Sustainable Development of the Agricultural Bio-Economy

Jordan, Nicholas R.; Boody, George; Broussard, Whitney P.; Glover, J.; Keeney, D. R.; McCown, Brent H.; McIsaac, Gregory F.; Muller, Mark; Murray, Helene; Neal, Jeri; Pansing, C.; Turner, R. Eugene; Warner, Keith Douglass; Wyse, Donald L.

doi:10.1126/science.1141700

Cited by 279 publications

(172 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…For example, there is increasing evidence that perennial cropping systems can utilize many resources more efficiently than annual systems (Jordan et al 2007), but quantitative comparisons of resource use efficiency between the different crops are difficult. The proposed NUE concept for cereals (Box 1) allows great flexibility and can also be used to assess the NUE in perennial crops.…”

Section: Comparison Of Nue In Annual and Perennial Cropsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of nutrient use in annual and perennial crops: A functional concept for analyzing nitrogen use efficiency

2010

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The use of more nutrient-efficient crops is important for maintaining yields while enhancing environmental sustainability. Various approaches are being applied to evaluate aspects of plant nutrient use efficiency, among them ecological concepts based on accumulation and losses of biomass and nutrients, agronomic concepts with a major focus on agricultural crops and harvested products, and physiological approaches assessing single physiological processes important for nutrient use. Unfortunately, the various approaches are often not compatible. Here we propose, with the example of nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE) of cereals, to integrate the functionally important components of NUE in a common conceptual framework. We link productivity to N in crops and seeds and consider the whole life-cycle of the crop (including seeds). Three major components of NUE are separated: The N uptake efficiency, grain-specific N efficiency and grain N concentration. The three components combine to a measure of overall NUE in terms of the N yield in harvested grain per unit of N in seed grain or soil N. The concept can be applied for both annual and perennial plants, which is demonstrated with the examples of winter wheat and a perennial energy crop (Salix) grown in Central Sweden.

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Section: Comparison Of Nue In Annual and Perennial Cropsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of nutrient use in annual and perennial crops: A functional concept for analyzing nitrogen use efficiency

2010

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“…In the short term, production of corn-based ethanol is exacerbating social and environmental deficits in the Corn Belt associated with intensive row Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10980-009-9358-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. crop agriculture; yet, in the future, cellulosic feedstocks of perennial vegetation may be used to produce biofuel in ways that are both economically viable and environmentally sustainable (Tilman et al 2006;Jordan et al 2007;Robertson et al 2008). Such cropping systems have the potential to bolster biodiversity, carbon sequestration, flood control, soil retention, and surface water quality (Jordan et al 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Landscape, community, countryside: linking biophysical and social scales in US Corn Belt agricultural landscapes

2009

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Understanding the interplay between ecological and social factors across multiple scales is integral to landscape change initiatives in productive agricultural regions such as the rural US Corn Belt. We investigated the cultural context surrounding the use of perennial cover types-such as stream buffers, wetlands, cellulosic bioenergy stocks, and diverse cropping rotations-to restore water quality, biodiversity, and ecosystem function within a Corn Belt agricultural mosaic in Iowa, USA. Through ethnographic techniques and 33 indepth interviews, we examined what was most important to rural stakeholders about their countryside. We then used photo elicitation to probe how interviewees' assessments of farm practices involving perennial cover types were related to their sense of place. Our interviewees perceived their rural ''countryside'' as a linked social and biophysical entity, identifying strongly with the farming lifestyle and with networks of people across the landscape. While most interviewees approved of perennial farm practices on marginal agricultural land, implementation of these practices was neither a priority nor strongly assimilated into rural experience and ethics. We identified three scale boundaries in our interviewees' perception of place which present key challenges and opportunities for landscape change: landscape-community, individualcommunity, and community-institution. In all cases, community social norms and networks-exhibited at landscape spatial scales-may be instrumental in bridging these boundaries and enabling networks of perennial cover types that span privately owned and operated farms. RightsWorks produced by employees of the U.S. Government as part of their official duties are not copyrighted within the U.S. The content of this document is not copyrighted. Abstract Understanding the interplay between ecological and social factors across multiple scales is integral to landscape change initiatives in productive agricultural regions such as the rural US Corn Belt. We investigated the cultural context surrounding the use of perennial cover types-such as stream buffers, wetlands, cellulosic bioenergy stocks, and diverse cropping rotations-to restore water quality, biodiversity, and ecosystem function within a Corn Belt agricultural mosaic in Iowa, USA. Through ethnographic techniques and 33 in-depth interviews, we examined what was most important to rural stakeholders about their countryside. We then used photo elicitation to probe how interviewees' assessments of farm practices involving perennial cover types were related to their sense of place. Our interviewees perceived their rural ''countryside'' as a linked social and biophysical entity, identifying strongly with the farming lifestyle and with networks of people across the landscape. While most interviewees approved of perennial farm practices on marginal agricultural land, implementation of these practices was neither a priority nor strongly assimilated into rural experience and ethics. We identified three scale boundarie...

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“…In 2007, the U.S. increased corn acreage by over 10%. What is certain is that more corn for biofuel will make alleviation of hypoxia even more difficult as options for perennials are reduced (34). High nitrogen use on row crops, particularly corn, also has caused extensive contamination of ground water supplies (35) Ethanol production processes are water intensive; often the process water required is more than is available locally, causing controversy over siting of the plants (36,37).…”

Section: Issuesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethanol USA

Keeney

2008

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Ethanol made from corn has been politically held up in the U.S. as a solution to dependency on petrochemical fuel. Yet growing enough corn to produce even a small fraction of the amount required for vehicles in the U.S. will be a drain on precious resources, including water and land. Further, widespread agricultural production will decrease the quality of water and accelerate harmful environmental changes, such as the hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico. Dennis Kenney argues that “biofuels” could be an answer to decreasing reliance on fossil fuels, but their production needs to be made sustainable so as to avoid myriad false promises.

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Sustainable Development of the Agricultural Bio-Economy

Abstract: A U.S. farm policy shift to joint production of commodities and ecological services will advance sustainable agriculture.

Cited by 279 publications

References 13 publications

Assessment of nutrient use in annual and perennial crops: A functional concept for analyzing nitrogen use efficiency

Assessment of nutrient use in annual and perennial crops: A functional concept for analyzing nitrogen use efficiency

Landscape, community, countryside: linking biophysical and social scales in US Corn Belt agricultural landscapes

Ethanol USA

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