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9 Pág., Diversifying agriculture by rotating a greater number of crop species in sequence is a promising practice to reduce negative impacts of crop production on the environment and maintain yields. However, it is unclear to what extent cereal yields change with crop rotation diversity and external nitrogen fertilization level over time, and which functional groups of crops provide the most yield benefit. Here, using grain yield data of small grain cereals and maize from 32 long-term (10–63 years) experiments across Europe and North America, we show that crop rotational diversity, measured as crop species diversity and functional richness, enhanced grain yields. This yield benefit increased over time. Only the yields of winter-sown small grain cereals showed a decline at the highest level of species diversity. Diversification was beneficial to all cereals with a low external nitrogen input, particularly maize, enabling a lower dependence on nitrogen fertilisers and ultimately reducing greenhouse gas emissions and nitrogen pollution. The results suggest that increasing crop functional richness rather than species diversity can be a strategy for supporting grain yields across many environments., G.V., R.B. and S.H. acknowledge FORMAS grants 2018-02872 and 2018-02321. TMB acknowledges USDA AFRI grant 2017-67013-26254. LTEs managed by SRUC were supported by the Scottish Government RESAS Strategic Research Programme under project D3-, Healthy Soils for a Green Recovery. Swedish LTEs were funded by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). We thank the Lawes Agricultural Trust and Rothamsted Research for data from the e-RA database. The Rothamsted Long-term Experiments National Capability (LTE-NC) was supported by the UK BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, BBS/E/C/000J0300) and the Lawes Agricultural Trust. The Woodslee site was supported by the Agro-Ecosystem Resilience Program (Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada) and field management provided by field crews over 6 decades is appreciated. La Canaleja LTE (Spain) was supported by RTA2017-00006-C03-01 project (Ministry of Science and Innovation. El Encín LTEs were supported by Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness funds (projects AGL2002-04186-C03-01.03, AGL2007-65698-C03-01.03, AGL2012-39929-C03-01 of which L. Navarrete was the P.I). R.A., A.G.D. and E.H.P. are also grateful to all members of the Weed Science Group from El Encín Experimental Station for their technical assistance in managing the experiments. The Brody/Poznan University of Life Sciences long-term experiments were funded by the Polish Ministry of Education and Science. We acknowledge the E-Obs dataset from the EU-FP6 project UERRA (http://www.uerra.eu) and the Copernicus Climate Change Service, and the data providers in the ECA&D project (https://www.ecad.eu/).

Dates of the key field operations on the Broadbalk Winter Wheat Experiment since 1843. Includes dates of sowing, harvest, ploughing and application of FYM and fertilizer N. Also wheat cultivars. The first crop was sown in the autumn on 1843. Published as a pdf.

Details of the fertilizer treatments, lime applications, plot divisions, plot areas and plan of the Woburn Continuous Wheat Experiment, 1876-1926 (not to scale). See also details and plan for the Woburn Continuous Barley Experiment.

Adequate potassium (K) fertilization is essential for agricultural production in soils of the Brazilian Savanna (Cerrado biome) due to the high demand by crops (especially cotton), likelihood of leaching losses, and the dependence on fertilizer importations. Therefore, sustainability requires improvements in the soil efficiency management. This study evaluated the influence of soil management and crop succession or rotation combinations with cotton on K dynamics and exchangeable reserves in the soil profile, and the partial balance of K after nine years of cultivation in a clayey Oxisol in the Cerrado. The soil was sampled in layers up to 100 cm depth in four cotton production systems treatments: 1) conventional soil tillage (CST) with cotton monoculture; 2) CST with annual cotton-soybean-cotton succession; 3) CST with cotton/soybean/maize rotation; and 4) no-tillage system (NTS) with cotton/soybean/maize rotation and Urochloa ruziziensis (ruzigrass) as a cover crop in the off-season after grain crops. The experiment was conducted using a randomized block design with four replications. CST with cotton monoculture favored the leaching of K surplus from fertilization. Crop rotation including ruzigrass in the NTS allowed better control of K dynamics, ensuring its circulation in the soil-plant compartments and reducing leaching. The increased organic matter (OM) in this system enlarges the storage capacity of K in the topsoil. The adoption of no-tillage crop systems integrating ruzigrass is viable to improve the efficiency of K fertilizers in cotton cultivation in highly weathered tropical soils. Made available in DSpace on 2021-08-26T02:06:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Exchangeable-potassium-reserve.pdf: 945319 bytes, checksum: 12bd4d45abb01fd87ac85affcd27d3b1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2022

Annual fertilizer and lime applications to the Woburn Ley-arable Experiment, 1938-2020

Details of the fertilizer treatments, lime applications, plot divisions, plot areas and plan of the Woburn Continuous Barley Experiment, 1876-1926 (not to scale). See also details and plan for the Woburn Continuous Wheat Experiment. Annual treatments per hectare., Annual treatments per hectare.

Alpine environments and their temporal changes are rarely studied at high latitudes in the southern hemisphere. We analyzed alpine plants, soil temperatures, and growing-season length in mountains of two landscapes of South Patagonia (46° to 56° SL): three summits (814–1085 m a.s.l) surrounded by foothill grasslands in Santa Cruz province (SC), and four summits (634–864 m a.s.l.) in sub-Antarctic forests of Tierra del Fuego province (TF). Sampling followed the protocolized methodology of the Global Observational Research Initiative in Alpine Environments (GLORIA). Factors were topography (elevation and cardinal aspect) and time (baseline vs. re-sampling for plants, five annual periods for temperatures), assessed by univariate and multivariate tests. Plant composition reflected the lowland surrounding landscapes, with only 9 mountain species on 52 totals in SC and 3 on 30 in TF. Richness was higher in re-sampling than baseline, being assemblages more influenced by aspect than elevation. Mean annual soil temperature and growing-season length, which varied with topography, were related to the Multivariate El Niño Southern Oscillation Index (MEI) but did not show clear warming trends over time. We highlight the importance of long-term studies in mountainous regions of extreme southern latitudes, where factors other than warming (e.g., extreme climate events) explain variations., Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Madera

Details of the lime or chalk applied to the Park Grass permanent grassland experiment since the start of the experiment in 1856. Small amounts of ground chalk were applied to all plots in the 1880s and 1890s. A regular test of liming was started in 1903 when most plots were divided into two and lime applied every four years to one half. In 1965 a new liming scheme was started. Plots were divided into four sub-plots with ground chalk applied to maintain soil at pH 7, 6, and 5 on the ‘a’, ‘b’ and ‘c’ sub-plots. The ‘d’ sub-plot receives no lime. Updated October 2021, and May 2022.

Cropping details for the Woburn Ley-arable experiment, 1938-2020, with details of the arable and ley rotation sequences in each of the five Blocks, and the different treatment crops., Cover page - Generic plan - Cropping sequence 1938-1972 - Cropping sequence 1973-2007 - Cropping sequence 2008-2020

Experiment plan for the Broadbalk Wheat Experiment, showing fertilizer and manure treatments, crop rotations and the Broadbalk wilderness. Details of fertilizer and cropping since 2018.

Experiment plan for the Broadbalk Wheat Experiment, showing fertilizer and and manure treatments, crop rotations and the Broadbalk Wilderness (not to scale). Details of fertilizer and manure treatments and cropping 1968-2017., _**Page 1:** Cover page _**Pages 2-3:** Plan and fertilizer treatments 1968-2017 _**Pages 4-5:** Cropping details 1968-2017, Standardised experimental plan, not to scale, Dervied from Rothamsted Research (2006) Guide to the Classical and other Long-term experiments, datasets and sample archive. Rothamsted Research, Lawes Agricultural Trust, Harpenden, UK. None None

Experiment plan for the Broadbalk wheat experiment, 1926-1967, with details of fertilizer and manure treatments, **Page 1:** Cover page -**Pages 2-3:** Broadbalk experiment plan 1926-1967, showing plot layout and treatment codes, with full details of fertilizer and manure treatments applied., Standardised experimental plan (not to scale), Derived from Johnston and Garner (1969) and Rothamsted Experiments Station (1970), Details of the Classical and Long-term field experiments up to 1967. None None

Standardised experiment plan for the Park Grass experiment since 1965, updated 2018, with details of lime, fertilizer and manure treatments (not to scale). Minor corrections October 2021.

Description of Broadbalk Wheat Experiment fertilizer and organic manure treatments, 1852-2021. Annual treatments per hectare. Updated June 2021., Updated version of Macdonald et al, 2018. Also derived from Johnston and Garner, 1969. None None

Experiment plan for the Broadbalk experiment, showing fertilizer and manure treatments and crop rotations (not to scale), with crop rotations from 1996 and fertilizer treatments from 2001. Also showing the Broadbalk Wilderness., **Page 1:** Cover page -**Pages 2-3:** Broadbalk experiment plan 1996-2017, showing plot layout, rotation and treatment codes, and Broadbalk Wilderness., Standardised experimental plan, not to scale., Derived from Rothamsted Research (2006) Guide to the Classical and other Long-term experiments, datasets and sample archive. Rothamsted Research, Lawes Agricultural Trust, Harpenden, UK. None None

Cropping details for the Broadbalk wheat experiment, 1843-2021, with details of cultivars, crops and rotations.

Experiment plan for the Broadbalk Wheat Experiment 1926-1967, with details of fertilizer and manure treatments (not to scale). Also cropping details 1926-1967, showing wheat cultivars, wheat/fallow rotations and the different sections. Updated June 2021 with addition of cropping details., **Page 1:** Cover page -**Pages 2-3:** Broadbalk Wheat Experiment plan 1926-1967, showing plot layout and treatments codes, with full details of fertilizer and manure treatments applied. -**Pages 4-5:** Broadbalk Wheat Experiment cropping details 1926-1967, showing wheat cultivars, wheat/fallow rotations and the different sections., Standardised experimental plan (not to scale), Dervived from Johnston and Garner (1969) and Rothamsted Experimental Station (1970), Details of the Classical and Long-term field experiments up to 1967. None None

Details of the lime applications, fertilizer treatments and basal fertilizer applied to the Long-term Liming Experiment at Woburn 1962-1996., The Long-term Liming Experiments studied the effects of soil pH, P and other fertilizer treatments on the yields of a sequence of arable crops at two sites, Rothamsted and Woburn, with contrasting soil types., 1) Lime application dates and amounts applied, 1962-1996 2) Fertilizer treatments (P, K, Mg, Mn and S) application amounts, dates and forms, 1962-1996. 3) Basal fertilizer (N, K and Mg) application amounts and forms, 1962-1996., Prepared from experimental plans and Rothamsted Research annual Yields Books. None None

Standard experimental plans for Rothamsted long-term liming experiment, 1962-1996 showing plot numbers, layout and lime and fertilizer treatments., Contains 5 standard plans for 5 different periods of the experiment: Plan 1 1962-1973; Plan 2 1974-1980; Plan 3 1981-1986; Plan 4 1987-1990; Plan 5 1991-1996., Based on field plans for individual years and the Rothamsted Yield Books None None

Details of the lime applications, fertilizer treatments and basal fertilizer applied to the Long-term Liming Experiment at Rothamsted 1962-1996., The Long-term Liming Experiments studied the effects of soil pH, P and other fertilizer treatments on the yields of a sequence of arable crops at two sites, Rothamsted and Woburn, with contrasting soil types., 1) Lime application dates and amounts applied, 1962-1996 2) Fertilizer treatments (P, K, Mg, Mn and S) application amounts, dates and forms, 1962-1996. 3) Basal fertilizer (N, K and Mg) application amounts and forms, 1962-1996., Prepared from experimental plans and Rothamsted Research annual Yields Books. None None

Nothofagus pumilio forests in Tierra del Fuego are the southernmost forests in the world, where extreme climate conditions represent a challenge to attain sustainable forest management. Retention forestry was proposed as an alternative to increase the species conservation in managed stands. Here, we synthetized results related to the implementation of a variable retention harvesting based on a combination of aggregate patches and dispersed retention during the last 18 years comparing with other silviculture proposals (e.g., shelterwood cuts) and control treatments (primary unmanaged forests). We summarized the results for (i) sawmill operations, (ii) timber yield, (iii) overstory stability, (iv) forest structure, (v) microclimate and natural cycles, (vi) natural regeneration dynamics (flowering, seeding, foraging, recruitment, growth, and mortality), and (vii) biodiversity (mammals, understory plants, mistletoes, birds, arthropods, mosses, lichens, and fungi). In general, aggregate patches maintained forest structure and micro-environmental variables, and slightly increased biodiversity and forest reproduction variables compared to unmanaged primary forests. On the contrary, dispersed retention decreased forest structure variables and greatly increased biodiversity (richness and abundance) when it was compared to unmanaged primary forests. Ecological conditions are influenced by variable retention harvesting, but direction and magnitude of the effect depend and differ according to retention types. Besides this, biodiversity taxa greatly differed among groups depending on retention types. In general, the species assemblages in aggregate patches were similar to those found in primary unmanaged forests, while they were significantly modified in the dispersed retention. This occurred due to (i) local extinction of some original species, (ii) the introduction of native species from the surrounding environments, or (iii) the invasion of exotic species. This silvicultural method has been a useful tool to conserve biodiversity and ecosystem functions, approaching to the balance between economy, ecology, and social requirements in the managed areas., Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas

Experimental details of Saxmundham Rotation II experiment, including plans, fertilizer treatments, cropping, and soil properties, 1968-1986, The experiment was started in 1899 to investigate the effects of various combinations of FYM and P fertilizer on arable crop yield in a four course rotation. In 1969 the experiment was modified to investigate the effects of soil P and fresh fertilizer P on the yields of arable crops at a range of soil P values., Page 1: Cover page Pages 2-3: Experimental plan, P treatments and crop sequence, 1969-1986 Pages 4-5: Fertilizer N applications, 1969-1986 Page 6: %SOC, soi pH and soil exchangeable K, 1968-1982, Prepared from experimental plans and Rothamsted Research Annual Reports None None

Organic agriculture is perceived as environmentally sustainable, but, under its umbrella, different production systems exist ranging from simplified organic productions to well diversified systems with a full implementation of agro-ecological approaches. Among several developed tools for agriculture sustainability assessment, multi-criteria models are increasingly gaining importance. In this study, we evaluated the use of the multi-criteria DEXi-BIOrt tool, coupled with data from long-term experiments, for the sustainability assessment of different organic vegetable production scenarios. These scenarios were applied in two Italian areas: the Adriatic coast of Marche Region and the Metaponto plan of Basilicata Region. Despite the presence of some critical issues, DEXI-BIOrt proved to be a valid tool for the sustainability evaluation of organic vegetable productions. In both areas, the most sustainable scenarios resulted the well diversified organic systems characterized by proper rotations, inclusion of agro-ecological service crops, cultivation of local and different cultivars, and presence of short supply chain mechanisms. Conversely, the implementation of the simplified organic substitution scenarios does not guarantee a suitable level of sustainability. The findings of this study could support decision makers in the implementation of appropriate measures for enhancing organic production sustainability in the framework of post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy.

This paper describes an agricultural model (Roth-CNP) that estimates carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) pools, pool changes, their balance and the nutrient fluxes exported from arable and grassland systems in the UK during 1800–2010. The Roth-CNP model was developed as part of an Integrated Model (IM) to simulate C, N and P cycling for the whole of UK, by loosely coupling terrestrial, hydrological and hydro-chemical models. The model was calibrated and tested using long term experiment (LTE) data from Broadbalk (1843) and Park Grass (1856) at Rothamsted. We estimated C, N and P balance and their fluxes exported from arable and grassland systems on a 5 km × 5 km grid across the whole of UK by using the area of arable of crops and livestock numbers in each grid and their management. The model estimated crop and grass yields, soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and nutrient fluxes in the form of NH4-N, NO3-N and PO4-P. The simulated crop yields were compared to that reported by national agricultural statistics for the historical to the current period. Overall, arable land in the UK have lost SOC by −0.18, −0.25 and −0.08 Mg C ha−1 y−1 whereas land under improved grassland SOC stock has increased by 0.20, 0.47 and 0.24 Mg C ha−1 y−1 during 1800–1950, 1950–1970 and 1970–2010 simulated in this study. Simulated N loss (by leaching, runoff, soil erosion and denitrification) increased both under arable (−15, −18 and −53 kg N ha−1 y−1) and grass (−18, −22 and −36 kg N ha−1 y−1) during different time periods. Simulated P surplus increased from 2.6, 10.8 and 18.1 kg P ha−1 y−1 under arable and 2.8, 11.3 and 3.6 kg P ha−1 y−1 under grass lands 1800–1950, 1950–1970 and 1970–2010., Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image, Highlights • Roth-CNP model estimates C, N and P cycling within the UK agriculture for 1800–2010. • Simulated crop yields were comparable to the yields of UK's agricultural statistics. • Simulated SOC stock decreased under arable and increased under improved grassland. • Simulated N and P losses increased under both arable and grasslands. • Results shows the effect of local agriculture in a larger context of space and time.

Experiment plan for the Broadbalk wheat experiment, 1852-1925, with details of fertilizer and manure treatment., **Page 1:** Cover page -**Pages 2-3:** Broadbalk experiment plan 1852-1925, showing plot layout and treatment codes, with full details of fertilizer and manure treatments applied., Standardised experimental plan (not to scale)., Derived from Johnston and Garner (1969). None None

The guide to the Rothamsted Classical and other Long-term Experiments, Datasets and Sample Archive. Originally published 2006, updated and reprinted 2012., Introduction ................................................................................................................5 The Classical Experiments - Broadbalk Winter Wheat ..................................................................................8 - Broadbalk and Geescroft Wildernesses ........................................................19 - Park Grass......................................................................................................20 - Hoosfield Spring Barley ..................................................................................31 - Exhaustion Land ............................................................................................35 - Hoosfield Wheat and Fallow ..........................................................................36 - Garden Clover ................................................................................................37 - Barnfield..........................................................................................................38 - Agdell..............................................................................................................39 Other Long-term Experiments - At Rothamsted ................................................................................................40 - At Woburn ......................................................................................................41 - At Saxmundham ............................................................................................43 Meteorological data..................................................................................................44 Long-term Experiments as a Resource ..................................................................45 Sample Archive........................................................................................................46 The Rothamsted Insect Survey ..............................................................................48 Environmental Change Network ..............................................................................51 Electronic Rothamsted Archive................................................................................51 Map of Rothamsted Farm ........................................................................................26

A collection of maps and plans for the Woburn Experimental Station., Woburn Experimental Farm Soil Texture - Woburn Experimental Farm Soil Series - Complete Legend to Soil Series Revised 2017 - Woburn Farm Field Map - Woburn Farm OS map, including Stackyard

Some intracellular bacteria are known to cause long‐term infections that last decades without compromising the viability of the host. Although of critical importance, the adaptations that intracellular bacteria undergo during this long process of residence in a host cell environment remain obscure. Here, we report a novel experimental approach to study the adaptations of mycobacteria imposed by a long‐term intracellular lifestyle. Selected Mycobacterium bovis BCG through continuous culture in macrophages underwent an adaptation process leading to impaired phenolic glycolipids (PGL) synthesis, improved usage of glucose as a carbon source and accumulation of neutral lipids. These changes correlated with increased survival of mycobacteria in macrophages and mice during re‐infection and also with the specific expression of stress‐ and survival‐related genes. Our findings identify bacterial traits implicated in the establishment of long‐term cellular infections and represent a tool for understanding the physiological states and the environment that bacteria face living in fluctuating intracellular environments. Instituto de Biotecnología Fil: Vazquez, Cristina Lourdes. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina. Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research. Research Group Phagosome Biology; Alemania Fil: Lerner, Thomas R. National Institute for Medical Research. Medical Research Council. Division of Mycobacterial Research; Gran Bretaña Fil: Kasmapour, Bahram. Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research. Research Group Phagosome Biology; Alemania Fil: Pei, Gang. Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research. Research Group Phagosome Biology; Alemania Fil: Gronow, Achim. Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research. Research Group Phagosome Biology; Alemania Fil: Bianco, María Veronica. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina Fil: Blanco, Federico Carlos. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina Fil: Bleck, Christopher K.E. University of Basel. Centre for Cellular Imaging and NanoAnalytics, Structural Biology and Biophysics, Biozentrum, Mattenstrasse 26; Suiza Fil: Geffers, Robert. Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research. Research Group Genome Analytics; Alemania Fil: Bigi, Fabiana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina Fil: Abraham, Wolf-Rainer. Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research. Research Group Chemical Microbiology; Alemania Fil: Gutierrez, Maximiliano Gabriel. Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research. Research Group Phagosome Biology; Alemania. National Institute for Medical Research. Medical Research Council. Division of Mycobacterial Research; Gran Bretaña

Standardised experiment plans for the Hoosfield spring barley experiment, 1968-2000, with details of fertilizer and manure treatments (not to scale). Includes rotation of potatoes, beans and barley (1968-1978) and silicate treatments (1979-2000)., Derived from plans published in the Rothamsted Guides to the Classical and Field Experiments, 1977 and 1991. None None

Com o objetivo de determinar o efeito da rotação no rendimento das culturas de algodão, amendoim, arroz, cana-de-açúcar e milho, instalou-se em Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil, um experimento avaliado durante 11 anos (1963/64 a 1974/75), seguido de análise do efeito residual dessa prática (1975/76), tomando, como indicador da fertilidade do solo, o rendimento de grãos de milho, semeado em todas as parcelas. No planejamento do experimento, em blocos casualizados com vinte tratamentos e quatro repetições, considerou-se que todos os tratamentos devem estar presentes em todos os anos, a fim de avaliar com eficiência e maior rapidez o efeito da rotação. Os resultados evidenciaram que as culturas contínuas, apenas com adubação mineral, levaram à redução significativa da produção no decorrer dos anos. Os tratamentos com calagem inicial e adubação mineral anual mantiveram a produtividade média, apesar das grandes oscilações anuais da produção. O efeito da rotação, quando praticada com calagem inicial e adubação mineral anual, levou a uma produtividade satisfatória ao longo dos anos, bem superior à do cultivo contínuo de cada uma das culturas, principalmente quando as culturas anuais não receberam a calagem inicial.With the goal of determining the crop rotation effects on cotton, peanut, rice, sugar cane and maize yields, a rotation experiment was established in Campinas, State of São Paulo, Brazil, for eleven years (1963/64 to 1974/75). The residual effect was determined by planting maize on all experimental plots in the following year (1975/76). The experimental design was randomized blocks with twenty treatments and four replications, spanning all treatments in all years in order to have an efficient and faster evaluation of the crop rotation effects. The results showed that the continuous cropping with mineral fertilizer applied annually led to a significant decrease of crop yield. However, when this continuous cropping received an initial liming, the average crop yield was maintained throughout the years. The crop rotation effect, with initial liming and mineral fertilization resulted in a significant increase in crop yields when compared with the individual crop that received only mineral fertilization.

Com o objetivo de determinar o efeito da rotação no rendimento das culturas de algodão, amendoim, arroz, cana-de-açúcar e milho, instalou-se em Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil, um experimento avaliado durante 11 anos (1963/64 a 1974/75), seguido de análise do efeito residual dessa prática (1975/76), tomando, como indicador da fertilidade do solo, o rendimento de grãos de milho, semeado em todas as parcelas. No planejamento do experimento, em blocos casualizados com vinte tratamentos e quatro repetições, considerou-se que todos os tratamentos devem estar presentes em todos os anos, a fim de avaliar com eficiência e maior rapidez o efeito da rotação. Os resultados evidenciaram que as culturas contínuas, apenas com adubação mineral, levaram à redução significativa da produção no decorrer dos anos. Os tratamentos com calagem inicial e adubação mineral anual mantiveram a produtividade média, apesar das grandes oscilações anuais da produção. O efeito da rotação, quando praticada com calagem inicial e adubação mineral anual, levou a uma produtividade satisfatória ao longo dos anos, bem superior à do cultivo contínuo de cada uma das culturas, principalmente quando as culturas anuais não receberam a calagem inicial. With the goal of determining the crop rotation effects on cotton, peanut, rice, sugar cane and maize yields, a rotation experiment was established in Campinas, State of São Paulo, Brazil, for eleven years (1963/64 to 1974/75). The residual effect was determined by planting maize on all experimental plots in the following year (1975/76). The experimental design was randomized blocks with twenty treatments and four replications, spanning all treatments in all years in order to have an efficient and faster evaluation of the crop rotation effects. The results showed that the continuous cropping with mineral fertilizer applied annually led to a significant decrease of crop yield. However, when this continuous cropping received an initial liming, the average crop yield was maintained throughout the years. The crop rotation effect, with initial liming and mineral fertilization resulted in a significant increase in crop yields when compared with the individual crop that received only mineral fertilization.

Understanding how plant species with similar resource requirements co-exist has been a long-standing ecological question with several theoretical explanations. One potential mechanism is the storage effect hypothesis. According to this hypothesis, species co-exist because they differ in when they are most actively using resource and, therefore, respond differently to environmental perturbation. The hypothesis is based on two main assumptions: (i) two competitors have different responses to climate and (ii) the responses to climate are mediated by changes in the relative importance of intra- and interspecific competition. The hypothesis could provide useful insights into the role of climate in maintaining weed species diversity and potential shifts in dominant species under climate change. This study tested the basic principles of the storage effect hypothesis on weed communities using data from the Broadbalk long-term fertiliser experiment. Relative abundance of weeds in 10 plots with contrasting fertility but no herbicides was assessed for 21 years. Multivariate analyses and generalised additive mixed models were used to analyse the data. The following pairs of species were found to be adapted to similar fertiliser levels, but diverged in their response to climate: (i) Papaver rhoeas–Tripleurospermum inodorum, (ii) Medicago lupulina–Vicia sativa and (iii) Scandix pecten-veneris–Ranunculus arvensis. Contrasting responses to spring temperature within these species pairs modified the competition balance providing evidence for the storage effect hypothesis and helping to explain weed co-existence in the Broadbalk experiment., This work was partially funded by the Consejería de Educación y Ciencia de la Junta de la Comunidad de Castilla-La Mancha of Spain, the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and FEDER Funds (projects POII10-0123-5554 and AGL2012-33736). DGL was awarded with a JAE-Predoc-LINCGlobal scholarship. Rothamsted Research received financial support from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) of the UK.

The molecular pathways in the morphologically and functionally different tissue of the reproductive tract of mammals are still incompletely elucidated. For exploring the processes leading to successful reproduction, differentiated in vitro systems modelling the mammalian reproductive tract are needed. The pig serves as a valuable resource for adequate material for several reasons. Since anatomy of the organs, as well as physiological and pathophysiological responses have been found to be very similar to those in humans, the pig is a more valid model for human research than rodent species and, therefore, an important alternative as a non-rodent animal species. This is especially true for the early processes in reproduction. Furthermore, due to the industrial porc production, porcine material for cell culture is easily available (slaughterhouse). Biological variations between the different individuals concerning age, cycle stage (mostly pre-pubertal animals) and breed (hybrids of German Edelschwein, German Landrace and Pietrain) are reduced. This leads to a low biological variation. In the present studies, culture conditions for primary porcine epithelial cells derived from the oviduct and the cervix uteri were optimized with regard to morphological differentiation and usability for extended cultivation periods. To evaluate different growth media for the primary cells, we used morphological criteria as well as realtime impedance measurement. After an initial media testing, the cells were grown on hanging membranes and the culture settings (conventionally cultured, serum gradient over the membrane (for the oviductal cell culture only) and air-liquid interface) were assessed by histology and electron microscopy (only oviductal cells). For the oviductal cell culture, we proved long-term expression of an oviduct specific marker (oviductal glycoprotein 1) and showed a speci_c hormone responsiveness of the culture system by means of quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qPCR). Dfferentiated epithelial cells could reproducibly be cultured up to six weeks in an air-liquid interface. After three weeks of culturing, the cells were clearly polarized and exhibited motile cilia. The model maintains physiological properties such as morphological features (mixed cell population of ciliated and secretory cells, apical cell-cell contacts typical for columnar epithelial cells) and oviduct-specific markers showing hormone responsiveness. We could reproducibly culture pure epithelial cells out-growing from fresh tissue explants of the porcine cervix uteri. The optimised growth medium was conditioned Ham's F-12, containing 10 % FCS1, EGF2 and insulin. When growing cells in an air-liquid interface for three weeks, the cells showed a multilayered phenotype. The cells were of epithelial origin and showed beta catenin expression as well as production of mucopolysaccharides. Finally, polarized in vitro-systems of the porcine cervical and oviductal epithelium preserving detailed features of the native tissue were successfully established. Especially the oviductal cell culture model is very promising and will further promote subsequent research projects., Die molekularen Vorgänge innerhalb der morphologisch und funktionell sehr unterschiedlichen Gewebe des weiblichen Reproduktionstraktes des Säugetieres sind bisher nicht komplett aufgeklärt. In vitro-Systeme, die die physiologischen und pathophysiologischen Gegebenheiten widerspiegeln, sind notwendig, um die Prozesse zu verstehen, die zu einer erfolgreichen Reproduktion führen. Als Ressource für adäquates Zellmaterial bietet sich das Schwein aus mehreren Gründen an. Es ist eines der favorisierten Modelle für den menschlichen Organismus, da das Schwein dem Menschen, im Vergleich zu den für in vivo-Versuche häufig eingesetzten Nagetieren, unter vielen anatomischen und physiologischen Gesichtspunkten ähnlicher ist. Dies trifft insbesondere auf die frühen Prozesse des Reproduktionsgeschehens zu. Zudem ist Gewebe aus dem porcinen Reproduktionstrakt als Nebenprodukte der Fleischproduktion (Schlachthof) leicht verfügbar. Darüber hinaus zeigen die Donor-Tiere bedingt durch die industrialisierte Schweinezucht wenig individuelle Unterschiede betreffend z.B. des Zyklusstandes (präpubertäre Tiere) und der Rasse (fast ausschließlich Hybride aus Deutschem Edelschwein, Landrasse und Pietrain). Dies reduziert die biologische Schwankungsbreite entsprechend. In der vorliegenden Doktorarbeit wurden Isolierungsmethoden und Kulturbedingungen für Epithelzellen aus Eileiter und Gebärmutterhals unter dem Gesichtspunkt der morphologischen Differenzierung und einer möglichen Langzeitkultivierung untersucht und optimiert. Um die verschiedenen Wachstumsbedingungen der Epithelzellkulturen zu bewerten wurden sowohl morphologische Kriterien als auch Echtzeit Impedanzmessungen herangezogen. Nach einer anfänglichen Untersuchung von Wachstumsmedien wurden die Epithelzellen unter unterschiedlichen Kulturbedingungen auf hängenden, permeablen Membranen kultiviert. Die Zellkulturen der einzelnen Kulturbedingungen (konventionell, mit einem Serumgradienten über die Membran (nur für die Eileiterzellkultur) oder in einem Air-Liquid-Interface mit Kontakt zum Medium ausschließlich von der basolateralen Zellseite) wurden histologisch und elektronenmikroskopisch (nur Eileiterzellkultur) ausgewertet. Rein epitheliale Zellen aus dem Gebärmutterhals konnten über ein Auswachsen aus Gewebeexplantaten gewonnen werden. Als optimiertes Wachstumsmedium diente konditioniertes Ham's F-12, mit 10 % FCS, EGF und Insulin. Eine dreiwöchige Kultur der Zellen im Air-Liquid- Interface führte zum Wachstum eines mehrschichtigen Cervixepithels. Hier konnten sowohl beta-Catenin als Differenzierungsmarker sowie eine Mukusproduktion nachgewiesen werden. Differenzierte Epithelzellen des Eileiters in ihrer natürlichen Zusammensetzung (Zilien tragende und sekretorische Zellen) konnten reproduzierbar über sechs Wochen im Air-Liquid- Interface gehalten werden. Schon nach einer Kulturdauer von drei Wochen polarisierten die Zellen deutlich und zeigten motile Kinozilien. Die Expression eines Eileiter-spezifischen Markers (oviductal glycoprotein 1) wurde nachgewiesen und eine spezifische Antwort auf Hormonstimulation konnte mittels quantitativer Polymerasekettenreaktion (qPCR) gezeigt werden. In den hier etablierten in vitro-Systemen der Epithelien von Eileiter und Gebärmutterhals konnten mit denen im natürlichem Gewebe vergleichbare Verhältnisse erhalten beziehungsweise eingestellt werden. Das in der Dissertation vorgestellte Oviduktzellkultursystem lässt neue Impulse auf nachfolgende Forschungsprojekte erwarten.

The Douro Region,, NE Portugal, where the grapes for Port Wine are produced, faces a high potential erosion risk due to its natural setting, for long tackled with heavy labour inputs. These allowed the stabilization of steep vineyard covered hill-slopes by means of traditional terracing, manually built and following models that changed through time. Alternative vineyard installation and cultivation techniques were tested and progressively adopted, namely row plantation perpendicular to the contour, nowadays an integral yet small part of the plantation schemes accepted under the rules of the World Heritage status, granted by UNESCO in 2001. This paper investigates the effects of vine plantation schemes on long-term (10 years) runoff and soil loss data recorded in the Douro Region using a set of meso-scale erosion plots installed in vineyards planted in rows perpendicular to the contour. It also aims at identifying, and quantitatively deriving the significance of erosion factors helping to interpret the results obtained. Runoff and soil loss were measured between 1978 and 1988 using five runoff plots, 32.1 m long and 5.2 m wide, on a 45 % slope, over a silt loam soil containing 60 % rock fragments by mass, under Mediterranean climatic regime with less than 600 mm mean annual rainfall. Vine plantation schemes tested correspond to three different plant densities (3571, 4808, 5917 plants ha-1) on paired plots (except for the intermediate plant density, tested in a single plot), which provided a mean vegetation cover of 50, 60 and 75 %. The 10 year data analyzed correspond to 167 runoff events. Mean annual runoff and soil loss, computed for the 10 years of records, were 22 mm and 361 kg ha-1 respectively. These relatively low soil loss rates are explained under the prevailing conditions of rainfall erosivity, soil, topography and vegetation cover, by the very high rock fragment cover, protecting the topsoil from wash by runoff. Soil loss was very much concentrated in a few erosive events, 3 of them being responsible for ca.75 % of the total soil loss recorded in 10 years. These events occurred in spring and summer, whereas most erosive events in Mediterranean conditions occur in autumn and winter. Results also show that increasing the vine plant density by 66 % resulted in a reduction of mean annual runoff by 19 % and of mean annual soil loss by 57 %, demonstrating the significant effect of this erosion control measure in permanent crops such as vineyards. Erasmus Intensive Programme Runoff Erosion

Dit rapport geeft de resultaten van veeljarig onderzoek naar effecten van fosfaatgiften afgestemd op evenwichtsbemesting. Hierbij wordt gepoogd een antwoord gegeven op de volgende vragen: 1. Welk risico levert een veeljarige evenwichtsbemesting met fosfaat op vermindering van opbrengst en kwaliteit van landbouwgewassen? 2. Vermindert een gebruiksnorm afgestemd op evenwichtsbemesting op korte en lange termijn het risico op fosfaatuitspoeling? 3. In welke mate wordt de verdeling van bodemfosfaat over verschillende fracties gewijzigd en wat is de betekenis daarvan voor de bodemvruchtbaarheid op lange termijn? Deze vragen worden in dit rapport deels beantwoord op basis van langjarig onderzoek op een fosfaatproefveld op zeeklei te Lelystad. In deze veldproef wordt sinds 1990 onderzoek uitgevoerd naar de effecten van verschillende fosfaatgiften op opbrengst, fosfaattoestand van de bodem en fosfaatfracties in de bodem.

Dit rapport geeft de resultaten van veeljarig onderzoek naar effecten van fosfaatgiften afgestemd op evenwichtsbemesting. Hierbij wordt gepoogd een antwoord gegeven op de volgende vragen: 1. Welk risico levert een veeljarige evenwichtsbemesting met fosfaat op vermindering van opbrengst en kwaliteit van landbouwgewassen? 2. Vermindert een gebruiksnorm afgestemd op evenwichtsbemesting op korte en lange termijn het risico op fosfaatuitspoeling? 3. In welke mate wordt de verdeling van bodemfosfaat over verschillende fracties gewijzigd en wat is de betekenis daarvan voor de bodemvruchtbaarheid op lange termijn? Deze vragen worden in dit rapport deels beantwoord op basis van langjarig onderzoek op een fosfaatproefveld op zeeklei te Lelystad. In deze veldproef wordt sinds 1990 onderzoek uitgevoerd naar de effecten van verschillende fosfaatgiften op opbrengst, fosfaattoestand van de bodem en fosfaatfracties in de bodem.