02.

AGROECOSYSTEM CONCEPT

AGROECOLOGY

What is an ecosystem, and how can we study

one?
Is the earth an open or closed system with
respect to energy and elements?
How do we define "biogeochemical cycles," and
how are they important to ecosystems?
What are the major controls on ecosystem
function?
What are the major factors responsible for the
differences between ecosystems?

Gen Sel Organ

Organisme Populasi Komunitas

Mineral/materi

Sel
Organ
Sistem Sistem

Organisme
Sistem

Populasi
Sistem

Gambar. Spektrum Ekologi

Ekosistem

Structural Properties of
Communities

Species Diversity
Dominance and Relative Abundance
Vegetative Structure
Trophic Structure
Stability

Components of
Ecosystem
ABIOTIC COMPONENTS

BIOTIC COMPONENTS

Sunlight

Primary producers

Temperature

Herbivores

Precipitation

Carnivores

Water or moisture

Omnivores

Soil or water chemistry (e.g., P, NH4+) Detritivores

etc.

etc.
All of these vary over space/time

Figure. Relationships within an ecosystem

Processes of Ecosystems

How ecosystems function:

ecosystems have energy flows and
ecosystems cycle materials.

Figure. Energy flows and material cycles.

Figure. Relationship between energy flow and nutrient cycle

Characteristics

Agroecosystem

Natural
Ecosystem

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

Productivity

Crop Populations

Natural Plant Population

(also true of weeds)

Seed brought in by producer

Seed produced mostly by

local plants

High seed viability

Variable seed viability

Uniform seed dispersal

Non-uniform seed dispersal

Low dormancy, carryover of

seed

Possibility of dormancy,
delayed germination
(carryover)

Uniform soils

Variable soil types

Uniform population age,

genetics

Diverse population age,

genetics

Even spacing within species

Variable spacing within

species

High allocation of plant

resources to reproduction
(seed)

Allocation to seed production

may be lower

Agroecosystem vs. natural

ecosystem

Natural ecosystem is closed, or at least,

unmanaged ecosystem
Closed ecosystemall elements recycled through

ecosystemnot 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

NUTRIENT CYCLING

Agroecosytem
Using the soil as a pool of nutrients:
Inputs:

Fertilizers
Crop residues
Atmosphere
Nitrogen fixation

Outputs:

Crops then removal from area

Erosion
Leaching

Run-off

NUTRIENT CYCLING

Natural Ecosystem:
Inputs:

Plant residue
Animal wastes
Animal residue
Atmosphere
Nitrogen fixation

Outputs:

Plants animals grazing on plants

Denitrification
Run-off
leaching