Organic arable farming experiment Gladbacherhof (OAFEG)

This experiment has been added by the GLTEN Curators using existing published sources.
Objective
the Organic Arable Farming Experiment Gladbacherhof (OAFEG) was started in order to explore the impact of different organic arable production systems (mixed farming, stockless farming with rotational ley, stockless cash crop farming) and of different tillage intensities (conventional plough as a full inversion tillage, two-layer plough, inversion tillage at reduced depth, non-inversion tillage) on sustainability parameters
Description
Potentials and limits of stockless organic farming: The experiment considers the direct and long-term impact of different farm types with and without animals on crops, soil quality and the environment and the consequent stability, resilience, sustainability and nutrient efficiency. Potentials and limits of reduced tillage in organic farming: The direct and long-term effects of different tillage systems on crops, soil quality, and the environment and the potential of reduced tillage with different crop rotation and fertilization.
Data Access Statement
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Data license
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Data policy
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Organization
Justus Liebig University of Gießen
Person
Dr Franz Schulz
principal investigator
Justus Liebig University of Gießen

Site: Organic arable farming experiment Gladbacherhof (OAFEG)

Type
research station field
Location
Gladbacher Hof
Hesse
Germany
Geographic location
50.396661, 8.25022
+−
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Elevation
170 Metres
Visits permitted?
No
Soil type
Orthic luvisol
Soil description
Silt loam - loamy silt
Climate properties
VariableTime periodValue (range)Units
air temperature9.4 degree Celsius
precipitation654 millimeter

Design period: Current design period (1998—)

Design Type
Split-plot
Number of replicates
4
Crops
CropYears grown
winter wheat
oats
potatoes
peas
winter rye
grass clover leys
catch crops
faba beans
grass
Crop Rotations
Mixed Farm (MF)
  • 1
    grass clover leys
    Undersown in previous rye crop. Medicago sativa, Trifolium pratense, Lolium perenne, Festuca pratensis, Phleum pratense
  • 2
    grass clover leys
  • 3
    winter wheat
    catch crops
    Growth of stubble crops in every system as green manure. Crops were usually mixtures of Raphanus sativus and Vicia sativa
  • 4
    potatoes
  • 5
    winter wheat
  • 6
    winter rye
    grass clover leys
    Undersown
Stockless farm with mulched ley (SFL)
  • 1
    oats
    grass clover leys
    Undersown. Medicago sativa, Trifolium pratense, Lolium perenne, Festuca pratensis, Phleum pratense.
  • 2
    grass clover leys
    Green fallow/cropped ley
  • 3
    winter wheat
    catch crops
    Growth of stubble crops in every system as green manure. Crops were usually mixtures of Raphanus sativus and Vicia sativa
  • 4
    potatoes
  • 5
    peas
  • 6
    winter rye
    catch crops
Stockless farm with cash crops in all years (SFC)
  • 1
    oats
    catch crops
  • 2
    faba beans
    grass
    undersown
  • 3
    winter wheat
    catch crops
    Growth of stubble crops in every system as green manure. Crops were usually mixtures of Raphanus sativus and Vicia sativa
  • 4
    potatoes
  • 5
    peas
  • 6
    winter rye
    catch crops
Factor
Factor name
Factor levels
tillage process
Tillage intensity
conventional tillage  (15-30 cm depth)
Full inversion tillage (FIT): Cultivator depth 15 cm in summer; Plough depth of 30 cm in autumn
Two layer plough (TLP)  (15-30 cm depth)
Two-layer plough disruption down to 30 cm, inversion down to 15 cm in summer; Plough depth of 15 cm in autumn
reduced tillage  (15 cm depth)
Reduced inversion tillage (RIT). Plough or cultivator, 15 cm in spring and autumn
Non inversion tillage  (15-30 cm depth)
Non inversion tillage (NIT). Cultivator and rotary harrow disruption down to 30 cm, mixing down to 15 cm in summer; Without plough (depth of 15 cm) in autumn
Measurements
VariableMaterialUnitsFrequencyScaleComment
yield componentsAll crops
soil organic carbonSoil

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