Broadbalk

  • Experiment Code: R/BK/1
  • Experiment Site: Rothamsted
  • Objectives: To test the effect of different organic manures and inorganic fertilizers on the yield of winter wheat.
  • Description: Started in 1843, Broadbalk is one of the oldest continuous agronomic experiments in the world. Wheat is grown every year on all or part of the experiment. Established to test the effects of various combinations of inorganic fertilizers (N, P, K, Na and Mg) and organic manures on the yield of winter wheat, many of these treatments continue today. A control strip has received no fertilizer or organic manures since 1843. It was started by Lawes and Gilbert in autumn 1843, and the first crop was harvested in summer 1844.
  • Date Start: 1843
  • Establisment Period End: 1851
  • Date End: Ongoing

Key Contacts

  • 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

  • Sarah Perryman

  • Role: Data Manager
  • Organisation: Rothamsted Research
  • Address: West Common, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom

  • 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

Funding

Experimental Design

Description

  • The experiment was divided into different Strips or 'Plots' (2 - 20) receiving the different fertilizer and manure treatments each year. Most treatment strips were established by 1852, except for strip 2a (2.1), which began in 1885, and strip 20, which began in 1906. Plot 19 was originally a half plot, and became its current size in 1904. Between 1894 and 1925 many plots were harvested in two halves, Top (T) and Bottom (B), equivalent to the Western and Eastern parts of the experiment.

Design

  • Period: 1852 - 1925
  • Number of Blocks: 19
  • Number of Replicates: 1
  • Number of Harvests per Year: 1

Crops

Crop Years Grown
Winter Wheat

Factors

Factors are the interventions or treatments which vary across the experiment.

Nitrogen Fertilizer Exposure

Description: Inorganic nitrogen fertilizer in various forms and amounts applied annually

Application: Whole Plot

Levels
Level Name Amount Years Frequency Crop Method Chemical Form Notes
N1 48 kgN/ha 1852 - 1925 winter wheat broadcast application method ammonium sulfate All applied in autumn, 1852-1877, all applied in spring 1878-1883; 24 kgN applied in autumn, remainder applied in spring 1884-1925
N1* 48 kgN/ha 1852 - 1925 winter wheat broadcast application method sodium nitrate All applied in spring, as one application until 1898, as two equal amounts 1899-1925
N1. 5 72 kgN/ha 1852 - 1878 winter wheat broadcast application method ammonium sulfate Applied to Plot 19 with rape cake, All applied in autumn
N2 96 kgN/ha 1852 - 1925 winter wheat broadcast application method ammonium sulfate All applied in autumn, 1852-1877, all applied in spring 1878-1883; 24 kgN applied in autumn, remainder applied in spring 1884-1925, except to strip 15. Strip 15 N applied in spring 1873-77, N applied in autumn 1878-1925.
N2* 96 kgN/ha 1852 - 1925 winter wheat broadcast application method sodium nitrate All applied in spring, as one application until 1898, as two equal amounts 1899-1925
N3 144 kgN/ha 1852 - 1925 winter wheat broadcast application method ammonium sulfate All applied in autumn, 1852-1877, all applied in spring 1878-1883; 24 kgN applied in autumn, remainder applied in spring 1884-1925
N4 192 kgN/ha 1852 - 1864 annually winter wheat broadcast application method ammonium sulfate All applied in autumn

Farmyard Manure Exposure

Description: FYM from cattle

Levels
Level Name Amount Years Frequency Crop Method Chemical Form Notes
Farmyard Manure 35 t/ha 1843 - 1925 Annual winter wheat Applied to plot 2b (2.2) from 1843, and to plot 2a (2.1) since 1885. Plot 2a was a new plot made in 1885. FYM is applied in autumn, supplying approx 225 kgN

Phosphate Fertilizer Exposure

Description: phosphate fertilizer

Levels
Level Name Amount Years Frequency Crop Method Chemical Form Notes
P 35 kg/ha 1843 - 1925 annually winter wheat chemical basal application triple superphosphate Applied in the autumn, omitted 1915

Potassium Fertilizer Exposure

Description: Potassium fertilizer application

Levels
Level Name Amount Years Frequency Crop Method Chemical Form Notes
K 90 kg/ha 1843 - 1925 annually winter wheat fertilizer basal application potassium sulphate Applied in the autumn, omitted 1915, 1917-1919

Sodium Nutrient Exposure

Description: sodium fertilizer application

Levels
Level Name Amount Years Frequency Crop Method Chemical Form Notes
Na 16 kg/ha 1843 - 1925 annually winter wheat fertilizer basal application sodium sulphate Applied in the autumn, omitted 1915

Magnesium Nutrient Exposure

Description: Magnesium fertilizer application

Levels
Level Name Amount Years Frequency Crop Method Chemical Form Notes
Mg 11 kg/ha 1843 - 1925 annually winter wheat fertilizer basal application magnesium sulphate Applied in the autumn, omitted 1915

Rapeseed Cake Exposure

Description: Organic manure supplying approx 96 kgN

Levels
Level Name Amount Years Frequency Crop Method Chemical Form Notes
C 96 kgN/ha 1852 - 1926 annually winter wheat Supplying approx 96 kg N (N2).

Factor Combinations

Factor Combinations are the combination of factors applied to different plots on the experiment.

Factor Combination Time Coverage Notes
FYM 1885 - 1925 Applied to plot 2a (2.1), which was created in 1885.
FYM 1843 - 1925 Applied to plot 2b (2.2), originally called plot 2, named plot 2b in 1885 when plot 2a was created.
Nil 1843 - 1925 Strip 3. Originally 2 half plots, 3 (nil since 1844) and 4 (1844-51 NP; since 1852 nil). Harvested separately until 1899. Strip 16 received nil 1865-1883
PKNaMg 1843 - 1925 Strip 5
N1 PKNaMg 1843 - 1925 Strip 6
N2 PKNaMg 1852 - 1925 Strip 7, also Strip 15a 1852-1872, Strip 15 1873-1925, but N applied at different times to strip 7. Strip 15 was divided into 15a and 15b which received different fertilizer treatments until 1873.
N3 PKNaMg 1852 - 1925 Strip 8
N1* PKNaMg 1894 - 1925 Strip 9, split into 9a and 9b, 1852-1893 receiving different treatments. 9a received N1*/N2* plus PKNaMg, 9b received only N2*/N1*.
N4 PKNaMg 1852 - 1864 Strip 16, which then received nil 1865-1883 and N2*PKNaMg since 1884
N2* PKNaMg 1884 - 1925 Strip 16; previously received N4 PKNaMg (1852-1864) and nil (1865-1883)
N1.5 PKNaMg +C 1852 - 1872 Strip 15b. After 1872 strip 15a and 15b combined and received the same fertilizer treatments N2 PKNaMg

Measurements

Variable Unit Collection
Frequency		 Material Description Crop
Yield Components t/ha annually SpecifiedCrop Grain and straw yields at field moisture content. Actual dry matter not measured, assumed to be approximately 85% dry matter. winter wheat
Weight per Bushel Dressed Corn lb annually SpecifiedCrop Bushel weights can be used to derive Hectolitre weights (HLWT),a measure of grain quality. winter wheat
Soil Organic Carbon % infrequently Soil Topsoil (0-23cm) from soil sampled in 1865, 1881, 1893 and 1914.
Soil Organic Carbon t/ha infreqently Soil Topsoil (0-23cm) from soil sampled in 1865, 1881, 1893 and 1914. Calculated from % SOC and soil bulk density; adjusted for changes in bulk density in strips given FYM
Soil Total Nitrogen % infrequently Soil Topsoil (0-23cm) from soil sampled in 1865, 1881, 1893 and 1914.
Plant Available Phosphorous mg/kg infrequently Soil Sodium bicarbonate soluble P (Olsen P). Topsoil (0-23cm) from soil sampled in 1865, 1881, 1893 and 1914.
Soil Bulk Density g/cm3 infrequently Soil A single mean value for all plots which do not receive FYM and estimated values for plots which receive FYM, based on measurements made in 1865, 1881, 1893 (Dyer, 1902), 1914 (unpublished) and 2000 (Watts et al, 2006).
Harvest Date annually SpecifiedCrop Includes both cutting and carting date, ie dates crop cut and then removed from the field. winter wheat

Description

  • 19 fertilizer treatment strips divided into five sections in 1926 (I-V) crossing all the treatment strips. In 1955 Section I was divided into Ia and Ib; Ia in continuous wheat, no fallow, Ib continued in the fallow rotation. In 1955 Section V was divided into Va and Vb. Va continued in the fallow rotation, with no herbicides applied. Vb received lime in 1955, and became continuous wheat with no further fallows from 1959.

Design

  • Period: 1926 - 1967
  • Number of Blocks: 19
  • Number of Sub-plots:
  • Number of Harvests per Year: 1

Crops

Crop Years Grown
Winter Wheat
Fallow

Factors

Factors are the interventions or treatments which vary across the experiment.

Nitrogen Fertilizer Exposure

Description: Inorganic nitrogen fertilizer in various forms and amounts applied annually

Levels
Level Name Amount Years Frequency Crop Method Chemical Form Notes
N1 48 kg/ha 1926 - 1967 twice winter wheat broadcast application method ammonium sulfate 24kgN applied in autumn, remainder in spring
N2 96 kg/ha 1926 - 1967 twice winter wheat broadcast application method ammonium sulfate 24kgN applied in autumn, remainder in spring
N3 144 kg/ha 1926 - 1967 twice winter wheat broadcast application method ammonium sulfate 24kgN applied in autumn, remainder in spring
N1* 48 kg/ha 1926 - 1967 twice winter wheat broadcast application method sodium nitrate Applied in spring as two equal amounts
N2* 96 kg/ha 1926 - 1967 twice winter wheat broadcast application method sodium nitrate Applied in spring as two equal amounts

Farmyard Manure Exposure

Description: FYM from cattle

Levels
Level Name Amount Years Frequency Crop Method Chemical Form Notes
Farmyard Manure 35 t/ha 1926 - 1967 Once a year winter wheat Applied to strips 2.1 (2a) and 2.2 (2b). Not applied in the fallow years

Factor Combinations

Factor Combinations are the combination of factors applied to different plots on the experiment.

Factor Combination Time Coverage Notes
FYM 1926 - 1965

Measurements

Variable Unit Collection
Frequency		 Material Description Crop
Yield Components t/ha annually SpecifiedCrop Grain and straw yields at field moisture content, approximately 85% dry matter. winter wheat
Weight per Bushel Dressed Corn lb annually SpecifiedCrop Bushel weights can be used to derive hectolitre weights (HLWT), a measure of grain quality winter wheat
Soil Organic Carbon % infrequently Soil Topsoil (0-23cm) from soil sampled in 1936; 1944 and 1966.
Total Soil Nitrogen % infrequently Soil Topsoil (0-23cm) from soil sampled in 1936; 1944 and 1966.
Plant Available Phosphorous mg/kg infrequently Soil Sodium bicarbonate soluble P (Olsen P). Topsoil (0-23cm) from soil sampled in 1936, 1944 and 1966
Soil Bulk Density g/cm3 infrequently Soil A single mean value for all plots which do not receive FYM and estimated values for plots which receive FYM, based on measurements made in 1865, 1881, 1893 (Dyer, 1902), 1914 (unpublished) and 2000 (Watts et al, 2006).
Soil Organic Carbon t/ha infrequently Soil Topsoil (0-23cm) from soil sampled in 1936, 1944 and 1966. Calculated from % SOC and soil bulk density; adjusted for changes in bulk density in strips given FYM
Weed Species Richness Species occurence, selected plots and selected years for all sections (before herbicides were applied)
Harvest Date annually SpecifiedCrop Both cutting date and carting date (ie date crop removed from field) winter wheat

Description

  • Two major modifications were made from 1968: i) The division of Sections I to V to create 10 new Sections (0 - 9), so the yield of wheat grown continuously could be compared with that of wheat grown in rotation after a two-year break. ii) The introduction of modern, short-strawed cultivars, which lead to an increase in grain yields and a decrease in straw yields. The old cultivar Squarehead's Master was grown on parts of some plots between 1987 and 1990, enabling a comparison to be made with modern cultivars After the 1968 changes, Sections 0, 1, 8 and 9 continued to grow winter wheat only, whilst Sections 2, 4, 7 and Sections 3, 5, 6 went into two different 3-course rotations (see 1968 cropping details link). In 1978, Section 6 reverted to continuous wheat and the other five Sections went into a five year rotation. Pesticides are applied where necessary, except on Section 6, which does not receive spring or summer fungicides. Herbicides have been used as required since 1964 on all of the experiment, except for Section 8 (old Section VA), which has never received herbicides. On Section 0 the straw on each plot has been chopped after harvest and incorporated in the soil since autumn 1986; on all other Sections the straw is baled and removed. In 1993 Section 9 was re-drained so that water leaching through the soil could again be collected and analysed. Lime has been applied as required since the 1950s to maintain soil pH at a level at which crop yield is not limited. From 2001 P has not been applied to some plots until levels of plant available P decrease to more appropriate agronomic levels. This is reviewed each year.

Design

  • Period: 1968 - Now
  • Number of Harvests per Year: 1

Crops

Crop Years Grown
Winter Wheat1968 -
Oats1996 -
Spring Beans1968 - 1978
Potatoes1968 - 1996
Winter Beans2018 -
Fallow
Maize1997 - 2017

Crop Rotations

Rotation Crops
continuous wheat (1968 - ) Winter Wheat
P-BE-W (1968 - 1979) Potatoes > Spring Beans > Winter Wheat
F-W-W (1968 - 1981) Fallow > Winter Wheat > Winter Wheat
F-P-W (1979 - 1983) Fallow > Potatoes > Winter Wheat
F-P-W-W-W (1982 - 1999) Fallow > Potatoes > Winter Wheat > Winter Wheat > Winter Wheat
O-M-W-W-W (1996 - 2017) Oats > Maize > Winter Wheat > Winter Wheat > Winter Wheat
W-W-O-W-Be (2018 - ) Winter Wheat > Winter Wheat > Oats > Winter Wheat > Winter Beans

Factors

Factors are the interventions or treatments which vary across the experiment.

Nitrogen Fertilizer Exposure

Description: N was applied as calcium ammonium nitrate (Nitro-chalk) 1968-1985. Between 1968-1996 N was applied at the same rate to beans and potatoes, no N to fallow. 1996-2017 oats did not receive N. 1997-2017 split N treatments were applied to forage maize, in the seedbed and post-emergence. Since 2018 oats received N at half the normal rate. No N applied to beans from 2018.

Application: Whole Plot

Levels
Level Name Amount Years Frequency Crop Method Chemical Form Notes
N1 48 kgN/ha 1968 - annually in mid-April winter wheat ammonium nitrate
N2 96 kgN/ha 1968 - annually in mid-April winter wheat ammonium nitrate
N3 144 kgN/ha 1968 - annually in mid-April winter wheat ammonium nitrate
N4 192 kgN/ha 1968 - annually in mid-April winter wheat ammonium nitrate
N5 240 kgN/ha 1985 - annually in mid-April winter wheat ammonium nitrate
N6 288 kgN/ha 1985 - annually in mid-April winter wheat ammonium nitrate
N1+1+1 144 kgN/ha 2001 - mid-March, mid-April, Mid-May winter wheat ammonium nitrate N2+1 for maize 1997-2017
N1+2+1 192 kgN/ha 2001 - mid-March, mid-April, Mid-May winter wheat ammonium nitrate N2+2 for maize 1997-2017
N1+3+1 240 kgN/ha 2001 - mid-March, mid-April, Mid-May winter wheat ammonium nitrate N2+3 for maize 1997-2017
N1+4+1 288 kgN/ha 2001 - mid-March, mid-April, Mid-May winter wheat ammonium nitrate N2+4 for maize

Potassium Fertilizer Exposure

Application: Whole Plot

Levels
Level Name Amount Years Frequency Crop Method Chemical Form Notes
K 90 kgK/ha 1968 - annually in autumn potassium sulphate
K2 180 kgK/ha 2001 - 2005 annually in autumn potassium sulphate
K* 90 kgK/ha 2001 - Annually in autumn potassium chloride

Phosphate Fertilizer Exposure

Description: P fertilizer no longer applied to some plots since 2000 due to high levels of soil P. Indicated as (P).

Application: Whole Plot

Levels
Level Name Amount Years Frequency Crop Method Chemical Form Notes
P 35 kgP/ha 1968 - Annually in autumn calcium bis(dihydrogenphosphate)

Sodium Nutrient Exposure

Application: Whole Plot

Levels
Level Name Amount Years Frequency Crop Method Chemical Form Notes
Na1 16 kgNa/ha 1968 - 1973 Annually in autumn sodium sulphate
Na2 55 kgNa/ha 1968 - 2000 Annually in autumn sodium sulphate 57 kgNa/ha until 1973

Magnesium Nutrient Exposure

Application: Whole Plot

Levels
Level Name Amount Years Frequency Crop Method Chemical Form Notes
Mg 12 kgMg/ha 1968 - Annually in autumn magnesium sulphate 11kgMg until 1973. 35 kgMg every 3rd year 1974-2000.
Mg2 24 kgMg/ha 2001 - 2005 Annually in autumn magnesium sulphate Plus 60 kg Mg in autumn 2000 only
Mg* 30 kgMg/ha 1968 - 2000 Annually in autumn magnesium sulphate 31kgMg as magnesium sulphate until 1973

Farmyard Manure Exposure

Description: From cattle

Application: Whole Plot

Levels
Level Name Amount Years Frequency Crop Method Chemical Form Notes
Fym 35 t/ha 1968 - Annually in autumn winter wheat Derived from cattle. Not applied to beans from 2018, not applied to oats 1996-2017.
Residual Fym 2001 - Plots previously receiving FYM

Castor Meal Exposure

Description: Plots previously receiving Castor Mean indicated as (C)

Application: Whole Plot

Levels
Level Name Amount Years Frequency Crop Method Chemical Form Notes
C 96 kgN/ha 1968 - 1988 annually

Factor Combinations

Factor Combinations are the combination of factors applied to different plots on the experiment.

Factor Combination Time Coverage Notes
FYM N2 PK 1968 - 1984 Applied to strip 01
FYM N4 PK 1985 - 2000 Applied to strip 01
(FYM) N4 2001 - Applied to strip 01
FYM N2 1968 - 2004 Applied to strip 2.1
FYM N3 2005 - Applied to strip 2.1
FYM 1968 - Applied to strip 2.2
Nil 1968 - No organic or inorganic amendments, strip 03
(P)K(Na)Mg 1968 - 1973 Applied to strip 05
N1 (P)K(Na)Mg 1968 - Applied to strip 06
N2 (P)K(Na)Mg 1968 - Applied to strip 07 and applied to strip 16 until 1984
N3 (P)K(Na)Mg 1968 - Applied to strip 08, and applied to strip 15 until 1984
N4 (P)K(Na)Mg 1968 - Applied to strip 09
N2 1968 - 2000 Applied to strip 10
N4 2001 - Applied to strip 10
N2 P 1968 - 2000 Applied to strip 11
N4 PMg 2001 - Applied to strip 11
N2 PNa 1968 - 2000 Applied to strip 12
N1+3+1 (P)K2Mg2 2001 - 2005 Applied to strip 12. P was not applied in this period
N1+3+1 (P)KMg 2006 - Applied to plot 12
N2 PK 1968 - 2000 Applied to plot 13
N4 PK 2001 - Applied to strip 14
N2 PKMg* 1968 - 2000 Applied to plot 14
N4 PK* 2001 - Applied to strip 14
N5 (P)KMg 1985 - Applied to strip 15
N6 (P)KMg 1985 - Applied to plot 16
N2 1/2[PK(Na)Mg 1968 - 1984 Applied to strips 17 and 18 in alternate years
N[0|1]+3 1/2[PKMg] 1985 - 2000 Applied to strips 17 and 18 in alternate years
N1+4+1 PKMg 2000 - Applied to strip 17
N1+2+1 PKMg 2001 - Applied to strip 18
C 1968 - 1988 Applied to strip 19
N1+1+1 KMg 2001 - Applied to strip 19
N2 K(Na)Mg 1968 - 2000 Applied to strip 20
N4 KMg 2000 - Applied to strip 20

Measurements

Variable Unit Collection
Frequency		 Material Description Crop
Yield Components t/ha annually AllCrops Grain and straw at 85% dry matter.
Hectolitre Grain Weight annually SpecifiedCrop Since 1999 selected plots only winter wheat
Thousand Grain Weight annually SpecifiedCrop Since 1974 selected plots only winter wheat
Weed Species Richness annually Section 8 only (no herbicides)
Soil Organic Carbon every five years from 1987 Soil Topsoil (0-23cm)
Soil Total Nitrogen every five years from 1987 Soil Topsoil (0-23cm)
Plant Available Phosphorous mg/kg every five years for 1987 Soil Topsoil (0-23cm).
Soil Bulk Density Soil A single mean value for all plots which do not receive FYM and estimated values for plots which receive FYM, based on measurements made in 1865, 1881, 1893 (Dyer, 1902), 1914 (unpublished) and 2000 (Watts et al, 2006).
Nutrient Content annually AllCrops Selected plots since 1968 % N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na and S. Grain and straw.
Take-all Disease Incidence annually SpecifiedCrop Selected plots since 1968. Also eyespot, sharp eyespot and brown foot rot. winter wheat
Harvest Date annually AllCrops Sowing and harvest dates of all crops
Earthworm Abundance occasional Selected plots, occasional years.

Site: Broadbalk - Rothamsted

  • Experiment Site: Rothamsted
  • Description: The site has probably been occupied since Roman times, and the Rothamsted map of 1623 shows the site under arable cultivation. The first experimental crop was harvested in 1844 after a rotation of turnips (dunged) 1839, barley 1840, peas 1841, wheat 1842 and oats 1843. The last four crops being entirely unmanured. The field was therefore considered to be exhausted according to contemporary practice.
  • Management: The site is managed using conventional tillage and pesticide applications are applied as necessary, except for herbicide and fungicide exclusion plots. There is no irrigation. The plough layer (0-23 m) is limed when necessary to maintain a minimum soil pH of 7.0 – 7.5.
  • Visit Permitted?: Yes
  • Visiting Arrangments: Contact Dr Andrew Gregory
  • Elevation: 130 Metres
  • Geolocation:    51.80946, -0.37301

Soil

  • Type: Luvisol
    The soil is classified as a Chromic luvisol. The soil texture is described as clay loam to silty clay loam over clay-with flints. The soils contain a large number of flints and are slightly calcareous. Below about 2m depth the soil becomes chalk. The experiment is under-drained and the site is free draining. There is considerable variation in soil texture across the site, with clay contents ranging from 19 – 39%

Soil Properties

Variable Value Reference Year Is Estimated Is Baseline
Sand content 25% (Percent) NO NO
Silt content 50% (Percent) NO NO
Clay content 25% (Percent) NO NO
Soil organic carbon 1% (Percent) 1843 YES NO
Total soil nitrogen 0.11% (Percent) 1843 YES NO
Plant available phosphorous (Olsen P) 10mg/kg (milligram per kilogram) 1843 YES NO
Soil bulk density 1.25g/cm3 (gram per cubic centimetre) 1843 YES NO
Soil organic carbon 28.8t/ha (tonnes per hectare) YES NO

Datasets available

Title (hover for a longer description) Year of Publication Type DOI or Link Version

Crop yield data

Broadbalk mean long-term winter wheat yields 2017 OA 10.23637/KeyRefOABKyields 01
Broadbalk Wheat Experiment mean annual grain and straw yields 1852-1925 2021 Frictionless 10.23637/rbk1-1796346264-1 01
Fisher 1921 Broadbalk wheat grain yields 1852-1918 2018 Other 10.23637/rbk1-data-fisher-1921-01 01
Broadbalk Wheat Experiment yields and N uptake Section 1, 2001-2015 2022 Frictionless 10.23637/rbk1-yldS10115-01 01

Crop nutrient data

Broadbalk Crop Nutrient Content, Wheat 1968-2017 2021 OA 10.23637/rbk1-BKNUTRW-01 01

Disease data

Broadbalk Wheat Experiment brown foot rot (Fusarium spp.) 1992-2009 2021 OA 10.23637/rbk1-bfr-01 01

Experiment details

Broadbalk Wheat Experiment Chalk Applications 2022 OA 10.23637/rbk1-chalk-01 01

Soil data

Broadbalk soil organic carbon content 1843-2015 2021 OA 10.23637/KeyRefOABKsoc-02 02
Broadbalk Soil Total % Nitrogen Content, 1843-2010 2018 OA 10.23637/BK-oadata-soilN-01 01
Broadbalk changes in Olsen P in top soil, 1843-2010 2016 OA 10.23637/keyrefoabkolsenp 01

Species observation data

Cirsium arvense frequency on Broadbalk Section 8 1991-2018 2019 Other 10.23637/bbk-2078416917-01 01
.

More about Broadbalk

Plans and treatments:
Experimental plans, fertilizer treatments and cropping details, 1852-present
Disease surveys:
Information about the wheat root and stem diseases assessed (take-all, eyespot, sharp eyespot and brown foot rot)
Weeds surveys:
Information about the weed surveys on Section 8 (no herbicides), 1991-present, and earlier surveys on the whole experiment, 1933-1979.
Crop nutrient content:
Information about analytical methods for crop macro nutrient content (% N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na and S)
Grain quality assessment:
Description of what grain quality data is available (TGWs, Hagberg falling number, Hectolitre weights, grain size categories), and analytical methods used
Soil physical properties and site details:
Site details, plot area, soil moisture and drainage, soil description and texture and soil weights
Soil chemical properties:
Details of which soil chemical properties have been measured, analytical methods used and soil sampling methods
Wheat yield background information:
Description of harvest methods and datasets available
Other crops and fallow:
Description of potatoes, oats, beans and forage maize crops grown on Broadbalk, and the management of the fallow
Earthworms:
Information about earthworm measurements on Broadbalk

Key References

2021

  • Rothamsted_Research(2021) "Broadbalk Wheat Experiment cropping 1843-2021", Electronic Rothamsted Archive, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts, AL5 2JQ, UK
    DOI: 10.23637/rbk1-crop1843-2021-01
  • Glendining, M. J. and Poulton, P. R.(2021) "Broadbalk Wheat Experiment plan and cropping 1852-1925", Electronic Rothamsted Archive, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts, AL5 2JQ, UK
    DOI: 10.23637/rbk1-sup-1534342858-02
  • Rothamsted_Research(2021) "Broadbalk Wheat Experiment plan and cropping 1926-1967", Electronic Rothamsted Archive, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts, AL5 2JQ, UK
    DOI: 10.23637/rbk1-plan1926-67-02
  • Rothamsted_Research(2021) "Broadbalk Wheat Experiment plan and cropping 1968-2017", Electronic Rothamsted Archive, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts, AL5 2JQ, UK
    DOI: 10.23637/rbk1-plan1968-2017-01
  • Rothamsted_Research(2021) "Broadbalk Wheat Experiment plan and cropping since 2018", Electronic Rothamsted Archive, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts, AL5 2JQ, UK
    DOI: 10.23637/rbk1-today2018-02
  • Addy, J. W. G. , Ellis, R. H. , Macdonald, A. J. , Semenov, M. A. and Mead, A.(2021) "The impact of weather and increased atmospheric CO2 from 1892 to 2016 on simulated yields of UK wheat", J. R. Soc. Interface, 18, 20210250
    DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2021.0250

2020

  • Addy, J. W. G. , Ellis, R. H. , Macdonald, A. J. , Semenov, M. A. and Mead, A.(2020) "Investigating the effects of inter-annual weather variation (1968-2016) on the functional response of cereal grain yield to applied nitrogen, using data from the Rothamsted Long-Term Experiments", Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 284, 107898
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agrformet.2019.107898
  • Macholdt, J. , Piepho , H.-P. , Honermeier, B. , Perryman, S. , Macdonald, A. and Poulton, P.(2020) "The effects of cropping sequence, fertilization and straw management on the yield stability of winter wheat (1986–2017) in the Broadbalk Wheat Experiment, Rothamsted, UK", The Journal of Agricultural Science, 158, 65–79
    DOI: 10.1017/S0021859620000301

2018

  • Rothamsted_Research(2018) "Broadbalk experiment fertilizer and manure treatments, 1852-2021", Electronic Rothamsted Archive, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts, AL5 2JQ, UK
    DOI: 10.23637/rbk1-FertTreats
  • Rothamsted_Research(2018) "Broadbalk experiment plan revised 2018", Electronic Rothamsted Archive, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts, UK.
    DOI: 10.23637/rbk1-today2018-01
  • Johnston, A. E. and Poulton, P. R.(2018) "The importance of long-term experiments in agriculture: their management to ensure continued crop production and soil fertility; the Rothamsted experience. ", European Journal of Soil Science, 69, 113-125
    DOI: 10.1111/ejss.12521

2016

  • J. Storkey , A.J. Macdonald , J.R. Bell , I.M. Clark , A.S. Gregory , N.J. Hawkins , P.R. Hirsch , L.C. Todman and Whitmore, A. P.(2016) "The Unique Contribution of Rothamsted to Ecological Research at Large Temporal Scales.", Advances in Ecological Research (eds: A.J. Dumbrell , R.L. Kordas and G. Woodward - Academic Press), Vol 55, Chapter 1, pp. 3-42
    DOI: 10.1016/bs.aecr.2016.08.002

2012

  • Powlson, D. S. , Bhogal, A. , Chambers, B. J. , Coleman, K. , Macdonald, A. J. , Goulding, K. W. T. and Whitmore, A. P.(2012) "The potential to increase soil carbon stocks through reduced tillage or organic material additions in England and Wales: A case study.", Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 146, 23-33
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2011.10.004

2009

  • Rothamsted_Research(2009) "Broadbalk experiment plan 1996-2017", Electronic Rothamsted Archive, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts, AL5 2JQ UK
    DOI: 10.23637/rbk1-plan1996-2017-01
  • Johnston, A. E. , Poulton, P. R. and Coleman, K.(2009) "Soil organic matter: its importance in sustainable agriculture and carbon dioxide fluxes", Advances in Agronomy, 101, 1-57
    DOI: 10.1016/s0065-2113(08)00801-8

1996

  • Poulton, P. R.(1996) "Broadbalk Wheat Experiment", Global Change and Terrestrial Ecosystems, Report No. 7, GCTE Task 3.3.1, Soil Organic Matter Network (SOMNET): 1996 Model and Experimental Metadata (Smith P. , Smith J.U. and Powlson D.S. (eds) - GCTE Focus 3 Office, Wallingford, UK), 69-72

1993

  • Hart, P. B. S. , Powlson, D. S. , Poulton, P. R. , Johnston, A. E. and Jenkinson, D. S.(1993) "The availability of the nitrogen in the crop residues of winter wheat to subsequent crops", Journal of Agricultural Science, 121, 355-362
    DOI: 10.1017/S0021859600085555

1990

  • Jenkinson, D. S.(1990) "The turnover of organic carbon and nitrogen in soil", Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, Series B, 329, 361-368
    DOI: 10.1098/rstb.1990.0177
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