Botanical Composition

There have been botanical analyses on 13 occasions spread unevenly over the life of the experiment. There was, unfortunately, a long gap between 1907 and 1947, in which no full analysis was undertaken, though the plots were assessed visually. A variety of methods of assessment have been used and not on all occasions have all the plots been analysed.

The reason for the loss of interest after 1907 was undoubtedly due in part to the lack of change that had occurred over the 10 years from the initial analysis. When analysis recommenced there was a noticeable patterning in the plant composition and this has been maintained over the period to the present. The botanical diversity has evolved strongly, with the greatest diversity now being found on the farmyard manure and phosphate-treated plots. These plots also have the largest number of broadleaf specties (and the acid plots (7 and 11) the fewest). The differences in the mineral content of the broadleaf and grass species may help to explain the differences noted in the willingness of the stock to eat the herbage.

Simplified botanical composition of the plots in 1984 based on the Domin scale (Shimwell, 1971) and the diversity for the same year.

Beware! the botanical analysis publisnhed in Arnold et al. (1976) contains and error for the numbering of the plots ignores the guard area next tot the road. To interpret this correctly subtract 1 from the number of the plots (plot 7 is really plot 6).