Digital Commons Network^™

Grasslands As A Comparative For Farming Practices' Influence On Carbon/Nitrogen Dynamics, S A. Clancy, M E. Biondini, J C. Gardner

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

A remnant prairie was used for comparison of the soil as a natural resource among alternative and conventional farming systems. Beginning and ending biotic and abiotic characteristics were quantified directly. Carbon and N flow was calculated using CENTURY model. Carbon decay was not tied to the size of the soil organic matter pool (SOM), but to crop choice. Nitrogen decay was linked to the size of the SOM pool. Nitrogen fertilizer depressed the amount of N mineralized by soil biota. The alternative farming systems in North Dakota (no-till and green-manure fallow) more nearly mimic the ecosystem processes of the prairie …

Biological Stimulants Increase Fertilizer Efficiency And Pasture Legume Content, P. R. Espie, S. Haswell, A. Barton

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The effects of a soil biological stimulant (SS) and biologically activated reactive phosphate rock (BAP) on pasture yield and botanical composition were examined in a field trial in low-fertility New Zealand rangeland. BAP application significantly increased pasture yield by 60% and BAP plus biostimulant increased yield by 120%. BAP significantly increased resident legume cover by 75% and BAP with biostimulants by 85%. Alfalfa, direct drilled as an indicator test species, increased in establishment from 0 to 3.8 plants m-2 with BAP and to 4.2 plants m-2 with BAP plus biostimulant. Biostimulant applied alone increased yield by 17%, legume cover by …

Multifunctionality Of Sown Grassland Is Enhanced By Combining Four Complementary Species, M. Suter, O. Huguenin-Elie, Andreas Lüscher

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

We investigated species diversity effects and multifunctionality in an intensively managed grassland. A diversity experiment was set up with monocultures and mixtures comprising Lolium perenne, Dactylis glomerata, Trifolium pratense, and Trifolium repens, and was maintained for three years at 150 kg∙N∙ha^-1∙ year^-1. Ten functions were measured that represented i) forage production (aboveground biomass yield (μ), standard deviation of yield (σ), temporal stability (μ/σ), weed biomass), ii) N cycling (symbiotic-N₂-fixation, N efficiency, NO₃ in soil solution), and forage quality (crude protein content (CP), organic matter digestibility …

Sustainable Agricultural And Rural Development In Semi‐Arid Environment When Supplementing Rainfall With 200 Mm Irrigation Water Per Year, Benzarti Jalila, Ben Youssef Salah

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

No abstract provided.

Policy Support For Sustainable Development In An Uncertain Future, Hedwig Van Delden

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Sustainable development requires an approach that values and assesses society, economy and the environment in a holistic and integrated way. When looking at developing countries, the solutions to environmental challenges often go hand in hand with poverty alleviation. Unsustainable land management is likely to lead to environmental decay and losses in ecosystem services, making it hard for subsistence farmers to escape the poverty trap. Policy incentives that focus on long-term development of environmental assets as well as improving livelihoods can therefore create synergies in reaching sustainable development goals. Acknowledging that understanding the socio-ecological system with its inherent feedback processes is …

Contribution Of Annual Legumes Pasture To The Cereal In Mediterranean Agriculture Systems, Carlos Ovalle, Soledad Espinoza, Alejandro Del Pozo, Viviana Barahona

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The depletion of fossil fuels, the high demand of food for a constantly growing human population and, more recently, the strong expansion of biofuel crops, are causing sharp increases in the prices of fertilizers particularly nitrogen (N)(Crews and Peoples 2004; Jensen et al. 2011). Faced with this future scenario of high cost of N fertilizer, there is increasing interest in using legumes as N sources for sustainable agriculture and livestock. In the dryland (rainfed) cropping area of the Mediterranean climatic region of central Chile, bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) is predominantly grown in rotation with oats (Avena …

Factors Affecting The Profitability, Productivity, And Sustainability Of Socially Disadvantaged Urban Agriculture Operations In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Hannah Whitley

Urban Food Systems Symposium

Over the past twenty years, various initiatives and policy updates have encouraged sustainable agriculture production in cities across the United States, yet farmers and growers still face multiple environmental, economic, and social challenges unique to their urban context. This study used a mixed-method qualitative design to identify factors that affect the profitability, productivity, and sustainability of socially disadvantaged urban agriculture operations in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Findings reveal four sets of factors that constrain sustainable agriculture production for socially disadvantaged growers in Pittsburgh: (1) Navigating institutions and support organizations; (2) Finding and maintaining community; (3) Environmental barriers and limitations; (4) Race, gender, …

Modeling The Impact Of Irrigation Systems On Agriculture Sustainability In Ardabil Province, Hadi Veisi, Reza Deihimfard Dr., Alireza Shahmohammadi Mr.

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Irrigation system practices have various impacts on agriculture in terms of ecological, social and economic aspects. Understanding these effects may contribute to develop appropriate policies and strategies for sustainable agriculture.This research was carried out to evaluate the developmental effects of irrigation projects on agricultural sustainability in Ardabil province. In this research, 60 stakeholder’s views in the field of sustainable agriculture including agricultural experts, promotion specialists, university professors associated with irrigation projects and members of nongovernmental organizations were explored using a hierarchical method. A hierarchical network was created to select the best irrigation system at two levels. The results showed that …

Water Resource Management With The Management Software Manuela, Monika Von Haaren

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

The impact of climate change with increasing droughts will lead to an increase of water consumption in agriculture. Even in Germany, agricultural land is already irrigated intensively to secure harvests at a higher level. The demand for additional irrigation will lead to conflicts between agriculture, water management and nature conservation. This paper shows a new way for the evaluation of water use in agricultural farming. With the developed method stakeholder can assess the water consumption for irrigation in agriculture, which is transferable, regionally applicable and comparable. The water-module is available as a new plug-in in the management software MANUELA and …

The Dispute Over Seeds: Indigenous And Peasant Struggles For Food Sovereignty In Chiapas, Mexico., Carol Hernandez-Rodriguez

Student Research Symposium

This research project explores the implications of these developments for indigenous and peasant communities in Chiapas, Mexico, whose food sovereignty depends on the conservation and reproduction of native seeds.

The research project focuses on the following questions:

1. How do neoliberal policies in the agrarian system impact the food sovereignty of indigenous and peasant communities in the Global South?

2. How are indigenous and peasant communities in Chiapas contesting neoliberal policies and strengthening their food sovereignty?

Flip The Prison: Using A Holistic, Interdisciplinary Approach To Transform Closed Prisons And Adjudicated Youth, Debby Hanmer, Noran Sanford, Jason Hutchens, Michael Menefee

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Flip the Prison: Is a collective Impact Model for transforming closed prisons into farms and educational centers utilizing mental health therapy, youth focused, sustainable agricultural entrepreneurship and service learning to stabilize adjudicated youth in the community. Of interest to educators, mental health clinicians, veterans, community leaders, clergy and entrepreneurs.