| Site characteristics | ||
| Location | Oak Park, Carlow | |
| Latitude-longitude | 52˚86'N - 6˚54'W | |
| Mean annual air temperature (˚C) | 9.8 | |
| Mean annual precipitation (mm) | 870.5 | |
| Land use history | Cereals (15 years), croplands (50 years), received 140 - 160 kg∙N∙ha−1 in 2003 and the year before. Spring barley since 2000. | |
| Soil type (FAO/Irish GSG) | Euteric Cambisol/Grey Brown Podzolics | |
| Soil texture: 0 - 10/0 - 25 cm | Sandy loam | |
| Clay (%): 0 - 10/0 - 25 cm | 15.13/14.73 | |
| Silt (%): 0 - 10/0 - 25 cm | 25.63/33.73 | |
| Sand (%): 0 - 10/0 - 25 cm | 59.24/51.55 | |
| Bulk density (g∙m−3): 0 - 10/0 - 25 cm | 1.42/1.46 | |
| Total soil organic carbon (kg∙ha−1): 0 - 10/0 - 25 cm | 19.912/42.888 | |
| Total inert soil organic carbon (kg∙ha−1): 0 - 10/0 - 25 cm | 3.863/8.163 | |
| Soil pH: 0 - 10/0 - 25 cm | 7.24/7.35 | |
| Available water (AW) at field capacity (mm): 0 - 10/0 - 25 cm | 22.69/55.13 | |
| Water content at saturation (%): 0 - 10/0 - 25 cm | 47.21 (AW = 29.51 mm)/45.56 = 113.87 mm (AW = 71.17) | |
| Water content at field capacity (%): 0 - 10/0 - 25 cm | 40.39 (AW = 22.69 mm)/38.97 = 97.43 mm (AW = 54.73 mm) | |
| Water content at wilting point (%): 0 - 10/0 - 25 cm | 17.70 (=17.70 mm)/17.08 = 42.7 mm | |
| Initial NH4 and NO3− (kg∙N∙ha−1): 0 - 10/0 - 25 cm | 2.8/6.9 and 9.5/23.17 | |
| Annual atmospheric N deposition (kg∙ha−1) | 11 | |
| Slope (%) and water table depth (cm) | 0.004% from vertical and 240 | |
| Depth of impermeable layer (cm) and drainage class | >150 and High | |
| Inputs and management practices | ||
| Land use | Spring barley (var. Tavern or Quench) | |
| Date of previous crop harvested | 17/08/03 | |
| Type and depth of tillage practices | Conventional (22 - 25 cm) | |
| Date of tillage practices (ploughed and light till) | 19/02/04 and 25/03/04; 09/03/05 and 14/03/05; 10/03/06 and 19/03/06; 24/02/07 and 18/03/07; 22/02/08 and 19/03/08; 18/02/09 and 18/03/09; 02/03/10 and 08/03/10; 02/03/11 and 08/03/11 | |
| Date of sowing | 26/03/04; 16/03/05; 20/03/06; 21/03/07; 20/03/08; 19/03/09; 09/03/10; 09/03/11 | |
| Residue incorporation | 3.0 t∙DM∙ha−1(1.32 t∙C∙ha−1), chopped and left on the field; incorporated during tillage operation only | |
| Type of N fertilizer | Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) | |
| Number of fertilizer application | 2003-04: 1; 2005-11: 2 | |
| Fertilizer N rates (kg∙N∙ha−1) | 2003: 140; 2004: 0 and 140; 2005: 0 and 159 (106 + 53); 2006: 0 and 140 (90 + 50); 2007-2011: 0 and 135 (67.5 + 67.5) | |
| Date of fertilizer application | 27/04/04; 12/04/05 and 10/05/05; 12/04/06 and 11/05/06; 20/04/07 and 10/05/07; 16/04/08 and 15/05/08; 21/04/09 and 22/05/09; 13/04/10 and 07/05/10; 04/04/11 and 10/05/11 | |
| Date of harvest | 17/08/03; 17/08/04; 09/08/05; 09/08/06; 17/07/07; 22/08/08; 12/08/09; 06/08/10; 14/08/11 | |