Rothamsted Research occupies approximately 400 ha of land suitable for arable crop trials work. North Wyke farm in Devon provides soils with a high proportion of clay content in what is a high rainfall environment for arable cropping. The main focus of the farm is a grassland based suckler and sheep enterprise. The Harpenden farm in Hertfordshire also has soils with significant clay content but a lower annual rainfall total than North Wyke. Broom’s Barn in Suffolk adds a contrasting soil type with greater proportion of sand and a slightly lower rainfall total than at Harpenden. There is a small area of sandy soil available at North Wyke.
At each farm a notable area is taken up with long term experiments. Those at Harpenden include some of the oldest continuously measured experiments in the world. The North Wyke Farm Platform is a larger scale experimental facility consisting of three farmlets of approximately 22 ha each. An archive contains samples from previous years - it is possible to propose to have access to the samples and to make new measurements on those experiments.
Rothamsted Research farms have all facilities needed to conduct arable field trials. The Statistics and Data Science teams are closely associated with trial planning, data management and analysis. Trials are designed using GIS software and transferred to the field via GPS systems. Specially designed seed drills are able to sow smaller plots of distinct seed lots. Larger plots are sown using more conventional farm machinery. Harvesting of seeds and grains is by plot combines fitted with weighing and sampling mechanisms. Forage crops may be harvested, and yield measured, using a bespoke mower with collection and weighing attached. Further analyses of the harvested samples are conducted in a dedicated building on site. Experiment proposals, protocols and a record of operations carried out on each experiment are held in FarmOS, a dedicated management software.
The farms team have many years of experience of conducting trials with GE and GM crop types. Protocols are in place for conducting the trial and for post-trial monitoring of sites. The protocols are under constant revision as changes in legislation and guidance need to be incorporated. There is also a licence in place at the Harpenden site for growing Hemp.
Perennial crops are also worked on. There is a silvo-pasture system at the North Wyke farm and both woody and grass biomass crops at Harpenden and North Wyke.
Head of Farms
To find out more about our facilities please contact ian.shield@rothamsted.ac.uk
Rothamsted Farm
Rothamsted Research
West Common
Harpenden
Herts
AL5 2JQ
Tel: +44 1837 512 313
Email: ian.shield@rothamsted.ac.uk
