Integrated Crop-Animal Systems - Agroecology Flashcards

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering the roles of animals in agroecosystems, emergy analysis, and integrated management systems like Rice-Duck-Azolla-Fish and Holistic Management.

Integrated Crop-Animal Systems

An agroecological approach where sustainability depends on re-integrating animals and crops to create synergisms.

Ruminant Animal

A type of herbivore that converts plant energy into animal protein, work, and manure using a specialized multi-compartment digestive system.

Rumen

One of the major compartments of the ruminant digestive system used for breaking down plant matter.

Abomasum

The compartment of the ruminant digestive system often referred to as the true stomach.

Management Intensive Rotational Grazing (MIRG)

An integrated system where pastures are subdivided into paddocks using movable electric fences to allow for resting and recovery periods.

Rice-Duck-Azolla-Fish

A sustainably integrated system that mimics a pond and provides multiple sources of fertility and animal protein.

Emergy Yield Ratio (EYR)

A metric used in emergy analysis calculated by the formula EYR = rac{Y}{F}.

Environmental Loading Ratio (ELR)

A metric used in emergy analysis calculated by the formula ELR = rac{F+N}{R}.

Sustainability Index (SI)

A measure of sustainability in production systems calculated as SI = rac{EYR}{ELR}.

Emergy Footprint Ratio (EFR)

A metric used in emergy analysis calculated by the formula EFR = rac{Y}{R}.

Beech Grove Farm

A farm run by Eric and Anne Nordell in Trout Run, PA, known for Bio-Extensive Market Farming and horse-drawn cultivation.

S&S Homestead

A $50$-acre biodynamic farm on Lopez Island, Washington, run by Hemming Sehmsdorf and Elizabeth Simpson.

Transformity of beef

Calculated for the S&S Homestead beef production system as $7.90 imes 10^{5} ext{ sej/J}$.

Silvopasture

A type of agroforestry system that integrates trees and the grazing of livestock.

Agro-silvo pastoralism

An agroforestry system that combines crops, trees, and the raising of livestock.

Anabaena azollae

A blue-green algae that has a mutualistic relationship with Azolla and fixes Nitrogen ($N$) for the plant.

Azolla

A plant used in rice paddies that fixes Nitrogen ($N$), adds oxygen to water, and suppresses weed growth by blocking sunlight.

Aigamo Ducks

Ducks that perform weeding, remove insect pests, add manure, and aerate water in integrated rice farming.

F-Effect

A mechanism in duck paddy fields involving grooming, paddling, and eating that leads to healthy roots and grainy soil.

Dehesa System

A traditional integrated crop-animal production system mentioned as an example of agro-pastoral management.

Carbon sequestration

An ecosystem service provided by integrated systems through the building of soil organic matter.

Holistic Management (Mexico Study)

A study in Chiapas found these ranches had deeper A horizons ($29 ext{ cm}$ vs $18 ext{ cm}$) and higher cattle density ($203$ vs $58$) than conventional ranches.

Earthworm presence

is an indicator of healthy soil, enhancing soil structure, nutrient cycling, and moisture retention.

Huangba Village Cooperative

A cooperative that increased rice yield from $16.2$ tons to $80$ tons by introducing ducks into paddies.

Bioturbation

Biological activity, such as duck movement in rice paddies, that increases $CH_{4}$ oxidation and oxygen diffusion in the soil.