Agriculture and Agricultural Systems

Abstract

Crop Ecology deals with agricultural ecosystems that are manipulated by man to funnel the maximum energy into usable products (food and raw materials). Agricultural ecosystems show normally low biodiversity, low autonomy and a short trophic chain. The main features of farming systems are productivity, stability, resilience, and sustainability, the latter indicating the ability to maintain a certain level of production indefinitely. Production of agricultural systems requires inputs of matter, energy and information. Normally the economic optimum provision of inputs is below that necessary to achieve maximum production. Various parameters have been defined to characterize the productivity of agricultural systems (potential yield, attainable yield, actual yield).

Agricultural activity is characterized by uncertainty due to numerous environmental and economic factors. Faced with uncertainty, farmers’ decisions are focused on avoiding risk and that may lead to losing opportunities. To make rational decisions the farmer has access to many sources of information, ranging from their own experience to research/technology transfer. The current trend is to improve the acquisition, sources, and the use of information on the agricultural system for improved decision-making.