Barnfield

This experiment has been added by the GLTEN Curators using existing published sources.
Local identifier
R/BN/7
Years operational
1843—2001 (Establishment period end: 1855)
Objective
Effects of fertilizers and organic manures on root crops, arable crops and grass & clover.
Description
Barnfield was the first of the Classical Experiments, with treatments applied in spring 1843 for a crop of turnips sown in July. The treatments and cropping, although mainly roots, differed until 1876 when a period of continuous cropping with mangolds was started that lasted until 1959 (sugar beet were also grown, on half-plots, from 1946). Treatments during the first two years were on long narrow plots, as on Broadbalk. After various modification, the design was settled in 1856 when the strips testing minerals and FYM, including FYM + PK, were crossed at right angles by series comparing no N fertilizer with both inorganic and organic forms of N supplying 96 kg ha-1. Before 1968 this was the only Classical in which N was applied with both FYM and FYM + PK fertilizer. Because yields of continuous roots were declining, perhaps because of increasing numbers of cyst nematodes (Heterodera schachtii), the cropping has been progressively modified since 1959 and has included a range of arable crops, with an increased range of N dressings, and grass. From 1977 to 1983 the series that had never received N fertilizer was kept fallow. It was sown to a grass-clover ley in 1984. The remainder has been in grass since 1975. No treatments have been applied and no yields taken since 2001, although the site is currently still available. Recently soil from the site was used in a study investigating the response of wheat roots to soil P supply (Yuan et al, 2016).
Data Access Statement
Available to any researcher on request
Data license
CC BY
Data policy
Yes (not online)
Organization
Rothamsted Research
research organisation
 Rothamsted Research, West Common, Harpenden, Herts., AL5 2JQ, UK
People
Dr Sarah Perryman
data manager
Rothamsted Research
Computational and Analytical Sciences
Dr Margaret Glendining
data manager
Rothamsted Research
Computational and Analytical Sciences
Dr Andy Gregory
experiment manager
Rothamsted Research
Sustainable Agricultural Sciences

Site: Barnfield

Type
research station field
Local code
R/BN/7
Location
Harpenden
Hertfordshire
United Kingdom
Geographic location
51.80722036, -0.35907269
+−
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Elevation
126 Metres
Visits permitted?
Yes
Visiting arrangements
By arrangement with Dr Andy Gregory, LTE Manager
Soil type
luvisol

Design period: Root Crops (1843—1959)

Description
The experiments on mangels began in 1876, but the land had been receiving manures for other root crops since 1856.
Design description
The final treatment arrangement, settled on since 1879, consisted of 35 plots arranged in seven 'strips' running roughly north-south and five series running at right-angles. The plots of each strip each received one of certain combinations of farmyard manure and mineral fertilizers. The plots of each series each received one of certain combinations of castor meal, ammonium sulphate or sodium nitrate. From 1946 four rows of sugar beet were drilled on each plot, occupying about one third of the total area.
Number of plots
35
Number of harvests per year
1
Crops
CropYears grown
turnips 1843—1848
swedes 1849—1852
barley 1853—1855
swedes 1856—1870
sugar beet 1871—1875
mangolds 1876—1959
sugar beet 1946—1959
Factor
Factor name
Factor levels
fertilizer exposure
Plot application: Whole plot
control exposure
Both strip and series treatment had a control exposure.
sodium nitrate  (93 kgN/ha)
castor meal  (2241 kg/ha)
Until 1939 rapeseed cake (none between 1917-1920) at 2241 kg/ha; 1940 to 1954 castor meal also at 2241 kg/ha and since 1955 castor meal to provide 93 kgN/ha.
ammonium sulfate  (93 kgN/ha)
Chemical form: ammonium sulfate
Until 1916 equal parts of ammonium sulphate and ammonium chloride
farmyard manure  (35 t/ha)
phosphorous  (33 kgP/ha)
As superphosphate, except 1896-1902 when basic slag was used.
potassium  (224 kgK/ha)
Chemical form: potassium chloride
As muriate of potash (potassium chloride)
magnesium  (22 kgMg/ha)
Chemical form: magnesium sulphate
sodium  (90 kgNa/ha)
As agricultural salts (sodium chloride)
Factor combinations
O
Series treatment factor combination
fertilizer exposure: control exposure
N
Series treatment factor combination
fertilizer exposure: sodium nitrate
A
Series treatment factor combination
fertilizer exposure: ammonium sulfate
AC
Series treatment factor combination
fertilizer exposure: ammonium sulfate
fertilizer exposure: castor meal
C
Series treatment factor combination
fertilizer exposure: castor meal
D
Strip treatment factor combination
fertilizer exposure: farmyard manure
DPK
Series treatment factor combination
fertilizer exposure: farmyard manure
fertilizer exposure: phosphorous
fertilizer exposure: potassium
PKNaMg
fertilizer exposure: phosphorous
fertilizer exposure: potassium
fertilizer exposure: sodium
fertilizer exposure: magnesium
P
fertilizer exposure: phosphorous
PK
fertilizer exposure: phosphorous
fertilizer exposure: potassium
PNaMg
fertilizer exposure: phosphorous
fertilizer exposure: sodium
fertilizer exposure: magnesium
None
fertilizer exposure: control exposure

Design period: Transition Period (1960—1977)

Description
These years saw interim treatments. In 1960 and 1961 the field was fallowed, farmyard manure, castor meal and minerals were applied. In 1962 the plots were divided lengthways for comparison of potatoes and mangolds. FYM were still applied but castor meal discontinued. The division of 4N was discontinued and the plot reverted to standard strip manuring. For each crop plots were divided into four for a test of nitrogen (except series O which continued to receive no nitrogen). In 1963 FYM and minerals were applied and the field was fallowed, except for three rows of potatoes on the east side of strip 4, series N, A, AC and C for observations on Oospora pustulans (skin spot fungus affecting potatoes). In 1964 plots were again divided lengthways for comparison of potatoes and mangolds (reverse positions of 1962). The rate of P was increased. In 1965 and 1966 the field was fallowed - FYM and minerals were applied, but no nitrogen. All plots were applied with simazine weed killer.
Design description
35 plots with 7 strips and five series running at right angles (plot 9 was outside this scheme).
Number of plots
35
Crops
CropYears grown
potatoes
mangolds
Factors
Factor name
Factor levels
farmyard manure exposure
castor meal exposure
nitrogen fertilizer exposure
as sulphate of ammonia
 (0 cwt)
Chemical form: ammonium sulfate
applied in seed bed
 (0.6 cwt)
Chemical form: ammonium sulfate
 (1.2 cwt)
Chemical form: ammonium sulfate
 (1.8 cwt)
Chemical form: ammonium sulfate
nitrogen fertilizer exposure
as nitrate of soda
applied in seed bed
phosphate fertilizer exposure
potassium fertilizer exposure
magnesium nutrient exposure
sodium nutrient exposure

Design period: Grass and clover phase (1977—2001)

Description
From 1977 to 1983 the series that had never received N fertilizer was kept fallow. It was sown to a grass-clover ley in 1984. The remainder has been in grass since 1975.
Crops
CropYears grown
grass
clover
Factors
Factor name
Factor levels
farmyard manure exposure
until 1975, none since
 (35 tons/acre)
nitrogen fertilizer exposure
no nitrogen applied in 1995
 (75 kg nitrogen per cut)
 (100 kg nitrogen per cut)
 (125 kg nitrogen per cut)
 (150 kg nitrogen per cut)
phosphate fertilizer exposure
 (35 kgP/ha)
1987—
Chemical form: triple superphosphate
since 1987 and in 1974
 (35 kg phosphorous per hectare)
Chemical form: single superphosphate
potassium fertilizer exposure
 (225 kgK/ha)
Chemical form: potassium sulphate
magnesium nutrient exposure
 (90 kgMg/ha)
Application frequency: every fourth year
Chemical form: magnesium sulphate
(as kiersite since 1974)
castor meal exposure
last applied 1971
sodium nutrient exposure
 (?? kgNa/ha)
—1973
Chemical form: sodium chloride
Factor combinations
D  —1975
D=farmyard manure
DPK
PK(Na)Mg
Na until 1973, none since
P
PK
P(Na)MG
Na until 1973, none since
0

Related publications

  • Yuan, H. M. , Blackwell, M. , McGrath, S. , George, T. S. , Granger, S. J. , Hawkins, J. M. B. , Dunham, S. and Shen, J. B. (2016) "Morphological responses of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) roots to phosphorus supply in two contrasting soils", Journal of Agricultural Science, 154, 98-108
  • Avery, B.W. et al. (1972) The soil of Barnfield. RES Report for 1971, Part 2, 5-37.
  • Macdonald, A. , Poulton, P. , Clark, I. , Scott, T. , Glendining, M. , Perryman, S. , Storkey, J. , Bell, J. , Shield, I. , Mcmillan, V. and Hawkins, J. (2018) "Guide to the Classical and Other Long-term experiments, Datasets and Sample Archive. Rothamsted Research", p 41.
  • Phosphorus in Agriculture: A Review of Results from 175 Years of Research at Rothamsted, UK (2019) Journal of Environmental Quality