Barriers to implementing climate resilient agricultural strategies: The case of crop diversification in the U.S. Corn Belt
Barriers to implementing climate resilient agricultural strategies: The case of crop diversification in the U.S. Corn Belt
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DOI：
10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2017.12.002
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发表时间：
2018
影响因子：
8.9
通讯作者：
G. Roesch-McNally;J. Arbuckle;J. Tyndall
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
G. Roesch-McNally;J. Arbuckle;J. Tyndall
种植系统多样性可以通过抑制昆虫、杂草和疾病压力，同时减轻极端和更多变天气的影响，帮助建立更强的农业生态系统抵御能力。尽管种植制度多样性有潜在的好处，但在美国玉米带，很少有农民使用多样化的轮作。本研究通过平行融合混合方法，对玉米带农民调查数据（n = 4,778）和深度访谈（n = 159）进行多层次分析，探讨了可能影响美国玉米带农民决定使用更多样化作物轮作的因素。我们进行了分析，以回答影响农民在集约化玉米种植系统中使用延长轮作的因素，并探讨玉米带的农民是否可能为了应对气候变化而使用延长轮作。研究结果表明，该地区与集约化玉米种植系统相关的路径依赖限制了农民整合更多样化作物轮作的能力。然而，在更多样化的流域，那些种植边缘土地的农民和那些有牲畜的农民更有可能使用延长的轮作。此外，目前使用更多样化轮作的农民也更有可能计划将作物轮作作为一项气候变化适应战略。除了减少与工业化农业生产相关的负面影响外，如果想要更多样化的种植系统来减少气候风险，那么必须进一步努力促进美国玉米带更多样化的作物轮作。这可以通过调整目前阻碍该地区种植制度多样性的政策和经济激励措施来实现。
Cropping system diversity can help build greater agroecosystem resilience by suppressing insect, weed, and disease pressures while also mitigating effects of extreme and more variable weather. Despite the potential benefits of cropping systems diversity, few farmers in the US Corn Belt use diverse rotations. This study examines factors that may influence farmers’ decisions to use more diversified crop rotations in the US Corn Belt through a parallel convergent mixed methods approach, using a multi-level analysis of Corn Belt farmer survey data (n = 4,778) and in-depth interviews (n = 159). Analyses were conducted to answer questions regarding what factors influence farmers’ use of extended crop rotations in intensive corn-based cropping systems and to explore whether farmers in the Corn Belt might use extended crop rotations in response to climatic changes. Findings suggest that path dependency associated with the intensive corn-based cropping system in the region limits farmers’ ability to integrate more diverse crop rotations. However, farmers in more diversified watersheds, those who farm marginal land, and those with livestock are more likely to use extended rotations. Additionally, farmers who currently use more diverse rotations are also more likely to plan to use crop rotations as a climate change adaptation strategy. If more diverse cropping systems are desired to reduce climate risks, in addition to reducing the negative impacts associated with industrial agricultural production, then further efforts must be made to facilitate more diverse crop rotations in the U.S. Corn Belt. This may be achieved by adjusting policy and economic incentives that presently discourage cropping system diversity in the region.