The Triplett-Van Doren research plots were established in The Ohio State University research stations near Wooster, Ohio, USA in 1962 and Hoytville, Ohio in 1963 by Drs. David M. Van Doren and Glover B. Triplett. The goal of the experiment initially was to understand the effects of tillage and crop rotation on crop performance, but over time the focus changed to better understand the long-term effects of tillage and crop rotations on ecosystem services and economic outcomes. This is one of the oldest agronomic trials in the USA evaluating tillage and crop rotation practices and have the world’s longest continually maintained no-tillage research plots.

Producer relevance

The experiment represents cash-grain crops and crop-forage production systems. The majority of producers still employ some form of tillage and simple combinations of crop rotations, including continuous corn and corn-soybean rotation (control). The most complex treatments with reduced tillage and inclusion of perennial forages in the rotation represents an aspirational treatment that most farmers in the area could employ.

Expected benefits

Experimental treatments were selected to be Carbon-building, Cost-effective, Labor-saving, Use fewer external inputs, No-tillage, Soil health-building.

Local stressors

The expected climate change-related stressors in the area are: Droughts, Heat, Extreme precipitation events, Shifting rainfall patterns.

Useful links

https://kb.osu.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/5d680f57-83e0-5902-b8d7-cd2697f443c8/content