Saxmundham Rotation I
- Experiment Code: S/RN/1
- Experiment Site: Saxmundham
- Objectives: To test N, P, K and manure treatments on crop rotations on a heavy sandy clay loam site. More recently to look at crop responses to P and K, and their interactions with N on high-yielding wheat cultivars.
- Description: Two rotation experiments were started at Saxmundham in 1899 by East Suffolk County Council. The experiments consisted of four blocks so that a fully phased typical Norfolk 4-course rotation could be grown. The Rotation I experiment had a factorial test of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium plus bone meal and farmyard manure. Rothamsted assumed control of the experiments in 1965 and reviewed and modified the experiments. Rothamsted relinquished the site in 2010. The site is currently supported by The Morley Agricultural Foundation and delivered by NIAB.
- Date Start: 1899
- Date End: Ongoing
Key Contacts
Sarah Perryman
- Role: Data Managers
- 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
Margaret Glendining
- Role: Data Manager
- ORCID: 0000-0002-6466-4629
- Organisation: Rothamsted Research
- Address: West Common, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom
Nathan Morris
- Role: Principal Investigator
- Organisation: Rothamsted Research
- Address: West Common, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom
David Clarke
- Role: Principal Investigator
- ORCID: 0000-0002-3905-5725
- 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)).
Experimental Design
Description
- Four blocks of ten plots each, with a four-course rotation, with different crops grown in each block each year. Originally the crops of a typical Norfolk four-course rotation (roots, spring barley, legume and winter wheat. Different fertilizer and manure treatments in the 10 plots.
Design
- Period: 1899 - 1965
- Experiment Design Type: Randomized complete block design
- Number of Blocks: 4
- Number of Plots: 40
- Number of Replicates: 4
Crops
| Crop | Years Grown |
|---|---|
| Wheat | |
| Root Vegetables | |
| Barley | |
| Feed Legumes |
Crop Rotations
| Rotation | Crops |
|---|---|
| Norfolk Rotation (1899 - 1962) | Wheat > Root Vegetables > Barley > Feed Legumes |
Factors
Factors are the interventions or treatments which vary across the experiment.
Fertilizer Exposure
Application: Whole Plot
Levels
| Level Name | Amount | Years | Frequency | Crop | Method | Chemical Form | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farmyard Manure | 15 t/ha | - | |||||
| Bone Meal | 0.5 t/ha | - | |||||
| Nitrogen | 100 kgN/ha | - | sodium nitrate | ||||
| Phosphorous | 40 kgP/ha | - | |||||
| Potassium | 63 kgK/ha | - | potassium chloride |
Factor Combinations
Factor Combinations are the combination of factors applied to different plots on the experiment.
| Factor Combination | Time Coverage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| D | - | |
| BM | - | |
| N | - | |
| P | - | |
| K | - | |
| O | - | No fertilizer |
| PK | - | |
| NK | - | |
| NP | - | |
| NPK | - |
Description
- The four-course rotation of wheat, sugar beet, barley and beans was continued until the 1969 harvest. In 1970 the northern half of each plot was sown to lucerne and the southern to a grass ley mixture.
Design
- Period: 1966 - 2010
- Experiment Design Type: Randomized complete block design
- Number of Plots: 10
- Number of Replicates: 4
- Number of Harvests per Year: 1
Crops
| Crop | Years Grown |
|---|---|
| Alfalfa | |
| Winter Wheat | |
| Barley | |
| Faba Beans | |
| Sugar Beet | |
| Grass Leys |
Site: Harwood's Piece - Saxmundham
- Experiment Site: Saxmundham
- Description: The Saxmundham experimental site is currently supported by The Morley Agricultural Foundation and delivered by NIAB.
- Visit Permitted?: No
- Visiting Arrangments: None
- Elevation: 36 Metres
- Geolocation: 52.220964, 1.466048
Soil
- Type: Eutric Gleysol
Sandy clay loam developed over drift over Chalky Boulder Clay, Beccles Series.
There are currently no prepared datasets online for this experiment. However,
there may still be data available but requiring curation.
For more information please contact the e-RA curators.
License
These media (images and videos) are
available under a Creative Commons
Attribution Licence (4.0) with attribution to Rothamsted Research.
Images
Key References
2019
- Poulton, P.R. and Glendining, M.J.(2019) "Saxmundham Rotation II experimental details, 1969-1986"
DOI: 10.23637/srn2-details1969-01 - Johnston, A.E. and Poulton, P.R.(2019) "Phosphorus in Agriculture: A Review of Results from 175 Years of Research at Rothamsted, UK", Journal of Environmental Quality, 48, 1133-1144
DOI: 10.2134/jeq2019.02.0078
2016
- Johnston, A.E. , Poulton, P.R. , White, R.P. and Macdonald, A.J.(2016) "Determining the longer term decline in plant-available soil phosphorus from short-term measured values", Soil Use and Management, 32, 151-161
DOI: 10.1111/sum.12253
2014
- Johnston, A.E. , Poulton, P.R. , Fixen, P.E. and Curtin, D.(2014) "Phosphorus: Its Efficient Use in Agriculture", Advances in Agronomy, 123, 177-228
DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-420225-2.00005-4
2013
- Johnston, A.E. , Poulton, P.R. and White, R.P.(2013) "Plant-available soil phosphorus. Part II: the response of arable crops to Olsen P on a sandy clay loam and a silty clay loam", Soil Use and Management, 29, 12-21
DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-2743.2012.00449.x
2011
- Johnston, A.E. and Poulton, P.R.(2011) "Response of cereals to soil and fertilizer phosphorus", HGCA Research Review 74 ,
1987
- Johnston, A.E.(1987) "Saxmundham Experimental Station 1899-1986. A review of the achievements during 1965-1986. ", , 265-279
Get from eRAdoc: ResReport1986p1andp2-267-281
1986
- Johnston, A.E. , Lane, P.W. , Mattingly, G.E.G. , Poulton, P.R. and Hewitt, M.V.(1986) "Effects of soil and fertilizer P on yields of potatoes, sugar beet, barley and winter wheat on a sandy clay loam soil at Saxmundham, Suffolk", Journal of Agricultural Science, 106, 155-167
DOI: 10.1017/S0021859600061864 - Goulding, K.W.T. , Poulton, P.R. , Thomas, V.H. and Williams, R.J.B.(1986) "Atmospheric deposition at Rothamsted experimental station, Saxmundham experimental station and Woburn experimental station, England, 1969-1984", Water Air and Soil Pollution, 29, 27-49
DOI: 10.1007/bf00149327
1984
- Goulding, K.W.T. and Talibudeen, O.(1984) "Thermodynamics of K-Ca exchange in soils. I. Effects of potassium and organic matter residues in soils from the Broadbalk and Saxmundham Rotation I Experiments.", Journal of Soil Science, 35, 397-408
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2389.1984.tb00296.x
1979
- Goulding, K.W.T. and Talibudeen, O.(1979) "Potassium reserves in a sandy clay soil from the Saxmundham Experiment: Kinetics and equilibrium thermodynamics", Journal of Soil Science, 30, 291-302
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2389.1979.tb00986.x
1972
- Hodge, C.A.H.(1972) "The soils at Saxmundham Experimental Station", , 143-148
Get from eRAdoc: ResReport1971p2-147-152
1971
- Williams, R.J.B. and Cooke, G.W.(1971) "Results of the Rotation I experiment at Saxmundham,", Part 2 , 68-97
Get from eRAdoc: ResReport1970p2-68-97
1970
- Mattingly, G.E.G. , Johnston, A.E. and Chater, M.(1970) "The residual value of farmyard manure and superphosphate in the Saxmundham Rotation II Experiment,", Part 2 , 91-112
Get from eRAdoc: ResReport1969p2-91-112
1968
- Cooke, G.W.(1968) "The Saxmundham Experiments. Weather", Harpenden , , 235-237
DOI: 10.23637/ERADOC-1-120
1967
- Cooke, G.W.(1967) "The Saxmundham Experiments. Weather and cultivations", Harpenden , , 248
DOI: 10.23637/ERADOC-1-14
1966
- Boyd, D.A. and Trist, P.J.O.(1966) "The Saxmundham rotation experiments: Rotation II, 1899-1952", Journal of Agricultural Science, 66, 337-339
DOI: 10.1017/S0021859600063632 - Trist, P.J.O. and Boyd, D.A.(1966) "The Saxmundham rotation experiments. Rotation, I.", Journal of Agricultural Science, 66, 327-336
DOI: 10.1017/S0021859600063620
1941
- Oldershaw, A.W.(1941) "Experiments on arable crops at Saxmundham", Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society, 102, 136-155
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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