Pub Date : 2012-04-01DOI: 10.1080/10440046.2011.611586
C. A. Mcneill, O. Liburd, C. Chase
Field experiments conducted in fall 2006 and 2007 evaluated the effects of monoculture and diculture cover crops on aphids, whiteflies and beneficials in organic squash. Insect populations were assessed using in situ and leaf disc counts, blue pan traps and unbaited yellow sticky traps. High levels of parasitoids and coccinellids were found in sorghum sudangrass (SSG) plots. The grass monoculture pearl millet had lower aphid populations than other treatments in 2006. The diculture sunnhemp/pearl millet treatment and the grass cover crop SSG had low whitefly populations in 2006. Therefore, the potential use of cover crops in organic agriculture is discussed.
{"title":"Effect of Cover Crops on Aphids, Whiteflies, and Their Associated Natural Enemies in Organic Squash","authors":"C. A. Mcneill, O. Liburd, C. Chase","doi":"10.1080/10440046.2011.611586","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10440046.2011.611586","url":null,"abstract":"Field experiments conducted in fall 2006 and 2007 evaluated the effects of monoculture and diculture cover crops on aphids, whiteflies and beneficials in organic squash. Insect populations were assessed using in situ and leaf disc counts, blue pan traps and unbaited yellow sticky traps. High levels of parasitoids and coccinellids were found in sorghum sudangrass (SSG) plots. The grass monoculture pearl millet had lower aphid populations than other treatments in 2006. The diculture sunnhemp/pearl millet treatment and the grass cover crop SSG had low whitefly populations in 2006. Therefore, the potential use of cover crops in organic agriculture is discussed.","PeriodicalId":50032,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture","volume":"36 1","pages":"382 - 403"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/10440046.2011.611586","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"59668982","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2012-04-01DOI: 10.1080/10440046.2011.646352
R. Maliki, B. Sinsin, A. Floquet
Traditional yam cropping systems are based on shifting cultivation and slash and burn which lead to deforestation and soil degradation. The objective of this study was to determine the productivity of cropping sequences with herbaceous legumes and their effects on the profitability of subsequent yam. We compared smallholders' traditional cropping sequences (one-year fallow of Andropogonon gayanus, maize) with those using herbaceous legumes (maize-Aeschynomene histrix, maize-Mucuna pruriens var utilis) during 2002–2005. Highest dry mater, nutrients recycled, and net nitrogen contribution were found with Mucuna preceding yam (P < 0.001). Highest net revenue and return on investment were achieved in yam-based with legumes.
传统的山药种植系统以轮作和刀耕火种为基础,导致森林砍伐和土壤退化。本研究的目的是确定草本豆科作物种植序列的生产力及其对后续薯蓣盈利能力的影响。在2002-2005年期间,我们比较了小农的传统种植序列(一年休耕,玉米)和使用禾本科豆科作物(玉米- aeschynomene histrix,玉米- mucuna pruriens var utilis)。干物质、养分回收量和净氮贡献均以甘薯为优先(P < 0.001)。以薯类为主的豆科作物实现了最高的净收入和投资回报。
{"title":"Evaluating Yam-Based Cropping Systems Using Herbaceous Leguminous Plants in the Savannah Transitional Agroecological Zone of Benin","authors":"R. Maliki, B. Sinsin, A. Floquet","doi":"10.1080/10440046.2011.646352","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10440046.2011.646352","url":null,"abstract":"Traditional yam cropping systems are based on shifting cultivation and slash and burn which lead to deforestation and soil degradation. The objective of this study was to determine the productivity of cropping sequences with herbaceous legumes and their effects on the profitability of subsequent yam. We compared smallholders' traditional cropping sequences (one-year fallow of Andropogonon gayanus, maize) with those using herbaceous legumes (maize-Aeschynomene histrix, maize-Mucuna pruriens var utilis) during 2002–2005. Highest dry mater, nutrients recycled, and net nitrogen contribution were found with Mucuna preceding yam (P < 0.001). Highest net revenue and return on investment were achieved in yam-based with legumes.","PeriodicalId":50032,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture","volume":"36 1","pages":"440 - 460"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/10440046.2011.646352","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"59669682","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2012-04-01DOI: 10.1080/10440046.2011.627991
Qingren Wang, Yuncong C. Li, A. Alva
Plant biomass production associated with soil organic carbon (C) accumulation is a critical challenge for sustainable agriculture development because soil quality degradation and organic carbon pool depletion have become a concern under some circumstances. To elucidate cover crops and their synergetic effects in biomass production and soil organic C improvement, legume and non-legume winter/summer cover crops, in mono- and biculture (mixture of legume/non-legume) were evaluated in the field and controlled (growth chamber) conditions. Under field conditions, biculture of sunn hemp and sorghum sudangrass produced 24.1 Mg ha−1 in contrast to 20.1 and 2.9 Mg ha−1 for each one alone; and biculture of okra and cowpea reached as much as 11.5 Mg ha−1 in contrast to 2.0 and 5.3 Mg ha−1 for each one in monoculture. After the growth of winter followed by summer cover crops, the soil organic C content increased with substantial quantities of plant biomass returned to the soil. The results suggest that both summer and winter cover crops demonstrate a promising potential in biomass C accumulation, thereby, can play an important role in soil fertility improvement to benefit the sustainable development of agriculture when appropriate types and combinations are selected.
与土壤有机碳积累相关的植物生物量生产是农业可持续发展的关键挑战,因为在某些情况下,土壤质量退化和有机碳库枯竭已成为人们关注的问题。为了阐明覆盖作物及其在生物量生产和土壤有机碳改善方面的协同效应,在田间和对照(生长室)条件下,对单作和双作(豆科/非豆科混合)条件下的豆科和非豆科冬/夏覆盖作物进行了评价。在田间条件下,两种作物的产量分别为24.1 Mg ha - 1和20.1 Mg ha - 1;秋葵和豇豆双栽培最高可达11.5 Mg ha - 1,而单栽培分别为2.0和5.3 Mg ha - 1。冬复夏覆盖作物生长后,土壤有机碳含量增加,大量植物生物量返回土壤。综上所述,夏季和冬季覆盖作物均具有良好的生物量C积累潜力,选择合适的类型和组合,可在土壤肥力改善中发挥重要作用,有利于农业的可持续发展。
{"title":"Cover Crops in Mono- and Biculture for Accumulation of Biomass and Soil Organic Carbon","authors":"Qingren Wang, Yuncong C. Li, A. Alva","doi":"10.1080/10440046.2011.627991","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10440046.2011.627991","url":null,"abstract":"Plant biomass production associated with soil organic carbon (C) accumulation is a critical challenge for sustainable agriculture development because soil quality degradation and organic carbon pool depletion have become a concern under some circumstances. To elucidate cover crops and their synergetic effects in biomass production and soil organic C improvement, legume and non-legume winter/summer cover crops, in mono- and biculture (mixture of legume/non-legume) were evaluated in the field and controlled (growth chamber) conditions. Under field conditions, biculture of sunn hemp and sorghum sudangrass produced 24.1 Mg ha−1 in contrast to 20.1 and 2.9 Mg ha−1 for each one alone; and biculture of okra and cowpea reached as much as 11.5 Mg ha−1 in contrast to 2.0 and 5.3 Mg ha−1 for each one in monoculture. After the growth of winter followed by summer cover crops, the soil organic C content increased with substantial quantities of plant biomass returned to the soil. The results suggest that both summer and winter cover crops demonstrate a promising potential in biomass C accumulation, thereby, can play an important role in soil fertility improvement to benefit the sustainable development of agriculture when appropriate types and combinations are selected.","PeriodicalId":50032,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture","volume":"36 1","pages":"423 - 439"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/10440046.2011.627991","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"59669503","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2012-04-01DOI: 10.1080/10440046.2011.646353
K. Grogan
This article compares the pest management practices of organic and conventional citrus growers in California, using a 2010 survey of growers. The survey results indicate that, on average, organic growers make less use of biological and cultural controls than conventional growers. This result is surprising because organic growers often rely heavily on these types of controls due to organic restrictions on chemical control. For some organic growers, a lack of farming experience, the smaller scale of their operations, and less financial reliance on citrus production may explain these results.
{"title":"Comparison of Organic and Conventional Pest Management Practices Among California Citrus Growers","authors":"K. Grogan","doi":"10.1080/10440046.2011.646353","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10440046.2011.646353","url":null,"abstract":"This article compares the pest management practices of organic and conventional citrus growers in California, using a 2010 survey of growers. The survey results indicate that, on average, organic growers make less use of biological and cultural controls than conventional growers. This result is surprising because organic growers often rely heavily on these types of controls due to organic restrictions on chemical control. For some organic growers, a lack of farming experience, the smaller scale of their operations, and less financial reliance on citrus production may explain these results.","PeriodicalId":50032,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture","volume":"36 1","pages":"478 - 497"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/10440046.2011.646353","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"59669247","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2012-04-01DOI: 10.1080/10440046.2011.646354
Kristy Borrelli, R. Koenig, R. Gallagher, Dennis Pittmann, Amanda Snyder, I. Burke, L. Hoagland, E. Fuerst
The nitrogen (N) dynamics of nine rotation systems designed to transition dryland cereal to organic production in eastern Washington State were examined. Systems combined cereal and legumes for grain, forage (FOR), and green manure (GRM). Few differences in N balances and soil inorganic N levels were found among transition systems when poor spring crop establishment resulted in competition from weeds. However, FOR and winter GRM crops produced adequate stands that were competitive with weeds and increased residual soil inorganic N in the final year of the transition. Winter legumes and continuous FOR systems demonstrated the greatest potential to provide a sustainable inorganic N source to subsequent organic cereal crops.
{"title":"Alternative Strategies for Transitioning to Organic Production in Direct-Seeded Grain Systems in Eastern Washington II: Nitrogen Fertility","authors":"Kristy Borrelli, R. Koenig, R. Gallagher, Dennis Pittmann, Amanda Snyder, I. Burke, L. Hoagland, E. Fuerst","doi":"10.1080/10440046.2011.646354","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10440046.2011.646354","url":null,"abstract":"The nitrogen (N) dynamics of nine rotation systems designed to transition dryland cereal to organic production in eastern Washington State were examined. Systems combined cereal and legumes for grain, forage (FOR), and green manure (GRM). Few differences in N balances and soil inorganic N levels were found among transition systems when poor spring crop establishment resulted in competition from weeds. However, FOR and winter GRM crops produced adequate stands that were competitive with weeds and increased residual soil inorganic N in the final year of the transition. Winter legumes and continuous FOR systems demonstrated the greatest potential to provide a sustainable inorganic N source to subsequent organic cereal crops.","PeriodicalId":50032,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture","volume":"36 1","pages":"461 - 477"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/10440046.2011.646354","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"59669256","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2012-04-01DOI: 10.1080/10440046.2011.620228
J. Evans, J. Jo, M. Conyers, Y. G. Mun, P. Eberbach, S. Paek, Y. Ri, S. Ko, B. Orchard, Y. Ryang, D. Jong, T. R. Kim, E. Wolfe
Maize production in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is limited by soil infertility. Trials were established at two cooperative farms to quantify the yield response of maize to fertilizer and to vetch green manure. Crop land is precious so the vetch had to be integrated either by a short growth period prior to the crop in spring, or risking an autumn sowing for growth over winter. Maize grain yield was linearly related to the amount of vetch incorporated before maize at an annualized rate of 77–121 kg grain per fresh weight ton of vetch manure. The N fertilizer substitution value was about 60 kg N ha−1 as urea. This response may be increased by adopting more cold-tolerant vetch (or alternative legumes), and safeguarding vetch from villager's livestock.
朝鲜民主主义人民共和国的玉米生产受到土壤不孕症的限制。在两个合作农场建立了试验,以量化玉米对肥料和紫杉绿肥的产量响应。农作物的土地是宝贵的,所以紫薇要么在春季作物之前有一个短暂的生长期,要么冒着秋天播种的风险在冬天生长。玉米籽粒产量与玉米前施用紫薇的数量呈线性相关,年化率为77 ~ 121公斤/鲜重吨紫薇粪肥。氮肥替代值约为60 kg N ha - 1。通过采用更多耐寒的野豌豆(或替代豆科植物)和保护野豌豆免受村民牲畜的侵害,可以提高这种反应。
{"title":"Improving Sustainable Production of Maize on Upland Soils of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea","authors":"J. Evans, J. Jo, M. Conyers, Y. G. Mun, P. Eberbach, S. Paek, Y. Ri, S. Ko, B. Orchard, Y. Ryang, D. Jong, T. R. Kim, E. Wolfe","doi":"10.1080/10440046.2011.620228","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10440046.2011.620228","url":null,"abstract":"Maize production in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is limited by soil infertility. Trials were established at two cooperative farms to quantify the yield response of maize to fertilizer and to vetch green manure. Crop land is precious so the vetch had to be integrated either by a short growth period prior to the crop in spring, or risking an autumn sowing for growth over winter. Maize grain yield was linearly related to the amount of vetch incorporated before maize at an annualized rate of 77–121 kg grain per fresh weight ton of vetch manure. The N fertilizer substitution value was about 60 kg N ha−1 as urea. This response may be increased by adopting more cold-tolerant vetch (or alternative legumes), and safeguarding vetch from villager's livestock.","PeriodicalId":50032,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture","volume":"36 1","pages":"404 - 422"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/10440046.2011.620228","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"59669293","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2012-04-01DOI: 10.1080/10440046.2012.662583
S. Gliessman
An important premise of agroecology is that, in order to transition toward sustainability, it is necessary to redesign agroecosystems so that they can function on the basis of a different set of ecological principles. These principles are grounded in interaction, complementarity, and relationships in systems that give the ability to resist the problems that industrial agriculture controls with an impressive array of inputs and practices. Even organic systems depending primarily on the substitution of these inputs and practices with those accepted by organic certification organizations encounter the same set of problems, especially when the cropping system is reduced in diversity. Increase the size and scale of the operation, as has become the case for some commercial organic monocultures, and input intensity goes up even more as problems become more difficult to manage. Working collaboratively, teams of farmers and agroecologists have begun to test these different designs and, in the process, are gathering scientific data and practical experience that provide examples of how the redesign process can work. The research experiences presented in this issue of JSA are some of these examples. By adding covercrops, associated and intercropped species, or alternative rotations, there is a chance for some of the complexity needed for ecosystem processes to be successful. Be it for pest management, disease control, or fertility maintenance, these processes internalize input management and reduce the dependence of the agroecosystem on external sources. JSA hopes that more farmer and researcher teams will continue to test more complexity and interactions, and that the journal can be a place to report their results.
{"title":"Redesigning Agroecosystems","authors":"S. Gliessman","doi":"10.1080/10440046.2012.662583","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10440046.2012.662583","url":null,"abstract":"An important premise of agroecology is that, in order to transition toward sustainability, it is necessary to redesign agroecosystems so that they can function on the basis of a different set of ecological principles. These principles are grounded in interaction, complementarity, and relationships in systems that give the ability to resist the problems that industrial agriculture controls with an impressive array of inputs and practices. Even organic systems depending primarily on the substitution of these inputs and practices with those accepted by organic certification organizations encounter the same set of problems, especially when the cropping system is reduced in diversity. Increase the size and scale of the operation, as has become the case for some commercial organic monocultures, and input intensity goes up even more as problems become more difficult to manage. Working collaboratively, teams of farmers and agroecologists have begun to test these different designs and, in the process, are gathering scientific data and practical experience that provide examples of how the redesign process can work. The research experiences presented in this issue of JSA are some of these examples. By adding covercrops, associated and intercropped species, or alternative rotations, there is a chance for some of the complexity needed for ecosystem processes to be successful. Be it for pest management, disease control, or fertility maintenance, these processes internalize input management and reduce the dependence of the agroecosystem on external sources. JSA hopes that more farmer and researcher teams will continue to test more complexity and interactions, and that the journal can be a place to report their results.","PeriodicalId":50032,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture","volume":"36 1","pages":"381 - 381"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/10440046.2012.662583","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"59669462","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2012-03-28DOI: 10.1080/10440046.2012.661700
B. B. Umar, J. Aune, F. Johnsen, I. Lungu
This article presents the results of a comparative study on conservation and conventional agriculture among smallholder farmers in Zambia. It shows that conservation agriculture in Zambia, as currently practiced, does not reduce labor required during critical periods of the farming cycle. We argue that smallholder farmer decisions on whether or not to adopt conservation agriculture goes beyond its agronomic and economic superiority over conventional practice. The farmers also consider its labor demands, crops to be grown, and cultural norms. We show that farmers calculate their costs differently from conventional economic analysis. We conclude that promotion of conservation agriculture should be informed by local and contextual factors.
{"title":"Are Smallholder Zambian Farmers Economists? A Dual-Analysis of Farmers’ Expenditure in Conservation and Conventional Agriculture Systems","authors":"B. B. Umar, J. Aune, F. Johnsen, I. Lungu","doi":"10.1080/10440046.2012.661700","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10440046.2012.661700","url":null,"abstract":"This article presents the results of a comparative study on conservation and conventional agriculture among smallholder farmers in Zambia. It shows that conservation agriculture in Zambia, as currently practiced, does not reduce labor required during critical periods of the farming cycle. We argue that smallholder farmer decisions on whether or not to adopt conservation agriculture goes beyond its agronomic and economic superiority over conventional practice. The farmers also consider its labor demands, crops to be grown, and cultural norms. We show that farmers calculate their costs differently from conventional economic analysis. We conclude that promotion of conservation agriculture should be informed by local and contextual factors.","PeriodicalId":50032,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture","volume":"36 1","pages":"908 - 929"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/10440046.2012.661700","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"59669423","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2012-03-28DOI: 10.1080/10440046.2012.672378
K. Venkat
Given the growing importance of organic food production, there is a pressing need to understand the relative environmental impacts of organic and conventional farming methods. This study applies standards-based life cycle assessment to compare the cradle-to-farm gate greenhouse gas emissions of 12 crop products grown in California using both organic and conventional methods. In addition to analyzing steady-state scenarios in which the soil organic carbon stocks are at equilibrium, this study models a hypothetical scenario of converting each conventional farming system to a corresponding organic system and examines the impact of soil carbon sequestration during the transition. The results show that steady-state organic production has higher emissions per kilogram than conventional production in seven out of the 12 cases (10.6% higher overall, excluding one outlier). Transitional organic production performs better, generating lower emissions than conventional production in seven cases (17.7% lower overall) and 22.3% lower emissions than steady-state organic. The results demonstrate that converting additional cropland to organic production may offer significant GHG reduction opportunities over the next few decades by way of increasing the soil organic carbon stocks during the transition. Nonorganic systems could also improve their environmental performance by adopting management practices to increase soil organic carbon stocks.
{"title":"Comparison of Twelve Organic and Conventional Farming Systems: A Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Perspective","authors":"K. Venkat","doi":"10.1080/10440046.2012.672378","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10440046.2012.672378","url":null,"abstract":"Given the growing importance of organic food production, there is a pressing need to understand the relative environmental impacts of organic and conventional farming methods. This study applies standards-based life cycle assessment to compare the cradle-to-farm gate greenhouse gas emissions of 12 crop products grown in California using both organic and conventional methods. In addition to analyzing steady-state scenarios in which the soil organic carbon stocks are at equilibrium, this study models a hypothetical scenario of converting each conventional farming system to a corresponding organic system and examines the impact of soil carbon sequestration during the transition. The results show that steady-state organic production has higher emissions per kilogram than conventional production in seven out of the 12 cases (10.6% higher overall, excluding one outlier). Transitional organic production performs better, generating lower emissions than conventional production in seven cases (17.7% lower overall) and 22.3% lower emissions than steady-state organic. The results demonstrate that converting additional cropland to organic production may offer significant GHG reduction opportunities over the next few decades by way of increasing the soil organic carbon stocks during the transition. Nonorganic systems could also improve their environmental performance by adopting management practices to increase soil organic carbon stocks.","PeriodicalId":50032,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture","volume":"36 1","pages":"620 - 649"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/10440046.2012.672378","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"59669558","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2012-03-28DOI: 10.1080/10440046.2011.630776
B. Campbell
In situ conservation refers to the perpetuation of genetic resources in their original cultural and biophysical habitats and to the diverse strategies employed to sustain crop genetic diversity and the cultural milieus that support and maintain it. This article reviews in situ agrobiodiversity conservation in the Arkansas Ozarks, in the United States over a four-year period (2006–2010) through applied ethnographic and agroecological research. I examine the (re)introduction of “seed swaps” in the Ozark region as an in situ conservation strategy to connect diverse Ozark inhabitants, (re)institute a dynamic flow of agroecological knowledge, and conserve agricultural biodiversity in the region.
{"title":"Open-Pollinated Seed Exchange: Renewed Ozark Tradition as Agricultural Biodiversity Conservation","authors":"B. Campbell","doi":"10.1080/10440046.2011.630776","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10440046.2011.630776","url":null,"abstract":"In situ conservation refers to the perpetuation of genetic resources in their original cultural and biophysical habitats and to the diverse strategies employed to sustain crop genetic diversity and the cultural milieus that support and maintain it. This article reviews in situ agrobiodiversity conservation in the Arkansas Ozarks, in the United States over a four-year period (2006–2010) through applied ethnographic and agroecological research. I examine the (re)introduction of “seed swaps” in the Ozark region as an in situ conservation strategy to connect diverse Ozark inhabitants, (re)institute a dynamic flow of agroecological knowledge, and conserve agricultural biodiversity in the region.","PeriodicalId":50032,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sustainable Agriculture","volume":"36 1","pages":"500 - 522"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/10440046.2011.630776","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"59669610","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}