Frank G. Dohleman, Ty J. Barten, Nicholas Helland, Subash Dahal, Juan Lopez Arrizia, Sarah Gehlhar, Charles Foresman, David Mack, Kelly Gillespie, Sotirios Archontoulis, Michael J. Castellano
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Increases in cereal crop yield per area have increased global food security. “Era” studies compare historical and modern crop varieties in controlled experimental settings and are routinely used to understand how advances in crop genetics and management affect crop yield. However, to date, no era study has explored how advances in maize (Zea mays L.) genetics and management (i.e., cropping systems) have affected environmental outcomes. Here, we developed a cropping systems era study in Iowa, USA, to examine how yield and nitrate losses have changed from “Old” systems common in the 1990s to “Current” systems common in the 2010s, and to “Future” systems projected to be common in the 2030s. We tested the following hypothesis: If maize yield and nitrogen use efficiency have improved over previous decades, Current and Future maize systems will have benefits to water quality compared to Old systems. We show that not only have maize yield and nitrogen use efficiency (kg grain kg−1 N), on average, improved over time but also yield-scaled nitrate load + soil nitrate was reduced by 74% and 91% from Old to Current and Future systems, respectively. Continuing these trajectories of improvement will be critical to meet the needs of a growing and more affluent population while reducing deleterious effects of agricultural systems on ecosystem services.
期刊介绍:
Articles in JEQ cover various aspects of anthropogenic impacts on the environment, including agricultural, terrestrial, atmospheric, and aquatic systems, with emphasis on the understanding of underlying processes. To be acceptable for consideration in JEQ, a manuscript must make a significant contribution to the advancement of knowledge or toward a better understanding of existing concepts. The study should define principles of broad applicability, be related to problems over a sizable geographic area, or be of potential interest to a representative number of scientists. Emphasis is given to the understanding of underlying processes rather than to monitoring.
Contributions are accepted from all disciplines for consideration by the editorial board. Manuscripts may be volunteered, invited, or coordinated as a special section or symposium.