The Breton Plots

The Breton Plots, located 100 km southwest of Edmonton, have helped farmers improve their crops and quality of their soil for 70 years. Owned by the University of Alberta, they serve as a model of agricultural development. Originally innovated and designed in 1929 to find a system of farming suitable for the wooded soil belt, they consist of different crops growing on a continuous belt of Gray Luvisolic Soil. In fact, the Breton Plots are the only continuous, long-term plots on Gray Luvisols in Canada.

Over the past 70 years, the Breton Plots have helped Alberta farmers predict how a certain type of crop will react under specific conditions. They have saved the province lots of money over the years, and have helped improve overall crop productivity and soil quality. The research and information gathered from the plots have made an invaluable contribution to the agriculture industry in Alberta, Canada and the world.  Without the Breton Plots, farmers would have a much harder job than they already do!