e-RA: The electronic Network. Rothamsted Archive · e-RA: The electronic Rothamsted Archive The Rothamsted Long-term Experiments A National Capability Funding Contact Experiments

e-RA: The electronicRothamsted Archive

The Rothamsted Long-term Experiments

A National Capability

Funding

Contact

Experiments which started in the mid-19th century continue to generate new knowledge for

sustainable agriculture and ecology today

[email protected] • www.era.rothamsted.ac.uk • @eRA_CuratorRothamsted Research, West Common, Harpenden, Herts, AL5 2JQ, UK

The e-RA database is part of the Long-term Experiments National Capability which also includes the Classical Experiments, the Sample Archive and the Environmental Change Network.

It is jointly funded by the BBSRC and the Lawes Agricultural Trust.

Snake’s head fritillary at Park Grass

Selected commonly requested data from our long-term experiments are openly accessible as summary charts and spreadsheets. Datasets currently available include:

Broadbalk YieldsMean long-term winter wheat yields from selected treatments on Broadbalk

Park Grass Species ChangesThe impact of selected treatments on the number of species comprising 1% or more of the above-ground biomass

Broadbalk and Hoosfield Soil CarbonChanges in soil organic carbon (SOC) content in selected treatments of the Broadbalk Wheat and Hoosfield Barley Experiments

Broadbalk and Geescroft Wilderness ExperimentsAccumulation of carbon in soil and trees under the Wilderness Experiments

Meteorological DataLong-term mean annual Rothamsted air temperature

Background

The Database

Open Access Datasets

Rothamsted Research has the oldest continuous agricultural field experiments in the world, dating back more than 170 years. Data and archived samples from these Classical Experiments provide a unique scientific resource.

These data are freely available online to the scientific community through the electronic Rothamsted Archive (e-RA). Users can extract raw data from the database, or download summaries as Open Access Datasets.

We are keen to have our data used by the national and international scientific community. Our users include research scientists, PhD students, agricultural consultants, lecturers and schools from over 20 countries. Wide dissemination of these data will lead to greater understanding and new scientific insights.

We are dedicated to assisting our users by providing support in data selection, background information and interpretation.

Our website provides:A data extraction tool • A searchable bibliography of publications • Background information • Case studies • Cropping details • Experimental plans • Images • Soil details

The e-RA database content is continuously increasing and is curated by the e-RA team.It currently contains data from the following:

The Classical ExperimentsBroadbalk Wheat (from 1843)Park Grass (from 1856)Hoosfield Barley (from 1852)Alternate Wheat and Fallow (from 1856)Broadbalk and Geescroft Wilderness Experiments (from 1881)With data relating to:Crop nutrient uptake • Crop yieldsDisease scores • Soil organic carbonSpecies composition • Weed surveys

Meteorological dataRothamsted (from 1853) Woburn (from 1928)Brooms Barn (from 1982)With daily records of:Air and soil temperatures • DrainageRadiation • Rainfall • Relative humidity Sunshine hours • Wind speed and direction

Simplified weather data for schoolsBackground information • Question sheets

Since 2010 our data has been used in over 80 publications The e-RA database is comprehensive and easy to use

The long-term experiments, sample archive and e-RA database provide exciting opportunities to explore

new ideas in agro-ecology. Together, they presenta rich and unique research resource.

Case Studies

Several scientific disciplines have benefitted from using our data. Examples include:

Agronomy • Agro-ecology • Biodiversity • Climate Change • Crop Science Crop and Soil Modelling • Landscape Archaeology • Meteorology • Molecular BiologyPlant Biology • Plant Pathology • Soil Science • Statistics • Weed Ecology