Effects of long periods under grass on soils under british conditions

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Abstract
The effects of long periods (up to many centuries) under grass on 34 mineral soils have been studied by contrasting their physical and other characteristics with the same soils which had a predominantly arable history in living memory. The old grassland soils contain more organic matter (as measured by total nitrogen), more total pore space, aggregates of greater water‐stability, hold more water both at the sticky point and the lower plastic limit, contain more worms but have a smaller bulk (or apparent) density.A highly significant (P = 0.7%) correlation was shown between the nitrogen level and the clay content of the old grassland soils. A significant (P = 1.5%) correlation was found between the water‐stability of the old grassland soil aggregates and their clay content but not with the nitrogen level (P = 5.3%).

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