Long-term slurry experiment at Hillsborough
- Local identifier
- LTS
- Years operational
- 1970—
- Objective
- Evaluate the effects of long-term regular application of slurry on soil quality, biogeochemical interactions, soil ecology, silage quality, grasslands yields, biodiversity and botanical composition
- Description
- A long-term (50- year-old) grassland experiment, which was established in 1970 at Hillsborough, Northern Ireland, UK (Irish Grid Reference J 244577). The experiment started after the ploughing and reseeding of a pre-existing sward dominated by perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne). The site is located at an elevation of about 120 m above sea level with mean annual precipitation and temperatures of ∼900 mm and 9 °C respectively (www.metoffice.gov.uk). The soil is a clay loam (42% sand, 24% silt and 34% clay), Cambisol (WRB), overlying Silurian shale and greywacke (Christie, 1987). The grassland experiment includes eight nutrient treatments: . Unfertilised control plots . Inorganic fertiliser applications (i.e. NPK at rates of 200 kg N, 32 kg P, 160 kg K ha−1 year−1) . Pig slurry at 50, 100 or 200 m3 ha-1 year−1 . Cattle slurry at the same three application rates. Hereafter, we refer to low (L), medium (M) and High (H) rates of pig and cattle slurry applications (i.e. 50, 100 or 200 m3 ha−1 year−1) as ‘Pig (L), (M) and (H) and Cattle (L), (M) and (H) respectively. There are six replicate plots (∼ 30 m2 each) under each of the eight nutrient treatments which are randomly allocated across three blocks for a total of 48 plots in a randomized block design. The NPK synthetic and organic fertilizers have been applied every year (since 1970) in three equal dressings, first in the spring and then immediately after the first two cuts. The N content of animal organic amendments as averaged for 10 recent years (2007–2016) is 0.16, 0.32 and 0.64 Mg N ha−1 yr−1 for Cattle (L), (M) and (H) respectively, while pig organic applications (L), (M) and (H) contributed to 0.13, 0.27 and 0.54 Mg N ha−1 yr−1 being added to the soil. The C content of the same animal organic amendments as averaged for 10 recent years (2007–2016) is 0.92, 1.84 and 3.67 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 for Cattle (L), (M) and (H) respectively, while pig organic applications (L), (M) and (H) contributed to 0.27, 0.55 and 1.11 Mg C ha−1 yr-1 being added to the soil.
- Data Access Statement
- Other
- Data license
- Don't know
- Data policy
- https://www.afbini.gov.uk/access-information
- Organization
- Agri-Food and Biosciences Instituteresearch organisation
- People
- Dr Jonathan Hollandprincipal investigatorAFBIAgri-Environment BranchDr Dario Fornaraprincipal investigatorAFBIAgri-Environment BranchMs. Natasha CrumlishResearch AssistantAFBIAgri-Environment BranchMr Gareth RidgwayResearch AssistantAFBIAgri-Environment BranchMr Joseph LarkinResearch AssistantAFBIAgri-Environment BranchMr Nicholas McCloskeyResearch AssistantAFBIAgri-Environment BranchMr Thomas HamiltonResearch AssistantAFBIAgri-Environment Branch
Site: Long-term slurry experiment on grassland
- Type
- research station field
- Location
- HillsboroughCounty DownUnited Kingdom
- Geographic location
- 54.452698, -6.0825411
- Elevation
- 120 Metres
- Visits permitted?
- Yes
- Visiting arrangements
- Please contact the Principle Investigators, Dario Fornara or Jonathan Holland to arrange a visit.
- History
- The experiment started after the ploughing and reseeding of a pre-existing sward dominated by perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne).
- Management
- Animal (Cow/Pig) slurries are applied at three intervals in the year in low (L), medium (M) and High (H) rates of pig and cattle organic applications (i.e. 50, 100 or 200 m3 ha−1 year−1 ) as ‘Pig (L), (M) and (H) and Cattle (L), (M) and (H) respectively. Plant Biomass is harvested three times every year in mid-May, mid-July and mid-September to correspond with a standard silage cutting regime.
- Soil type
- Cambisol
- Soil properties
Variable Depth Value (range) Units Ref year Estimated? Baseline? clay content 0 – 15 Centimetres 34 Percent silt content 0 – 15 Centimetres 24 Percent sand content 0 – 15 Centimetres 42 Percent - Climatic type
- Temperate oceanic climate, Cfb
- Climate description
- The climate zone is characterised by mild-wet winters and by cool humid summers with mean annual precipitation varying between 690-1220mm and the annual mean temperature is 9.4°C.
- Climate properties
Variable Time period Value (range) Units precipitation 1970 – 2020 898.1 (690 – 1219.1) millimeter air temperature 1994 – 2015 9.37 (-15.26 – 28.25) degree Celsius Grass temperatures 1970 – 1993 2.899 (-14.1 – 17) degree Celsius Wind direction 1972 – 1993 200.784 Angular Degrees wind speed 1972 – 1993 13.44 (81.488 – 0) Kilometers per Hour Soil temperature (10cm depth) 1970 – 1993 8.335 (-1.2 – 20.7) degree Celsius Soil temperature (30cm depth) 1970 – 1993 9.558 (1.3 – 17.9) degree Celsius Soil temperature (100cm) 1970 – 1993 9.58 (3.8 – 15) degree Celsius
Design period: Design since 1970 (1970—)
- Design Type
- Randomized block design
- Description
- The experiment investigates the annual changes in herbage yield, mineral composition, botanical composition and soil chemical and biological properties arising from the regular application of three rates of cattle and pig slurries in a three-cut silage system. There are 48 plots in total, in a randomised block design.
- Design description
- The factorial experiment is laid out across three adjacent blocks each including two replicates of eight nutrient treatments, which are: (1) unfertilized control, (2) inorganic fertilizer (NPK: 200 kg N, 32 kg P and 160 kg K ha−1 year−1 ), cattle slurry at three different rates (3) 50 m- 3 slurry ha−1 year−1 (equivalent to the application of 155 ± 15 kg N ha−1 year−1 and 29 ± 1 kg P ha−1 year−1 ; see also Table 1), (4) 100 m3 slurry ha−1 year−1 (equivalent to 316± 23 kg N ha−1 year−1 and 59 ± 2.3 kg P ha−1 year−1 , (5) 200 m3 slurry ha−1 year−1 (equivalent to 633 ± 45 kg N ha−1 year−1 and 117 ± 5.5 kg P ha−1 year−1 ), and pig slurry at three different rates (6) 50 m3 slurry ha−1 year−1 (equivalent to 136 ± 7.5 kg N ha−1 year−1 and 28 ± 1.5 kg P ha−1 year−1 ), (7) 100 m3 slurry ha−1 year−1 (equivalent to 262 ± 25.5 kg N ha−1- year−1 and 57 ± 2.7 kg P ha−1 year−1 ), and (8) 200 m3 slurry ha−1 - year−1 , which is equivalent to 530 ± 33.2 kg N ha−1 year−1 and 114.0 ± 4.6 kg P ha−1 year−1). Thus 8 treatments × 6 replicates give 48 experimental plots (each 29.75 m2 ). We refer to the three rates of slurry applications as Low (L), Medium (M) and High (H) resulting in Cattle (L), Cattle (M), Cattle (H) and Pig (L), Pig (M) and Pig (H). Inorganic N fertilizer is applied as urea, P as superphosphate and potassium as muriate of potash. Animal slurries are applied at three intervals during the year, usually mid-March, mid-May and mid-July. Every year since 1970 P content (%) of each slurry type has been measured as well as dry mass of liquid manure to calculate the amount of P added to soils (i.e. kg P ha−1)
- Number of plots
- 48
- Number of replicates
- 6
- Number of harvests per year
- 3
- Crops
Crop Years grown rye grass creeping bentgrass Yorkshire fog common bentgrass Cocksfoot (Dactylis Glomerata) ribwort plantain white clover common chicory Others; Pink Clover, Chickweed, Dandelion, Bitter dock - Factor
- Factor name
- Factor levels
- fertilizer exposure Control; NPK (Inorganic) and Slurry (Organic) Fertilisers
control exposure (0 Kg per hectare per year)
1970—Chemical form: Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) (many different but similar salts) until 1974, Urea, Chemical formula; CO(NH2)2 + superphosphate and potash, 200 kg N, 32 kg P, 160 kg KUnfertilised control treatmentNPK Inorganic fertilizer exposure (200, 32, 160 (respectively) Kg (N, P, K respectively) per hectare per year)
1970—Applied to crop: All cropsApplication frequency: 3 Intervals per yearApplication method: top dressingChemical form: Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) (many different but similar salts) until 1974 Urea, Chemical formula; CO(NH2)2 + superphosphate and potash, 200 kg N, 32 kg P, 160 kg KCalcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) was used as a source of Inorganic Nitrogen until 1974 and thereafter replaced with urea, plus superphosphate and potash, 200 kg N, 32 kg P, 160 kg K (all Ha^-1 year^-1)slurry (50 Meters cubed per hectare per year)
1970—Applied to crop: All cropsApplication frequency: 3 Intervals per YearApplication method: top dressingPig liquid manureslurry (100 Meters cubed per hectare per year)
1970—Applied to crop: All cropsApplication frequency: 3 Intervals per YearApplication method: top dressingPig liquid manureslurry (200 Meters cubed per hectare per year)
1970—Applied to crop: All cropsApplication frequency: 3 Intervals per YearApplication method: top dressingPig liquid manureslurry (50 Meters cubed per hectare per year)
1970—Applied to crop: All cropsApplication frequency: 3 Intervals per YearApplication method: top dressingCattle liquid manureslurry (100 Meters cubed per hectare per year)
1970—Applied to crop: All cropsApplication frequency: 3 Intervals per YearApplication method: top dressingCattle liquid manureslurry (200 Meters Cubed per Hectare per Year)
1970—Applied to crop: All cropsApplication frequency: 3 Intervals per YearApplication method: top dressingCattle liquid manure
- Measurements
Variable Material Units Frequency Scale Comment Soil Organic Carbon Not specified Mg C per Hectare per Year Soil bulk density Not specified grams per cubic centimetre
Related publications
- Simulation and validation of long-term changes in soil organic carbon under permanent grassland using the DNDC model
- Evidence of low response of soil carbon stocks to grassland intensification
- Nitrification in soils incubated with pig slurry https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-0717(75)90009-7 [In english]
- Microbial activity and nitrogen mineralization in a soil treated with silage effluent https;//doi.org/10.1007/BF01686312 [In english]
- Inhibition of nitrification in soils treated with pig slurry https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01985507 [In english]
- Some long-term effects of slurry on grassland https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021859600079910 [In english]
- Grassland soil microbial biomass and accumulation of potentially toxic metals from long-term slurry application https://doi.org/10.2307/2404085 [In english]
- Comparison between wet and dry oxidation methods of sample preparation for copper and zinc analysis of grassland herbage https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.2740480204 [In english]
- Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza infection in cut grassland following long-term slurry application https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-0717(92)90192-Z [In english]
- Effect of long‐term application of animal slurries to grassland on silage quality assessed in laboratory silo https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.2740670210 [In english]
- Effect of long‐term application of animal slurries to grass on silage feeding quality for sheep
- Organic manure phosphorus accumulation, mobility and management https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-2743.1998.tb00634.x [In english]
- Changes in soil organic carbon storage under grassland as evidenced by changes in sulphur input–output budgets https://doi.org/10.1016/S0045-6535(00)00119-3 [In english]
- Control and amelioration of phosphorus losses from a clay soil heavily manured with animal slurries https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-003-0222-y [In english]
- Long‐term application of animal slurries to grassland alters soil cation balance. Soil use and management https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-2743.2005.tb00130.x [In english]
- Botanical composition, production and nutrient status of an originally Lolium perenne-dominant cut grass sward receiving long-term manure applications https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-009-0016-z [In english]
- Effects of repeated fertilizer and cattle slurry applications over 38 years on N dynamics in a temperate grassland soil https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2011.03.014 [In english]
- Responses of earthworm species to long-term applications of slurry https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2015.07.005 [In english]
- Long-term nutrient fertilization and the carbon balance of permanent grassland: any evidence for sustainable intensification? https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-4975-2016 [In english]
- Evidence of low response of soil carbon stocks to grassland intensification https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2019.106705 [In english]
- Evidence for niche differentiation of nitrifying communities in grassland soils after 44 years of different field fertilization scenarios https://doi.org/10.1016/S1002-0160(19)60803-9 [In english]
- Effects of nutrient fertilization on root decomposition and carbon accumulation in intensively managed grassland soils https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3103 [In english]
- Improving phosphorus sustainability in intensively managed grasslands: The potential role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135744 [In english]