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Summary

This experiment began in 1843. The site was possibly farmed since
Roman times (i.e at least 1500 years). Map of 1623 shows field in
arable use. 1839-1843 arable crops: turnips, barley, peas, wheat,
oats. The soil is Clay-with-flint overlying chalk; see Avery & Catt,
The Soil at Rothamsted (see reference list) for full details.

The average ... climatic conditions at the experimental site are: Minimum
annual temperature of 5.1 deg C, mean annual temperature of 9.1 deg C,
maximum annual temperature of 13 deg C, minimum annual rainfall of 409
mm, mean annual rainfall of 693 mm, and maximum annual rainfall of 983 mm.

There have been 5 management regimes: 1) Continuous wheat 1844 onwards
(occasional fallows). [field divided into 5 sections in 1926 to allow
regular fallowing to control weeds and into 10 sections in 1968 to
include rotations] 2) Potatoes-beans-wheat (1968-1979). 3)
Fallow-wheat-wheat (1968-1981). 4) Fallow-potatoes-wheat-wheat-wheat
(1982-1998). 5) Oats-maize-wheat-wheat-wheat (1996
onwards). Treatments (all regimes) are as follows: a) nil since 1852,
b) FYM since 1844, c) FYM since 1885 plus N2 since 1968, d) FYM plus
N4PK since 1968 (not continuous wheat), e) N0PK(Na)Mg since 1852, f)
N1PK(Na)Mg since 1852, g) N2PK(Na)Mg since 1852, h) N3PK(Na)Mg since
1852, i) N4PK(Na)Mg since 1968, j) N5PK(Na)Mg since 1985, k)
N6PK(Na)Mg since 1985. Other treatments receive NPK either singly or
in various combinations. One treatment received rape cake then castor
meal until 1988. (Na) - last applied 1973. FYM = 35 t/ha of farmyard
manure: fresh it contains about 200-250 kgN/ha, 40 kgP/ha & 210
kgK/ha. P=35kgP/ha, K=90kgK/ha (P&K both annually). Mg = 35 kgMg/ha
every 3rd year. N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, N6 = 48, 96, 144, 192, 240 & 288
kg N/ha/year as ammonium nitrate (N applied as ammonium sulphate to
most plots until 1967). FYM and N will not be applied to oats in new
oats-maize-wheat-wheat-wheat rotation. Of the 10 sections, 5 are in
continuous wheat; straw has been incorporated in one since 1986, one
has never received herbicides (fallowed every 5 years), one receives
no fungicides. 5 sections are in the 5 year rotation. All sections
have received chalk regularly since the 1950's.

Variables measured can be found in the Parameters section of this
record. Frequency of measurements varies for each variable (Daily for
weather, periodically for others, rarely for some). For detailed sampling
methodology, see SOMNET site, or publications listed in references
section on this record.

This information was compiled for the GCTE-SOMNET Database, Pete
Smith, Pete Falloon, David Powlson, and Jo Smith. Soil Science
Department, IACR-Rothamsted, UK.

Geographic Coverage Spatial coordinates   

N: 51.84		S: 51.79		E: -0.3		W: -0.4
Min Depth: SURFACE Max Depth: 2.5 M

Data Set Citation

Dataset Creator: Paul R. Poulton Dataset Title: Broadbalk Wheat Experiment Online Resource: http://www.rothamsted.bbsrc.ac.uk/aen/eusomnet/expts/broadbal.html

Temporal Coverage

Start Date: 1843-01-01

Location Keywords

CONTINENT > EUROPE CONTINENT > EUROPE > NORTHERN EUROPE > BRITISH ISLES > UNITED KINGDOM CONTINENT > EUROPE > WESTERN EUROPE

Data Resolution

Vertical Resolution: 23 cm Temporal Resolution: varies by parameter measured

Science Keywords

AGRICULTURE > AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS > FERTILIZERS AGRICULTURE > AGRICULTURAL PLANT SCIENCE > CROP/PLANT YIELDS AGRICULTURE > AGRICULTURAL PLANT SCIENCE > CROPPING SYSTEMS AGRICULTURE > ANIMAL SCIENCE > ANIMAL MANURE AND WASTE AGRICULTURE > SOILS > CARBON > BIOMASS CARBON AGRICULTURE > SOILS > CARBON > CARBON DIOXIDE EVOLUTION AGRICULTURE > SOILS > CARBON > TOTAL CARBON AGRICULTURE > SOILS > NITROGEN > AMMONIUM NITROGEN AGRICULTURE > SOILS > NITROGEN > BIOMASS NITROGEN AGRICULTURE > SOILS > NITROGEN > NITRATE NITROGEN AGRICULTURE > SOILS > NITROGEN > TOTAL MINERAL NITROGEN AGRICULTURE > SOILS > NITROGEN > TOTAL NITROGEN AGRICULTURE > SOILS > ORGANIC MATTER AGRICULTURE > SOILS > SOIL BULK DENSITY ATMOSPHERE > ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY > NITROGEN COMPOUNDS > MOLECULAR NITROGEN > NITROGEN DEPOSITION BIOSPHERE > VEGETATION > BIOMASS BIOSPHERE > VEGETATION > NITROGEN LAND SURFACE > SOILS > CARBON > BIOMASS CARBON LAND SURFACE > SOILS > CARBON > CARBON DIOXIDE EVOLUTION LAND SURFACE > SOILS > NITROGEN > AMMONIUM NITROGEN LAND SURFACE > SOILS > NITROGEN > BIOMASS NITROGEN LAND SURFACE > SOILS > NITROGEN > NITRATE NITROGEN LAND SURFACE > SOILS > NITROGEN > TOTAL MINERAL NITROGEN LAND SURFACE > SOILS > SOIL BULK DENSITY

ISO Topic Category

FARMING ECONOMY ENVIRONMENT GEOSCIENTIFIC INFORMATION CLIMATOLOGY/METEOROLOGY/ATMOSPHERE BIOTA

Project

GCTE > Global Change and Terrestrial Ecosystems, IGBP

Quality

Width of smallest plot is 4 m
Length of smallest plot is 23 m
Width of largest plot is 6 m
Length of largest plot is 320 m
Slope: 2% on 2/5 of experiment . Shape: Uniform
Details of direction of cultivation: Parallel to long-axis of plots
Width of Bare Strip around plot: 1-1.5m paths.
Width of Discard Strip around plot: 6.0m discard strip ... between
sections.
Details of homogeneity of the plots: Variability within plots: most
plots are about 6.0m wide. Transects taken across several plots
indicate that soil movement has occurred and that there is a gradient
across the unplanted path extending about 1m into the plot. Soil and
crop samples are therefore taken from within the central area (4.0m) and
excluding a 1m strip on each side. Within this area, soil analysis
shows that for C, N, pH Olsen P etc. the plots are reasonably uniform,
c.v. about 10% (more for microbial biomass).

There are at least 0 replicates in the experiment. No true replication
but the experiment was divided into 10 sections in 1968 (previously
into 5 sections in 1926). Therefore, plots on sections 1 and 9 can be
regarded as replicates. Sections 2,3,4,5 and 7 could be regarded as
replicates over a five year period (i.e. the length of one rotation).

There are control plots described as follows: Nil inputs plot included
which has received no inorganic fertilizers or organic manures since
1852. Nil plot does get chalk and pesticides on a regular basis. Also
an area fenced off in 1882 and allowed to revert to natural woodland
(see SOMNET entry on Broadbalk Wilderness).

Thorough scrutiny at point of entering onto electronic database (in
1995). Some soil and crop samples from archive have been reanalysed
retrospectively; no unexplained discrepancies observed to date.

Access Constraints
none

Use Constraints
Link to the following location to view data use policy of SOMNET members:
http://www.rothamsted.bbsrc.ac.uk/aen/somnet/index.htm

Ancillary Keywords

AQUIC PALEUDALF AVENA CHROMIC ALISOL CHROMIC LUVISOL GCTE GLOBAL CHANGE AND TERESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS IGBP INTERNATIONAL GEOSPHERE BIOSPHERE PROGRAM MAIZE OATS POTATO SOIL ORGANIC MATTER NETWORK SOLANUM SP. SOMNET TRITICUM TYPIC PALEUDALF WHEAT ZEA MAYS

Data Center

European Soil Organic Matter Network, Global Change and Terrestrial Ecosystems Soil Organic Matter Network, Rothamsted Research Data Center URL: http://www.rothamsted.bbsrc.ac.uk/aen/eusomnet/ Dataset ID: Broadbalk Wheat Experiment Data Center Personnel Name: PETER FALLOON Phone: +44 (0)1582 763133 x2110 Fax: +44 (0)1582 760981 Email: Pete.Falloon at bbsrc.ac.uk Contact Address: Agriculture & Environment Division, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts. AL5 2JQ UK.

Personnel

PAUL R. POULTON Role: TECHNICAL CONTACT Phone: +44 (0)1582 763133 Fax: +44 (0)1582 760981 Contact Address: IACR-Rothamsted AL5 2JQ. City: Harpenden Province or State: Hertfordshire Country: UNITED KINGDOM TYLER B. STEVENS Role: DIF AUTHOR Phone: (301) 614-6898 Fax: 301-614-5268 Email: Tyler.B.Stevens at nasa.gov Contact Address: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Global Change Master Directory City: Greenbelt Province or State: MD Postal Code: 20771 Country: USA

Related URL

Link: VIEW PROJECT HOME PAGE Description: This url links to the GCTE-SOMNET home page where additional project information and methodology can be obtained. This site is currently in a datasharing phase of the network where actual data will become available shortly, at different levels of accessibility. Please follow this link for more information.

Publications/References
Avery, B.W. & Catt. J.A. (1995) The soil at Rothamsted. Lawes
Agricultural Trust, Rothamsted, Harpenden, U.K.

Dyke, G.V., George, B.J., Johnston, A.E., Poulton, P.R. & Todd, A.D.
(1983) The Broadbalk Wheat Experiment 1968-78: Yields and
Plant Nutrients in Crops Grown Continuously and in Rotation. Rothamsted
Experimental Station. Report for 1982, Part 2: ... 5-44 (and
references therein).

Garner, H.V. & Dyke, G.V. (1969) The Broadbalk yields. Rothamsted
Experimental Station. Report for 1968, Part 2: 26-49.

Hart, P.B.S., Powlson, D.S., Poulton, P.R., Johnston, A.E. & Jenkinson,
D.S. (1993) The availability of the nitrogen in the crop residues
of winter wheat to subsequent crops. J. Agric. Sci. 121: 355-362.

Jenkinson, D.S. (1990) The turnover of organic carbon and nitrogen in
soil. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B. (1990) 53-60..

Johnston, A.E. & Garner, H.V. (1969) Broadbalk: Historical Introduction.
Rothamsted Experimental Station. Report for 1968, Part 2:
1-17.

Johnston, A.E. (1969) Plant nutrients in Broadbalk soils. Rothamsted
Experimental Station. Report for 1968, Part 2: 93-115 (and
references therein).

Johnston, A.E. (1969) Plant nutrients in crops grown on Broadbalk.
Rothamsted Experimental Station. Report for 1968, Part 2: 50-62.

Creation and Review Dates

DIF Creation Date: 1999-10-20 Last DIF Revision Date: 2006-05-11

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