Factors contributing to grassland implementation and multifunctionality at field, farm and community levels in Marion County, Iowa

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dc.contributor.author Wiltshire, Karie
dc.contributor.department Theses & dissertations (Interdisciplinary)
dc.date 2020-11-09T01:35:48.000
dc.date.accessioned 2021-02-26T09:01:56Z
dc.date.available 2021-02-26T09:01:56Z
dc.date.copyright Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 UTC 2005
dc.date.issued 2005-01-01
dc.description.abstract <p>Cow-calf operations in grass-based agricultural systems in Marion County, Iowa, are multifunctional in their provision of agronomic, ecological, economic and social uses. However, since 1992, pastureland and cow-calf operations have decreased, leading to a speculative loss of some beneficial functions. This study uses farming systems research and evaluation to investigate grassland multifunctionality at farm, field, and community levels. At the farm and community levels, themes from semi-structured interviews and with a focus group with cow-calf operators suggest that the relevance of profit from a cow-calf operation is mediated by a wide range of livelihood and lifestyle choices, and that operators have diverse criteria regarding the suitability of land for pasture. At the field level, on-farm research investigates the feasibility of a multifunctional pasture management strategy in response to the operator's need for an organically certifiable warm-season species paddock. The implementation of native grasses and legumes into fallow pasture without the use of herbicides under flash grazing, mowing, and unmanaged control treatments tests their differences in species establishment and pasture composition. After three seasons, no significant differences between grazing and mowing were evident in total seeded species establishment, but there was a trend toward greater native legume establishment in the control over the managed treatments. Total species abundance after three seasons of management significantly differed between each treatment, with the control bearing the highest species abundance. At the community level, policies rewarding field and farm diversity will facilitate greater support of grass-based systems from local institutions.</p>
dc.format.mimetype application/pdf
dc.identifier archive/lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/21005/
dc.identifier.articleid 22004
dc.identifier.contextkey 20115481
dc.identifier.doi https://doi.org/10.31274/rtd-20201107-562
dc.identifier.s3bucket isulib-bepress-aws-west
dc.identifier.submissionpath rtd/21005
dc.identifier.uri https://dr.lib.iastate.edu/handle/20.500.12876/98372
dc.language.iso en
dc.source.bitstream archive/lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/21005/Wiltshire_ISU_2005_W5585.pdf|||Fri Jan 14 22:34:02 UTC 2022
dc.subject.keywords Agronomy
dc.subject.keywords Sustainable agriculture
dc.title Factors contributing to grassland implementation and multifunctionality at field, farm and community levels in Marion County, Iowa
dc.type article
dc.type.genre thesis
dspace.entity.type Publication
thesis.degree.discipline Sustainable Agriculture
thesis.degree.level thesis
thesis.degree.name Master of Science
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