The Long-Term Agroecosystem Research Cropland Common Experiment at Northern Plains.

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Agronomy
• Ecology

Background:

• Northern Great Plains agriculture faces challenges from variable weather, intensification, and energy development.
• Sustainable practices are crucial for meeting future food, fuel, and fiber demands.
• A 30-year agroecosystem research experiment was established in 2019 near Mandan, ND.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate innovative cropland practices against prevailing methods.
• To assess the trade-offs of cover crop use and residue removal in dryland cropping systems.
• To foster collaborative research through knowledge co-production with stakeholders.

Main Methods:

• A 3-year crop rotation (spring wheat, corn, soybean) with and without cover crops was implemented.
• Prevailing practices included residue removal, while alternative practices included perennial forages.
• Biophysical measurements were collected at plot and field scales.

Main Results:

• The study is in its initial 6 years, focusing on data collection.
• Early findings will inform the identification of trade-offs between different management strategies.
• The experiment is designed to provide long-term data on agricultural system performance.

Conclusions:

• The research aims to identify sustainable agricultural practices for the Northern Great Plains.
• Cover crops and residue management show potential as alternative practices.
• Future research will integrate stakeholder knowledge for adaptive management.