Seventy years of data from the world’s longest grazed and irrigated pasture trials

Pastures are the most widespread land use, globally. The Winchmore trials were established in 1948–1949 in Canterbury, New Zealand and examined either different rates of phosphorus (P) fertiliser on the same irrigation schedule (Fertiliser trial), or different irrigation scheduling at the same rate of P application (Irrigation trial). About 96,000 records of soil chemistry and physical data and pasture yield and botanical composition are available along with nearly 7000 soil samples. These data have been used in 475 publications that have explored topics as diverse as: improvements in sheep, dairy and deer production; the efficacy and scheduling of irrigation; improvements in pasture and crop production; agronomic and environmental soil and water research; and entomology. In addition to above topics, these data are invaluable for calibrating models to predict long-term issues like the accumulation of soil carbon or contaminants like cadmium and informing policy on climate change and agricultural practices. The data and soil samples are available for use and may yet yield discoveries, unforeseen 70 years ago. Measurement(s) phosphorus • cadmium • soil moisture • composition of soil • acidity of soil • total biomass yield • porosity of soil • hydraulic conductivity • temperature of soil Technology Type(s) colorimetry • inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry • gravimetric analysis • pH meter • Calculation • ring infiltrometer • Thermometer Device Factor Type(s) fertiliser application rate • irrigation scheduling • year of data collection Sample Characteristic - Environment farm soil • pasture • irrigation ditch • leachate Sample Characteristic - Location New Zealand Machine-accessible metadata file describing the reported data: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.12996692