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What are key findings that can be discovered only in long-term soil studies?

Much of the world’s food supply is produced in intensively managed cropping systems that involve high inputs and high outputs. As our populations continue to increase while the amount of arable lands steadily shrinks, these intensive systems assume greater importance. Can they be maintained into the indefinite future? Will they continue to supply high yields of our foodstuffs? Answers can be gained solely through long-term field studies.

Why do I work on long-term sites?

I began work on long-term sites, not by wise and deliberate choice, but by fluke of serendipity: when I arrived in Lethbridge as fledgling scientist, historical plots established there in 1911 were assigned to me. So a better question might be: why do I keep on working on these sites? In pondering the question, three fragmentary responses emerge.

Ride a LTSE Wave!

Check out the Google analytics report (website traffic) attached for the LTSE website. http://ltse.env.duke.edu/files/ltse/discussion/Analytics_ltse.env.duke.e...




This timeline/graph shows the resultant traffic of two events: The GSC07 workshop and a Duke news release .

Second Post-Workshop Communication

Second Post-Workshop Communication 13 January 2008
Global Soil Change and LT Soil-Ecosystem Studies

To: GSC 2007 Workshop Participants
Fr: Dan Richter & Mike Hofmockel

Thanks are still owed to each of you for active participation at our remarkable workshop!

V. Romanenkov: What key findings can only be discovered in long-term soil studies?

My opinion that many preferences of LTEs can be assessed in a network study and we are lucky to use such network principles from the very beginning of LTEs foundation in the former USSR since mid 30s last century in agronomic research. This approach was realized in a series of publications which define the unified system of indicators, sampling protocols and analytical methods.

D. Powlson: Why am I working on long-term sites?

David Powlson, Rothamsted Research, UK

• I started my career in soil science working at Rothamsted Research, UK. This is the site of several long-running experimental field sites, the oldest being the Broadbalk Wheat experiment started in 1843. It was originally designed to compare crops yields achievable from (the then newly developed) chemical fertilizers with those from animal manure. In its first few decades the experiment laid the foundations for our current understanding of plant nutrition.

Abbreviated list of menu items for LTSEs (experiments and comparative studies)

Vladimir had another one of his invaluable: "one other idea not to forget"!!

If I understand, Vladimir suggested that we consider splitting the website's metadata in two tiers.
One tier or first set of menu items about LTSEs would total about a dozen key questions. They could be answered quickly and efficiently, even in passing;
the other set of menu items would be more lengthy, still not cumbersome, but more like the current metadata menu of items.

Promoting LTSEs

Let this be a place to collect suggestions on ways to promote LTSEs.
One effort already under way is the "Workshop Summary Submission Coordination".

Vladimir Romanenkov has suggested -

First Communication Post-Workshop 19 Dec 07

First Post-Workshop Communication 19 December 2007
Global Soil Change and LT Soil-Ecosystem Studies

We will not soon forget last week’s warm Carolina-December days. Many thanks to each of you, especially for your active participation! A workshop participant list with contact information will be emailed within a few minutes of this being posted.