Rowden Plots
- Objective
- The Rowden plots at North Wyke were initially established by the Grassland Research Institute in 1982 as a 10-year experiment (Rowden Drainage Experiment) to compare drained and undrained swards in terms of the animal and herbage production and the economics of field drainage in an agricultural context.
- Description
- Since 1993, the site has been used to host a suite of different experiments
- Data Access Statement
- Available to any researcher on request
- Data license
- Don't know
- Data policy
- Don't know
- Organization
- Rothamsted Research, North Wykeexperimental research station
- Person
- Jane Hawkinsdata managerRothamsted Resarch, North Wyke
Site: Rowden Plots
- Type
- research station field
- Location
- OkehamptonDevonUnited Kingdom
- Geographic location
- 50.779132, -3.91551
- Elevation
- 140 Metres
- Slope
- 5°
- Visits permitted?
- No
- History
- The experiment was established in 1982 on old unimproved pasture (previously known as Rowden Moor) on poorly drained, sloping land (5-10%).
- Management
- The paddocks were limed at the start of the Rowden Drainage Experiment at 5 t ha-1 to the reseeds in 1982, permanent pasture plots in 1983 and to all plots in 1986. The plots were limed again in August 2000 using ground limestone at 5 t ha-1 and from then on whenever required to maintain the soil at ~pH 6.5. Nitrogen fertilizer has been added over the years according to project regimes. Phosphorus and Potassium have been added in the spring every year, with K added to cut plots as required. The P and K was increased on grass/clover plots to 50 kg P and 100 kg K ha-1 yr-1 in 1989-91 but was reduced to 40 kg P and 80 kg K ha-1 yr-1 in 1992 due to the build-up of soil reserves.
- Soil type
- gleysol
- Soil description
- The soil is predominantly a clayey non-calcareous pelostagnogley of the Hallsworth series overlying the clay shales of the Crackington Formation (Dystric Gleysol of the FAO classification) and is typical of much of the permanent grassland in the south-west of England
- Soil properties
Variable Depth Value (range) Units Ref year Estimated? Baseline? clay content 38 Percent silt content 50 Percent find sand content 11 Percent course sand content 1 Percent soil total carbon 3.7 Percent total soil nitrogen 1.1 Percent plant available phosphorous 7.5 milligram per kilogram total soil phosphorous 540 milligram per kilogram soil pH 5.3 - Climatic type
- temperate oceanic climate
- Climate properties
Variable Time period Value (range) Units air temperature 1981 – 2010 (6.7 – 13.4) degree Celsius sun hours 1981 – 2010 1471 total annual hours precipitation 1981 – 2010 1053 millimeter frost days 1981 – 2010 31.5 days
Design period: Rowden Drainage Experiment (1982—1993)
- Description
- Each plot is hydrologically isolated from neighbouring plots by gravel filled ditches to 30 cm commonly known as French drains. Seven plots were mole-drained and fissured to 50 cm, and with pipe drains to 85 cm with permeable backfill. The plots are therefore divided into (a) undrained with a 30 cm depth impermeable clay horizon that prevents water from percolating downwards, and (b) drained plots constructed with regular pipe and mole drains to 85 cm depth.
- Number of plots
- 14
- Crops
Crop Years grown - Factors
- Factor name
- Factor levels
- nitrogen fertilizer exposure Plot application: Whole plot
control exposure
No Nlow N
variable N
- drainage Plot application: Whole plot
drained
undrained