Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-gb8f7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T12:18:24.006Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Information requirements of reduced-chemical production methods

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 1991

William Lockeretz
William Lockeretz*
Affiliation:
Research Associate Professor, School of Nutrition, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155.
Get access

Abstract

Systems that reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides are commonly said to do so by greater use of information and ecological understanding. However, this plausible proposition has not received much empirical examination. Different possible roles of information have not been clearly differentiated: in the development of new methods, in the farmer's decision whether to adopt them, and in their continued use. Also, the additional work that might be needed to handle information in reducedchemical systems often is not distinguished from the need for greater management ability. Typical procedures for evaluating the performance of alternative systems do not give enough attention to farmers' management ability and use of information. This is also true for research on conventional systems, even though in such systems information and management are not usually considered to have such a critical role.

Keywords

reduced-chemical systemsagroecologyfarmers' management abilityfertilizersinsecticidesirrigationsoil testinginsect scoutingresearch methods
Type
Article Commentary
Information
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture , Volume 6 , Issue 2 , June 1991 , pp. 97 - 103
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Adkisson, P. L., and Dyck, V. A.. 1980. Resistant varieties in pest management systems. In Maxwell, F. G. and Jennings, P. R. (eds.). Breeding Plants Resistant to Insects. John Wiley and Sons, New York, New York. pp. 233–251.Google Scholar
2. Coleman, E. 1985. Toward a new McDonald's farm. In Edens, T. C., Fridgen, C., and Battenfield, S. L. (eds.). Sustainable Agriculture and Integrated Farming Systems. Michigan State University Press, East Lansing, Michigan, pp. 50–55.Google Scholar
3. Danbom, D. B. 1979. The Resisted Revolution: Urban America and the Industrialization of Agriculture, 1900–1930. Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa.Google Scholar
4. Danbom, D. B. 1986. The agricultural experiment station and professionalization: Scientists' goals for agriculture. Agricultural History 60(2):246–255.Google Scholar
5. Edwards, C. A. 1987. The concept of integrated systems in lower input/sustainable agriculture. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 2(4):148–152.Google Scholar
6. Francis, C. A. 1990. Practical applications of low-input agriculture in the Midwest. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 45(1):65–67.Google Scholar
7. Francis, C. A., and King, J. W.. 1988. Cropping systems based on farm-derived, renewable resources. Agricultural Systems 27:67–75.Google Scholar
8. Harwood, R. R. 1985. The integration efficiencies of cropping systems. In Edens, T. C., Fridgen, C., and Battenfield, S. L. (eds.). Sustainable Agriculture and Integrated Farming Systems. Michigan State University Press, East Lansing, Michigan, pp. 64–75.Google Scholar
9. Lockeretz, W. 1985. U.S. organic farming: What we can and cannot learn from on-farm research. In Edens, T. C., Fridgen, C., and Battenfield, S. L. (eds.). Sustainable Agriculture and Integrated Farming Systems. Michigan State University Press, East Lansing, Michigan, pp. 96–104.Google Scholar
10. Lockeretz, W. 1991. The organization and coverage of research on reduced use of agricultural chemicals. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 36:217–234.Google Scholar
11. Lockeretz, W., and Madden, P.. 1987. Midwestern organic farming: A ten-year followup. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 2(2):57–63.Google Scholar
12. Pimentel, D., Culliney, T. W., Buttler, I. W., Reinemann, D. J., and Beckman, K. B.. 1989. Low-input sustainable agriculture using ecological management practices. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 27:3–24.Google Scholar
13. Sailer, R. I. 1979. Use of biological control agents. In Ennis, W. B. Jr., (ed.). Introduction to Crop Protection. American Society of Agronomy and Crop Science Society of America, Madison, Wisconsin, pp. 139–151.Google Scholar
14. Stinner, B. R., and House, G. J.. 1987. Role of ecology in lower-input, sustainable agriculture: An introduction. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 2(4): 146–147.10.1017/S0889189300009243Google Scholar
15. van Lenteren, J. C. 1988. Implementation of biological control. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 3(2–3):102–109.Google Scholar
16. Wagstaff, H. 1987. Husbandry methods and farm systems in industrialised countries which use lower levels of external inputs: A review. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 19:1–27.Google Scholar
17. Walters, D. T., Mortensen, D. A., Francis, C. A., Elmore, R. W., and King, J. W.. 1990. Specificity: The context of research for sustainability. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 45(1):55–57.Google Scholar