Co-designing a landscape experiment to investigate diversified cropping systems

Agricultural Systems, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 217, С. 103950 - 103950

Опубликована: Апрель 13, 2024

Intensive food and feed production in sole-cropped, large fields with high fertilizer pesticide inputs to achieve yields, has contributed detrimental environmental impacts. To move towards more sustainable agricultural landscapes, cropping system diversification been suggested as a promising practice for which the use of digital technologies could be potentially beneficial. Understanding impact diversified, newly arranged systems their management requires long-term experimental data at landscape scale practical experiences using are hardly available. Experimental platforms an setup farmers' involvement meet such demands but have not set up many regions nor process designing described systematically. The overall objective this study was describe how platform can co-designed jointly by researchers practitioners understand practices compared current Eastern Brandenburg, Germany. Specifically, we aimed re-design intensively managed field into smaller segments that called patches assess potential co-created experiment focussing on both, practitioners´ scientists´ perspective. We used DEED research cycle (Describe, Explain, Explore Design) conceptual framework co-design patchCROP within commercial farm. Patches were implemented 0.5 ha original based yield soil maps advanced cluster analysis considered heterogeneity. narrow crop sequence diversified integrating new crops, cover crops flower strips five-year rotation. cultivate patches, machinery during first years will replaced over time autonomous robots. Workshops various methods SWOT adjust reduction. revealed opportunities drawbacks develop participative manner from both scientific farming found farmer-centric position focused mainly economic return feasibility future operations field. perspective other hand needs potentials about evaluating dynamic, interdependent or opposing natural processes interactions like productivity, biodiversity ecosystem service changes context. Co-designed experiments simultaneously developed services beyond level, performance quality multiple scales, implications actors. This is step forward extend systems-based single plot on-farm environment, allowing exploration measures long run.

Язык: Английский

Simulating Soil Moisture Dynamics in a Diversified Cropping System Under Heterogeneous Soil Conditions

Agronomy, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 15(2), С. 407 - 407

Опубликована: Фев. 6, 2025

Agro-ecosystem models are useful tools to assess crop diversification strategies or management adaptations within-field heterogeneities, but require proper simulation of soil water dynamics, which crucial for growth. To simulate these, the model requires hydraulic parameter inputs often derived using pedotransfer functions (PTFs). Various PTFs available and show varying performance; therefore, in this study, we calibrated validated an agro-ecosystem Hypres PTF German Manual Soil Mapping approach adjusting bulk density top- subsoil. Experimental data were collected at “patchCROP” landscape laboratory Brandenburg, Germany. The daily volumetric content (SWC) 12 locations above ground biomass flowering used evaluate performance. findings highlight importance calibrating spatially heterogeneous conditions not only growth parameters, also water-related processes—in case by choice—in order capture interplay especially subsoil heterogeneity, climate, management, moisture dynamics their variability within a field. results showed that while impact was rather small, choice led differences simulating SWC biomass. Employing PTF, able climate seasonal interactions contrasting reasonably well. error largest after intense rainfall events with loamy texture. has potential be study practices on under conditions.

Язык: Английский

What Drives Spatial Variance of Hydrological Behaviour? An Analysis of the Regional Groundwater-Stream Continuum

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2025

Язык: Английский