Progress 09/15/04 to 09/14/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: There have been many outputs during the 3 years of the project period: >10 seminars, oral talks and posters at scientific meetings; several extension presentations and newsletters regarding soil biology, biodiversity, nutrient cycling, and carbon sequestration; direct communication with farmers about soil management; high-school field projects for students to learn about carbon sequestration in soil and plants in farm restoration, in collaboration with the SLEWS project in Yolo County; >10 presentations and field trips for non-governmental agencies about soil and plants in farm restoration; collaborative work with state agencies on agricultural mitigation and adaptation to climate change; and interaction with international groups involved in climate change and biodiversity conservation. A highlight in 2008 was the international symposium on "Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Agricultural Landscapes" at UC Davis, with attendees from 11 countries. For the field trip, the group visited the organic farm site and the grower-cooperator explained the farm management and project outcomes, while the various researchers presented results on the ecosystem services provided by the various habitats of the farm. The on-farm project provided the initial foundation for developing a county-wide project on how agricultural productivity and ecosystem services may be impacted by climate change; this report is now in press as a white paper published by the California Energy Commission. Outcomes/Impacts Farmers in the United States are beginning to manage non-production areas of their farms to create a more diverse set of habitats, i.e., farmscaping. To better our understanding of farmscaping, this study quantified biodiversity and its associations with ecosystem functions by inventorying communities of plant and soil organisms in the six distinct habitats of an organic farm in California's Central Valley; and monitoring multiple ecosystem functions provided by each. Two years of inventories of a riparian corridor, hedgerows, two separate production fields, a system of drainage ditches, and tailwater ponds showed different functional groups and greater native plant diversity in non-cropped areas, but less pronounced differences for belowground organisms. Multivariate statistics indicate associations of nematode functional groups, microbial communities (phospholipid fatty acid analysis) and certain earthworm taxa with particular habitats. Monitoring showed that some habitats were almost entirely responsible for certain ecosystem functions but sometimes at a cost of other functions. Riparian and hedgerow habitats with woody vegetation stored 19% of the farmscape's total carbon, despite their relatively small size (only 6% of the total area). Surface water infiltration rates in the riparian corridor were >230% higher than those in the production fields while concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) collected in soil solution using ceramic cup lysimeters were as much as 65% higher. PARTICIPANTS: This project provided training opportunities for two graduate students and two postdocs. There were also many undergraduates (approx. 10) and one high school student who did laboratory and field work for the projects. The on-farm research involved a group of five faculty members, and there were associations with local NGOs and farm advisors. Over 20 farmers were phone-interviewed for their perspectives and attitudes toward farmscaping. This project is one of the sites for the agrobiodiversity network of the international program on biodiversity science, DIVERSITAS. The project served as the foundation for a larger scale analysis of climate change impacts on agriculture and ecosystem services in Yolo County, California. TARGET AUDIENCES: Farmers, ranchers, government agencies involved in resource management and energy use, and non-governmental agencies involved in biodiversity conservation are the public target audiences. The work is also aimed at scientific audiences in biogeochemistry, plant ecology, and sustainable agriculture. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
The tailwater pond reduced mean total suspended solid concentrations in irrigation runoff by 97% but was also a source of high N2O-N emissions. The drainage ditches however, had the highest losses in terms of both N2O-N emissions (16.7 MU g m-2 hr-1) and NO3--N leaching (mean values for losses in the second year were 12.1 g m-2). To assess the relative tradeoffs between ecosystem functions plot level analyses were extrapolated to the entire farmscape. This study indicates habitat enhancement through farmscaping increases both biodiversity and multiple ecosystem functions of agricultural lands. Cultivar diversity is another factor that may change ecosystem functions, as a result of differences in soil nutrient cycling, plant nutrition and growth habitats. Plant diversity was manipulated temporally and spatially: mustard cover crop vs. no cover crop (fallow) in winter, and planting of mixtures with one, three or five tomato cultivars in summer, which compared a monoculture with the grower's favorite choice for a high-yielding cultivar with mixtures of it and other high-yielding cultivars in the region. Soil N, soil microbial biomass, crop nutrient uptake, canopy light interception, disease, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and biomass were measured. Preliminary results show that mustard reduced NO3- content in the soil through the winter and also during the tomato crop. Preliminary comparison of the cultivar mixtures indicates fairly similar yield and shoot biomass, GHG emissions, soil microbial biomass, and N leaching. Thus, mixtures may have little benefit in terms of performance possibly due to the high genetic similarity of currently-used cultivars. In a survey of local growers, two principal patterns relating to the maintenance of biodiversity in farm edges among our sample of 27 farms in Yolo County. First, water courses are managed differently than road edges and hedgerows. Second, the most biodiversity friendly practices, such as planting hedgerows, are practices used by a minority of producers, but there is interest among many producers in learning more about their benefits. Additional publications will be submitted in 2009.
Publications
- Sanchez-Moreno, S., S. Smukler, H. Ferris, and L.E. Jackson. 2007. Nematode diversity, food web condition, and chemical and physical properties in different soil habitats of an organic farm. Biology and Fertility of Soils 59:341/63.
- Jackson, L.E. 2007. Using biophysical information in policies for agroecosystem services in California. Agroecosystem Brief #1. Workshop and Policy Round Table Proceedings. California Agroecosystem Services: Assessment, Valuation and Policy Perspective. University of California Agricultural Issues Center, 19 pp.
- Jackson, L.E., L. Brussaard, P.C. de Ruiter, U. Pascual, C. Perrings, and K. Bawa. 2007. Agrobiodiversity. Encyclopedia of Biodiversity. Elsevier Inc.
- Jackson, L.E., K. Bawa, L. Brussaard, U. Pascual, and P. de Ruiter. 2007. Biodiversity in agricultural landscapes: saving natural capital without losing interest. Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Environment 121:193/195.
- Jackson, L.E., U. Pascual, and T. Hodgkin. 2007. Utilizing and conserving agrobiodiversity in agricultural landscapes. Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Environment 121:196/210.
- Perrings, C., L.E. Jackson, K. Bawa, L. Brussaard, S. Brush, T. Gavin, R. Papa, U. Pascual, and P.D. Ruiter. 2006. Biodiversity in agricultural landscapes: saving natural capital without losing interest. Conservation Biology 20:263-264.
- Drenovsky, R.E., K.L. Steenwerth, L.E. Jackson, and K.M. Scow. 2008. Land use and climate factors structure regional patterns in soil microbial communities. Global Ecology and Biogeography. In press.
- Gaskell, M. R. Smith, L. Jackson, and T.K. Hartz. 2008. Nitrogen fertility management. Section 6. In: Cover Cropping for Vegetable Production: A Grower's Handbook. (R. Smith, R. Bugg, O. Daugovish, M. Gaskell, and M. Van Horn, eds.). DANR Publication #xxxx. In press.
- Jackson, L.E., F. Santos-Martin, A.D. Hollander, W.R. Horwath, R.E. Howitt, J.B. Kramer, A.T. O'Geen, B.S. Orlove, J.W. Six, S.K. Sokolow, D.A. Sumner, T.P. Tomich, and S.M. Wheeler. 2008. Potential for adaptation to climate change in an agricultural landscape in the Central Valley of California. Report from the California Climate Change Center. CEC-500-2008-xxx. 170 pp. In press.
- Jackson, L.E., T. Rosenstock, M. Thomas, J. Wright, and A. Symstad. 2008. Managed ecosystems: biodiversity and ecosystem functions in landscapes modified by human use. Chapter 10. In: Biodiversity and Human Impacts (S. Naeem, D. Bunker, A. Hector, M. Loreau and C. Perrings, eds.). Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. In press.
- Smith, R., L. Bettiga, M. Cahn, K. Baumgartner, L E. Jackson, and T. Bensen. 2008. Vineyard floor management effects on soil properties, soil moisture, sediment loss, plant nutrition and grape yield and quality. California Agriculture 62:184-190.
- Brodt, S., K. Klonsky, L.E. Jackson, S.B. Brush, S.M. Smukler. 2008. Factors affecting adoption of hedgerows and other biodiversity-enhancing features on farms in California, USA Agroforestry Systems. DOI 10.1007/s10457-008-9168-8.
- Drinkwater, L.E., M. Schipanski, S.S. Snapp, and L.E. Jackson. 2008. Ecologically based nutrient management. Chapter 6. In: Agricultural Systems: Agroecology and Rural Innovation for Development. (S. Snapp and B. Pound, eds.). Academic Press, Elsevier, Burlington, MA, USA. pp. 161-210.
- Jackson, L.E. 2007. Using biophysical information in policies for agroecosystem services in California. Agroecosystem Brief #1. Workshop and Policy Round Table Proceedings. California Agroecosystem Services: Assessment, Valuation and Policy Perspective. University of California Agricultural Issues Center. 19 pp.
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The following outputs have been produced: seminars, oral talks and posters at scientific meetings; extension presentations and newsletters regarding soil biology, biodiversity, nutrient cycling, and carbon sequestration; direct communication with farmers about soil management; high-school field projects for students to learn about carbon sequestration in soil and plants in farm restoration; presentations and field trips for non-governmental agencies about soil and plants in farm restoration; collaborative work with state agencies on agricultural mitigation and adaptation to climate change; and interaction with international groups involved in climate change and biodiversity conservation. PARTICIPANTS: This project provided training opportunities for two graduate students and a postdoc. This was on-farm research involving a group of five faculty members. Over 20 farmers were phone-interviewed for their perspectives and attitudes toward farmscaping. This project is one of the sites for the agrobiodiversity network of the international program on biodiversity science, DIVERSITAS. TARGET AUDIENCES: Farmers, ranchers, government agencies involved in resource management and energy use, and non-governmental agencies involved in biodiversity conservation are the public target audiences. The work is also aimed at scientific audiences in biogeochemistry, plant ecology, and sustainable agriculture.
Impacts
Organic farmers increasingly manage the margins of previously monocultured farmed landscapes to increase biodiversity, e.g. they restore and protect riparian corridors, plant hedgerows and construct vegetated tailwater ponds. This study attempts to link habitat enhancements, biodiversity and changes in ecosystem functions by: 1. inventorying the existing biodiversity and the associated belowground community structure and composition in the various habitats of an organic farm in California's Central Valley; and 2. monitoring key ecosystem functions of these habitats. Two years of inventories show greater native plant diversity in non-cropped areas. While nematode diversity did not differ between habitats, functional groups were clearly associated with particular habitats as were soil microbial communities (phospholipid fatty acid analysis). Earthworm diversity did not differ between habitats, but biomass was higher in non-cropped areas. Habitats with woody vegetation stored 20% of the farmscape's total carbon (C), despite their relatively small size (only 5% of the total farm). Two years of monitoring data of farmscape C and nitrogen (N) through emissions, run-off and leaching showed show distinct tradeoffs in function associated with each habitat but that habitat restoration in field margins increases both landscape biodiversity and multifunctionality. In a survey of local growers, two principal patterns relating to the maintenance of biodiversity in farm edges among our sample of 27 farms in Yolo County. First, water courses are managed differently than road edges and hedgerows. Second, the most biodiversity friendly practices, such as planting hedgerows, are practices by a minority of producers.
Publications
- Jackson, L.E., M. Potthoff, K.L. Steenwerth, A.T. O'Geen, M.R. Stromberg, and K.M. Scow. 2007. Soil biology and carbon sequestration. Chapter 7. In: Ecology and Management of California Grasslands (Corbin, J., C. d'Antonio, and M.R. Stromberg, eds.). University of California Press, Berkeley, CA.
- Sanchez-Moreno, S., S. Smukler, H. Ferris, and L.E. Jackson. The soil nematode fauna reflects aboveground farmscape patterns. In press 2007, Biology and Fertility of Soils.
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
Biodiversity is a key aspect of organic farm management, not only for crop production practices, but for the entire farmscape, e.g., crop fields, riparian corridors, hedgerows, detention ponds, and ditches. At an organic farm in California's Central Valley, the ecological and economic contribution of various habitats of the farmscape is being assessed by: 1. Inventorying the plant biodiversity and the associated belowground composition of microbial, nematode, and earthworm communities; 2. Determining key ecosystem functions, such as nutrient cycling and water quality, associated with these habitat types; and 3. Developing a model to evaluate the economic trade-offs resulting from providing different types of ecosystem services, and to choose the management regimes that are most cost-effective in terms of environmental quality and crop-based income. Preliminary results show greater differences in aboveground species diversity of non-production areas of the farm than in
belowground communities. One of the largest differences between habitats was in carbon sequestration. Greenhouse gas emissions were greatest in ponds and ditches, but these occupied little of the farm area. Ecological and economic impacts from restoration practices will also be considered in a survey of local landowners for their willingness to invest in biodiversity-based practices to increase farm stewardship. A farm stewardship survey is underway to understand attitudes of local farmers and landowners toward management of wetland margins and farm edges. In the first phase, we are focusing on farmers' current methods for managing vegetation on various types of farm edges, including non-cropped field edges and roadsides, stream and ditch banks, tailwater ponds, hard-to-access field corners, and steep hillsides. This is a phone survey of all farm operators managing land within a 150 km2 area in western Yolo Co. In a larger context, this grant has contributed to the support of
publications on utilizing and conserving biodiversity in agricultural landscapes.
Impacts
Presentations on the project were given at meetings of the international program for biodiversity science (DIVERSITAS), a UC Davis departmental seminar, and at the International Conference on the Future of Agriculture: Science, Stewardship and Sustainability, Sacramento, CA. The project has received local interest among various farmer/environmental organizations for its potential for changing incentives for managing farm edges for greater environmental quality.
Publications
- Jackson, L.E., U. Pascual, and T. Hodgkin. 2006. Utilizing and conserving agrobiodiversity in agricultural landscapes. In press, Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Environment.
- Jackson, L.E., L. Brussaard, P.C. de Ruiter, U. Pascual, C. Perrings, and K. Bawa. 2006. Agrobiodiversity. In press, Encyclopedia of Biodiversity. Elsevier Inc.
- Potthoff, M., K.L. Steenwerth, L.E. Jackson, R.E. Drenovsky, K.M. Scow, and R.G. Joergensen. 2006. Soil microbial community composition as affected by restoration practices in California grassland. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 38:1851-1860.
- Cavagnaro, T., L.E. Jackson, K.M. Scow. 2006. Climate change: Challenges and solutions for California agricultural landscapes. Report from the California Climate Change Center. CEC-500-2005-189-SF. 115 pp.
- Perrings, C., L. Jackson, K. Bawa, L. Brussaard, S. Brush, T. Gavin, R. Papa, U. Pascual, and P. de Ruiter. 2006. Biodiversity in agricultural landscapes: saving natural capital without losing interest. Conservation Biology 20:263-264.
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
Ecological and economic cost/benefit analyses of landscape management alternatives can show how agricultural practices affect biodiversity, carbon and nitrogen retention, and economic outcomes for farmers. The many habitat types existing on and around an organic farm in California Central Valley are the focus of this landscape level study. These habitat types represent various management options to enhance habitat within a farming system (riparian corridor, hedgerows, detention ponds, ditches, and two different rotations in production fields). In this first year, these habitats were assessed by: 1) inventorying the existing biodiversity and the associated below-ground community structure and composition (3 sites per habitat); 2) monitoring key ecosystem functions such CO2 and N2O emissions, and water quality in ponds, ditches, and fields and 3) initiating development of a simple land use model that will enable stakeholders to evaluate the economic trade-offs required
to provide specific ecosystem services. LI-COR 8100 environmental chambers are used to monitor diurnal CO2, along with short-term chamber measurements for CO2 and N2O at monthly intervals, and for water quality, ISCO automated samplers are deployed to monitor stormwater and irrigation runoff. Suction lysimeters and anion resin bags for nitrate leaching are installed at all of the habitat types. In addition, soil samples for microbial biomass and nutrient pools have been collected several times during the growing season. The preliminary results from the first inventory in the spring of this year show that although the plant species richness of non-production areas of the farm were significantly more different than production areas, the differences in belowground communities were not as dramatic. The Spring, 2005, inventory of vegetation, nematodes, earthworms, soil microbial communities (phospholipids fatty acid) as well as monitoring data of carbon and nitrogen losses through
emissions throughout the Spring, Summer and Fall, 2005 are now being analyzed.
Impacts
Presentations on the project were given at the International Plant Genetic Research Institute in Rome, Italy (September 20, 2005) and the DIVERSITAS Open Science Conference in Oaxaca, Mexico (November 11, 2005).
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
Plans for winter and spring sampling of soils and water quality at the organic farm are being made. Advice on nematode, hydrologic flows, and pedological sampling has been solicited, to add these components to our list of other soil variables. Specific locations of sampling sites are being identified. The grower has provided a detailed information on all water sources on the farm, runoff ponds, reservoirs, pipes, pumps, and channels.
Impacts
Based on these results, selected management practices for biodiversity that promote specific ecosystem services will be analyzed. Information from local growers and processors will show incentives for increasing biodiversity in organic farm landscapes. Outreach activities to the local community will occur via newsletters, a webpage, field days, and a workshop for growers to learn to monitor and understand roles of biodiversity and nutrient cycling on their farms.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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