Welcome to the Global Directory of Long-term Agronomic Experiments. The purpose of this directory is to provide a resource for the agricultural research community in addressing the many issues involved with agricultural sustainability.

The 89 experiments compiled in this directory cover the following subjects: fertilisers, organic matter management, liming, crop residue management, green manure, tillage, crop management systems, farming systems, drainage, fallow management, permanent crops/agroforestry, and pasture/animal husbandry. These experiments provide a history of agriculture in regions with diverse climates, crops, and management in Asia, Africa, The Americas and Australia. Each experiment provides a picture of how agricultural systems in that part of the world have affected their physical environment and how their ability to provide food has varied over time.

Many of the experiments reported in this global directory have been only partially analysed and few have been analysed over time. Nevertheless most long-term experiments are invaluable repositories of scientific information that must be preserved for the future. They are perhaps among the most underutilized resources for agricultural scientists.

The Soil Resources, Management, Conservation and Plant Nutrient Service (AGLS/N) and the Plant Production and Protection Division (AGP) present this draft of the Global Directory of Long-term Agronomic Experiments and shall be grateful for your opinion, comments and also your technical contribution to this undertaking, which will need to be updated and expanded in coverage.