History/Description

History

The Brownstown Agronomy Research Center (BARC) was established in 1937, when after reviewing 3 different sites, Dr. Burlinson, head of the college of Agronomy, chose the Fayette county site. J.B. Turner, farm advisor in Fayette County and a descendent of Jonathan Baldwin Turner, led the Farm Bureau Board of Directors in sponsoring the purchase of 120 acres of land for $1800. The deed to this land was presented to Dean Mumford in June of 1937. Later that year, a 24' X 60' barn was built, and the Brownstown Center began operation. (The original barn, which is still in use today, can be seen in the black and white photo above.)

Brownstown was one of the first comprehensive field research centers operated by the department, upon which a wide spectrum of soil and crop management treatments were compared and demonstrated." Soil fertility and crop variety work began in the 1930's with equipment that included horse drawn discs, a Hayes corn planter, a walking plow and a sulky plow. Weed science and tillage work began in the 1950's, as did cooperative relationships with entomologists , plant pathologists, and agricultural engineers.

Description

The Brownstown Agronomy Research Center consists of 208± acres. Of this approximate 208 acres, 160 acres are owned by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees and 48 acres are crop shared from landowners adjacent to or in close proximity of the facility. 117 acres of the approximate 208 acres is considered useable land for agronomic purposes. The remaining 91 acres consists of 55 acres of long term coniferous and deciduous tree research, 4 acres of ponds, and 32 acres of grass alleys, waterways, roads, and building sites.

Six soils predominate the useable land area, Cisne, Hoyleton, Huey, Darmstadt, Wynoose, and Bluford, with Cisne occupying the largest area. Cisne, Hoyleton, Huey and Darmstadt silt loams are classified in soil association 6 - the Hoyleton-Cisne-Huey association. A soil association is a grouping of soils similar in parent material, surface soil color, and degree of development. These soils are common to southern Illinois and association 6 occupies approximately 1,508,000 acres in the state (4.2 % of the land area). The Wynoose and Bluford soils are classified in soil association 36 - the Ava-Bluford-Wynoose association. These soils occupy approximately 2,387,000 acres (6.7 % of the state).

The soils of association 6 were formed under prairie grass vegetation on loess covered (30 to 55 inches) and nearly level uplands. Soil characteristics are influenced by the underlying paleosol (an older soil that was formed in glacial drift material). Soils in this association are very strongly developed, representing the highest stage of development, stage 6. They are poorly or somewhat poorly drained, with the poor drainage influenced by slow permeability of the subsoil. These soils occur on nearly level and gently sloping wide upland areas in the landscape. Several problems are common with these soils, including restricted permeability, erosion, low available water holding capacity, low fertility, and a high water table during wet seasons. Some soils in this association, including Huey, have excessive sodium (or natric horizons) in the subsoil.

The soils of association 36 occupy a smaller area of the Brownstown Agronomy Research Center. These soils were formed under deciduous forest and are light in color. The loess covering these soils is from 30 to 55 inches thick on nearly level areas but is very thin or lacking on soils with steeper slopes. The Bluford soil has a claypan (silty clay loam or silty clay) subsoil. The major problems encountered with this soil are erodibility on sloping land, low fertility, low organic matter content, and clay subsoils on level landscapes.

Poorly drained soils of association 6 and 36 require surface ditches to enhance drainage. Tile drainage is not feasible because of the impermeable claypan subsoils. Despite the limitations associated with these soils, they do respond to proper management of drainage, liming, soil fertility, and other best management practices.

A complete description of these soil associations, as well as, detailed information on all soil associations for your county, can be found in your respective county soil surveys. Information regarding the soil of Illinois can be found in Bulletin 778, Soils of Illinois. Both of these can generally be found at your County Extension Office or NRCS office.

BARC Superintendents, Past & Present

Superintendent	Year(s) Served
Pat Johnson	1937 - 1970
Arden Christiansen	1970 - 1972
Frank Zychek	1975 - 1983
Bill Brink	1983 - 1987
John Sawyer	1988 - 1991
Kevin Barber	1993 - 1997
Adam Anderson	1999 - present

Back to the Center's home page...