Prairie strips

Prairie strips are strips of native perennial vegetation that are strategically integrated into row crop fields. This technique is used in conservation farming to improve biodiversity, and protect soil and water.[1]

Native prairie vegetation improves soil stability, reduces soil erosion and nutrient runoff, and concentrates more organic carbon in soil than corn and soybean crops. Research has found that strategically setting aside land in corn and soybean fields benefits biodiversity,[2] water and soil in a greater extent than other types of perennial vegetation. 10% of a corn field set aside for native vegetation can reduce sediment movement by 95%. Phosphorus and nitrogen lost through run off are reduced by 90% and 85% respectively.[3] Farmers can take odd areas or difficult-to-farm areas out of production as they integrate native plant species into farm fields as contour buffers and edge-of-field filters.[4]

In Iowa, most of the rich and fertile soils have been dedicated to corn and soybean crops. Only around 0.1 percent of the original tallgrass prairie remains.[5] Prairie strips are among the few remaining areas for the native vegetation.[6]

Entomologists at Iowa State University observed beneficial aphid-eating insects in soybean fields and the prairie strips. They found that prairie strips supported twice the number of aphid-eating insects than soybean fields.[7]

References

  1. ^ Charles, Dan (14 July 2020). "How Absentee Landowners Keep Farmers From Protecting Water and Soil". NPR. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  2. ^ Kemmerling, Lindsey R.; Rutkoski, Corinn E.; Evans, Sarah E.; Helms, Jackson A.; Cordova-Ortiz, Esbeiry S.; Smith, Jamie D.; Vázquez Custodio, Jorge A.; Vizza, Carmella; Haddad, Nick M. (10 May 2022). "Prairie Strips and Lower Land Use Intensity Increase Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services". Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 10. doi:10.3389/fevo.2022.833170. ISSN 2296-701X.
  3. ^ "Prairie Strips". Iowa State University of Science and Technology. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  4. ^ Beacom, Nathan (15 October 2019). "Planting Native Prairie Could Be a Secret Weapon for Farmers". Civil Eats. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  5. ^ Sampson, Fred; Knopf, Fritz (1 June 1994). "Prairie conservation in North America". Other Publications in Wildlife Management.
  6. ^ Oldfield, Sara F. (25 September 2019). Seeds of Restoration Success: Wild Lands and Plant Diversity in the U.S. Springer. ISBN 9783319969749.
  7. ^ "Conservation Buffers: Case Study: Buffer Strips for Soybean Aphid Control". Farming with Native Beneficial Insects: Ecological Pest Control Solutions. The Xerces Society. 25 September 2019. ISBN 978-1-61212-284-7.

Content Disclaimer

Informasi ini disarikan dari Wikipedia dan disajikan kembali untuk tujuan edukasi. Konten tersedia di bawah lisensi CC BY-SA 3.0. Kami tidak bertanggung jawab atas ketidakakuratan data yang bersumber dari kontribusi publik tersebut.

  1. The information displayed on this website is sourced in part or in whole from Wikipedia and has been adapted for the purpose of restating it. We strive to provide accurate and relevant information, however:
  2. There is no guarantee of absolute accuracy. Wikipedia is an open, collaborative project that can be edited by anyone, so information is subject to change.
  3. It is not intended to constitute professional advice. The content displayed is for informational and educational purposes only. For important decisions (e.g., medical, legal, or financial), please consult a professional.
  4. Content copyright. Wikipedia is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License (CC BY-SA). This means that content may be reused with appropriate attribution and shared under a similar license.
  5. Responsible use. Any risk arising from the use of information from this website is entirely the responsibility of the user.