 or mg/m2

Since 1986 all the plots have received basal N fertiliser each growing season, 144kgN/ha 1986-1992 and 192kgN/ha 1993-2002. Since 2003 each plot has received 300kgN/ha split into 50, 200 and 50 kg N/ha in March, April and May respectively. Basal K, Mg and S is also applied to all plots.

Related Documents

• Wu et al, 2019. Simulation of P chemistry, uptake and utilisation by winter wheat :
• Zadoks et al, 1974. A decimal code for the growth stages of cereals :
• Zhao et al, 1994. Wet digestion methods... :
• Exhaustion Land Experiment plan and fertilizer treatments, Phase V, 2007 onwards :

Related Datasets

• Exhaustion Land Experiment soil chemical properties 2012
• Exhaustion Land wheat growth, soil moisture and soil available P and N dynamics over two growing seasons

Contributors

• Sarah Dunham: Data collector
• Javier Hernandez-Allica: Data collector
• Steve McGrath: Researcher
• Margaret Glendining: Data curator
• Lianhai Wu: Researcher
• Martin Blackwell: Researcher
• Steve Freeman: Data collector
• Adrian Crosland: 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: Sarah Dunham, Javier Hernandez-Allica, Steve McGrath, Lianhai Wu, Martin Blackwell, Margaret Glendining (2025). Dataset: Exhaustion Land wheat growth and nutrient uptake over two growing seasons Electronic Rothamsted Archive, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, UK https://doi.org/10.23637/rex4-puptake2013-01

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