University of NewcastlePalace Leas Meadow Hay PlotsPalace Leas Meadow Hay Plots

Soil Changes

The soil is a clay loam over clay (Hallsworth Series, pelo stagnogley (typic ochraqualf)). As a result of the use of ammonium sulphate, the pH of several of the plots have decreased to low values, farmyard manure has tended to maintain pH, as did the basic slag applied until 1976 (Table 1). All of the nutrients vary strongly between plots and the extractable contents are closely related to the balance between long term application and offtake.

Table 1. The extractable phosphorus (Olsen method, mg kg-1), extractable cation content (ammonium acetate extractable Ca, Mg, K, m molc kg-1) and pH (measured in water).

Plot K april K oct P Mg Ca pH
1 6.91 5.22 134 26.8 125 5.5
2 5.1 3.89 126 14.1 113.6 5.4
3 5.61 4.52 54 14.7 116.3 5.3
4 4.9 3.9 47 14 92.6 5.1
5 5.32 4.44 58 21.6 117.1 5.3
6 4.01 3.83 3 13.6 45.5 5
7 4.13 3.83 0 6.9 36.5 3.8
8 3.94 3.78 23 17.2 112.5 5.2
9 7.44 6.13 3 13.4 72.5 4.9
10 4.31 4.14 32 13.6 75.8 4.7
11 6.72 5.77 0 6.2 22 3.7
12 6.54 5.86 26 13.4 138.7 5.2
13 5.69 4.81 51 13.7 63.6 5.0

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