Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons^™

Strategic Integration Of Grasslands Within The Agricultural Landscape: Optimizing Benefits For The Producer And Society, A. J. Duff, J. G. Franco

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

We provide a case study assessment, centered in the Upper Midwest region of the United States, of the economic and environmental outcomes associated with the inclusion of grasslands within dairy production systems. This farmscape design approach can be applied at farm, watershed, and regional scales, and has the potential to significantly improve the resilience of our agricultural lands. Ruminant livestock are uniquely adapted to utilize perennial forages, and the strategic integration of grasslands within the agricultural landscape can improve producer return on investment while generating ecosystem services that benefit the production system and society.

Fruit Forage Integrated Systems For Diversification And Other Ecosystem Services, S. Ahmad, N. H. Mir, S. S. Bhat

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The interspaces (alleyways) in fruit orchards are generally not utilized for cultivation of perennial forage crops by a majority of farmers. These alleyways are often occupied by weeds or kept bare or clean with repeated tillage. The weeds may act as alternate/collateral hosts, thereby harboring pests and pathogens that may harm the fruit trees. In addition to this, the frequent tillage may subject the soil to erosion losses. Intercropping of perennial forage grasses and/or legumes with fruit crops is thus beneficial for not only providing high quality forage but also for providing various ecosystem services.Owing to an ever burgeoning population, …

Ecosystem Services Provided By Overseeding Aeschynomene Into Bahiagrass Pastures In South Florida, J. Garzon, João M. B. Vendramini, Maria L. S. Silveira, José C. B. Dubeux Jr., H. L. Liao, Lynn E. Sollenberger, H. M. S. Da Silva, V. C. Gomes, H. M. R. Oliveira, A. Erhunmwunse

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Aeschynomene (Aeschynomene americana L.) is a warm-season annual legume commonly overseeded into warm-season perennial grass pastures in tropical and subtropical regions. Although aeschynomene usually increases forage production and nutritive value, there is limited information about the ecosystem services provided by this legume. The objective of these studies was to evaluate the effects of overseeding aeschynomene into bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flüggé) pastures on nutrient dynamics and microbial N-cycling gene abundances. The studies were conducted in Ona, FL, from April to March 2019-2020 and 2020-2021. Treatments were the split-plot arrangement of two forage systems treatments (overseeding aeschynomene into bahiagrass or …

Soil Quality Assessment And Management, M. G. Kibblewhite

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

1. Soil quality is related to the capacity of soil to deliver ecosystem services on a sustainable basis.
2. Effective management of soil within grasslands can deliver many benefits to mankind but poor management may cause loss of soil quality from erosion, loss of organic matter, physical deterioration etc.
3. Services are delivered from soil by biological processes. Soil quality depends on the form and condition of the soil habitat. Fixed factors (e.g. texture) are useful for assigning soil to types. Variable factors (e.g. organic carbon) can then be used to assess quality within soil types, by reference to percentiles of the distribution …

Results Of The 2022 Vermont Farmer Conservation & Payment For Ecosystem Services Survey. Vermont Payment For Ecosystem Services Technical Research Report #3a, Alissa C. White

Reports and Policy Briefs

This survey was commissioned by the Vermont Soil Health and Payment for Ecosystem Services Working Group (VT PES Working Group) to gather farmer input on the development of payment for ecosystem services (PES) in Vermont for agriculture. In particular, the survey was intended to help set appropriate levels of compensation for participation in a soil health PES program, although additional information was gathered in the survey to inform the development of a new incentive program. The VT PES Working Group has explored the potential for a performance-based soil health PES program that would compensate farmers on the basis of environmental …