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Integrated Cropping Systems Trials (WICST) in Wisconsin, USA
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| Overview | Agroecoystems in southern Wisconsin are dominated by monoculture or simple rotations of corn and soybeans. This study researches the agronomic, economic, and ecological aspects of conventional high input systems and low-input rotations. |
| Scale | field, commercial farm, local region, bioregion |
| Location | Location description Southern Wisconsin (89 W, 43 N) 45 minutes west of Milwaukee and 30 minutes north of Madison |
| Elevation | 150 meters |
| Climate | Humid temperate (Db). 31-37 inches annual rainfall. l60-165 frost free days |
| Agricultural Region | Dairy Farming (L) |
| Population Density | 25-50 people/km |
| Principle Crops | Principal Crops Corn for grain (Zea mays), Alfalfa Hay (Medicago sativa), Corn for silage (Zea mays), Soybeans (Glycine max), and Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum) |
| Domestic Animals | Dairy cow |
| Soils | Soils (code), Udolls and Udalfs soil order, One site- Griswold Motttled Subsoil, Another site- Plano |
| Natural Vegetation | (G), Grass and other herbaceous plants |
| Ecoregion | (H1), Moderate Continental Province |
| Basic Principles addressed | Minimize Toxics, Conserve Resources, Manage Ecological Relationships, Diversify, Maximize Long-Term Benefits, Value Health |
| Page Author and Date | Caroline Brock, 2001 http://michaelfieldsaginst.org/ |
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The Wisconsin Integrated Cropping Systems Trials (WICST) were initiated in 1990 by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin Extension Service, and agronomists from the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute. Two sites were chosen to compare different cropping systems for productivity, profitability and environmental impact for research and educational purposes. High and low input forage and cash grain based systems were put into practice at (WICST) based on the initial hypothesis that system complexity was related to decreased reliance on external inputs. Low-input systems are treated in a similar way as organic crops but are not certified as such. The three cash grain rotations (no use of manure with grain yield sold off the farm) include (CS1) high-input conventional continuous corn, (CS2) medium-input no-till corn/soy rotation, and (CS3) low-input corn/soy wheat-red clover. The forage based system ( manure applied and grain used typically for internal farm usage) include (CS4) high input corn-alfalfa-alfalfa-alfalfa, (CS5) medium-input corn/alfalfa/oats-alfalfa and (CS6) and a low-input rotational grazed pasture system. One site is also experimenting with a Chem-Lite system that uses less fertilizer and pesticides than a conventional system. This site also includes a prairie treatment to study the process of establish soil on high quality soil as well as using the prairie as a natural systems model for the rest of the agroecosystem trials. |
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(1) Forage systems have higher gross margins than cash grain based systems (due to costs of drying and storage) (2) The order of profitability of gross margins is CS2, CS3 and CS1 illustrating that the highest input system (CS1) is relatively not an economic or ecologically efficient system (very low output/input ratio). CS3 had the highest output/input ratio and may have had more comparable gross margins if an organic premium was obtained. If the external costs of pesticides and fertilizers were calculated CS3 would be very competitive. (3) The low and high input forage systems are comparable to one another in economic profitability and output/input ratios. (4) Chem-lite systems are a good way for farmers to reduce chemical fertilizers and pesticides without risking significant yield losses (5) Preliminary results indicate greater corn root health in low input systems (CS3 and CS5) than in high input continuous corn(CS1) (6) Rotations led to higher yields in corn but exact mechanism is difficult to determine. Experiment is still in progress so lessons are still being learned. |
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Minimize Toxics WICST is experimenting with low-input cropping systems that reduce the use of potentially toxic pesticides. Conserve Resources Low-input cropping trials reduce the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. No-till cropping trials reduce the fuel necessary for tilllage. The Chem-Lite system is a compromise that conserves chemical pesticides and fertilizers to some degree. The Output/Input energy ratios for WICST are compared for resource efficiency. Manage Ecological Relationships University researchers are studying the abundance and diversity of arthropods, earthworms, mycorrhizae, soil microbes in different cropping systems. One site is able to use natural prairie restoration plots as an " ideal model" for agroecosystems trials in the maintenance of ecological relationships. Diversify Low input cropping systems are introducing crop diversity into a very low diversity regional agroecosystem. Southern Wisconsin agroecosystems are dominated by corn and soybeans. Maximize Long-Term Benefits Long-term agroecosystem health is studied (ie soil nitrates, biodiversity, earthworms etc) in addition to economic profit of the cropping system trial. Value Health The WICST trials are studying different aspects of soil and root health that are often discounted in agronomic research. The WICST trials also looking at the feasibility of cropping systems that reduce the use of toxic pesticides which can cause potential health problems for farm workers. |
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