Overview

Experiments at Woburn Experimental Farm, 40 km North of Rothamsted, began in 1876. In contrast to the silty clay loam at Rothamsted, which typically contains 20-40% clay, the soil at Woburn is principally a sandy loam containing about 8-14% clay. It is much more difficult to maintain or increase Soil Organic Matter (SOM) in this soil, and several long-term experiments at Woburn were established to study the effects of management on SOM and yield, including grass leys and applying organic amendments in arable rotations.