The science of variable climate and agroecosystem management

Morton, Lois Wright

doi:10.2489/jswc.69.6.207a

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…The survey and in-depth interview data were collected through separate but connected research efforts focused on Iowa farmers' perspectives on cover crops. The survey data employed in this study are from the 2014 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll (IFRLP) survey and the interview data were collected in Iowa as part of the USDA-funded Corn-based Cropping Systems Coordinated Agricultural Project (Morton 2014). Because the data were collected for different projects, the study is not technically a "mixed method" study.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cover crop adoption in Iowa: The role of perceived practice characteristics

Arbuckle¹,

Roesch‐McNally²

2015

Journal of Soil and Water Conservation

181

159

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Cover crops are widely viewed by the soil and water conservation community to be an effective means for reducing soil erosion and nutrient loss and increasing soil health, yet relatively few farmers have adopted the practice. Despite the widespread recognition of cover crops' benefits and increased promotional efforts, there have been very few peer-reviewed studies focused on farmer perspectives on or adoption of cover crops. This study, which analyzed data from a survey and in-depth interviews with Iowa farmers, examined the roles that perceived practice characteristics, perspectives on potential facilitating factors, and crop and livestock diversity play in cover crop adoption among Iowa farmers. As expected, perceived benefits were strongly associated with cover crop use. Measures of crop and livestock diversity were also positive predictors of adoption. In addition, farmers who endorsed strengthening of facilitating factors such as educational and technological infrastructure to support cover crop use were more likely to have adopted cover crops. Farmers who perceived higher levels of risks associated with cover crop use, on the other hand, were less likely to use them. Results suggest that research and promotional efforts should focus on both raising awareness of potential benefits and quantifying and communicating potential risks and risk abatement strategies. Helping farmers to better understand (1) the benefits of cover crops and how they can be enhanced, and (2) the potential risks and ways that they can be minimized might allow farmers to more effectively weigh the probable benefits and costs of cover crop use. The findings further suggest that farmers believe that better facilitating infrastructure, in the form of technical assistance (e.g., agricultural retailers and custom operators) and education, is needed to support the widespread adoption of cover crops. Key words: adoption-cover crops-qualitative research-soil health-water qualityCover crops are widely viewed by the soil and water conservation community to be an effective means for reducing soil erosion and nutrient loss and increasing soil health, yet relatively few farmers have adopted the practice. Cover crops are defined as "crops grown primarily for the purpose of protecting and improving soil between periods of regular crop production" (Schnepf and Cox 2006). Cover crops have long been valued for their soil conservation benefits, including reducing erosion, increasing infiltration, and improving soil health (Chatterjee 2013;Kaspar et al. 2001; Kaspar and Singer 2011;Schnepf and Cox 2006). More recently, as agriculture's impact on water quality has become a national concern (CENR 2010;Ribaudo 2011), the potential water quality benefits of cover crops, such as decreasing nitrate (NO 3 ) leaching into surface waters, have been highlighted (Kaspar et al. 2012; Kladivko et al. 2004Kladivko et al. , 2014Strock et al. 2004). Indeed, cover crops are being promoted heavily across the US Corn Belt to address soil and water issues (MCCC 2...

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cover crop adoption in Iowa: The role of perceived practice characteristics

Arbuckle¹,

Roesch‐McNally²

2015

Journal of Soil and Water Conservation

181

159

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show abstract

“…In 2011, the SWCS Board of Directors adopted a position paper stating that climate change poses a formidable challenge to food security and the environment, and that soil and water conservation could play a large role in mitigating and adapting to climate change (SWCS 2011). In 2014, the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation (JSWC) published a special issue focused on impacts of climate change on agricultural productivity and the coproduction of ecosystem services (Morton 2014). With accelerating climate pressures on the resource base, this new special issue of the JSWC has been developed to advance understanding of the soil-water-climate systems and technologies and policies that can improve resilience of the agro-and natural ecosystems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate change impacts on soil, water, and biodiversity conservation

Steiner¹,

Lin²,

Cavallaro³

et al. 2023

Journal of Soil and Water Conservation

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“…Alluvial river valleys that were dammed and flooded by reservoirs lost fertile agricultural area but irrigation made possible expanded agricultural uses in other sections of the river valley and dry uplands. An increasingly warming climate has moved the mesic-frigid soil temperature boundary northward in Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota, extending the growing season and increasing winter and spring precipitation (Morton 2014). However, the region continues to be vulnerable to periodic drought and increased soil erosion and nutrient runoff with increased severity of heavy rainfall events and precipitation in the cool months (Shafer et al 2014).…”

Section: Agriculture In the Missourimentioning

confidence: 99%