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Core trial sitesSITE SELECTIONIt was decided to focus attention in the southern part of Wisconsin – Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) 95B. Two sites within this area were selected – The Arlington Agriculture Research Station in Columbia county and the Lakeland Agricultural Complex in Walworth County (Fig. 1). According to the 1987 Census of Agriculture, MLRA 95B contained 19,663 farms or 26% of the farms in the State. Approximately 40% of these farms are greater than 180 acres in size. While in the State as a whole, dairy cows are found on 50% of the farms, in MLRA 95B this is only the case on 40% of the farms. The two sites for the trial are in counties where cash grain farming is predominant and only 30% of the farms also have cows. The major crops in the area are; corn for grain, alfalfa hay, corn for silage, soybeans, processing crops, and winter wheat. Of the two trial sites, Walworth County has the greatest soybean acreage, and Columbia County the greatest acreage of processing crops. Table 1 shows soil characteristics and typical crop yield on these soils. SOIL & CLIMATE DESCRIPTIONThe major mapping units for the site selected on the Walworth County Farm (Lakeland Agricultural Complex) are a Griswold, mottled subsoil variant (63%) and a poorly drained Pella (32%). The remaining unit is a Griswold (5%), which is found on a ridge in the southwest part of the field. Generally there is a silt‑loam surface horizon (0‑15") rich in organic matter (3%) followed by a clay‑loam or sandy clay‑loam B‑horizon (15‑26"). Average depth to compacted glacial till on the Griswold mottled subsoil variant is 35 inches and 54 inches in the Pella mapping unit. The till was deposited by the last advance of the Lake Michigan Glacier and ranges in texture from a gravelly sandy‑loam to a sandy‑loam. During wet periods, this area may have the water table within 1 to 3 feet of the surface. The eastern third of the field, which includes repetition four and the satellite blocks, is tiled. Average annual rainfall is 37 inches at the Lakeland Agricultural Complex. Throughout the area, approximately two thirds of the rainfall occurs during the growing season (April‑October; see Fig. 4). There are about 160-165 frost-free days. The LAC aerial photo is shown in Fig. 5. On the Arlington Research Station, the entire site selected for the trial is mapped as a Plano silt‑loam. The silt‑loam A horizon is 8 inches (20 cm) deep with an organic matter level of 4.4% (Fig. 6), and the loess mantel is generally deeper than 5 feet (>125 cm). The glacial till is from the Green Bay Lobe and is similar to the Walworth site in texture. Groundwater is greater than 80 feet deep and the area is well drained. Average annual rainfall is 33 inches. Throughout the area, approximately two thirds of the rainfall occurs during the growing season (April‑October; see Fig. 3). There are about 160‑165 frost‑free days. The ARS plot map and aerial photo are shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8.
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