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Swift Current New Crop Rotation Experiment - LTSE

Relationships
Data Holder: 
Zentner, Robert
Location:
Semiarid Prairie Agricultural Research Centre
Box 1030
Swift Current, SK, S9H 3X2
Canada
Latitude: 50.281702
Longitude: -107.757511
Background
Continent: 
North America
Website: 
AAFC On line
Year LTSE Began: 
1987
On-going or Terminated?: 
On-going
Comments: 
The New crop rotation experiment was established in 1987 (near to the Old crop rotation experiment) to include newer innovations such as the use of minimum- and zero-tillage management, fertilizer banding, new crop types [high yielding CPS wheat (HY), crested wheatgrass (CWG)], new crop sequences, annual legume green manure (LGM), perennial grass hay, intermediate length rotations, flexible-type rotations, and improved snow management through use of uniform tall stubble created by direct combining. The objectives of this experiment are similar to the Swift Current Old crop rotation experiment. These include to determine the long-term effects of cropping intensity, crop type [CWRS spring wheat (W), high yielding Canada Prairie spring wheat (HY), canola (Can), dry pea (Pea)], summerfallow (F) frequency, annual legume green manure, and perennial forage on crop productivity, soil organic matter quantity and quality, GHG, soil water conservation and water use efficiency, N and P use and cycling, nitrate leaching, incidence of plant diseases, soil microbial activity and diversity, non-renewable energy use efficiency, and economic returns and riskiness. A total of eight crop rotations are currently represented, namely: F-W-W, LGM-W-W, F-HY-HY, F-W-W-W, Cont W, Cont W (if adequate moisture), W-Can-W-Pea, and CWG hay. The experiment is comprised of 60 plots. All phases of each rotation are present every year and each rotation is cycled on its assigned plots. Treatments are arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Plot size is 15 m by 45 m.
Environment
Annual Precipitation (mm): 
<400
Mean Annual Soil Temperature (C): 
Cryic/Frigid: <8C
Is temperature regime isothermic? ie, do mean monthly temperatures deviate by <6C?: 
No
Soil moisture regime: 
Aridic
Is atmospheric deposition chemistry monitored?: 
No
Dominant plant species (latin genus and species): 
wheat
Landuse: 
Arable
Ecoregion: 
Cool Temperate
Slope (%): 
0-2%
Elevation (m): 
500-800
Geological material: 
The soil is a swinton loam to silt loam, an Orthic Brown Chernozem (Aridic Haploboroll) developed from aeolian deposits that overlie galcial till. It has an Ap horizon 0 to 8 cm thick with moderate, medium subangular, blocky primary structure that crushes to moderate, fine granular secondary structure. The Bm1 (8 to 24 cm) and Bm2 (24 to 48 cm) have a silt loam texture with strong, medium prismatic structure; the Ck (40 to 79 cm) has a silt loam texture with massive structure; and the 11C1 (79 to 104 cm) and 11C2 (104 to 129 cm) have a clay loam texture with massive structure.
Experimental Design
Design (short description): 
The experiment consists of 8 crop rotation treatments. Treatments are arranged in a randomized complete block design with 3 replicates. The experiment is comprised of 60 plots. All phases of each rotation are present each year and each rotation is cycled on its assigned plots. Plot size is 15 m by 45 m.
Permanent plot area (square meters): 
>10,000
Number of permanent plots: 
>20
Soil Classification
Soil taxa (ex, Great Group of Soil Taxonomy): 
Aridic Haploboroll, Brown Chernozem (Canadian Classification)
Soil/Data Archive
Data Archive: 
Yes
Vegetative samples archived: 
Yes
Soil solid samples archived: 
Yes
Samples from multiple depths: 
Yes
Sample frequency: 
Annual
Year of first sampling for archive: 
1987
Year of last sampling for archive: 
2003
Soil Solid Data
pH and acidity: 
Yes
Organic Carbon: 
Yes
Nitrogen: 
Yes
Other macronutrients: 
Yes
Micronutrients: 
No
Chemical Contaminents: 
No
Water holding capacity: 
Yes
Bulk Density: 
Yes
Mineralogy: 
Yes
Soil Water Data
pH and alkalinity: 
No
Dissolved organic carbon: 
No
Other macronutrients: 
No
Micronutrients: 
No
Soil Gas Data
Surface Fluxes: 
Yes
Concentrations belowground: 
No
Vegetation Data
Biomass above ground: 
Yes
Biomass below ground: 
No
Macronutrient contents: 
Yes
Micronutrient contents: 
No
Harvest mass: 
Yes
Harvest nutrient contents: 
Yes
Soil Biota Data
Macro-invertebrates: Biomass, Densities, Taxonomy: 
No
Micro-invertebrates: Biomass, Densities, Taxonomy: 
No
Microorganisms: Biomass, Densities, Taxonomy: 
Yes
Molecular biology studies: 
No