East Central Experiment Field
| Faculty: |
Dr. Keith A. Janssen, Agronomist-in-Charge
James M. Kimball, Plant Science Technician II
Keith A. Brock, Student |
| Location: |
Ottawa, Kansas |
| Events: |
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Research
Emphasis: |
The East Central Experiment Field was established in 1952 for the purpose of conducting beef cattle research. Work the first couple of years consisted of removal of unnecessary buildings and fences, clearing of volunteer trees, establishment of beef cattle handling and watering facilities, and the establishment of pastures. Research experiments involving beef cattle were conducted until 1965. In 1965, the cattle pasture work was transferred to Parsons and included in the Southeast Kansas Branch Experiment Station. Most grassland on the Experiment Field was then plowed and dry land agronomic crop research was begun. Agronomy studies have included crop variety and hybrid testing, fertility and plant nutrient management, plant breeding, weed control, including chemical, non-chemical, and combination methods, tillage and cropping systems, and more recently studies involving runoff and surface water quality. The Experiment Field welcomes visitors and holds a Fall Field Day in August each year. |
Soil
Description: |
Soils on the 160 acres of fields are Woodson. The terrain is upland, level to gently rolling. The surface soil is a dark, gray-brown, somewhat poorly drained, silt loam to silty-clay loam with a slowly permeable, clay subsoil. The soil is derived from old alluvium. Water intake is slow, averaging less than 0.1 in. per hour when saturated. This makes the soil susceptible to runoff and sheet erosion.
Climate Average annual precipitation is 37 inches per year. May and June are the two highest rainfall months averaging approximately 5.25 inches each. The average number of frost-free days is 185. |
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