CROPSYS - The effect of cropping systems on production and the environment

A long-term organic crop rotation (CRO) experiment was initiated in 1997 at three different locations in Denmark; in 2005 it is modified to include also a conventional system. The three locations represent typical soils (sand, loamy sand and sandy loam) and climates for Danish agriculture.
 
Cropsys


The project will quantify productivity and environmental impacts of different organic and conventional cropping systems across a range of soil and climatic conditions, and identify management measures, which contribute significantly to a sustainable development of the individual cropping systems. This will be achieved through an integrated experimental and modelling programme, where measurements of key indicators of productivity and environmental impact and of the underlying processes and dynamic soil properties are carried out in the CRO experiment. A simulation model (FASSET) and a life cycle analysis (LCA) model will be used to analyse different management scenarios. The output of the work is guidelines for improving the sustainable development of organic crop production systems in Denmark.
 
Participants
Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Aarhus University (coordinator), Biological Institute, University of Copenhagen
 
Risø role
Field measurements of N2O emissions in winter wheat crops at research station Flakkebjerg. Emissions are measured over the entire growing season in three organic and one conventional rotations.
 
Resources
Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, DARCOF III (http://www.icrofs.org/Pages/Research/research_darcofIII.html)
 
Duration:
2007-2010

Web
http://www.icrofs.org/Pages/Research/darcofIII_cropsys.html
 
Employees involved
Per Ambus (Risø responsible), Mette Sustmann Carter (coordinator of field work and responsible for data-synthesis), Kristian Albert (field work), Nina Thomsen (field work), Liselotte Meltofte (gas analysis), Poul Sørensen (field work).
  
Options for student projects at graduate levels (speciale):
The project offers a unique opportunity to undertake Nitrous oxide emission measurements over an approximately 12-month period (c. 1.9.2007 until harvest 2008) at the Flakkebjerg experimental stations. Monitoring will take place in winter wheat of the four different rotations comprising organic and conventional systems, respectively, with and without inclusion of catch crops. The experimental work is closely coordinated with activities at Foulum experimental station undertaken by DIAS. In parallel with the field measurements soil sampling will take place in order to evaluate characteristics of the microbial community, which is associated with N2O formation (e.g. denitrification and nitrification assays; microbial biomass).

 

Page updated  by   11.10.2010


Per Ambus
Professor
Biosystems (BIO)
Dir tel+45 46774152