Nutrient leaching from organic cropping systems without livestock, R0-0747

Local identifier
R0-0747
Years operational
1998—
Objective
Study realistic crop rotations for an organic system without livestock, in this case a system with crop production on a clay 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 Lanna Research Station, SLU 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 Experiments
research organisation
Lanna research station
experimental research station
People
Senior Lecturer Helena Aronsson
principal investigator
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Department of Soil and Environment; Agricultural water management
Researcher Lisbet Norberg
principal investigator
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Department of Soil and Environment; Agricultural water management
Research Engineer Maria Blomberg
data manager
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Department of Soil and Environment; Agricultural water management

Site: Nutrient leaching from organic cropping systems without livestock, R0-0747

Local code
R0-0747
Location
Lanna
Västergötland
Sweden
Geographic location
58.3461, 13.1233
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Elevation
73 Metres
Visits permitted?
Yes
Soil type
unknown
Soil description
Clay Soil properties are from a field nearby.
Soil properties
VariableDepthValue (range)UnitsRef yearEstimated?Baseline?
clay content0 – 30 Centimetres46.5 Percent1994
clay content30 – 60 Centimetres56.1 Percent1994
clay content60 – 100 Centimetres60.6 Percent1994
silt content0 – 30 Centimetres46.2 Percent1994
silt content30 – 60 Centimetres40.6 Percent1994
silt content60 – 100 Centimetres37.4 Percent1994
sand content0 – 30 Centimetres7.3 Percent1994
sand content30 – 60 Centimetres3.3 Percent1994
sand content60 – 100 Centimetres2 Percent1994
Climatic type
Temperate oceanic climate
Climate description
Long-term averages data from Swedish Meterological and Hydrological institute (SMHI), station Lanna. 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 Lanna (25786).
Climate properties
VariableTime periodValue (range)Units
air temperature 1961 – 1990 6.1 degree Celsius
air temperature 1991 – 2020 7.3 degree Celsius
precipitation 1961 – 1990 558 millimeter
precipitation 1991 – 2020 584 millimeter

Design period: (1998—)

Description
Plot size 40x40 m No. of plots 8 Spacing between tiles 13.5 m Depth of tiles 0.9-1 m Treatment replicates 3-4 Organic set crop rotation Types of fertilizer/amendments organic NP 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 Oats Winter wheat with undersown ley Ley for green manure Spring wheat Field bean
Number of plots
8
Number of replicates
3
Crops
CropYears grown