Agroecosystems are the ecosystems supporting the food production systems in farms and gardens. As the name implies, at the core of an agroecosystem lies the human activity of agriculture. As such they are the basic unit of study in Agroecology, and Regenerative Agriculture using ecological approaches.
Like other ecosystems, agroecosystems form partially closed systems in which animals, plants, microbes, and other living organisms and their environment are interdependent and regularly interact. They are somewhat arbitrarily defined as a spatially and functionally coherent unit of agricultural activity.[1]
An agroecosystem can be seen as not restricted to the immediate site of agricultural activity (e.g. the farm). That is, it includes the region that is impacted by this activity, usually by changes to the complexity of species assemblages and energy flows, as well as to the net nutrient balance. Agroecosystems, particularly those managed intensively, are characterized as having simpler species composition, energy and nutrient flows than "natural" ecosystems.[2] Likewise, agroecosystems are often associated with elevated nutrient input, much of which exits the farm leading to eutrophication of connected ecosystems not directly engaged in agriculture.[3]
Forest gardens are probably the world's oldest and most resilient agroecosystem.[4]
Some major organizations are hailing farming within agroecosystems as the way forward for mainstream agriculture. Current farming methods have resulted in over-stretched water resources, high levels of erosion and reduced soil fertility. According to a report by the International Water Management Institute and the United Nations Environment Programme,[5] there is not enough water to continue farming using current practices; therefore how critical water, land, and ecosystem resources are used to boost crop yields must be reconsidered. The report suggested assigning value to ecosystems, recognizing environmental and livelihood tradeoffs, and balancing the rights of a variety of users and interests, as well addressing inequities that sometimes result when such measures are adopted, such as the reallocation of water from poor to rich, the clearing of land to make way for more productive farmland, or the preservation of a wetland system that limits fishing rights.[6]
One of the major efforts of disciplines such as agroecology is to promote management styles that blur the distinction between agroecosystems and "natural" ecosystems, both by decreasing the impact of agriculture (increasing the biological and trophic complexity of the agricultural system as well as decreasing the nutrient inputs/outflow) and by increasing awareness that "downstream" effects extend agroecosystems beyond the boundaries of the farm (e.g. the Corn Belt agroecosystem includes the hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico). In the first case, polyculture or buffer strips for wildlife habitat can restore some complexity to a cropping system, while organic farming can reduce nutrient inputs. Efforts of the second type are most common at the watershed scale. An example is the National Association of Conservation Districts'Lake Mendota Watershed Project, which seeks to reduce runoff from the agricultural lands feeding into the lake with the aim of reducing algal blooms.[7]
Loucks, Orie (November 1977). "Emergence of Research on Agro-Ecosystems". Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics. 8: 173–192. doi:10.1146/annurev.es.08.110177.001133.
Seabrook, Wendy, 2022, How to Choose Regenerative Practices – that Work. Learning from Nature
Referencesedit
^Agro-ecosystem Health Project. 1996. Agroecosystem health. University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada.
^Elske van de Fliert and Ann R. Braun. 1999. Farmer Field School for Integrated Crop Management of Sweetpotato. Field guides and Technical Manual. Bogor, Indonesia: International Potato Center. ISBN92-9060-216-3. . Archived from the original on 2009-01-23. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
^Agroecosystem Management for Improved Human Health: Applying principles of integrated pest management to people. D. G. Peden. Published in New Directions in Animal Production Systems. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Canadian Society of Animal Science, July 5–8, 1998, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Edited by R. Blair, R. Rajamahendran, L.S. Stephens, M.Y. Yang. . Archived from the original on 2008-05-01. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
^Douglas John McConnell (2003). The Forest Farms of Kandy: And Other Gardens of Complete Design. Ashgate. p. 1. ISBN9780754609582.
^Boelee, E. (Ed) Ecosystems for water and food security 2013-05-23 at the Wayback Machine, 2011, IWMI, UNEP
^Molden, D., Opinion: The Water Deficit, The Scientist, 23 August 2011
^TMDL Case Study: Wisconsin . Archived from the original on 2008-11-20. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
February 15, 2024
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Agroecosystems are the ecosystems supporting the food production systems in farms and gardens As the name implies at the core of an agroecosystem lies the human activity of agriculture As such they are the basic unit of study in Agroecology and Regenerative Agriculture using ecological approaches Agroecosystem in Croton on Hudson New York in Westchester County Intercropped tomatoes basil peppers and eggplants Like other ecosystems agroecosystems form partially closed systems in which animals plants microbes and other living organisms and their environment are interdependent and regularly interact They are somewhat arbitrarily defined as a spatially and functionally coherent unit of agricultural activity 1 An agroecosystem can be seen as not restricted to the immediate site of agricultural activity e g the farm That is it includes the region that is impacted by this activity usually by changes to the complexity of species assemblages and energy flows as well as to the net nutrient balance Agroecosystems particularly those managed intensively are characterized as having simpler species composition energy and nutrient flows than natural ecosystems 2 Likewise agroecosystems are often associated with elevated nutrient input much of which exits the farm leading to eutrophication of connected ecosystems not directly engaged in agriculture 3 Contents 1 Utilization 2 See also 3 Further reading 4 ReferencesUtilization editForest gardens are probably the world s oldest and most resilient agroecosystem 4 Some major organizations are hailing farming within agroecosystems as the way forward for mainstream agriculture Current farming methods have resulted in over stretched water resources high levels of erosion and reduced soil fertility According to a report by the International Water Management Institute and the United Nations Environment Programme 5 there is not enough water to continue farming using current practices therefore how critical water land and ecosystem resources are used to boost crop yields must be reconsidered The report suggested assigning value to ecosystems recognizing environmental and livelihood tradeoffs and balancing the rights of a variety of users and interests as well addressing inequities that sometimes result when such measures are adopted such as the reallocation of water from poor to rich the clearing of land to make way for more productive farmland or the preservation of a wetland system that limits fishing rights 6 One of the major efforts of disciplines such as agroecology is to promote management styles that blur the distinction between agroecosystems and natural ecosystems both by decreasing the impact of agriculture increasing the biological and trophic complexity of the agricultural system as well as decreasing the nutrient inputs outflow and by increasing awareness that downstream effects extend agroecosystems beyond the boundaries of the farm e g the Corn Belt agroecosystem includes the hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico In the first case polyculture or buffer strips for wildlife habitat can restore some complexity to a cropping system while organic farming can reduce nutrient inputs Efforts of the second type are most common at the watershed scale An example is the National Association of Conservation Districts Lake Mendota Watershed Project which seeks to reduce runoff from the agricultural lands feeding into the lake with the aim of reducing algal blooms 7 See also editAgriculture Agriculture in Concert with the Environment Agroecological restoration Agroecology Agroecosystem analysis Agrophysics Ecology of contexts Long Term Agroecosystem Research Network PolycultureFurther reading editLoucks Orie November 1977 Emergence of Research on Agro Ecosystems Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 8 173 192 doi 10 1146 annurev es 08 110177 001133 Seabrook Wendy 2022 How to Choose Regenerative Practices that Work Learning from NatureReferences edit Agro ecosystem Health Project 1996 Agroecosystem health University of Guelph Guelph Canada Elske van de Fliert and Ann R Braun 1999 Farmer Field School for Integrated Crop Management of Sweetpotato Field guides and Technical Manual Bogor Indonesia International Potato Center ISBN 92 9060 216 3 CIP ESEAP Publication Archived from the original on 2009 01 23 Retrieved 2008 12 09 Agroecosystem Management for Improved Human Health Applying principles of integrated pest management to people D G Peden Published in New Directions in Animal Production Systems Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Canadian Society of Animal Science July 5 8 1998 Vancouver British Columbia Canada Edited by R Blair R Rajamahendran L S Stephens M Y Yang Agroecosystem Management for Improved Human Health Applying principles of integrated pest management to people International Development Research Centre Archived from the original on 2008 05 01 Retrieved 2008 12 09 Douglas John McConnell 2003 The Forest Farms of Kandy And Other Gardens of Complete Design Ashgate p 1 ISBN 9780754609582 Boelee E Ed Ecosystems for water and food security Archived 2013 05 23 at the Wayback Machine 2011 IWMI UNEP Molden D Opinion The Water Deficit The Scientist 23 August 2011 TMDL Case Study Wisconsin TMDL Case Study Wisconsin National Association of Conservation Districts Archived from the original on 2008 11 20 Retrieved 2008 12 09 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Agroecosystem amp oldid 1185336914, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
