Fig 1.
Experimental plot layout and plot codes.
Vertical rows alternate between conventional (pink) and regenerative (green) management, separated by a 2m gap. Each row included one of each of the treatments in a randomised position; control (yellow), humanure (brown), synthetic fertiliser (blue) and a discard plot (grey).
Table 1.
Overview of key management activities undertaken on the conventional and regenerative plots. Full details are given in S1 Table.
Table 2.
Estimated quantity of Nitrogen, and Organic Matter, Phosphorus and Potassium added to each of the plots each year. Numbers in brackets indicate the maximum and minimum possible values based on the error.
Table 3.
Summary of measured soil parameters and laboratory methods used.
Fig 2.
Spring barley yield at harvest of the third cropping season, under conventional and regenerative management; 17% moisture content.
Table 4.
Treatment medians for six crop growth parameters for the spring barley harvested in August 2024. Square brackets indicate the lower and higher plot medians. N = the number of raw data points which informed each of these plot medians.
Table 5.
Treatment medians for topsoil bulk density (g/cm3 oven dry soil), measured at a depth of 5-10 cm for the baseline soil, and for Year 2 and Year 3. Square brackets indicate the lower and higher plot medians. N = the number of raw data points which informed each of the plot medians.
Fig 3.
Water stable aggregates after three years of cropping.
Percentage of air-dried particles retained on a 1 mm sieve after submersion and agitation. Raw data points are displayed to show the degree of variation informing each plot median.
Table 6.
Plot medians for water stable aggregates (%) in topsoil after two and three years of cropping, sampled at a depth of 0-15 cm. The treatment median is shaded for easy reference.
Table 7.
Treatment medians pH in topsoil at the baseline, and after two and three years of cropping, sampled at a depth of 0-15 cm. Square brackets indicate the lower and higher plot medians. N = the number of raw data points which informed each of the plot medians.
Fig 4.
Soil pH after three years of cropping.
The red line shows the baseline soil median value, and the grey lines show the baseline soil value range. Raw data points are displayed to show the degree of variation informing each plot median.
Fig 5.
Soil moisture content measured at the end of Year 3.
Raw data points are displayed to show the degree of variation informing each plot median.
Table 8.
Treatment median soil organic matter (%) in topsoil at the baseline, and after two and three years of cropping, sampled at a depth of 0-15 cm. Square brackets indicate the lower and higher plot medians. N = the number of raw data points which informed each of the plot medians.
Fig 6.
Soil organic matter content after three years of cropping.
The red line shows the baseline soil median value, and the grey lines show the baseline soil value range. Raw data points are displayed to show the degree of variation informing each plot median.
Fig 7.
Soil total elemental nitrogen content after three years of cropping.
The red line shows the baseline soil median value, and the grey lines show the baseline soil value range. Raw data points are displayed to show the degree of variation informing each plot median.
Fig 8.
Soil inorganic nitrogen content after three years of cropping.
Raw data points are displayed to show the degree of variation informing each plot median.
Table 9.
Treatment medians for topsoil inorganic nitrogen (mg/kg oven dry soil), measured at a depth of 5-10 cm after three years of cropping. Square brackets indicate the lower and higher plot medians. N = the number of raw data points which informed each of the plot medians.
Fig 9.
Soil available phosphorus after three years of cropping.
The green lines show the boundaries for Index 2, the recommended range for arable crops. Raw data points are displayed to show the degree of variation informing each plot median.
Fig 10.
Soil potassium after three years of cropping.
The green lines show the boundaries for Index 2-, the recommended range for arable crops. Raw data points are displayed to show the degree of variation informing each plot median.
Fig 11.
Total worm count per 15 cm3 hole after three years of cropping.
Raw data points are displayed to show the degree of variation informing each plot median.
Fig 12.
Soil microbial respiration rate after three years of cropping.
Raw data points are displayed to show the degree of variation informing each plot median.
Fig 13.
Soil fungal biomass after three years of cropping, calculated from direct enumeration and measurement via light microscopy.
Raw data points are displayed to show the degree of variation informing each plot median.