Cropping Systems Diversification

Question 1

What means WICST?

Answer 1

Wisconsin Integrated Cropping Systems Trial

Question 2

Who established WICST?

Answer 2

Professor of Agronomy Joshua Posner in 1989

Question 3

What was the research question from WICST?

Answer 3

By increasing cropping system diversity, is it possible to simultaneously:

• lower levels of purchased inputs,
• maintain or increase productivity,
• maintain or increase profitability,
• and reduce environmental impacts?

Question 4

What were the two sites in southern Wisconsin?

Answer 4

1. UW Arlington Agricultural Research Station (Columbia County): Well-drained silt loam soil
2. Lakeland Agricultural Complex (Walworth County): Poorly-drained silt loam soil

Question 5

What is crop rotation?

Answer 5

A practice of growing a sequence of crop species on the same land over time.

Question 6

Why is crop rotation important?

Answer 6

Is a important practice for maintaining soil quality and productivity

Question 7

Landscape simplification is a problem?

Answer 7

Is a stress imposed to the agroecosystem

Question 8

Why the II world war is a driver for landscape simplification?

Answer 8

• Mechanization and technological advances
• More use of external inputs (fossil fuels, pesticides, nutrients)
• Increasing crop yield potential
• New, larger markets for commodity crops

Question 9

Greater production efficiencies and profitability also are important factors for landscape simplification?

Answer 9

• Increasing farm size
• Economies of scale
  
  • Production of most profitable crop
  • Specialization of operations
  • Simplified management
  • Investment in fewer types of equipment
  • Improved marketing practices

Question 10

Answer 10

• Crop diversity decreased nationally between 1978 and 2012
• Lowest crop diversity in the Heartland Region (Midwest)
• Nationally, more counties shifted to lower than higher crop diversity
• Results showed an overall trend toward less crop diversity and more homogenization of agricultural production systems

Question 11

Concentrated agronomic and economic risks tradeoffs for simplification

Answer 11

• Costs of external inputs
• Climate & weather effects on crop performance
  
  • Establishment, growth, and yield
  • Nutrient demand & availability
  • Response to pests & pathogens
• Market volatility
• Profitability

Question 12

Concentrated time and labor demands tradeoffs of simplification

Answer 12

• Planting
• Nutrient, pest, and pathogen management
• Harvest

Question 13

Potential negative impacts on system tradeoffs of simplification?

Answer 13

• Increased pest and pathogen problems
  
  • Selection for crop-specific pests, pathogens
  • Greater selection pressure for resistance
• Decreased soil quantity and quality
  
  • Erosion
  • Organic matter
  • Structure