Sanborn Field
Encyclopedia
Sanborn Field is an agricultural
experiment field, located on the University of Missouri
campus. Established in 1888, Sanborn Field was the first facility in the United States intended to measure erosion
and run-off
for differing crops and agricultural practices. Work at Sanborn Field was influential in the establishment of soil conservation
policy in the United States.
Research on soil properties at Sanborn began with manure
fertilizer and shifted to chemical fertilizer
in 1914. Experiments have also shown the value of crop rotation, while other experiments focused on the recovery of exhausted soils.
The fields, once in a rural area, are now surrounded by built-up portions of Columbia. The plots measure 52.5 feet (16 m) by 118.5 feet (36.1 m).
The organism Streptomyces aureofaciens
, the original source of the antibiotic aureomycin, was first isolated from Plot 23 in 1945.
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
experiment field, located on the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
campus. Established in 1888, Sanborn Field was the first facility in the United States intended to measure erosion
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
and run-off
Surface runoff
Surface runoff is the water flow that occurs when soil is infiltrated to full capacity and excess water from rain, meltwater, or other sources flows over the land. This is a major component of the water cycle. Runoff that occurs on surfaces before reaching a channel is also called a nonpoint source...
for differing crops and agricultural practices. Work at Sanborn Field was influential in the establishment of soil conservation
Soil conservation
Soil conservation is a set of management strategies for prevention of soil being eroded from the Earth’s surface or becoming chemically altered by overuse, acidification, salinization or other chemical soil contamination...
policy in the United States.
Research on soil properties at Sanborn began with manure
Manure
Manure is organic matter used as organic fertilizer in agriculture. Manures contribute to the fertility of the soil by adding organic matter and nutrients, such as nitrogen, that are trapped by bacteria in the soil...
fertilizer and shifted to chemical fertilizer
Fertilizer
Fertilizer is any organic or inorganic material of natural or synthetic origin that is added to a soil to supply one or more plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants. A recent assessment found that about 40 to 60% of crop yields are attributable to commercial fertilizer use...
in 1914. Experiments have also shown the value of crop rotation, while other experiments focused on the recovery of exhausted soils.
The fields, once in a rural area, are now surrounded by built-up portions of Columbia. The plots measure 52.5 feet (16 m) by 118.5 feet (36.1 m).
The organism Streptomyces aureofaciens
Streptomyces aureofaciens
Streptomyces aureofaciens is a species of Streptomyces.It is the source of many tetracycline antibiotics....
, the original source of the antibiotic aureomycin, was first isolated from Plot 23 in 1945.
External links
- Sanborn Field Agricultural Experiment Station
- Photographs of Sanborn Field at the National Park Service's NRHP database