Experiment reveals 110 years of Sustainable Farming viable

by Jacob Cherian    October 02, 2008

MADISON, WI (GroundReport) - According to a study, a plot of land on the campus of Auburn University has revealed 110 years of sustainable farming practices can produce similar cotton crops to those using other methods.

In 1896, Professor J.F. Duggar at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama (now known as Auburn University) began an experiment to test theories that sustainable cotton production was possible on Alabama soils. The condition that he used was if growers would use crop rotation and include winter legumes (clovers and/or vetch) to protect the soil from winter erosion, reports eurekalert.org.

At the present time, his experiment on the campus of Auburn University is the oldest, continuous cotton experiment anywhere in the world. It is also the third oldest field crop experiment in the United States. The study, titled "the Old Rotation," has continued to this day with minor changes in treatments. It placed on the National Register of Historical Places in 1988.

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