Document: ODU-3-514-199

Importance of long-term ecological studies: Lessons from Horseshoe Bend.

ODUM, E.P.*

University of Georgia, Athens , GA USA 1

Abstract:
Since levels of organizations above that of the individual lack homeostatic set-point controls, systems functions at the ecosystem, landscape and regional levels pulse under the influence of positive and negative feedback and weather cycles, often within wide limits. Therefore studies at these holistic levels must be long-term since any year or short span of years may be atypical. At an area known locally as Horseshoe Bend at the University of Georgia, ecologists and agronomists have been working together now for 20 years in a comparison of conventional tillage and no tillage crop systems involving winter-spring cover crops followed by summer cash crops in experimental mesocosms. Over the years, there has been no consistent difference in yield, but consistent differences in food webs and tropho-dynamics, soil structure, soil organic matter and biodiversity of soil and litter organisms have persisted with a decrease in soil erosion and an increase in soil quality in the no-till systems.

Keywords: tillage,food webs,soil

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This abstract is being presented at: 11:15 AM in session:
Symposium # 14: Ecology and Agriculture.