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Title: A MULTI-MODEL APPROACH FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN THE US CORN BELT

Author
item VAN OUWERKERK, EN - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item James, David
item RICHARD, T - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item Burkart, Michael
item LIEBMAN, M - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: ASAE Annual International Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/30/2003
Publication Date: 7/30/2003
Citation: VAN OUWERKERK, E.J., JAMES, D.E., RICHARD, T.L., BURKART, M.R., LIEBMAN, M. A MULTI-MODEL APPROACH FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN THE US CORN BELT. ASAE ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL MEETING. 2003. ABSTRACT. P. 387.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The goal of this three-year project is to identify, promote, and assist farmers in adopting integrated crop and livestock farming systems that reduce costs, increase market opportunities and increase profits for small and mid-size family farms. The project uses a holistic systems approach that evaluates six inter-related elements: economic impact, marketing opportunities, community impact, ecosystem impact, farmer adoption, and information transfer. This paper deals with ecosystem impacts of changes in land-use, crop rotations, and farm management. A number of existing simulation models for crop growth, livestock performance, soil erosion, nitrogen dynamics, tillage and manure management, and energy consumption are being used to evaluate impacts of alternative management strategies on indicators of ecosystem sustainability. Databases on geographic and weather needed for these models are clustered and inter-connected by means of web-based interfaces. Models that cannot be connected due to their structure will be used to compile a matrix of output results that can be stored in a project database, and accessed by web-based simulation software. Important ecosystem indicators not addressed by existing models will be evaluated using newly designed web-based software or nutrient and energy budget calculations. This paper reports on the predicted impacts of changes in land-use and crop rotations on two counties in western Iowa, presenting simulation results for soil erosion, nitrogen losses, and carbon sequestration.