Science Links
Mission of Rothamsted Research
Origins of Rothamsted Research
Company Information
Contact Us
Statements and Policies
Annual Reports
Press Office
Location And Map of Harpenden Campus
Ownership and Funding
Lawes Agricultural Trust
The Next Decade
Strategic Plan 2005-2010
Senior Management
Rothamsted International
Resources at Rothamsted Research
Controlled Environment and Glasshouse Facilities (PDF)
Rothamsted Multimedia (photographs, video and audio)
Long Term Experiments
Classical Experiments
Guide to the Classical and other Long-term Experiments, Datasets and Sample Archive
Electronic Rothamsted Archive
Rothamsted Archive
Rothamsted Library
Conference Facilities
Rothamsted Manor
Rothamsted Farms
Environmental Change Network and Local Weather
Trustees Only (Strictly Confidential)
Research Centres
Research Overview
Featured Projects
Conferences and Meetings
Publications
Research Departments:
Biological Chemistry
Biomathematics and Bioinformatics
Broom's Barn (Applied Crop Sciences)
North Wyke (Grassland Systems Science)
Plant and Invertebrate Ecology
Plant Pathology and Microbiology
Plant Science
Soil Science
Associated Companies
Climate Change and Land Management
The economic value of research carried out by RRes (PDF)
Growing Energy - Biomass crops as a substitute for fossil fuels (PDF)
DESSAC - DEcision Support System for Arable Crops
Impact Over the Past 30 Years
Light Leafspot Forecast
Phoma Leaf Spot Forecast
RothLime (Rothamsted Lime Requirement Model)
Rothamsted Insect Survey Aphid Bulletin
Rothamsted Research Association (formerly ARIA)
Sugar Beet Research at Broom's Barn
SUNDIAL (SimUlation of Nitrogen Dynamics In Arable Land)
Weeds or Wild Plants?
Public Events
Resources for Schools
Science Snapshots
Rothamsted Exhibitions
Open Weekend 2010
DeBug - Interactive Insects
Science Stories - Comic Books
Zones of Inhibition - Art and Science
BERTIE the BEET
Rothamsted Radio - Grove School Podcasts
Molecular Biology Notebook (teaching resource)
Vacancies
Summer Vacation Bursaries 2010
Why Choose Rothamsted?
About Rothamsted
Sites and facilities
Staff Support, Sports and Social Activities
Accommodation
University Links
PhD Information
Postgraduate Prospectus
Available studentships
Eligibility criteria
Studentship types
How to apply
Public Events
Resources for Schools
Science Snapshots
Rothamsted Exhibitions
Open Weekend 2006
DeBug - Interactive Insects
Science Stories - Comic Books
Zones of Inhibition - Art and Science
BERTIE the BEETRothamsted Radio - Grove School Podcasts
Molecular Biology Notebook (teaching resource) |
| The adaptive sampling scheme |
The complex nature of soil raises a number of questions that can influence decisions about the management of land, on both a national and local level. For example: Are the nation's soils losing carbon? Where do concentrations of lead exceed regulatory thresholds? Is the soil acidity in a particular field a limiting factor on crop yield? The problem is that the soil is so variable, even within a single field, that it is difficult to obtain this information efficiently.
The Environmetrics group at Rothamsted Research, led by Dr Murray Lark, have developed an intelligent computer program, with funding from a BBSRC Industrial Partnership Award with the Home-Grown Cereals Authority, which can tailor soil sampling to local conditions, allowing land managers to obtain high quality information, while avoiding costly over-sampling. This method has potential to improve the management of agricultural fields and for mapping soil pollution and monitoring the success of clean-up operations.
 |
| Two male Erigone spiders on a grass seed head |
Spiders are important predators of insect pests that often "parachute" into new areas on single strands of silk. Elspeth Bartlet reports on a new, more realistic, model of this behaviour by scientists at Rothamsted Research, which explains, for the first time, how these aerial hitchhikers can be transported for tens of metres to hundreds of kilometres.
On a fine summer's day, a young spider climbs to the top of a blade of grass, arches its body and lets out a strand of silk. The breeze catches the silk and the spider is dragged into the air and out of sight. This behaviour is called ballooning and it's the main dispersal method for many spiders, moth larvae and mites, enabling them to colonise new habitats, or escape from trouble.
 |
| Energy grass |
How can we meet our targets for reducing carbon emissions and give British agriculture a much-needed boost at the same time?
Energy crops that can be converted to "carbon neutral" power could be the answer. At Rothamsted Research work to support such crops ranges from molecular studies to assuring end use suitability for the energy industry. Elspeth Bartlet talks to programme leader Angela Karp and agronomist Ian Shield.
 |
| Mosquito |
Researchers find chemicals that explain why some animals, including people, get bitten more than others.
On holiday, does one of your family always get more mosquito bites than the rest? Researchers at Rothamsted are identifying the chemical reasons why certain individuals, amongst both cattle and humans, are consistently bitten more than others.
All articles have been published in the BBSRC Business Quarterly Magazine
