Glenlea long-term crop rotation study

This experiment has been added by the GLTEN Curators using existing published sources.
Objective
• To compare the biological and economic performance of conventional, low input, and organic crop production systems. • To monitor the impact of crop rotation and the input level on pest population dynamics (annual and perennial weeds, insects, and crop diseases). • To determine the long-term effects of different cropping systems on soil and environmental quality, using a restored tallgrass prairie treatment as a benchmark. • To provide a facility for undergraduate and graduate student training.
Description
The Glenlea study contains two main crop rotations (grain-only and forage-grain) which are managed conventionally and organically. The study also includes three one-acre plots of restored prairie grassland which are used as a benchmark for comparison with perennial native soils.
Data Access Statement
Don't know
Data license
Don't know
Data policy
Don't know
Organization
Natural Systems Agriculture Laboratory, University of Manitoba
research organisation
People
Dr Martin Entz
principal investigator
University of Manitoba
Natural Systems Agriculture Laboratory
Sarah Wilcott
experiment manager
University of Manitoba
Natural Systems Agriculture Laboratory

Site: Glenlea

Type
research farm
Location
Glenlea
Manitoba
Canada
Geographic location
49.640368, -97.141366
+−
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Visits permitted?
No
Soil type
chernozem
Soil description
The soil type is a rego Black Chernozem.
Soil properties
VariableDepthValue (range)UnitsRef yearEstimated?Baseline?
sand content 12 Percent
silt content 32 Percent
clay content 55 percent
soil organic matter 5.5 Percent
Climate description
Approximately 30% of annual precipitation is snow. The average frost-free period is 120 days and the growing degree days (>5 °C) is 1755.
Climate properties
VariableTime periodValue (range)Units
precipitation535 millimeter

Design period: Original design (1992—2003)

Design Type
Randomized complete block design
Design description
The experimental design was a split-plot randomized complete block with three replicates. Main plots are crop rotation treatments and measured approximately 90 m × 60 m. Each main plot is split into four subplots for four crop input treatments. Subplots measured approximately 45 m × 30 m. Each block also contained a restored prairie treatment. The subplots with F+H+ treatments represent conventional management and F-H- treatments represent organic management.
Number of plots
12
Number of subplots
36
Number of replicates
3
Number of harvests per year
1
Crops
CropYears grown
wheat
peas
wheat
flax
alfalfa
clover
Crop Rotations
WPWF  1990—2003
  • 1
    wheat
  • 2
    peas
  • 3
    wheat
  • 4
    flax
WGmWF  1990—2003
  • 1
    wheat
  • 2
    clover
    As green a manure
  • 3
    wheat
  • 4
    flax
WAAF  1990—2003
  • 1
    wheat
  • 2
    alfalfa
    Alfalfa
  • 3
    alfalfa
    Alfalfa
  • 4
    flax
Factors
Factor name
Factor levels
fertilizer exposure
F+
With fertilizer inputs
F-
No fertilizer inputs
herbicide exposure
H+
With herbicide inputs
H-
No herbicide inputs

Design period: Current design (2004—)

Design Type
Randomized complete block design
Description
The Glenlea Study underwent major modifications in 2004.
Design description
The experimental design is a randomized complete block with 3 replicates. The study uses two fully phased two rotations (grain-only rotation and grain-forage rotation).
Number of replicates
3
Number of harvests per year
1
Crops
CropYears grown
flax
oats
soybeans
wheat
alfalfa
Crop Rotations
Grain only (annual)  2004—
  • 1
    flax
  • 2
    oats
  • 3
    soybeans
    In the organic treatments soybeans are replaced by an annual legume mixture which is green manured.
  • 4
    wheat
Grain-forage (perennial)  2004—
  • 1
    flax
  • 2
    alfalfa
    alfalfa
  • 3
    alfalfa
    alfalfa
  • 4
    wheat
Factor
Factor name
Factor levels
farming system
organic agriculture
conventional agriculture
Measurements
VariableMaterialUnitsFrequencyScaleComment
grain yield traitNot specified
grain quality traitsNot specified
weeds dataNot specified
disease assessment dataNot specified
economic dataNot specified
nematode dataNot specified
carabid dataNot specified
soil fertilityNot specifiedNutrient status of the soil
soil conservationNot specifiedMeasures on the erodibility of the soil.
energy balanceNot specifiedMeasures on energy use and efficiency
mycorrhizal colonisation dataNot specified

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