C8 - Agricultural systems research - Where can it take us?

William Clark, Professor, Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University; Rick Cruse, Professor, Agronomy, Iowa State University. Iowa State University College of Agriculture has initiated a research and extension program focusing on improving soil and water resources and associated landscapes through improving ecological function within existing agricultural systems. The project will work to design systems that make better use of ecological relationships to improve economic and/or resource use efficiencies. System performance indicators will include agroecological and hydrological function, nutrient utilization efficiencies, and economics.