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The Morrow Plots is an experimental agricultural field at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Named for Professor George E. Morrow, the first dean of the College of Agriculture, the Morrow Plots are(1) the oldest such field in the United States and the second oldest in the world. It was established in 1876 as the first experimental corn field at an American college and continues to be used today, although with three plots of much reduced size, instead of the original ten half-acre lots. The site was designated a National Historic Landmark on May 23, 1968. The fields are managed by the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences.

Description
The Morrow Plots occupy a central position on the campus of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), between the Main Quad and the South Quad. They are bounded on the south by West Gregory Drive, the north by the Observatory, the east by the Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, and the west by the Undergraduate Library. The plots currently consist of six small fields, each one-tenth of an acre in size. The two northernmost plots have been continuously planted in maize (corn) since 1876. The middle plots were originally planted in a rotation of corn and oats, with the oats replaced by soybeans in 1968. The southern plots were originally planted in a rotation of three years corn followed by three years meadow; this was replaced in 1901 by a rotation of corn, oats, and clover, and in 1953 by corn, oats, and alfalfa.

It is popularly believed that the University constructed its Undergraduate Library to the west of the Plots with three stories underground, so that the library would not block the sun from the Morrow Plots. However, the University master plan at the time called for a large open plaza on that end of campus, which was an equally important reason the library was built underground.

History
The origin of the idea behind the Morrow Plots is unknown. Many credit the agricultural chemist, C.W. Silver, who came up with the idea after visiting Rothamsted Field while on-route to study for an advanced degree in Germany. He wrote a proposed layout for a long term field study on corn. Manly Miles then submitted a written proposal similar to one made by C.W. Silver. After his proposal went through, the Morrow Plots were officially established in 1876 with three half-acre fields with different crop schemes (5). Experimentation began in 1876, even though official University sanction was only given in 1879.(1) Because of this restriction, many of the experiments that were conducted before the University established these plots as an experimental field, were not recognized and therefore not accepted. The very first experiment was Experiment 23 and no crop data was revealed until 1888. (7) These were expanded to ten plots in 1879 by George E. Morrow. At first, record keeping was not of the highest caliber, but by the turn of the 20th century it was clear that crop rotation was a useful component in preventing the depletion of soil quality. In the early 20th century, the number of plots were reduced, and their size was also reduced, in order to facilitate expansion of the university facilities. The plots were divided into quarters and the soil on only a part of these plots were treated.(1) In the late 20th century, plans to conduct further experimentation on the site was held up by a lack of funds, but a $25,000 donation from the Illinois Crop Improvement allowed for the experimentation to continue. It also allowed for appropriate renovations to be done after the Morrow Plots received its new status as a national landmark.(2) The northernmost plots are the only ones that date to Miles' 1876 establishment; his other plots are now occupied by the University of Illinois Observatory.

The results of the experiments which were carried out at the Morrow Plots showed that "soil quality is a vital component of agricultural productivity", and that the "use of science and technology ... increased crop productivity over four-fold."

Myths
One of the most popularized rumors about the Morrow Plots is mostly popularized and spread by tour guides. Many people believe that if a student steps foot in the Morrow Plots, they will be expelled from the University.(6)

“Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections.” Farmers' Weekly Review 27 August 1958 - Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=FWR19580827.2.45&srpos=19&e=---en-20--1--img-txIN-morrow%2Bplots-.

This newspaper article will be used for information about the crop rotation of the morrow plots.

It is a first hand recording from 1958.

“Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections.” Daily Illini 5 October 1926 - Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=DIL19261005.2.71&srpos=10&e=---en-100--1--img-txIN-morrow%2Bplots-.

Newspaper article recounting crop rotation cycles

Recording from 1926

“Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections.” Daily Illini 2 June 1960 - Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=DIL19600602.2.15&srpos=87&e=---en-100--1--img-txIN-morrow%2Bplots-.

More crop experiment and rotation information

Recording from 1960

“Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections.” Daily Illini 15 September 1949 - Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=DIL19490915.2.302&srpos=192&e=---en-100--101--img-txIN-morrow%2Bplots-.

Detailed information about the plantings of the crops in the past years

Recording from 1949