Perennial groundcover systems couple a high-yielding annual row crop with a perennial grass groundcover, such as bluegrass or fescue. In this low-tillage system, the PGC reduces soil erosion, builds soil carbon and soil health, increases water infiltration, and reduces nutrient export, making the overall system more resilient in a cost-effective manner.

Integrating PGC into row crop systems is the topic of the Iowa Learning Farms webinar at noon Dec. 16. Anyone interested in achieving soil and water conservation with large-scale, high-yield row crop production is encouraged to tune in.

More resilient and cost-effective

PGC systems couple a high-yielding annual row crop with a perennial grass groundcover, such as bluegrass or fescue. In this low-tillage system, the groundcover reduces soil erosion, builds soil carbon and soil health, increases water infiltration, and reduces nutrient export making the overall system more resilient in a cost-effective manner.

During the webinar, Cynthia Bartel, research scientist at the Iowa State University Biomass Cropping Systems Lab, will focus on the impact and applicability of PGC systems, on the status of research on PGC systems, and on the socioeconomic impact and policy strategies to move this system forward.

“Growing food and feed crops with perennial groundcovers can regenerate ecosystem services, conserve natural resources and improve crop productivity, which have been exceedingly challenging to collectively achieve in conventional agriculture,” she says. “The perennial groundcover approach recognizes existing market forces, infrastructure investments and the federal farm bill support structure, accounting for the groundswell of support for this system’s development.”

System being developed

 “This system has real potential, but it’s not ready for widespread application yet. Every partner in this work is critical for improving reliability and resiliency, and farmers and farmer-feedback are at the core of that work,” Bartel says.

Bartel specializes in the intersection of science and policy. She began working on perennial row-crop systems while earning her Ph.D. in crop production and physiology, previously serving as an agriculture, nutrition and trade senior policy adviser for seven years for a farm-state U.S. senator in Washington, DC.  

Webinar access instructions 

To participate in the live webinar, shortly before noon Dec. 16, click this URL, go to iastate.zoom.us/join and enter meeting with ID 364 284 172. Or call 312-626-6799 or 646-876-9923. The meeting ID is 364 284 172. 

The webinar will also be recorded and archived on the ILF website, so that it can be watched at any time. Archived webinars are available at iowalearningfarms.org/page/webinars. 

A certified crop adviser board-approved continuing education unit has been approved for those who are able to participate in the live webinar. Information about how to apply to receive the credit will be provided at the end of the live webinar. 

Source: ILF, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.