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ARS Home » Plains Area » Mandan, North Dakota » Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #127557
Title: DYNAMIC CROPPING SYSTEMS: AN ADAPTABLE APPROACH TO CROP PRODUCTION

Author
item Tanaka, Donald
item Krupinsky, Joseph
item Liebig, Mark
item Merrill, Stephen
item Hendrickson, John
item Hanson, Jonathan
item Johnson, Holly

Submitted to: Agronomy Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/2001
Publication Date: 9/1/2002
Citation: Tanaka, D.L., J.M. Krupinsky, M.A. Liebig., S.D. Merrill, J.R. Hendrickson, H.A. JOhnson, and J.D. Hanson. Dynamic Cropping Systems: An Adapatable Approach to Crop Production in the Great Plains. 2002. Agronomy Journal 94:957-961.

Interpretive Summary: Producers are retaining more crop residues on the soil surface; increasing soil water storage and reducing soil erosion. To use the precipitation more efficiently, producers are using more intensive cropping, less alternate crop-fallow, and including diverse crop types. These new cropping systems differ from past cropping systems because the crops are constantly changing from year to year. These new cropping systems are called dynamic cropping systems. A dynamic cropping system is a long-term strategy of annual crop sequencing that optimizes the outcome of production, economic, and resource conservation goals by using ecologically sound management principles. Producer's need information necessary to respond to the continual change. Changes in factors such as weather, market conditions, government programs, and new information and technology influence the feasibility and profitability of growing a certain crop in a particular year. Producers need to create an adaptable cropping system; one characterized by greater responsiveness, diversity, flexibility, and environmental awareness compared to a fixed cropping system. Information needed for dynamic cropping systems pose a significant challenge to scientific results into useable decision aids for producers. With this informational base, producers will have the necessary tools to implement dynamic cropping systems that are economically viable, socially acceptable, and environmentally sustainable.

Technical Abstract: A dynamic cropping system is long-term strategy of annual crop sequencing that optimizes the outcome of production, economic, and resource conservation goals by using ecologically sound management principles. Implicit to this strategy is the need for producers to respond to continual change. Changes in factors such as weather, market conditions, government programs, and new information and technology influence the feasibility and profitability of growing certain crops in a particular year. By account for these factors when making annual cropping decision, producers can create an adaptable cropping systems; one characterize by greater responsiveness, more adaptable, greater crop diversity and hence, lower risk compared to a fixed-cropping system. Information requirement for dynamic cropping systems, however, pose significant challenges to agricultural research. New methodologies for evaluating crops and crop sequences are needed, along with the ability to translate scientific results into useable decision aides for producers. With this informational base, producers will have the necessary tools to implement dynamic cropping systems that are economically viable, socially acceptable, and environmentally sustainable.