Location: Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research
Project Number: 5070-12000-001-010-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2022
End Date: Aug 31, 2025
Objective:
Develop and implement protocols for floristic biomass and biodiversity sampling and plant tissue quality measurements for comparison of the native, perennial Tucker Prairie ecosystem with the Long-Term Agroecosystems Research (LTAR) "business as usual" (BAU) and "aspirational" (ASP) production systems.
Approach:
Standard protocols provided through LTAR will be implemented and new protocols will be developed and evaluated for making comparisons between Tucker Prairie (the native, perennial ecosystem) and the grain cropping systems (ASP and BAU). Comparisons will include floristic biomass and diversity, as well as plant tissue and grain quality. Exploratory protocols related to above-canopy seed dispersal will be implemented and ecological data will be collected at all three sites. Cooperator will collaborate on development of appropriate protocols, data collection, and data interpretation.
