Grassland management is crucial for maintaining productive and sustainable agricultural systems. One of the key practices is liming, which helps maintain an optimal soil pH level. At the Rothamsted Research facility in the UK, the long-running Park Grass experiment, initiated in 1865, provides valuable insights into this practice (Source: Guide to the Classical and other Long-term experiments, Datasets and Sample Archive, Rothamsted Research).
As one of the world’s oldest agricultural experiments, it includes a soil pH gradient, created by applying different amounts of lime. This setup enables researchers to study the effects of varying soil pH levels on plant growth, nutrient uptake, and species composition. The results provide invaluable insights into the benefits of maintaining optimal soil pH for grassland productivity and sustainability.