Crop diversification in Idaho's Magic Valley: the present and the imaginary

Kaitlyn Spangler1, Emily K Burchfield2, Claudia Radel3

  • 1Department of Geography, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA USA.

Agronomy for Sustainable Development
|October 18, 2022
PubMed
Summary

Farmers in Idaho use crop rotations and cover cropping for diversification. However, structural constraints hinder the adoption of more diverse, agroecological farming practices, despite their potential benefits for environmental health.

Related Concept Videos

Responses to Drought and Flooding02:41

Responses to Drought and Flooding

Water plays a significant role in the life cycle of plants. However, insufficient or excess of water can be detrimental and pose a serious threat to plants.
10.8K
Water and Mineral Acquisition02:34

Water and Mineral Acquisition

Specialized tissues in plant roots have evolved to capture water, minerals, and some ions from the soil. Roots exhibit a variety of branching patterns that facilitate this process. The outermost root cells have specialized structures called root hairs that increase the root surface, thus increasing soil contact. Water can passively cross into roots, as the concentration of water in the soil is higher than that of the root tissue. Minerals, in contrast, are actively transported into root cells.
33.4K