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Perennial Forages as a Key to Environmental Sustainability and Soil Health
Perennial Forages as a Key to Environmental Sustainability and Soil Health
상세정보
- 자료유형
- 학위논문 서양
- 최종처리일시
- 20260202104814
- ISBN
- 9798288866043
- DDC
- 630
- 서명/저자
- Perennial Forages as a Key to Environmental Sustainability and Soil Health
- 발행사항
- [Sl] : The University of Wisconsin - Madison, 2025
- 발행사항
- Ann Arbor : ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, 2025
- 형태사항
- 202 p
- 주기사항
- Source: Dissertations Abstracts International, Volume: 87-01, Section: A.
- 주기사항
- Advisor: Picasso, Valentin D.
- 학위논문주기
- Thesis (Ph.D.)--The University of Wisconsin - Madison, 2025.
- 초록/해제
- 요약This dissertation presents two on-farm research studies aimed at advancing sustainable agriculture by first exploring the relationship between management practices and higher forage harvested in alfalfa and then examining how these high-yielding practices relate to soil health. In addition, a third on-farm study investigates the effects of diversity, perenniality, and circularity on soil health at the farming systems level. Each chapter explores a distinct aspect of how farm-level decisions and system design influence productivity and soil health, both of which are critical pillars of agricultural sustainability. The final chapter extends the scope beyond the United States, highlighting a case study in Uruguay that demonstrates the impact of ecological intensification in the Campos grasslands. This example illustrates the value of improved grazing management, first through research and then at the farm level, showing how ecological approaches can simultaneously increase productivity and reduce environmental externalities. These findings are especially relevant in the current context of widespread environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and the dominance of high-input agricultural systems worldwide.Management practices associated with maximizing alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) forage harvested on farms in the U.S. Midwest were analyzed through a survey of 24 farmers managing 38 fields. The study identifies key practices, such as cutting frequency, nutrient management, and forage use, that differentiate technological groups in terms of forage harvested. Farms applying sulfur and harvesting more than three cuts for haylage or silage achieved the highest forage yields. These findings highlight the importance of integrated strategies to close the persistent yield gap between research and farm-level performance.The relationship between alfalfa forage harvested and soil health indicators was further examined using on-farm data from 32 fields across the Midwest. Higher forage yields were associated with greater soil organic matter (SOM), pH, and sulfur content, along with improved soil biological indicators such as permanganate oxidizable carbon (POX-C). Among three technological groups identified, farms in the high-input silage and haylage group achieved the highest yields. These farms were characterized by more frequent soil testing and higher levels of key nutrients (N, K, and pH), emphasizing the role of efficient nutrient management and improved soil health in reducing the difference between agronomic potential and the current average of farmers.The connections between diversity, perenniality, circularity, and soil health were analyzed using a dataset of 52 paired farms across three U.S. regions. Farms categorized as Diverse Perennial Circular Systems (DPCS) integrated livestock, grazing, and perennial crops more frequently than their Local Dominant System (LDS) counterparts. Perenniality emerged as the strongest driver of soil health, particularly associated with microbial activity and carbon cycling. Circularity showed an association with perenniality and diversity. These interconnections remain fundamental factors that deserve further investigation in future research. The results highlight the importance of incorporating perennial species into agricultural systems traditionally dominated by annual crops to improve soil function and support sustainability.A vision for climate resilience and improved ecosystem services in the Campos grasslands in South America, which are especially relevant in these times of climate uncertainty, is finally presented. Dominated by beef cattle production systems, this chapter focuses on ecological intensification through improved grazing management, specifically by regulating forage allowance and stocking rates. Such practices can increase forage and livestock production, enhance ecosystem services, and improve resilience to climatic extremes like droughts. Based on a synthesis of published literature from the Campos grasslands, the chapter contrasts traditional grazing management with improved approaches characterized by higher biomass and reduced grazing intensity at both paddock and farm levels. These findings highlight the critical role of perennial forages and optimized grazing management in strengthening the resilience and sustainability of agricultural systems.There is an urgent need to transition toward more sustainable agricultural systems. Perennial forages and agroecological management play a central role in enhancing productivity, resilience, and environmental performance across different systems, such as alfalfa-based farms in the U.S. Midwest and DPCS or LDS systems across the U.S., in contrast to systems like the ones in the Campos grasslands in South America. In both contexts, perenniality emerges as a key driver of improved soil health and ecosystem function. However, each study also presents limitations, including observational restrictions, small sample sizes, single-time assessments, and limited implementation in real farm settings. Future research should build on these findings through longitudinal studies, field experiments, and broader socio-economic analyses to evaluate the adaptability and impact of sustainable practices such as integrated forage management and adaptive grazing across diverse agricultural landscapes.
- 일반주제명
- Agronomy
- 일반주제명
- Soil sciences
- 일반주제명
- Animal sciences
- 일반주제명
- Ecology
- 일반주제명
- Agriculture
- 일반주제명
- Sustainability
- 키워드
- On-farm research
- 키워드
- Soil health
- 키워드
- Perenniality
- 기타저자
- The University of Wisconsin - Madison Agronomy
- 기본자료저록
- Dissertations Abstracts International. 87-01A.
- 전자적 위치 및 접속
- 로그인 후 원문을 볼 수 있습니다.
MARC
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■040 ▼aMiAaPQ▼cMiAaPQ
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■1001 ▼aOrcasberro, M. Soledad.
■24510▼aPerennial Forages as a Key to Environmental Sustainability and Soil Health
■260 ▼a[Sl]▼bThe University of Wisconsin - Madison▼c2025
■260 1▼aAnn Arbor▼bProQuest Dissertations & Theses▼c2025
■300 ▼a202 p
■500 ▼aSource: Dissertations Abstracts International, Volume: 87-01, Section: A.
■500 ▼aAdvisor: Picasso, Valentin D.
■5021 ▼aThesis (Ph.D.)--The University of Wisconsin - Madison, 2025.
■520 ▼aThis dissertation presents two on-farm research studies aimed at advancing sustainable agriculture by first exploring the relationship between management practices and higher forage harvested in alfalfa and then examining how these high-yielding practices relate to soil health. In addition, a third on-farm study investigates the effects of diversity, perenniality, and circularity on soil health at the farming systems level. Each chapter explores a distinct aspect of how farm-level decisions and system design influence productivity and soil health, both of which are critical pillars of agricultural sustainability. The final chapter extends the scope beyond the United States, highlighting a case study in Uruguay that demonstrates the impact of ecological intensification in the Campos grasslands. This example illustrates the value of improved grazing management, first through research and then at the farm level, showing how ecological approaches can simultaneously increase productivity and reduce environmental externalities. These findings are especially relevant in the current context of widespread environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and the dominance of high-input agricultural systems worldwide.Management practices associated with maximizing alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) forage harvested on farms in the U.S. Midwest were analyzed through a survey of 24 farmers managing 38 fields. The study identifies key practices, such as cutting frequency, nutrient management, and forage use, that differentiate technological groups in terms of forage harvested. Farms applying sulfur and harvesting more than three cuts for haylage or silage achieved the highest forage yields. These findings highlight the importance of integrated strategies to close the persistent yield gap between research and farm-level performance.The relationship between alfalfa forage harvested and soil health indicators was further examined using on-farm data from 32 fields across the Midwest. Higher forage yields were associated with greater soil organic matter (SOM), pH, and sulfur content, along with improved soil biological indicators such as permanganate oxidizable carbon (POX-C). Among three technological groups identified, farms in the high-input silage and haylage group achieved the highest yields. These farms were characterized by more frequent soil testing and higher levels of key nutrients (N, K, and pH), emphasizing the role of efficient nutrient management and improved soil health in reducing the difference between agronomic potential and the current average of farmers.The connections between diversity, perenniality, circularity, and soil health were analyzed using a dataset of 52 paired farms across three U.S. regions. Farms categorized as Diverse Perennial Circular Systems (DPCS) integrated livestock, grazing, and perennial crops more frequently than their Local Dominant System (LDS) counterparts. Perenniality emerged as the strongest driver of soil health, particularly associated with microbial activity and carbon cycling. Circularity showed an association with perenniality and diversity. These interconnections remain fundamental factors that deserve further investigation in future research. The results highlight the importance of incorporating perennial species into agricultural systems traditionally dominated by annual crops to improve soil function and support sustainability.A vision for climate resilience and improved ecosystem services in the Campos grasslands in South America, which are especially relevant in these times of climate uncertainty, is finally presented. Dominated by beef cattle production systems, this chapter focuses on ecological intensification through improved grazing management, specifically by regulating forage allowance and stocking rates. Such practices can increase forage and livestock production, enhance ecosystem services, and improve resilience to climatic extremes like droughts. Based on a synthesis of published literature from the Campos grasslands, the chapter contrasts traditional grazing management with improved approaches characterized by higher biomass and reduced grazing intensity at both paddock and farm levels. These findings highlight the critical role of perennial forages and optimized grazing management in strengthening the resilience and sustainability of agricultural systems.There is an urgent need to transition toward more sustainable agricultural systems. Perennial forages and agroecological management play a central role in enhancing productivity, resilience, and environmental performance across different systems, such as alfalfa-based farms in the U.S. Midwest and DPCS or LDS systems across the U.S., in contrast to systems like the ones in the Campos grasslands in South America. In both contexts, perenniality emerges as a key driver of improved soil health and ecosystem function. However, each study also presents limitations, including observational restrictions, small sample sizes, single-time assessments, and limited implementation in real farm settings. Future research should build on these findings through longitudinal studies, field experiments, and broader socio-economic analyses to evaluate the adaptability and impact of sustainable practices such as integrated forage management and adaptive grazing across diverse agricultural landscapes.
■590 ▼aSchool code: 0262.
■650 4▼aAgronomy
■650 4▼aSoil sciences
■650 4▼aAnimal sciences
■650 4▼aEcology
■650 4▼aAgriculture
■650 4▼aSustainability
■653 ▼aEcological intensification
■653 ▼aOn-farm research
■653 ▼aPerennial forages
■653 ▼aSoil health
■653 ▼aPerenniality
■690 ▼a0285
■690 ▼a0481
■690 ▼a0475
■690 ▼a0640
■690 ▼a0329
■690 ▼a0473
■71020▼aThe University of Wisconsin - Madison▼bAgronomy.
■7730 ▼tDissertations Abstracts International▼g87-01A.
■790 ▼a0262
■791 ▼aPh.D.
■792 ▼a2025
■793 ▼aEnglish
■85640▼uhttp://www.riss.kr/pdu/ddodLink.do?id=T17358949▼nKERIS▼z이 자료의 원문은 한국교육학술정보원에서 제공합니다.


