Poulton, P. R.

Rothamsted Repository

Patron:		Her	Majesty	The	Queen	 	 Rothamsted	Research	Harpenden,	Herts,	AL5	2JQ		Telephone:	+44	(0)1582	763133	Web:	http://www.rothamsted.ac.uk/			 			Rothamsted Research is a Company Limited by Guarantee Registered Office: as above.  Registered in England No. 2393175. Registered Charity No. 802038.  VAT No. 197 4201 51. Founded in 1843 by John Bennet Lawes.		Rothamsted Repository DownloadG - Articles in popular magazines and other technical publicationsPoulton, P. R. 2006. A celebration of 150 years of the Park Grass Experiment. Rothamsted Research, Harpenden. The output can be accessed at: https://repository.rothamsted.ac.uk/item/89924/a-celebration-of-150-years-of-the-park-grass-experiment.© Please contact library@rothamsted.ac.uk for copyright queries.25/09/2019 08:59 repository.rothamsted.ac.uk library@rothamsted.ac.ukA celebration of 150 years of the Park Grass Experiment150Park Grass ExperimentyearsRESEARCHROTHAMSTED®Front cover: Aerial view of Park Grass taken 23rd May 2005a b c d 13/2 FYM/PM Plot layout and current treatmentsPlot treatments 13/1 (FYM/Fishmeal) (per hectare per year unless indicated)Nitrogen (applied in spring)12 NilN1, N2, N3: ammonium sulphate supplying48, 96, 144 kg N and 55, 110, 165 kg S18d  11/2 N3 P K Na Mg SiN*1, N*2: sodium nitrate supplying48, 96 kg N and 78, 157 kg Na 11/1 N3 P K Na Mg18c (N2), (N*2): last applied 1989Minerals (applied in winter)10 N2 P     Na MgP: triple superphosphate supplying 35 kg P18/2 N2   K Na Mg K: potassium sulphate supplying 225 kg Kand 99 kg S 9/2 N2 P K Na MgNa: sodium sulphate supplying 15 kg Naand 10 kg S 9/1 (N2) P K Na Mg18b Mg: magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts)supplying 10 kg Mg and 13 kg S8 P     Na Mg Si: water soluble sodium silicate supplying18a 135 kg Si and 63 kg NaPlot 20: rates of fertilizer in years when FYMis not applied; 30 kg N*, 15 kg P, 45 kg K19/17 P K Na Mg Organics (applied every 4th year)FYM: 35 t   farmyard manure supplying19/2 FYM c. 240 kg N, 45 kg P, 350 kg K, 25 kg Na, 25 kg Mg, 40 kg S, 135 kg Ca6 N1 P K Na Mg PM: Pelleted poultry manure (replaced19/3 fishmeal in 2003) supplying c. 65 kg NOn plot 13/2  FYM and PM (previously fishmeal)are applied in a 4-year cycle ie:20/1 These areas used for microplot experiments. FYM in 2005, 2001, 1997, 1993 etc5 PM in 2003, fishmeal in 1999, 1995, 1991 etc(FYM/Fishmeal):  FYM and fishmeal last applied  20/2 FYM/ in 1993 and 1995 respectively.N*PK 4/2 N2 P Lime 20/3 Sub-plots a, b and c:  differential amounts of  4/1 P chalk applied, if needed,  every three years tomaintain soil pH 7, 6 and 5, respectively3 Nil Sub-plot d receives no chalk2/2 2/1Plots 1-13 started in 1856, plots 14-17 in 1858,1 N1 plot 18 in 1865 and plots 19 and 20 in 1872.N  14/2 N*2 P K Na Mg Sub-plots range in size from 75 - 634 m2 14/1 (N*2) P K Na Mg15 P K Na Mg16 N*1 P K Na Mg17 N*1K since 1996Nil      Species comprising at least 10% of herbage, and total number of species; mean 1991-2000.                                              Percentage of dry matter (Species names are in Bold  in list opposite). Total  Soil pH numberTreatment Plot 1995-02 AC AP AO AE DG FR HP HL LoP LaP TP AS CN HS LH PL RaA RuA SM speciesNil 3a 7.2 10  +  +  +  + 20  +  +  +  +  +  - 10  + 15  +  +  + 10 39b 6.4 10  +  +  +  + 20  +  +  -  +  +  - 10  - 15 10  +  +  + 36c 5.3 30  -  +  -  + 30  +  +  -  +  +  -  +  + 15  +  +  +  + 37d 5.2 45  +  +  +  + 30  +  +  -  +  +  - 10  -  +  +  +  +  + 36 Nil 12a 7.0 15  +  +  +  + 10  +  +  +  + 10  -  +  + 20  +  +  +  + 44b 6.3 20  +  +  +  + 20  +  +  +  +  +  -  +  - 15  +  +  +  + 42c 5.2 25  +  +  +  + 40  +  +  -  +  +  -  +  + 10  +  +  +  + 37d 5.1 30  -  +  +  + 30  +  +  +  +  +  -  +  - 15  +  +  +  + 42  Nil 2/2a 7.1 15  +  +  -  + 15  +  +  +  +  +  - 10  + 20  +  +  +  + 42b 6.0 10  +  +  +  + 15  +  +  -  +  +  - 10  - 15 10  +  +  + 37c 5.2 30  +  +  +  + 35  +  +  -  +  +  - 10  -  +  +  +  -  + 33d 5.1 35  +  +  +  + 30  +  +  -  -  -  - 20  -  +  +  +  +  + 33P 4/1a 6.9  +  +  +  +  + 20  +  +  +  + 10  -  +  + 15 10  +  +  + 34b 6.1  +  +  +  +  + 20  +  +  +  +  +  -  +  - 10 15 10  +  + 34c 5.2 30  +  +  +  + 25  +  +  +  +  +  -  +  - 10  +  +  +  + 29d 5.3 25  +  +  +  + 25  +  +  +  +  +  -  +  - 15  +  +  +  + 32PNaMg 8a 7.0 10  +  +  +  + 20  +  +  +  - 10  - 10  +  +  +  +  +  + 36b 6.1  +  +  +  +  + 20  +  +  +  +  +  -  +  + 15  + 10  +  + 37c 5.3 30  +  +  +  + 20  +  +  -  +  +  -  +  + 15  +  +  +  + 32d 5.2 30  +  +  +  + 20  +  +  +  +  +  -  +  - 10  +  +  +  + 29PKNaMg 7a 6.9  +  +  + 15  +  +  +  +  + 15 15  +  +  +  - 10  +  +  - 27b 5.9  + 15  + 20  +  +  +  +  +  + 10  +  +  +  - 10  +  +  - 29c 5.0 25  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  - 15 10  - 15  +  +  +  +  +  - 28d 4.9 40  +  +  +  + 10  +  +  -  + 15  - 10  -  +  +  +  +  - 28 PKNaMg 15a 6.7  +  +  + 10  + 10  +  +  + 20 10  +  +  +  -  +  +  +  - 28b 5.9  +  +  + 15  + 10  +  +  +  + 20  +  +  +  + 10  +  +  - 27c 5.0 20  +  +  +  + 10  +  +  +  + 20  - 15  +  -  +  +  +  - 26d 4.9 40  +  +  +  + 10  +  +  +  + 10  -  +  +  +  +  +  +  - 27N*1 17a 7.1 10  +  +  +  + 15  +  +  +  -  +  -  +  + 25 10  +  +  + 32b 6.4 15  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  -  -  +  + 30 15  +  +  + 34c 5.8 25  +  +  +  + 10  +  +  +  -  -  -  +  + 25 10  +  +  + 34d 5.8 25  +  +  +  + 10  +  +  +  -  +  + 10  + 10  +  +  +  - 34N*1PKNaMg 16a 6.7  + 10  + 25  + 15  +  +  + 10 10  +  -  +  -  +  +  +  - 25b 6.2  + 10  + 25  + 15  +  +  +  +  +  +  -  +  -  +  +  +  - 25c 5.5 25 10  + 15  + 10  +  +  +  +  +  +  -  +  - 10  +  +  - 23d 5.4 35  +  + 15  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  -  +  +  -  +  +  +  - 27  N*2PKNaMg 14/2a 6.9  + 20  - 50  +  +  +  -  +  +  - 10  -  +  -  +  +  +  - 24b 6.4  + 20  + 40  +  +  -  +  +  -  + 10  -  +  -  -  +  +  - 24c 6.1  + 20  + 40  +  +  -  +  +  +  -  +  -  +  -  +  +  +  - 21d 5.9  + 25  - 30 10  +  +  +  +  +  -  +  - 10  -  +  +  +  - 22N1 1a 7.1  +  +  +  + 10 25 10  +  -  +  +  -  +  - 10  +  +  +  + 33b 6.2 20  +  +  + 10 25  +  +  +  +  +  - 10  -  +  +  +  +  + 31c 5.3 35  -  +  +  + 45  +  +  +  +  +  -  +  -  -  -  +  +  - 33d 4.1 65  - 30  -  -  +  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  - 10N2KNaMg 18a 7.1 15  +  +  + 10 15  +  +  +  -  +  - 10  + 10  +  -  +  - 30b 6.3 30  +  +  +  + 15  +  +  +  -  -  - 25  +  +  +  -  +  - 29c 5.4 35  +  +  + 15 20  +  + 10  -  -  -  +  +  -  -  -  +  - 21d 3.8 80  - 20  +  -  -  -  +  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  +  - 6N2P 4/2a 6.9 10  +  +  +  + 55  + 10  +  -  -  -  +  -  -  +  +  +  - 22b 6.2 15 10  +  +  + 55  + 10  +  -  -  -  -  -  +  -  -  +  - 14c 5.2 30  +  +  +  + 55  +  +  +  -  -  -  -  -  -  +  - 10  - 18d 3.7 30   - 70  +  -  +  -  +  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  +  - 10 N2PNaMg 10a 6.9 10  +  +  +  + 45  +  +  +  -  -  -  -  -  - 10  +  +  - 23b 5.9 20 15 10  +  + 40  -  +  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  +  + 10  - 15c 4.9 25  + 10  +  + 50  +  +  -  -  +  -  -  -  -  -  - 10  - 16d 3.7  +  - 85  -  -  -  - 10  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  - 4N2PKNaMg 9/2a 6.9  + 15  + 25 10  +  - 15  +  +  +  +  - 10  -  +  +  +  - 22b 6.3  + 25  + 35  +  +  + 15  -  +  +  +  -  +  -  -  -  +  - 17c 5.0 30 10 10  +  + 15  -  +  -  +  +  +  -  +  -  -  -  +  - 18d 3.7 15  - 65  -  -  -  - 20  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  - 4N3PKNaMg 11/1a 6.5  + 20  - 40 10  +  + 10  +  -  -  +  -  +  -  -  +  +  - 14b 6.2  + 20  + 35 20  +  + 10  +  -  -  +  -  +  -  -  -  +  - 15c 4.9  + 30  + 20  +  -  - 30  -  -  -  +  -  +  -  -  -  +  - 13d 3.6  -  -  +  -  -  -  - 100  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  - 3N3PKNaMgSi 11/2a 6.7  + 25  + 45 10  +  -  +  +  +  -  +  - 10  -  +  -  +  - 14b 5.9  + 35  + 40 10  -  - 10  -  -  -  +  -  +  -  -  -  +  - 10c 5.0 10 40  + 35  +  +  + 10  -  -  -  +  -  +  -  -  -  +  - 13d 3.7  +  +  -  -  -  -  - 95  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  - 4FYM/PM 13/2a 6.8 30  +  +  + 10 15  +  + 10  -  -  -  +  +  -  -  -  +  - 28b 6.1  + 15  + 20 10  +  -  +  +  +  -  +  + 10  -  +  +  +  - 30c 5.3 20  +  +  +  +  +  + 10  -  +  +  +  +  +  + 10  +  +  - 32d 5.1 35 10  +  +  + 10  + 10  +  +  +  -  +  +  +  +  +  +  - 34FYM  19/2 6.1  + 10  + 20  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  - 15  +  +  - 30 19/3 5.7 25  +  + 15  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  -  +  +  - 10 10  +  - 27 19/1 5.4 45  +  + 10  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  -  +  +  +  +  +  +  - 31FYM/N*PK  20/2 6.1  + 15  + 25  +  +  + 10  +  +  +  +  +  +  -  +  +  +  - 29 20/3 5.9 15 10  + 15 10  +  + 10  +  +  +  +  -  +  -  +  +  +  - 26 20/1 5.7 35 10  + 15  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  -  +  +  +  - 27Data are from surveys immediately before hay harvest; rounded to the nearest 5% of dry matter, mean 1991-2000.  +,  species present at less than 10%;   -,  species not identified on that plot. Species identified 1991-2000.  (After Crawley et al., 2005,  American Naturalist, 165, 179-192)Species highlighted in bold are those comprising 10%, or more, of dry matter on at least one plot.  Grasses and sedges   Forbs  Agrostis capillaris Common Bent  Anthriscus sylvestris Cow Parsley Alopecurus pratensis Meadow Foxtail  Centaurea nigra Common Knapweed Anthoxanthum odoratum Sweet Vernal Grass  Heracleum sphondylium Hogweed Arrhenatherum elatius False Oat Grass  Leontodon hispidus Rough Hawkbit Dactylis glomerata Cock's-foot  Plantago lanceolata Ribwort Plantain Festuca rubra Red Fescue  Ranunculus acris Meadow Buttercup Helictotrichon pubescens Downy Oat-grass  Rumex acetosa Common Sorrel Holcus lanatus Yorkshire Fog  Sanguisorba minor Salad Burnet Lolium perenne Perennial Ryegrass Achillea millefolium Yarrow Briza media Quaking Grass  Agrimonia eupatoria Agrimony Bromus hordeaceus Soft Brome  Ajuga reptans Bugle Carex caryophyllea Spring Sedge  Anenome nemorosa Wood Anenome Carex flacca Glaucous Sedge  Bellis perennis Daisy Cynosorus cristatus Crested Dog's-tail  Capsella bursa-pastoris Shepherd's-purse Deschampsia cespitosa Tufted Hair-grass  Cardamine pratensis Cuckooflower Elytrigia repens Common Couch  Cerastium fontanum Common Mouse-ear Festuca pratensis Meadow Fescue  Conopodium majus Pignut Luzula campestris Field Wood-rush  Crepis capillaris Smooth Hawk's-beard Phleum pratense Timothy  Filipendula ulmaria Meadowsweet Poa annua Annual Meadow-grass  Fritillaria meleagris Fritillary Poa pratensis Smooth Meadow-grass  Galium verum Lady's Bedstraw Poa trivialis Rough Meadow-grass  Hieracium pilosella Mouse-ear Hawkweed Trisetum flavescens Yellow Oat-grass  Hypochaeris radicata Cat's-ear Knautia arvensis Field Scabious  Legumes  Leontodon autumnalis Autumn Hawkbit Ophioglossum vulgatum Adder's-tongue Lathyrus pratensis Meadow Vetchling  Ornithogalum angustifolium Star-of-Bethlehem Trifolium pratense Red Clover  Pimpinella saxifraga Burnet-saxifrage Potentilla reptans Creeping Cinquefoil Lotus corniculatus Common Bird's-foot-trefoil  Potentilla sterilis Barren Strawberry Ononis repens Common Restharrow  Primula veris Cowslip Trifolium repens White Clover  Prunella vulgaris Selfheal Vicia cracca Tufted Vetch  Ranunculus auricomus Goldilocks Buttercup Vicia sepium Bush Vetch  Ranunculus bulbosus Bulbous Buttercup Ranunculus ficaria Lesser Celandine  Shrubs and trees  Rumex obtusifolius Broad-leaved Dock Senecio jacobea Common Ragwort Quercus robur Pedunculate Oak  Senecio vulgaris Groundsel Rosa sp.   -  Stachys officinalis Betony Rubus fruticosus Bramble  Stellaria graminea Lesser Stichwort Stellaria media Common Chickweed Taraxacum officinale Dandelion Tragopogon pratensis Goat's-beard Veronica chamaedrys Germander SpeedwellOther selected references (and references therein)Crowther E M (1925) Journal of Agricultural Science 15, 222-231 & 232-236Dodd M et al. (1995) Journal of Ecology 83, 277-285Jenkinson D S et al. (1994) Journal of Agricultural Science 122, 365-374Lawes J B & Gilbert J H (1900) Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society (B) 192, 139-210Silvertown J et al. (2006) Journal of Ecology (in press)Snaydon R W & Davis M S (1976) Heredity 37, 9-25Thurston J M et al. (1976) Annales Agronomiques 27, 1043-1082A comprehensive list of publications relating Park Grass can be found within the Electronic Rothamsted Archive (eRA) on the Rothamsted web-site; see http:www.era.rothamsted.ac.ukPark Grass is the oldest experiment on ungrazed permanent grassland in the world. Started by Lawes and Gilbert in 1856 its original purpose was to investigate ways of improving the yield of hay by the application of inorganic fertilizers and organic manure. Within 2-3 years it became clear that these treatments were having a dramatic effect on the species composition of what had been a uniform sward. The continuing effects on species diversity and on soil function of the original treatments, together with later tests of liming and interactions with atmospheric inputs and climate change has meant that Park Grass has become increasingly important to ecologists, environmentalists and soil scientists.The experiment was established on c. 2.8 ha of uniform pasture for at least 100 years old. Treatments  included controls (Nil - no fertilizer or manure), and various combinations of P, K, Mg, Na and N as either sodium nitrate or ammonium salts. Farmyard manure (FYM) was applied to two plots but was discontinued after eight years because of adverse effects on the sward. FYM, applied every four years, was re-introduced on three plots in 1905.LimingPark Grass probably never received the large amounts of chalk that were often applied to arable fields in this part of England. The pH of the soil (0-23cm) on Park Grass was therefore about 5.5 (in water) when the experiment began. A small amount of chalk was applied to all plots during tests in the1880s and 1890s. A regular test of liming was started in 1903 when most plots were divided in -1two and 4 t ha  CaCO  applied every four 3years to the southern half. However, on those plots receiving the largest amounts of ammonium sulphate this was not enough to stop the soil becoming progressively more acid; making it difficult to disentangle the effects of N from those of acidity. It was decided to extend the pH range on each treatment and in 1965 most plots were divided into four; sub-plots “a” and “b” on the previously limed halves and sub-plots “c” and “d” on the unlimed halves. Sub-plots “a”, “b” and “c” now receive differential amounts of lime, when and where necessary, to achieve and/or maintain soils at pH 7, 6 and 5, respectively. Sub-plot “d” receives no lime and its pH reflects inputs from the various treatments and the atmosphere. Soils on the unlimed sub-plots of the Nil treatments  are now at c. pH 5.3 (Fig. 1) whilst soils -1receiving 96 kg N ha  as ammonium sulphate or sodium nitrate are at pH 3.6 and 6.1 respectively. The latter two -1treatments required 63 and 14 t ha  CaCO , respectively, 3between 1965 and 2005 to increase and/or maintain the soil at pH 7. The history and design ofFig. 1. Soil pH 1856-2002Year14 N*2PKMgNa Unlimed 14 N*2PKMgNa Limed 3 Nil Unlimed3 Nil Limed 9 N2PKMgNa Unlimed 9 N2PKMgNa Limed23456781840 1860 1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2020pH in waterHarvestingThe plots are cut in mid-June and made into hay. For the first 19 years the re-growth was often grazed by sheep penned on individual plots but since 1875 a second cut, usually carted green, has been taken. The plots were originally cut by scythe, then by horse-drawn, and now tractor-drawn, mowers. Yields were originally estimated by weighing the produce, either of hay or green crop, from the whole plot but since 1960 yields have been estimated from strips cut with a forage harvester. However, for the first cut the remainder of the plot is still mown and made into hay; thus continuing earlier management and ensuring the return of seed. For the second cut the whole plot is cut, with a forage harvester. 150Park Grass ExperimentyearsPark Grass012345678910NilPKNaMgN*1N*1PKNaMgN*2PKNaMgN1N2KNaMgN2PNaMgN2PKNaMgN3PKNaMgTotal dry matter yield, t/haChalk to pH 6 No chalkFig. 2.  Total dry matter yield (mean 2000-4)Botanical compositionThe table overleaf shows soil pH and those species comprising 10% or more of the above ground biomass together with the total number of species identified on each sub-plot (mean 1991-2000 data). There are many interactions, some clear, some not, between fertilizer and manure treatments and pH. Figure 3 shows the impact of selected treatments on the number of species comprising 1% or more of the biomass. Numbers of species have decreased, even on the Nil plots, through acid deposition. Applying N as sodium nitrate or ammonium sulphate reduces diversity further, and in the ammonium form also rapidly acidifies the soil, reducing the number of species to one or two,  Holcus lanatus (Yorkshire Fog) and Anthoxanthum odoratum (Sweet Vernal Grass). Lime aids recovery from acidity. Withholding N also causes more species to return (not shown).  YieldsYields of total dry matter (not hay) are shown in Fig. 2. Largest yields are on limed sub-plots given PKNaMg and -1 -1144 kg N ha . Yields with 96 kg N ha  as either ammonium or nitrate (and PKNaMg) are similar; where P or K has been withheld yields are reduced. Similarly, yields on plots given N only are no better than the Nil plots because lack of P and K limits yield. Interestingly, on soils receiving PKNaMg but no N fertiliser yields are as good as those on -1plots receiving PKNaMg plus 96 kg N ha  because of the large proportion of legumes in the sward (see main table). However, where no lime is applied soil pH is about 4.9 and legumes are less common; consequently yields are less. On all treatments, yields on unlimed sub-plots are less than those on soils maintained at pH 6, or above. However, even on the acid soils (pH 3.6 - 3.7) dominated by one or -1two species, yields are c.7 t ha .Tel +44 (0) 1582 763133Fax +44 (0) 1582 760981web http:www.rothamsted.ac.ukRothamsted ResearchHarpenden, Herts AL5 2JQArchiving SamplesSoil samples (most 0-23cm, some deeper) have been taken periodically from the experiment, infrequently at first, more regularly in the last 40 years as we have sought to control soil pH more closely. The soils, together with unground samples of herbage from each plot every year, have been archived  Such action was incredibly far-sighted and has allowed us to retrospectively analyse samples for many factors which could not have been anticipated 150 years ago.  14 34Such analyses have included C, S, cadmium and other heavy metals, dioxins, PAH's and DNA. Recent analysis of archived herbage for plutonium and uranium provided the first evidence that fallout from atmospheric bomb tests carried out in the Nevada Desert in 1952/3 reached northwest Europe.  (Warneke et al, 2002, EPSL 203, 1047-1057)Fig. 3.  Species number over time0510152025301840 1860 1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2020Numberofspeciescomprising1%ormoreofbiomassNo fertilizer No fertilizer + chalk N*2PKNaMgN*2PKNaMg + chalk N2PKNaMg N2PKNaMg + chalk150Park Grass Experimentyears

A celebration of 150 years of the Park Grass Experiment

https://repository.rothamsted.ac.uk/download/7120f6bedcf2bc9a36f41a4691e4e42bf0068f541c39829046e3ea79fbe74a11/9268155/Guide2006.pdf

A celebration of 150 years of the Park Grass Experiment

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Rothamsted Repository