James M. Krall

Long-term farming systems research in the central High Plains

In recent decades, there has been growing interest among farming and scientific communities toward integrated crop– range–livestock farming because of evidence of increased crop production, soil health, environmental services and resilience to increased climatic variability. This paper reviews studies on existing cropping systems and integrated crop– range–livestock systems across the USA which are relevant in the context of summarizing opportunities and challenges associated with implementing long-term crop–range–livestock systems research in the highly variable environment of the central High Plains. With precipitation ranging from 305 to 484mm and uncertain irrigation water supply, this region is especially vulnerable to changing moisture and temperature patterns. The results of our review indicate that diverse crop rotations, reduced soil disturbance and integrated crop–livestock systems could increase economic returns and agroecosystem resilience. Integrating agricultural system components to acquire unique benefits from small- to mediumsizedoperations,however,isachallengingtask.Thisisbecauseassessmentandidentificationofsuitablefarmingsystems, selection of the most efficient integration scheme, and pinpointing the best management practices are crucial for successful integration of components. Effective integration requires development of evaluation criteria that incorporate the efficiency of approaches under consideration and their interactions. Therefore, establishing the basis for more sustainable farming systems in the central High Plains relies on both long-term agricultural systems research and evaluation of short-term dynamics of individual components.

Utilization of spatial decision support systems decision-making in dryland agriculture

FSAW delineated Wyoming agricultural land into relative ranks for burclover establishment.Defuzzification produced final output map with crisp scores and calculated centroid.Calculated centroid map demonstrated efficacy of SDSS in agricultural decision-making.Effective land suitability ranking validated value of ex-ante agricultural technologies.Presented information has potential to determine burclover feasibility in Wyoming. Integrated Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial decision support systems (SDSS) methods are important for relative ranking of suitability of agricultural land. This case study was conducted at the University of Wyoming in 2007 to demonstrate viability of integrated GIS and SDSS methods as useful ex-ante assessment technologies to help rank relative suitability of Wyoming agricultural land for optimum establishment of Laramie Tifton burclover Medicago rigidula (L.) Allioni in the Central High Plains agricultural region. The study uses fuzzy set logic methods and implements the fuzzy simple additive weighting (FSAW) method through modeling in GIS raster to analyze Wyoming States agricultural land use, and the identified suitability attributes for optimum burclover establishment; the long-term summer diurnal temperature flux, September-October precipitation, and April-July precipitation. Further, the study uses one of the two categories of multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) known as multiple attribute decision making (MADM), to combine the range of each attributes possible suitability values in meaningful ways that allow suitability criteria to be evaluated on the basis of low, medium, and high suitability for optimum burclover establishment. The inverse distance weighting (IDW) interpolation technique interpolated the point shape files of the identified suitability attributes and produced surface maps that allowed characterization of long-term summer diurnal temperature flux and seasonal precipitation for the State of Wyoming. The fuzzy additive weighting and defuzzification methods transformed data from different sources into useful information that can be effectively used to enhance decision making in agriculture. Finally, defuzzification transformed fuzzy scores into useful crisp scores and produced the final output map with calculated centroid. The resulting calculated trapezoidal centroid map with useful crisp scores from transformed disparate fuzzy data demonstrates that spatial suitability analysis can be used effectively to enhance decision making in agricultural planning and management. Likewise, the effective ranking of relative suitability of Wyoming agricultural land for optimum establishment of Laramie Tifton burclover validates the value of using fuzzy set logic and additive weighting approaches for ex-ante assessment of the potential suitability of agricultural technologies.

Depth of Sowing for “Laramie” Medic (Medicago rigidula) Seedlings Emergence

Sound sowing practices for “Laramie” medic (Medicago rigidula [L.] Allioni) are needed in the U.S. Central High Plains to ensure its successful establishment. The objective of this study was to investigate the optimum depth of seed sowing for Laramie medic seedlings emergence in comparison with alfalfa (M. sativa L.) and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings emergence. Results showed alfalfa and medic had significantly greater percent emergence from the top 0 to 20 and 10 to 30 mm sowing depths, respectively, while winter wheat had significantly greater emergence from the top 10 to 60 mm sowing depths. This study found the optimum sowing depth for Laramie medic seedling emergence to be in the range of 10 to 30 mm with varying peaks within the range depending on moisture availability.