02.

AGROECOSYSTEM CONCEPT
 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 Organisme Populasi

Sistem Sistem Sistem Sistem Ekosistem

Gambar. Spektrum Ekologi

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
Productivity High Low
Species diversity Low High
(monoculture)—
can use crop
rotation and
intercropping to
stabilize more
Genetic diversity Low High
within species
Plant life-cycles Few All, more
present perennial
Competition Negative Tolerable
(ecological niche)
Flowering, plant Synchronized Seasonal
maturing
Nutrient Cycles Open Closed
Permanence Short Long
Human Control High Low
Ecological Maturity Early, immature Mature, climax
 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 Possibility of dormancy,
seed delayed germination
(carryover)
Uniform soils Variable soil types
Uniform population age, Diverse population age,
genetics genetics
Even spacing within species Variable spacing within
species
High allocation of plant Allocation to seed production
resources to reproduction may be lower
(seed)
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 and 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