Hoosfield Barley

Local identifier: R/HB/2
Years operational: 1852—
Objective: To test the effects of different inorganic fertilizers (supplying the elements N, P, K Mg and sodium silicate) and farmyard manure (FYM) on the yield of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare)
Description: Started in 1852, spring barley has been grown continuously on the site since then. The experiment offers interesting contrasts to Broadbalk; because it is spring sown it has only been necessary to fallow it four times to control weeds and it tests not only nitrogen, minerals and FYM but also sodium silicate.
Data Access Statement: Available online with registration
Data license: CC BY
Data URL: http://www.era.rothamsted.ac.uk/Hoosfield
Data policy: Yes (not online)
Organization: Rothamsted Research
research organisation
People: Dr Andrew Gregory
principal investigator
Rothamsted Research
Protecting Crops and the Environment

Dr Margaret Glendining
data manager
Rothamsted Research
Intelligent Data Ecosystems
res.e-ra@rothamsted.ac.uk
Dr Sarah Perryman
data manager
Rothamtsed Research
Intelligent Data Ecosystems

Site: Hoosfield

Type

research station field

Local code

R/HB/2

Location

Harpenden

Hertfordshire

United Kingdom

Geographic location

51.81206, -0.37608

+−

Maps

Satellite

Elevation

130 Metres

Visits permitted?

Yes

Visiting arrangements

Contact Dr Andrew Gregory

History

The Hoosfield Spring Barley experiment was started in 1852 on a 1.7 hectare (4.25 acre) site, to test the effects of organic manure and inorganic fertilizer on the growth of spring barley. The site has probably been occupied since Roman times, and the Rothamsted map of 1623 shows the site under arable cultivation. Before the experiment started the following arable crops were grown: turnips (with FYM and superphosphate) 1847, barley 1848, clover 1849, wheat 1850, barley (with ammonium salts) 1851.

Management

The site is managed using conventional tillage and pesticide applications are applied as necessary. The plough layer (0-23 m) is limed when necessary to maintain a minimum soil pH of 7.0 – 7.5. There is no irrigation.

Soil type

luvisol

Soil description

Flinty silty clay loam topsoil over clay-with–flints (Avery and Catt, 1995). The soils contain a large number of flints and are slightly calcareous. Below about 2m depth the soil becomes chalk. The experiment is under-drained and the site is free draining.

Soil properties

Variable	Depth	Value (range)	Units
clay content	0 – 23 Centimetres	20	Percent
silt content	0 – 23 Centimetres	52	Percent
sand content	0 – 23 Centimetres	28	Percent

Climatic type

temperate oceanic climate

Climate properties

Variable	Time period	Value (range)	Units
precipitation	1981 – 2010	733 (515.5 – 973.5)	millimeter
air temperature	1981 – 2010	9.8 (8.51 – 10.89)	degree Celsius

Design period: Period 1 (1852—1967)

Design Type

Demonstration strip design

Description

20 large plots and 4 small plots. 16 large plots with 4 different types of fertilizer N and 4 different PK treatments in a factorial design (strips 1-4); 4 large plots with 4 different organic manure treatments (strips 6 & 7); 4 small plots (strip 5) with different NPK treatments (details not given in this description). From 1862 some plots included a test of silicate. Spring barley grown every year except 1912, 1933, 1943 and 1967 when the whole experiment was fallowed to control weeds.

Design description

Four combinations of nutrients were tested in a factorial design (strips 1-4): 0 v P v KMgNa v PKMgNa. This series was crossed by four series testing either no N or three forms of N usually applied at 48kgNha-1 (Series O, no N; Series A, ammonium sulphate; Series AA, sodium nitrate; Series C, rape cake, later castor meal). Four additional plots test: unmanured (plot 61); ashes, 1852-1932 (plot 62); residues of FYM applied 1852-1871 (plot 71); FYM since 1852 (plot 72). The sodium nitrate series was divided in 1862 for a test of with and without sodium silicate, to see what effect this had on straw strength, which was used in large quantities in the local hat factories at that time.

Number of plots

Number of subplots

Number of replicates

Number of harvests per year

Crop

Crop	Years grown
spring barley	1852—

Factors

Factor name: Factor levels

nitrogen fertilizer exposure nitrogen fertilizer in various forms applied annually: ammonium sulfate (Series A) (48 kgN/ha)
1852—1966
Applied to crop: spring barley
Application frequency: annually
Chemical form: ammonium sulfate
Applied in the spring.
sodium nitrate (Series AA) plots 1AA-4AA (48 kgN/ha)
1852—1966
Applied to crop: spring barley
Application frequency: annually
Chemical form: sodium sulphate
Applied in spring.
castor meal (Series C) Plots 1C-4C (48 kgN/ha)
1852—1967
Applied to crop: spring barley
Application frequency: annually
Castor bean meal since 1941, rape cake 1852-1940.
No nitrogen (Series O) Plots 1O-4O (0 kgN/ha)
1852—1967
Applied to crop: spring barley
phosphate fertilizer exposure: P (35 kgP/ha)
1852—1966
Applied to crop: spring barley
Application frequency: annually
Chemical form: triple superphosphate
applied in the spring
potassium fertilizer exposure inorganic potassium fertilizer applied, along with 11kgMg and 16kgNa fertilizer: KNaMg (90 kgK/ha)
1852—1966
Applied to crop: spring barley
Application frequency: annually
Chemical form: potassium sulphate
Applied in the spring, along with 16kgNa/ha as sodium sulphate and 11kgMg/ha as magnesium sulphate
farmyard manure exposure Annual applicaton of cattle farmyard manure (FYM): FYM strip 72 (35 t/ha)
1852—1967
Applied to crop: spring barley
Application frequency: annuallty
Chemical form: farmyard manure
Applied before ploughing usually in the autumn
FYM-residue strip 71 (35 t/ha)
1852—1871
Applied to crop: spring barley
Application frequency: annually
Chemical form: farmyard manure
Applied before ploughing usually in the autumn for 20 years only
None strip 61 (0 t/ha)
1852—1967
Applied to crop: spring barley
No FYM or inorganic fertilizer applied
Ashes strip 62
1852—1932
Applied to crop: spring barley
Ashes were added to inorganic P, KNaMg fertilizers to aid spreading. This is a test of the ashes alone. Not applied 1928, 1929.
silicon nutrient exposure Series AA 4 large plots divided into 8 sub-plots testing silicate (AA and AAS) from 1862: silicate AAS (450 kg/ha)
1862—1967
Applied to crop: spring barley
Application frequency: annually
Chemical form: sodium silicate
Silicate test on Series AA only 450 kg/ha calcium silicate and sodium silicate 1862-1867.
No silicate AA (0 kg/ha)
1862—1967
Applied to crop: spring barley
Silicate test on Series AA only
nil No P, K, Na or Mg applied since 1852. Strip 1

Measurements

Variable	Material	Units	Frequency	Comment
yield components	spring barley	t/ha	annually	Grain and straw yields at field moisture content, approximately 85% dry matter.
soil organic carbon	Soil	t/ha	occasionally	Topsoil (0-23cm) from soil sampled in 1852, 1882, 1913, 1946 and 1965.
soil total nitrogen	Soil	%	occasionally	Topsoil (0-23cm) from soil sampled in 1852, 1882, 1913, 1946 and 1965.
soil bulk density	Not specified	g/cm3	occasionally	Topsoil (0-23cm) from soil sampled in 1852, 1882, 1913, 1946 and 1965.

Design period: Period 2 Rotation (1968—1978)

Design Type

Split split plot

Description

A comparison of spring barley grown continuously or in rotation with potatoes and beans. Each also tested 4 N rates.

Design description

The 8 large plots of Series AA and C werer each divided into 16 sub-subplots in 1968. A test of rotation or continuous barley was carried out on the sub-plots. Four N rates were tested on the sub-sub plots. The 8 main plots tested 4 combinations of nutrients in a factorial design (strips 1-4): 0 v P v KMgNa v PKMgNa, crossed by 2 series testing two forms of N applied 1852-1967, AA (sodium nitrate) and C (castor bean meal) at 48kgN/ha.

Number of plots

Number of subplots

Number of replicates

Number of harvests per year

Crops

Crop	Years grown
spring barley
potatoes
beans

Crop Rotations

Series C rotation 1968—1978

1
spring barley
2
beans
3
potatoes

Series AA rotation 1968—1978

1
spring barley
2
beans
3
potatoes

Factors

Factor name: Factor levels

nitrogen fertilizer exposure Inorganic nitrogen fertilizer in various amounts applied annually to split plots on the rotation plots.: N0 (0 )
1968—1978
Nil treatment
N1 (48 kgN/ha)
1968—1978
Application frequency: annually
Chemical form: ammonium nitrate
Applied in the spring
N2 (96 kgN/ha)
1968—1978
Application frequency: annually
Chemical form: ammonium nitrate
Applied in the spring
N3 (144 kgN/ha)
1968—1978
Chemical form: ammonium nitrate
Applied in the spring
phosphate fertilizer exposure phosphate fertilizer applied annually: P (34 kgP/ha)
1968—1978
Applied to crop: All crops
Chemical form: triple superphosphate
Applied before ploughing usually in the autumn
potassium fertilizer exposure inorganic potassium fertilizer applied annually, along with 11kgMg and 16kgNa fertilizer: KNaMg (90 kgK/ha)
1968—1978
Application frequency: annually
Chemical form: potassium sulphate
Applied before ploughing, usually in the autumn, with 11kgMg and 16kgNa fertilizer

Measurements

Variable	Material	Units	Frequency	Comment
yield components	All crops	t/ha	annually	grain and straw yields at 85% dry matter
crop nutrient data	spring barley	%	annually	Grain and straw %N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Na since 1970.
thousand grain weight	Not specified	g	annually	selected plots only from 1974 onwards
soil organic carbon	Soil	%		1975 selected plots
soil total nitrogen	Soil	%		1975 selected plots
soil bulk density	Soil	g/cm3		1975 selected plots

Design period: Period 2 Main plots (1968—1978)

Design Type

Split-plot, with 4 N treatments (0, 48, 96 and 144 kg N/ha) as the sub plots.

Description

Continuation of main layout of middle period, continuous spring barley only. Main plots only, Old Series O, A and C. See Middle period Silicate plots for test of Silicate.

Design description

Continuation of main layout of middle period, continuous spring barley only. 16 Main Plots testing various combinations of P, KNaMg, and FYM, on three earlier N treatments; Series O (no fertilizer N); Series A (48 kgN as ammonium sulphate) and Series C (48kg N as castor bean meal) 1852-1967 (see Early period 1).

Number of plots

Number of subplots

Number of replicates

Number of harvests per year

Crop

Crop	Years grown
spring barley

Factors

Factor name: Factor levels

nitrogen fertilizer exposure Inorganic nitrogen fertilizer in various amounts applied annually to split plots: N0 (0 kgN/ha)
Applied to crop: spring barley
SInce 1981 the N rates rotate annually, N3>N2>N1>N0
N1 (48 kgN/ha)
1968—
Applied to crop: spring barley
Application frequency: annually
Chemical form: calcium ammonium nitrate
Applied in spring. SInce 1981 the N rates rotate annually, N3>N2>N1>N0
N2 (96 kgN/ha)
1968—
Applied to crop: spring barley
Application frequency: annually
Chemical form: calcium ammonium nitrate
Applied in spring. SInce 1981 the N rates rotate annually, N3>N2>N1>N0
N3 (144 kgN/ha)
1968—
Applied to crop: spring barley
Chemical form: calcium ammonium nitrate
Applied in spring. SInce 1981 the N rates rotate annually, N3>N2>N1>N0
phosphate fertilizer exposure inorganic phosphorus fertilizer applied annually since 1852: P (35 kgP/ha)
1852—2002
Applied to crop: spring barley
Application frequency: annually
Chemical form: triple superphosphate
Applied in autumn before ploughing.
potassium fertilizer exposure Inorganic potassium fertilizer applied annually since 1852, with inorganic Mg.: KMg (90 kgK/ha)
1852—
Applied to crop: spring barley
Application frequency: annually
Chemical form: potassium sulphate
Applied before ploughing in autumn. Applied annually since 1852 with 35kgMg as Kieserite every three years. 16kgNa/ha applied annually as sodium sulphate until 1978.
farmyard manure exposure farmyard manure in various amounts and periods of application: FYM strip 72 (35 t/ha)
1852—
Applied to crop: spring barley
Application frequency: annually
Chemical form: farmyard manure
Applied before ploughing in autumn. Continuation of FYM treatment from early and middle period.
FYM-residue strip 71 (35 t/ha)
1852—1871
Applied to crop: spring barley
Application frequency: annually
Chemical form: farmyard manure
Continuation of FYM-residue treatment from early and middle period.
None strip 61 (0 t/ha)
Applied to crop: spring barley
No FYM applied. Continuation of Early and Middle Period treatment.
Ash strip 62
1852—1932
Applied to crop: spring barley
Continuation of treatment from Early and Middle period.
silicon nutrient exposure Inorganic silicate fertilizer in various amounts and periods of previous application: Si, Series AA (450 kg/ha)
1980—
Chemical form: sodium silicate
Applied before ploughing in the autumn.
(Si), Series AA (450 kg/ha)
1862—1979
Chemical form: sodium silicate
Applied before ploughing in autumn

Measurements

Variable	Material	Units	Frequency	Comment
yield components	spring barley	t/ha	annually	Grain and straw yields at 85% dry matter.
crop nutrient content	spring barley	%	annually	Grain and straw %N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Na since 1979, %S since 1996, from main plots only.
thousand grain weight	spring barley	g	annually	selected plots only from 1974 onwards
soil organic carbon	Soil	%	infrequently	1982, 1998, 2000 on selected plots only. 0-23cm. Some subsoil data also available in 2000.
total soil nitrogen	Soil	%	infreqently	1982, 1998, 2000 on selected plots only. 0-23cm. Some subsoil data also available in 2000.
plant available phosphorous	Soil	mg/kg	infreqently	1982, 1998, 2000 on selected plots only. 0-23cm. Some subsoil data also available in 2000.
soil pH	Soil		infreqently	1982, 1998, 2008 on selected plots only. 0-23cm. Some subsoil data in 1998.
Exchangeable cations	Soil		infreqently	Exchangeable Ca, Mg, K, and Na, 1982 and 2000, selected plots. 0-23cm soil layer.

Design period: Period 3 Silicate treatments (1979—2000)

Design Type

Split-plot

Description

Continuation of main layout of middle period, continuous spring barley only. The testing of sodium silicates (Series AA) was modified in 1980 to test: 0 v silicate 1862-1979 v silicate since 1980 v silicate since 1862.

Design description

Continuation of main layout of middle period, continuous spring barley only. Series AA was modified in 1980 to test: 0 v silicate 1862-1979 v silicate since 1980 v silicate since 1862. Two new plots testing P2KMg (plot 63) and FYM (plot 73) were introduced in 2001 and Strip 5 tested various other combinations of N, P, K and Mg.

Crops

Crop	Years grown

Design period: Period 3 Main plots (1979—2000)

Crops

Crop	Years grown

Design period: Current period Main plots (2001—)

Crops

Crop	Years grown

Design period: Current period Silicate test (2001—)

Crops

Crop	Years grown

Design period: Current period P test (2001—)

Crops

Crop	Years grown

Hoosfield Barley

Site: Hoosfield

Design period: Period 1 (1852—1967)

ammonium sulfate (Series A) (48 kgN/ha)

sodium nitrate (Series AA) plots 1AA-4AA (48 kgN/ha)

castor meal (Series C) Plots 1C-4C (48 kgN/ha)

No nitrogen (Series O) Plots 1O-4O (0 kgN/ha)

P (35 kgP/ha)

KNaMg (90 kgK/ha)

FYM strip 72 (35 t/ha)

FYM-residue strip 71 (35 t/ha)

None strip 61 (0 t/ha)

Ashes strip 62

silicate AAS (450 kg/ha)

No silicate AA (0 kg/ha)

Design period: Period 2 Rotation (1968—1978)

N0 (0 )

N1 (48 kgN/ha)

N2 (96 kgN/ha)

N3 (144 kgN/ha)

P (34 kgP/ha)

KNaMg (90 kgK/ha)

Design period: Period 2 Main plots (1968—1978)

N0 (0 kgN/ha)

N1 (48 kgN/ha)

N2 (96 kgN/ha)

N3 (144 kgN/ha)

P (35 kgP/ha)

KMg (90 kgK/ha)

FYM strip 72 (35 t/ha)

FYM-residue strip 71 (35 t/ha)

None strip 61 (0 t/ha)

Ash strip 62

Si, Series AA (450 kg/ha)

(Si), Series AA (450 kg/ha)

Design period: Period 3 Silicate treatments (1979—2000)

Design period: Period 3 Main plots (1979—2000)

Design period: Current period Main plots (2001—)

Design period: Current period Silicate test (2001—)

Design period: Current period P test (2001—)