1. Biodiversity in Agroecosystems

2. What is this? Be Wise DON’T use a 4-letter word!

3. Objectives Students will be able to:
Understand Biodiversity and Sustainability
Understand Population dynamics
Understand the link between biodiversity and Sustainability
Understand how population dynamics=biodiversity producing Sustainability

4. Biodiversity
Is the degree of variation of life forms with in a given species, ecosystem, biome or an entire PLANET!
Whoofta!
A measure of ecosystem health
More simple put:
Variation of life at all levels of biological organization

5. Biodiversity What organisms make up an Agroecosystem? Animals Plants
Microbes

6. Animals What animals are present in an ag system?
Livestock-produced, brings in germs, increases soil organic matter thru defecation.
Rodents- eats crops, brings germs, tills/mixes soil.
Wildlife-increases soil organic matter, can bring in disease for livestock, provide recreation.
Birds-source of nitrogen, can bring disease, consumes pests.

7. Plants What plants are present in an ag system?
Crops: The plant that is managed by a producer for profit or forage. Examples: Corn, soybeans, hay, wheat, fruit trees, etc.
Weeds: Plants without a modern, economic use. These decrease yield, and can cross(breed) with crop plants. Example: Downy brome, field sunflower, spotted knapweed.
Native plants: Plants that are naturally found in a system. These are generally removed to make place for crops to grow. Example: Big Bluestem
Non-native: introduced for a reason like forage crop, salt tolerance or brought in by wildlife or on tires, equipment. Example: Salt cedar or old- world bluestem.

8. Microbes What microbes are present in an ag system?
Bacteria: First to grow, consume simple carbon sources (sugar) and nitrogen sources. Responsible for simple decomposition of small molecules in residues. Can cause pathogen issues with crops, reducing yield.
Fungi: Late to grow, consume more complex C and N containing residues: plant waxes, lignin, alcohols. Can also cause pathogen issues in crops.
Actinomycetes: Responsible for that smell after rain. Shuttle nutrients to soil rhizosphere from locations that a typical plant root cannot grow.
Algae: present in soil and produces C and N for biomass production by other microbes and plants.
Arbuscular Mycorrhizae fungi (AMF): Responsible for shuttling nutrients and water to plant roots through hyphae (tube like, arm structures) that the plant would not normaly not have access too. Do not like chemical additions or tillage.

9. Bacteria on a plant root.
Fungi, like AMF, and their hypae (hair structures).

11. Aren’t they pretty?

12. How is Agriculture Biodiverse?
On three levels:
Farm
Community
Agricultural Region

13. Farm Biodiversity Cropping System Organic vs. Conventional Models
Monoculture vs. Polyculture
Winter wheat vs. Alfalfa
Crop Diversification
Montana/Canada Border
Intercropping
Three Sisters
Cereal Legume System
Integrated System
Animal Plant Operations
Organic vs. Conventional Models
Dryland vs. Irrigation
Synthetic Chemical Input vs. Natural Inputs

14. Farm Biodiversity Cropping System What are some advantages and
Monoculture vs. Polyculture
Winter wheat vs. Alfalfa
What are some advantages and
Disadvantages to these to systems?

15. Farm Biodiversity 1 Minute paper time
Crop Diversification
Montana/Canada Border
Intercropping
Three Sisters
Cereal Legume System
Integrated System
Animal Plant Operations
1 Minute paper time
Design an integrated cropping system for Wyoming.

16. Farm Biodiversity Organic vs. Conventional Models Conventional
Organics and Bob Quinn
Diversified system decreases pathogens and breaks disease cycles.
Guarantees profit at harvest because if one crop fails there is always another to take its place.
Sustainable less leaching of nutrients and SOM building.
Conventional
Potential crop failure
Increased inputs
Control disease and pests

17. Farm Biodiversity Dryland vs. Irrigation
Take a minute and discuss with your neighbor how biodiversity is different between dryland and irrigated systems?

18. Farm Biodiversity
Synthetic Chemical Input vs. Natural Inputs

19. Community Biodiversity
Community= The area around a farm
Parks
Towns
Other Farms
Processing plants
If you have a farm in Laramie what elements make up the farm community?

20. Agricultural Region Biodiversity
Agricultural Region= The region surrounding your farm and community that has similar cropping habits.
What practices might affect your farm that come from your agricultural region?

21. Ways a farm can be Biodiverse

22. What causes Biodiversity?
On a molecular level
Mutation
Recombinant Genetics
Naturally
Natural Selection
Integration of plant and animal on a farm
Decreased use of synthetic chemicals

23. Take Home Message about Biodiversity
↑diversity →↑differentiation→↑productivity→↑diversity HEALTH of SYSTEM
High diversity = greater disturbance resistance

24. How does Biodiversity work into Sustainability?
Sustainability= Ecosystem approach to agriculture.
How do we decrease sustainability in the farm?
Tillage
Nutrient additions
Monocropping
Continual cropping
How do we increase sustainability on the farm?
Crop rotation
Reduce Fallow
Biocontrol
Integrate systems
Utilize natural fertilizers
Foster microbes in soil.

25. See any connections between Biodiversity and Sustainability?

26. Increased Biodiversity= Healthy Populations
Take Home IF:
Increased Biodiversity= Healthy Populations
Sustainability= Healthy Ecosystem Dynamics
Then:
Biodiversity + Sustainability= Healthy Population Dynamics

27. Biodiversity + Sustainability= Healthy Population Dynamics
Why:
Biodiversity + Sustainability= Healthy Population Dynamics
Niches are filled and populations can manage one another
Food isn’t a limiting factor.
Through Farm management practices that foster diversity over time:
SOM increases
Input costs decrease
There is a benefit to each level of agriculture biodiversity (Farm, Community and Agricultural Region)
EACH CONCEPT OF BIODIVERSITY IS A MAIN CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABILITY!

28. How does increasing biodiversity on your farm increase sustainability?
QUESTION:
How does increasing biodiversity on your farm increase sustainability?

29. How does increasing biodiversity on your farm increase sustainability?
Assignment 100pts:
How does increasing biodiversity on your farm increase sustainability?
Directions:
Write a one (1) page paper discussing biodiversity on a farm and explain how these elements help sustainability and soil health. Please write in complete sentences, spell check and have an introduction, body and conclusion to your work.