Harvey County Experiment Field
| Faculty: |
Mark M. Claassen, Agronomist-in-Charge
Kevin Duerksen, Plant Science Technician I
Lowell Stucky, Plant Science Technician I |
| Location: |
Immediately west of Hesston, Kansas, on Hickory Street and 4 miles south and 2 miles west. |
| Events: |
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Research
Emphasis: |
Research at the Harvey County Experiment Field deals with many aspects of dryland crop production on soils of the Central Loess Plains and Central Outwash plains of central and south central Kansas and is designed to benefit directly the agricultural industry of the area. Focus is primarily on wheat, grain sorghum, and soybeans, but also includes alternative crops such as corn and oats. Investigations include variety and hybrid performance tests, chemical weed control, tillage methods, fertilizer use, and planting practices, as well as disease and insect resistance and control. |
Soil
Description: |
The Harvey County Experiment Field consists of two tracts. The headquarters tract, 75 acres immediately west of Hesston on Hickory St., is all Ladysmith silty clay loam with 0-1 percent slope. The second tract, located 4 miles south and 2 miles west of Hesston, is comprised of 142 acres of Ladysmith, Smolan, Detroit, and Irwin silty clay loams, as well as Geary and Smolan silt loams. All have 0-3 percent slope. Soils on the two tracts are representative of much of Harvey, Marion, McPherson, Dickinson, and Rice counties, as well as adjacent areas.
These are deep, moderately well to well-drained, upland soils, with high fertility and good water-holding capacity. Water runoff is slow to moderate. Permeability of the Ladysmith, Smolan, Detroit, and Irwin series is slow to very slow, whereas permeability of the Geary series is moderate. |
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