SRUC Woodlands Field pH plots
This experiment has been added by the GLTEN Curators using existing published sources.
- Objective
- Impacts of seven different target soil pH treatments (pH4.5 through to pH 7.5) on both the production and quality an 8-course ley-arable rotation as well as influence on the soil.
- Description
- Unique in having a pH gradient of seven levels across a rotation of eight crops. Rotations including 3 years grass-clover, winter wheat, potatoes, spring barley, swedes and spring oats under sown. The experiment is important as soil pH is a major driver of microbial community structure, diversity and activity such as effects on carbon accumulation ; natural product discovery as microbes acclimatise to the soil environment pH; impact of pH on yield and quality of crops in terms of crop diversification and food security. The experiment had to end in 2020 but the soils have been transferred to a new location nearby and a new experiment initiated called the Phoenix Experiment.
- Data Access Statement
- Don't know
- Data license
- Don't know
- Data policy
- Don't know
- Organization
- SRUC Craibstone, Aberdeen
- People
- Christine WatsonSRUC CraibstoneRobin WalkerSRUC Craibstone
Site: Woodlands Field pH plots
- Type
- research station field
- Location
- CraibstoneScotland
- Geographic location
- 57.236821, -2.247484
- Visits permitted?
- No
Design period: (1961—2020)
- Design Type
- Demonstration strip design
- Description
- Seven pH levels 4.5 - 7.5 across a rotation of eight crops. Set up as an eight course rotation, typical of the mixed farm systems of the area; 3 years grass clover ley, followed by winter wheat, potatoes, spring barley, swedes and then under-sown spring oats. Low levels of fertiizers throughout and some changes in varieties grown.
- Design description
- A gradient of pH 4.5 to 7.5 across all crops in a gradient (not random)
- Crops
Crop Years grown grass clover leys winter wheat potatoes spring barley swedes spring oats - Crop Rotation
- 8 course rotation
- 1grass clover leys
- 2grass clover leys
- 3grass clover leys
- 4winter wheat
- 5potatoes
- 6spring barley
- 7swedes
- 8spring oats
- Factor
- Factor name
- Factor levels
- pH exposure ground chalk applied as necessary to maintain soil at pH 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, 7.0 and 7.5
- Measurements
Variable Material Units Frequency Scale Comment yield components Not specified soil properties Not specified soil organic matter Not specified earthworms Not specified soil fauna Not specified
Related publications
- Celebrating 100 years of agricultural experimentation at Craibstone (video presentation) Nov 2021 https://vimeo.com/644875224/9316a33145 [In English]