Dynamic Cropping Systems: Contributions to Improve Agroecosystem Sustainability

Abstract

Cropping systems need to be inherently flexible to take advantage of economic opportunities and/or adapt to environmental realities. A dynamic cropping systems concept—characterized by a management approach whereby crop sequencing decisions are made on an annual basis—has been proposed to improve the adaptability of cropping practices to externalities. A symposium on dynamic cropping systems was held at the 2005 ASA–CSSA–SSSA annual meetings in Salt Lake City, UT. Presentations at the symposium reviewed research results from a recent experiment near Mandan, ND, investigating short-term crop sequence effects on crop production, plant diseases, soil residue coverage, and soil water depletion. This paper briefly reviews each of the presentations at the symposium. Future research opportunities on dynamic cropping systems abound, and may have increased impact if emerging issues in agriculture (e.g., increased use of biofuels; livestock integration in cropping systems) are incorporated in evaluations.