FOULUM (Cents)

Tillage and rotation experimental facility

Overview

Open-air Platform

Parent institution: Aarhus University, Department of Agroecology
Active since 2002
Active through 2002-now

Fields of study

  • Climatology, Climate Change
  • Environmental sciences, Pollution

Contact Information

Munkholm, Lars J.
email: Lars.munkholm@agro.au.dk

Field experiment designed to evaluate tillage and rotation effects on crop production, N-dynamics and leaching, weed and pest development, GHG emissions and soil quality. The experiment was established in autumn 2002.

The experiment is a unique long-term experiment where the effect of crop rotation, tillage, residue management and cover crop are evaluated in a systematic design. These management options are all key elements in conservation agriculture.

 

The Location

Country: Denmark

Latitude: 56.49324444

Longitude: 9.567025

Nearest town: Viborg

Distance from neaerst town: 15 km

Relevant Research Questions

The experiment addresses the effect of key elements of the conservation agriculture concept (i.e. rotation, tillage, residue management and cover crop) on soil quality, carbon and nitrogen cycling, weed and pest control in arable cropping systems.

Advantages

The experiment is a unique long-term experiment where the effect of crop rotation, tillage, residue management and cover crop are evaluated in a systematic design. These management options are all key elements in conservation agriculture.

Limitations

The major limitation is the size of the plots and thus the restrictions in space available for additional treatments and measurements. Some of the treatments also put limitations on what additional treatments can be added, e.g. use of intensive tillage in the reduced tillage treatments are subject to restrictions. However, current limitations in terms of addressing the C and N fluxes related to management and climatic influences are determined by the lack of long-term fertilizer and cover crop treatments (at subplot level). Furthermore, for lack of instrumentation to quantify soil moisture and temperature in the soil profile, N leaching and C flow, in particular NEE and soil respiration. For the N fluxes there is need for automated measurements of N2O emissions. Also to investigate effects of climate manipulations there is a need for equipment that allows manipulation of temperature and precipitation in subplots.

Experimental Capabilities

Experimental Facilities

At the site there are also semifield and growth chamber facilities for more controlled experimentation

Experiments duration: Years;

Experimental Aerea

Total area: 26880 m²

420 m2

Available area: 26880 m²

Experimental Unit Size

unit size: 42 m²

The area available for new experimentation depends on the type of experimentation.

Replicates

Replicates number: 4

4 replicates for each combination of rotation and tillage

Temporary storage

  • Dark room
  • Drying oven
  • Freeze drier
  • Freezer
  • Liquid N
  • Refrigerator

Available Instruments

  • TDR
  • Spectral reflectance
  • Suction cups for measuring water sampling
  • Penetration resistance and vane shear strength
  • Respirometer
  • Static chambers for gas emission measurements
  • LI-COR soil respiration
  • Leaf area measurements
  • SPAD
  • Tension infiltrometer
Electricity

Electricity available on site.

Distance from Laboratory facilities

Climate

Years measured: 1987-2019

Temperature

Mean Temperature: 8.1 °C

February Mean Temperature: 1.2 °C

July Mean Temperature: 16.1 °C

Wind

Mean Annual Speed: 3.6 m/s

Max. Annual Speed: m/s

Dominant Direction: 191

Precipitation

Precipitation type: Both;

Total annual precipitation: 754 mm

Mean snow cover duration: days


Soil Types

State Variables

Continuously Measured

  • Air humidity
  • Air temperature
  • Atmospheric pressure
  • Incident PAR
  • Incident shortwave radiation
  • Soil temperature

Spot Measured

  • Phenology
  • Population densities
  • Soil water content
  • Species richness

Environmental Pressures

Variable Ecosystem Status
Precip Agrosystem Planned
Hydro Agrosystem Planned
Management - tilling or other physical manipulation Agrosystem Active
Management - rotation practice Agrosystem Active
Management - species and/or ecotype combinations Agrosystem Active

On site Staff and Accomodation

Peak season staff

Up to 12 people

Off season staff

Up to 8 people

Visiting personnel

No visitors allowed.


No beds on site

Showers on site

Showers on site

No laundry on site