Description
UIUC is currently home to the Morrow Plots, the second oldest experimental test field in the country and the oldest in the Americas. Established in 1876, studies on these plots spurred innovations in crop rotation and land use practices over the past 150 years.
Although the Morrow Plots will still be studied, Margenot said, “The questions of today are different than the past. We want to look at modern practices and questions that build on the Morrow Plots.”
The Alma Mater Plots will be over 70 times the size of the Morrow Plots. Additionally, each plot will be center-tiled and have a buffer tile. The center tile will monitor the amount of water draining from the field and the nutrients that are flowing out with the water. This will be used to understand the management practices conducted on the overlying soil.
Margenot said an important factor of this experiemental design is the buffer tile.
“To be certain the nutrients coming out of a tile are just from the treatment on the soil that overlays that tile, you have to have some way to tell that only that treatment is draining,” he said. “The buffer tile runs through the border of two plots and basically sucks up any overflow that would contaminate the treatment in the plot of interest.”
Once the plots are set up, the plan is to not touch them for 150 years.
Although the Morrow Plots will still be studied, Margenot said, “The questions of today are different than the past. We want to look at modern practices and questions that build on the Morrow Plots.”
The Alma Mater Plots will be over 70 times the size of the Morrow Plots. Additionally, each plot will be center-tiled and have a buffer tile. The center tile will monitor the amount of water draining from the field and the nutrients that are flowing out with the water. This will be used to understand the management practices conducted on the overlying soil.
Margenot said an important factor of this experiemental design is the buffer tile.
“To be certain the nutrients coming out of a tile are just from the treatment on the soil that overlays that tile, you have to have some way to tell that only that treatment is draining,” he said. “The buffer tile runs through the border of two plots and basically sucks up any overflow that would contaminate the treatment in the plot of interest.”
Once the plots are set up, the plan is to not touch them for 150 years.
Date Issued
2024-02-23
Number of Pages
5
Decade
Associated Organization
Publisher
FarmWeekNow.com
Status
Format
Rights Management
Public Domain