Toward ecologically-based management : biodiversity and ecosystem functions in intensively managed agroecosystems

Abstract

Concerns about intensive, chemically-based agriculture have precipitated a call for ecologically-based practices. We investigated the ramifications of two such practices. First, we investigated targeted sheep grazing for cover-crop termination. Second, we compared the community dynamics of carabid beetles (Coleoptera:Carabidae), a group of beneficial insects in agroecosystems, among three vegetation systems in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) production. Cover-crops are grown to improve soil quality and reduce erosion. While cover-crops do not provide a direct source of revenue, integrating livestock grazing to terminate them could provide alternative revenue. We conducted a two year study of the impacts terminating cover-crops with sheep grazing on soil quality, weed and carabid communities, and crop yield in a diversified vegetable market garden. In 2012 and 2013, we seeded a four species cover-crop that was terminated by either tractor mowing or sheep grazing following a completely randomized design. In 2013, we planted spinach, kohlrabi, and lettuce into previously grazed or mowed plots following a split-plot design. The cover-crop provided forage worth $24.00 - $44.00 ha -1 as a grazing lease. There were no differences in soil chemistry, compaction, temperature or moisture between grazed and mowed plots. Despite temporal shifts in weed and carabid community structure, we found no differences in those communities between termination methods. Finally, cash crop yields did not differ between strategies. Our results suggest that this practice can provide an economic benefit for producers without detrimental agronomic or ecological consequences. Alfalfa is the third biggest crop in Montana by gross revenue. As a perennial crop, it can allow for high populations of pest and beneficial insects. Practices that favor predatory insects could enhance biological control of pests. We conducted a two year study investigating carabid community dynamics and habitat preferences of common carabid species under three habitat management strategies: monoculture alfalfa, barely nurse-cropped alfalfa and uncultivated refugia. Our results indicate that carabid communities vary among the three systems. Barley nurse-crop systems had greater total carabid activity-density than either of the other two system, which suggests that nurse-cropping may be an effective habitat management strategy to enhance carabid populations.