From complex histories to cohesive data, a long-term agricultural dataset from the Morrow Plots

Morrow Plots Data Curation Working Group, Sandi L. Caldrone, Andrew J. Margenot, Sarah C. Williams, Hoa Luong, Heidi J. Imker, Joshua K. Henry, Bethany G. Anderson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Long-term agricultural experiments are essential to measure the impacts of farming practices on crop yields, soil fertility and biogeochemical processes. However, these impacts often only manifest at decadal timescales, requiring committed and consistent data collection that exceeds the timelines for most experiments. The second oldest agricultural experiment in the world, the Morrow Plots at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (USA) has examined the impact of crop rotation and fertility treatments on maize (Zea mays L.) yields since 1876. While results have been widely reported since 1888, the publicly available longitudinal dataset described here now allows for validation of those past results, as well as new analyses and investigations. A multi-disciplinary team identified, collected, and aggregated multiple historical data sources into one comprehensive and FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) dataset that synthesizes yield data and management practices from 1888–2021. Updated versions of the dataset will continue to be published as additional data from this ongoing experiment are made available and as new historical data sources are uncovered.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number1145
JournalScientific Data
Volume11
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 17 2024

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Statistics and Probability
  • Information Systems
  • Education
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty
  • Library and Information Sciences

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