Saxmundham Rotation I

Local identifier
S/RN/1
Years operational
1899—
Objective
To test N, P, K and manure treatments on crop rotations on a heavy sandy clay loam site. More recently to look at crop responses to P and K, and their interactions with N on high-yielding wheat cultivars.
Description
Two rotation experiments were started at Saxmundham in 1899 by East Suffolk County Council. The experiments consisted of four blocks so that a fully phased typical Norfolk 4-course rotation could be grown. The Rotation I experiment had a factorial test of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium plus bone meal and farmyard manure. Rothamsted assumed control of the experiments in 1965 and reviewed and modified the experiments. Rothamsted relinquished the site in 2010. The site is currently supported by The Morley Agricultural Foundation and delivered by NIAB.
Data Access Statement
Available to any researcher on request
Data Access Notes
Contact e-RA curators: era@rothamsted.ac.uk
Data license
CC BY
Data policy
Yes (not online)
Organizations
Rothamsted Research
research organisation
The Morley Agricultural Foundation
research organisation
People
Dr Sarah Perryman
data managers
Rothamsted Research
Intelligent Data Ecosystems
 
Dr Andrew Gregory
principal investigator
Rothamsted Research
Protecting Crops and the Environment
Dr Margaret Glendining
data manager
Rothamsted Research
Intelligent Data Ecosystems
Dr Nathan Morris
principal investigator
NIAB
Soils and Farming Systems
David Clarke
principal investigator
NIAB
Soils and Farming Systems

Site: Harwood's Piece

Type
research station field
Local code
S/RN/1
Location
Saxmundham
Suffolk
United Kingdom
Geographic location
52.220964, 1.466048
+−
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Elevation
36 Metres
Visits permitted?
No
Visiting arrangements
None
History
The Saxmundham experimental site is currently supported by The Morley Agricultural Foundation and delivered by NIAB.
Soil type
Eutric gleysol
Soil description
Sandy clay loam developed over drift over Chalky Boulder Clay, Beccles Series.
Climatic type
temperate oceanic climate
Climate properties
VariableTime periodValue (range)Units
precipitation 1968 – 1984 611 millimeter
air temperature 1969 – 1984 9.6 degree Celsius

Design period: First Period (1899—1965)

Design Type
Randomized complete block design
Description
A factorial test of N, P and K plus bone meal and FYM treatments on a four crop rotation.
Design description
Four blocks of ten plots each, with a four-course rotation, with different crops grown in each block each year. Originally the crops of a typical Norfolk four-course rotation (roots, spring barley, legume and winter wheat. Different fertilizer and manure treatments in the 10 plots.
Number of blocks
4
Number of plots
40
Number of replicates
4
Crops
CropYears grown
wheat
root vegetables
barley
feed legumes
Crop Rotation
Norfolk Rotation  1899—1962
  • 1
    wheat
  • 2
    root vegetables
    Swedes or turnips in the early years, then mangolds or beetroot
  • 3
    barley
  • 4
    feed legumes
    Normally beans but sometimes clover or peas
Factor
Factor name
Factor levels
fertilizer exposure
Plot application: Whole plot
farmyard manure  (15 t/ha)
bone meal  (0.5 t/ha)
nitrogen  (100 kgN/ha)
Chemical form: sodium nitrate
phosphorous  (40 kgP/ha)
potassium  (63 kgK/ha)
Chemical form: potassium chloride
Factor combinations
D
fertilizer exposure: farmyard manure
BM
fertilizer exposure: bone meal
N
fertilizer exposure: nitrogen
P
fertilizer exposure: phosphorous
K
fertilizer exposure: potassium
O
No fertilizer
PK
fertilizer exposure: phosphorous
fertilizer exposure: potassium
NK
fertilizer exposure: nitrogen
fertilizer exposure: potassium
NP
fertilizer exposure: nitrogen
fertilizer exposure: phosphorous
NPK
fertilizer exposure: nitrogen
fertilizer exposure: phosphorous
fertilizer exposure: potassium

Design period: Second period (1966—2010)

Design Type
Randomized complete block design
Description
The response of various crops to fresh and residual P and their interactions with N, particularly with high rates of N applied to high yielding wheat cultivars of bread making quality.
Design description
The four-course rotation of wheat, sugar beet, barley and beans was continued until the 1969 harvest. In 1970 the northern half of each plot was sown to lucerne and the southern to a grass ley mixture.
Number of plots
10
Number of replicates
4
Number of harvests per year
1
Crops
CropYears grown
alfalfa
winter wheat
barley
faba beans
sugar beet
grass leys

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