Agricultural Systems: Ecology

Clive A Edwards, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA

Published online: April 2001

DOI: 10.1038/npg.els.0003250

Agricultural systems have four main inputs, cultivations, nutrients, crops and pest management, all of which are interlinked and influenced by each other. They are affected by land and water and energy availability and soil erosion. To achieve long-term agricultural sustainability, the need for fossil-fuel-based inputs should be minimized and the biological and ecological inputs maximized.

Keywords: agricultural systems; agro-ecology; sustainability resources; energy use

Figure 1. Main components of a crop production system.
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 References
    book Brown LR (1994) "Facing food insecurity". In: Brown LR et al. (eds) State of the World. World Watch Institute Report on Progress Toward a Sustainable Society 10, pp. 177–197. New York.
    book Dover M and Talbot LM (1987) To Feed the Earth: Agro-Ecology for Sustainable Development. Washington DC: World Resources Institute Report, 88.
    book Edwards CA (1994) "Pesticides as environmental pollutants". In: Ekström G (ed.) World Directory of Pesticide Control Organizations, 2nd edn. pp. 1–24. Cambridge, UK: Royal Society of Chemistry
    book Edwards CA and Pimentel D (2000) "Global aspects of agricultural sustainability". In: Burdyuzha V (ed.). The Future of the Universe and the Future of Civilization, pp. 280–290. Paris, France: UNESCO
    book Edwards CA, Grove TL, Harwood RR and Colfer CJP (1993) "The role of agroecology and integrated farming systems in agricultural sustainability". In: Edwards CA, Wali MK, Horn DJ and Miller F (eds) Agriculture and the Environment, pp. 99–122. Amsterdam: Elsevier
    book Gardner G (1996) Preserving agricultural resources. State of the World 1996, pp. 78–94. New York: World Watch Institute.
    book Pimentel D and Lehman H (eds.) (1993) The Pesticide Question: Environment, Economics and Ethics. New York and London: Chapman and Hall.
    book Pimentel D and Edwards CA (2000) "Agriculture, food, populations, natural resources and ecological integrity". In: Crabbe D and Westra L (eds) Implementing Ecological Integrity 25, pp. 377–398. Brussels: NATO
 Further Reading
    book Carroll CR, Vandermeer JH and Rosset PM (1990) Agroecology: Biological Resource Management Series, 641.
    book Edwards CA, Lal R, Madden P, Miller RH and Haise G (1990) Sustainable Agricultural Systems. Ankary, IA: Soil and Water Conservation Society.
    book Edwards CA, Wali MK, Horn DJ and Miller F (1993) Agriculture and the Environment. Amsterdam: Elsevier.
    book Gleissman SR (ed.) (2000) (Edwards CA (Series ed.)) Agroecosystem Sustainability: Developing Practical Strategies. Boca Raton. FL: CRC Press.
    book National Research Council (1989) Alternative Agriculture. Washington DC: National Academy Press.
    book National Research Council (1992) Sustainable Agriculture and the Environment in Humid Tropics. Washington DC: National Academy Press.

Related Sub-Topics:

Human Impacts | Conservation and Management
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Article Title: Agricultural Systems: Ecology
 
How to Cite close
Edwards, Clive A(Apr 2001) Agricultural Systems: Ecology. In: eLS. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester. http://www.els.net [doi: 10.1038/npg.els.0003250]