Sustainable agriculture systems

Sustainable Agriculture. The third factor that will influence the future of pesticide sales is the emphasis on sustainable agriculture systems that rely on more natural pest control methods and reduced pesticide usage. These are integrated systems that requke nutrients and crop protection chemicals from on-farm natural sources and cultural methods. Many current sustainable farms are site-specific systems that may depend on the soils in a... 

Much of the research effort in adoption of sustainable agriculture has been fragmented, with little coordination and integration. Several issues have not been adequately treated in previous studies. While research on sustainable agriculture systems has produced information on several alternative practices, little substantive research has investigated the structure of belief and motivation that drive farmers decisions about sustainable agriculture systems adoption (Comer et al. 1999). 

In sustainable agricultural systems, biodiversity has fundamental importance by providing a range of biological services including natural enemies. In conventional farming systems, these services are effectively substituted by external inputs. 

Edwards CA, Lai R, Madden P, Miller RH, House G (1990) Sustainable agricultural systems. Soil and Water Conservation Society, Ankeny, IA... 

One of the advantages of using local breeds is that they are usually very well adapted to regional conditions. They are often better suited than modern breeds especially under harsh conditions. This could be also true for regions where particular breeds are not native (e.g. Brahman cattle in Australia). Local breeds can have some unknown properties or traits that will be important. They often have properties like disease resistance or longevity that are important for sustainable agriculture systems. Furthermore, rare breeds are part of the cultural history of the country of origin. 

Edwards, C.A., Lal, R., Madden, P., Miller, R.H. and House, G. 1990. Research on integrated arable farming and organic mixed farming in the Netherlands. In Edwards, C.A., Lal, R., Madden, P., Miller, R.H. and House, G. (eds) Sustainable Agricultural Systems. Soil and Water Conservation Society, Ankeny, pp 287-296. 

Hatfield, J.L. and Karlen, D.L. (eds) 1994. Sustainable Agriculture Systems. Lewis Publishers, CRC Press, Boca Raton. 

Doll, J.D. and C.A. Francis (1992). Participatory research and extension strategies for sustainable agricultural systems. Weed Technol., 6 473 182. 

Wyse, D.L. (1994). New technologies and approaches for weed management in sustainable agriculture systems. Weed Technol., 8 403 407. 

Nagabhushana, GG, Worsham, A.D., Yenish, J.P. Allelopathic cover crops to reduce herbicide use in sustainable agricultural systems. Allelopathy J 2001 8 133-146. 

Teasdale J.R. Contribution of cover crops to weed management in sustainable agricultural systems. J Prod Agric 1996 9 475-199. 

Camelina has been evaluated in Canada, North Dakota, and Minnesota for its agronomical performance (63, 70, 50). Recent interest in the species is mainly because of the demand for alternative low-input oilseed crops with the potential for food and nonfood utilization of the seed oil (60,71). Unique agronomic features such as compatibility with reduced tillage and cover crop and competitiveness with weeds or winter surface seeding showed suitability of camelina for sustainable agriculture systems. Furthermore, the species has a potential as a low-cost crop for green manuring (60). 

Bird, E. (1988) Why modem agriculture is environmentally unsustainable implications for the politics of the sustainable agriculture movement in the US. In Allen P. and Van Dusen D. (eds) Global Perspectives on Agroecology and Sustainable Agricultural Systems, Vol. 1. University of California, Santa Cruz. USA. 

Another plant with great allelopathic effect is the Barley. It is integrated with other crops to inhibit weed growth which is mediated by alkaloids released from barley plant components and/or exuded from living roots. High allelopathic effectiveness of barley has resulted in its wide adoption as a cover crop in sustainable agricultural systems for weed management. The allelopathic... 

Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, MD, USA... 

---