Magruder Plots - Stillwater, OK
Posted by: 
hamquilter
N 36° 07.013 W 097° 05.843
14S E 671234 N 3998588
The story of the Magruder Plots is a fascinating one - Who knew??!!
Waymark Code: WMYW2R
Location: Oklahoma, United States
Date Posted: 07/31/2018
Views: 3
Back in 1892, Professor A. C. Magruder of Oklahoma Agricultural & Mechanical College (now Oklahoma State University), planted these plots to study the ability of soil to produce good wheat yields over years, without fertilization.
1892-1898 - Plots were not fertilized
1896 - Plots were divided and compared
1899-1929 - South plots were fertilized with manure; North plots were not fertilized
1930 - The ten plots were fertilized variously
1947 - Area was needed for OSU dormitory construction. Plots were moved west of town to a similar location. 8" of topsoil and 8-16" of subsurface soil was dug up and transferred to new plots. Tests showed that there was virtually no change in conditions because of the move.
Today, the plots are located on Western Road between West 6th and West Virginia Avenues. Oklahoma farmers have benefited significantly by the research conducted at Magruder Plots, and have provided farmers with information on the nutrients needed to allow continuous production, without crop rotation. The plots were placed on the National Register in 1979.
