Nutrient leaching from organic cropping systems without livestock, R0-0447
- Local identifier
- R0-0447
- Years operational
- 1998—
- Objective
- Study realistic crop rotations for an organic system without livestock, in this case a system with crop production on a Sandy loam soil.
- Description
- The system was adapted to follow the principles for organic farming and regulations for the Swedish certification system for organic farming (KRAV), this was done in collaboration with stakeholders. In the crop production systems, N-fixing crops contribute with N, but also biofertilizers are used, which provide N, P and K. The experiment generated considerable knowledge about nutrient dynamics and losses in organic cropping systems and also about how to manage grass/clover leys and green manure crops in order to reduce leaching risks, for example with timing of harvests and time of incorporation. From 2020, we introduced a somewhat new design in order to investigate strategies for weed control. This is a challenge in organic crop production, where intensive mechanical treatment of weeds often increase the risk of N leaching. Therefore, strategies with row hoeing and cover crops for suppression of weeds is highly interesting. Two strategies are studied, one with high tillage intensity and one where row cultivation and cover crops (where possible) is the main method for weed control. The leys will also be an important component for weed suppression although this is the same for both strategies. During the years, samples for soil mineral N has been taken at different times but in the present strategy no mineral N is determined. Yields of main crop, including leys, are determined every year with analyses of N, P and K and samples of grain are archived. Samples for basic soil chemical properties are taken with six years interval (archived). Water flow is registered and flow-proportional water samples are analysed for Tot-N, Tot-P, NO3-N and K. Staff at Hushållningssällskapet Halland , perform the experimental work.
- Data Access Statement
- Available to any researcher on request
- Data Access Notes
- An online application form for access to the long-term field experiments or data from these experiments. Seed sample archive available. Request sends to the experimental manager.
- Data license
- Don't know
- Data URL
- https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.slu.se%2Fglobalassets%2Few%2Forg%2Fcentrb%2Flangliggande%2Fgb-ltt-application-form-slu-20140820.docx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK
- Data policy
- https://www.slu.se/globalassets/ew/org/centrb/langliggande/gb-guidelines_lte_slu_20140820.pdf
- Organizations
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU Agricultural Long-Term Experimentsresearch organisationHushållningssällskapet Hallandexperimental research station
- People
- Senior Lecturer Helena Aronssonprincipal investigatorSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesDepartment of Soil and Environment; Agricultural water managementResearcher Lisbet Norbergprincipal investigatorSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesDepartment of Soil and Environment; Agricultural water managementResearch engineer Maria Blombergdata managerSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesDepartment of Soil and Environment; Agricultural water management
Site: Nutrient leaching from organic cropping systems without livestock, R0-0447
- Type
- research station field
- Local code
- R0-0447
- Location
- MellbyHallandSweden
- Geographic location
- 56.480497, 12.984332
- Elevation
- 7 Metres
- Visits permitted?
- Yes
- Soil type
- unknown
- Soil description
- Sandy loam Soil properties from the nerarby long-term experiment R0-8304. In the soil properties grain size of silt is 0,002-0,2mm (Swedish Mo and Mjäla) and grain size of sand 0,2-2mm.
- Soil properties
Variable Depth Value (range) Units Ref year Estimated? Baseline? clay content 0 – 20 Centimetres 5.6 Percent 1987 clay_content 20 – 40 Centimetres 6.1 Percent 1987 clay_content 40 – 60 Centimetres 1.5 Percent 1987 clay_content 60 – 80 Centimetres 1.9 Percent 1987 clay_content 80 – 100 Centimetres 1.6 Percent 1987 clay_content 150 – 170 Centimetres 38.8 Percent 1987 silt content 0 – 20 Centimetres 42.6 Percent 1987 silt content 20 – 40 Centimetres 45.6 Percent 1987 silt content 40 – 60 Centimetres 56.4 Percent 1987 silt content 60 – 80 Centimetres 45.2 Percent 1987 silt content 80 – 100 Centimetres 69 Percent 1987 silt content 150 – 170 Centimetres 45 Percent 1987 sand content 0 – 20 Centimetres 46.4 Percent 1987 sand content 20 – 40 Centimetres 45.1 Percent 1987 sand content 40 – 60 Centimetres 41 Percent 1987 sand content 60 – 80 Centimetres 52.1 1987 sand content 80 – 100 Centimetres 28.8 Percent 1987 sand content 150 – 170 Centimetres 16 Percent 1987 soil organic matter 0 – 20 Centimetres 4.8 Percent 1987 soil organic matter 20 – 40 Centimetres 2.6 Percent 1987 soil organic matter 40 – 60 Centimetres 1.1 Percent 1987 soil organic matter 60 – 80 Centimetres 0.6 Percent 1987 soil organic matter 80 – 100 Centimetres 0.4 Percent 1987 soil organic matter 150 – 170 Centimetres 0 Percent 1987 - Climatic type
- temperate oceanic climate
- Climate description
- Long-term averages from Swedish Meterological and Hydrological institute (SMHI), Halmstad (station no.62400). Local climate can be found at https://www.slu.se/fakulteter/nj/om-fakulteten/centrumbildningar-och-storre-forskningsplattformar/faltforsk/vader/lantmet/ the station name is Mellby Sa (26926).
- Climate properties
Variable Time period Value (range) Units air temperature 1961 – 1990 7.2 degree Celsius air temperature 1991 – 2020 8.4 degree Celsius precipitation 1961 – 1990 783 millimeter precipitation 1991 – 2020 850 millimeter
Design period: (1998—)
- Description
- Plot size 30x30 m No. of plots 7 Spacing between tiles 7 m Depth of tiles 0.9-1 m Treatment replicates 3-4 Organic set crop rotation Types of fertilizer/amendments Organic NK Cover crops sometimes Autumn tillage Crop rotation and treatments in the organic cropping system experiments since 2020 Oats with undersown ley Red clover seed Green manure Oil rape seed Winter wheat Field bean Treatment A Strategy for weeds with leys and repeated stubble cultivation in autumn Treatment B Strategy for weeds with leys, double row spacing and row cultivation during season Main components of crop rotation and treatments in the organic cropping system experiments, 1998-2018 Oats with undersown ley Ley for green manure Spring wheat Winter rye with undersown ley Ley for green manure Oil rape seed+cover crop
- Number of plots
- 7
- Number of replicates
- 3
- Crops
Crop Years grown