AUTHOR=Wepking Carl , Mackin Hunter C. , Raff Zach , Shrestha Debendra , Orfanou Anna , Booth Eric G. , Kucharik Christopher J. , Gratton Claudio , Jackson Randall D. 

TITLE=Perennial grassland agriculture restores critical ecosystem functions in the U.S. Upper Midwest

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

VOLUME=Volume 6 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainable-food-systems/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2022.1010280

DOI=10.3389/fsufs.2022.1010280

ISSN=2571-581X

ABSTRACT=Dominant forms of agricultural production in the U.S. Upper Midwest are undermining human health and well-being. Restoring critical ecosystem functions to agriculture is key to stabilizing climate, reducing flooding, cleaning water, and enhancing biodiversity. We used simulation models to compare ecosystem functions (food-energy production, nutrient retention, and water infiltration) provided by vegetation associated with continuous corn, corn-soybean rotation, and perennial grassland producing feed for dairy livestock. Compared to continuous corn, most ecosystem functions dramatically improved in the perennial grassland system (nitrate leaching reduced ~90%, phosphorus loss reduced ~88%, drainage increased ~25%, evapotranspiration reduced ~29%), which will translate to improved ecosystem services. Our results emphasize the need to incentivize multiple ecosystem services when managing agricultural landscapes.