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Chapter 20 Rainfed Farming Systems in the USA
United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications
  • Alan Franzluebbers, USDA-ARS
  • Jean L. Steiner, USDA-ARS
  • Doug Karlen, USDA-ARS
  • Tim Griffin, Tufts University
  • Jeremy Singer, USDA-ARS
  • Don Tanaka, USDA-ARS
Date of this Version
1-1-2011
Citation

P. Tow et al. (eds.), Rainfed Farming Systems, DOI 10.1007/978-1-4020-9132-2_20

Abstract

This chapter describes characteristics of four major rainfed farming regions and systems in the USA: Great Plains wheat-sorghum-cattle; midwestern corn-soybean-hogs, southern cotton-peanut-poultry, and coastal diversified cropsdairy. Rainfed farming systems in the USA are highly productive, economically important, ecologically diverse and technologically driven. Management approaches to achieve resource efficiency and agricultural sustainability are described, including the use of improved genetic seed sources, crop rotations, appropriate fertiliser application techniques, conservation tillage and integrated crop-livestock production systems. Issues of increasing oil and fertiliser prices, sustainability of soil and water resources, and climate change are current challenges facing agriculture in the USA.

Citation Information
Alan Franzluebbers, Jean L. Steiner, Doug Karlen, Tim Griffin, et al.. "Chapter 20 Rainfed Farming Systems in the USA" (2011)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/douglas_karlen/30/