Green Lands, Blue Waters

1
Green Lands, Blue Waters

Perennial Solutions to Farmings Annual
Problem Jerry Glover The Land Institute Salina,
Kansas
2
Natural plant communities diverse and perennial

Prior to agricultural settlement, the Upper
Midwest was covered in tallgrass prairie or
hardwood forests.
3
Natural plant communities diverse and perennial

Above- and below-ground diversity and deep,
long-lived roots micromanage resources on the
scale of minutes and millimeters.
4
Agriculture primarily monocultures of annuals

The result monocultural management of resources.
Water and nutrient use is concentrated over
short periods of time and soil remains
unprotected for long periods of time
5
Agriculture primarily monocultures of annuals

Opportunities are lost when water and nutrients
are available and the sun is shining but there
are no crops growing.
From the plant scale to the regional scale,
patterns of water flow and nutrient cycling are
dramatically altered.
6
Agriculture primarily monocultures of annuals

Satellite image of plant activity in the Corn Belt
April 6 April 19
7
Agriculture primarily monocultures of annuals

Satellite image of plant activity in the Corn Belt
Brown indicates bare soil. Annual crops have not
been planted.
April 6 April 19
8
Agriculture primarily monocultures of annuals

Satellite image of plant activity in the Corn Belt
Brown indicates bare soil. Annual crops have not
been planted.
April 6 April 19
Yellow and green indicate active perennial
vegetation. The soil is warming, the rains
falling, the sun shining, and microorganisms are
cycling nutrients.
9
The perennial advantage

Roots of annual wheat and wheatgrass, a perennial
relative of wheat, excavated at 4 different times
of year.
10
The perennial advantage

More rooting volume and longer growing season
better resource access and management.
Annual wheat
Perennial wheatgrass
11
Water and nitrogen the wealth of nations

SPRING
12
Water and nitrogen the wealth of nations

SPRING
Evaporation and transpiration
Runoff
water
Gulf of Mexico
13
Water and nitrogen the wealth of nations

SPRING
Evaporation and transpiration
Runoff
water
Tile drain
Gulf of Mexico
14
Water and nitrogen the wealth of nations

SPRING
Evaporation and transpiration
Runoff
water
Tile drain
Leaching
water
Gulf of Mexico
water
15
Water and nitrogen the wealth of nations

Annual crops rely on large amounts of costly
fertilizers and dont compete well against weeds.
SPRING
Fertilizers and pesticides
Gulf of Mexico
16
Water and nitrogen the wealth of nations

SPRING
The lost water carries away soil, nutrients and
pesticides.
Soil
Nutrients and pesticides
Gulf of Mexico
17
Water and nitrogen the wealth of nations

SUMMER
For short periods of time in the summer the crops
function relatively well.
Gulf of Mexico
18
Water and nitrogen the wealth of nations

FALL
After harvest, though, landscapes are once more
left without plant cover to regulate ecosystem
processes.
Evaporation
Soil
Nutrients and pesticides
H2O
Gulf of Mexico
19
Water and nitrogen the wealth of nations

FALL
More fertilizer must be applied to offset the
seasons losses. Annual crops typically recover
less than 50 of fertilizer nitrogen.
Fertilizers
Soil
Nutrients and pesticides
H2O
Gulf of Mexico
20
Water and nitrogen the wealth of nations

Concentrations of NO3-N in tile drain water
(Randall et al., 1997)
21
Water and nitrogen the wealth of nations
from Ajwa et al., 1998
22
The future of farming perennial and diverse

Global warming potential (kg CO2 equiv. per year)
Soil carbon sequestration (kg ha-1 per year)
Climate change impact on yield (Mg ha-1)
Annual crops
lt 0 to 450 140 to 1140 -1.5
to -0.5
Perennial crops
320 to 1100 -1050 to -200
gt 5
23
The future of farming perennial and diverse

Global warming potential (kg CO2 equiv. per year)
Soil carbon sequestration (kg ha-1 per year)
Climate change impact on yield (Mg ha-1)
Annual crops
lt 0 to 450 140 to 1140 -1.5
to -0.5
Perennial crops
320 to 1100 -1050 to -200
gt 5
24
The future of farming perennial and diverse

Global warming potential (kg CO2 equiv. per year)
Soil carbon sequestration (kg ha-1 per year)
Climate change impact on yield (Mg ha-1)
Annual crops
lt 0 to 450 140 to 1140 -1.5
to -0.5
Perennial crops
320 to 1100 -1050 to -200
5
25
The future of farming perennial and diverse

SPRING
Regrowing from their deep roots, perennial crops
get a head start in spring as soon as the soils
are warm enough and the sun is shining.
Evaporation and transpiration
Runoff
Gulf of Mexico
26
The future of farming perennial and diverse

Soil, water and nutrient losses are greatly
reduced resulting in reduced needs for costly
inputs.
SPRING
Fertilizers
Soil and nutrients
Gulf of Mexico
27
The future of farming perennial and diverse

Perennial systems are more resilient in the face
of environmental stress and yields are more
stable from one year to the next.
SUMMER
Soil and nutrients
Gulf of Mexico
28
The future of farming perennial and diverse

FALL
And although fields will be harvested, plant
roots and stubble will remain alive and ready for
the next spring.
Gulf of Mexico
29
Green Lands, Blue Waters

Winter cover crops
Perennial-based rotation systems
Permanent pasture systems
Tree crops
30
Green Lands, Blue Waters

Perennial biomass energy crops
perennial maize
Perennial grain crops
perennial sunflowers
perennial wheat
perennial sorghum