Morrow Plots

Morrow Plots, University of Illinois
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
(2013)
Location	Urbana, Illinois
Coordinates	40°6′16.01″N 88°13′32.95″W
Area	0.8 acres (current)
Built	1876
NRHP Reference #	68000024
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	May 23, 1968
Designated NHL	May 23, 1968

The Morrow Plots is an experimental corn field at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Named for Professor George E. Morrow, it is 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 instead of the original ten.

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."

The site was designated a National Historic Landmark on May 23, 1968.

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.

Gallery

• 

  Looking north east toward Bevier Hall

• 

  Looking north toward the Astronomical Observatory

See also

• Long-term experiment

References

Notes

External links

• The Morrow Plots by the Department of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
• National Register nomination
• Morrow Plots on LocalWiki