AGROECOSYSTEM CONCEPT IN AGROECOLOGY

AGROECOSYSTEM CONCEPT IN AGROECOLOGY

The concept of the agroecosystem is based on ecological principles NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS

How ecosystems function:

1. Ecosystems have energy flows and ecosystems materials cycles.
2. Ecosystems have nutrient cycles

AGROECOSYSTEM VS. NATURAL ECOSYSTEM

Natural ecosystem is closed, or at least, unmanaged ecosystem

—  Closed ecosystem—all elements recycled through ecosystem—not often pure closed ecosystems anymore—humans frequently involved

Agroecosystem is an open ecosystem, or managed ecosystem:

—  Producer moves plants, animals, environmental factors (fertilizers, feed) in & out of ecosystem

—  Will not continue on its own without management

—  If left alone, would progress toward closed ecosystem, but probably not the same as original ecosystem before agriculture without human input again

Characteristics	Agroecosystem	Natural Ecosystem
Productivity	High	Low
Species diversity	Low (monoculture)—can use crop rotation and intercropping to stabilize more	High
Genetic diversity within species	Low	High
Plant life-cycles present	Few	All, more perennial
Competition	Negative	Tolerable (ecological niche)
Flowering, plant maturing	Synchronized	Seasonal
Nutrient Cycles	Open	Closed
Permanence	Short	Long
Human Control	High	Low
Ecological Maturity	Early, immature	Mature, climax