Geoderma 105 2002.

155166
www.elsevier.comrlocatergeoderma

Land use and sustainability: FAM Research

Network on Agroecosystems
c
,
P. Schroder
a,) , B. Huber b, U. Olazabal
b, A. Kammerer

J.C. Munch a
a

Institute of Soil Ecology, GSF-National Research Center for Enironment and Health,
D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
b
Institute of Soil Science, Technical Uniersity of Munich,
D-85350 Freising Weihenstephan, Germany
c
Alfred Topfer
Akademie fur

Naturschutz (NNA), D-29640 Schneerdingen, Germany

Abstract
Improving information about agroecosystems, developing future strategies for environmentally
compatible land use, and achieving agricultural productivity and sustainability under one umbrella
are the main goals of the FAM Research Network on Agroecosystems. Scientists of various
disciplines study these topics on a 150 ha research farm. The Research Station Scheyern Bavaria,
Germany. has been leased for 15 years, and is divided into two farming programs: an organic and
an integrated crop production. The researchers record, evaluate and forecast management-induced
changes of this agrarian ecosystem and its environment. They seek indicators for sustainable land
use and model processes at the field level, the farm level and, whenever possible, at the landscape
level. q 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Environmental damages; Agriculture; Sustainable land use; Ecosystem research;
Agroecosystems; Long-term research

1. Introduction
Agriculture has to nourish the population and provide plant and animal
resources for secondary industry. Utilizing land for effective agricultural production, farming assures the economic existence of individual farms and the rural
community. This provokes conflicts with other land use demands such as
industrial, transportation and housing development, the production of drinking
)

Corresponding author. Fax: q49-89-3187-3382.

E-mail address: peter.schroeder@gsf.de P. Schroder
..

0016-7061r02r$ - see front matter q 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
PII: S 0 0 1 6 - 7 0 6 1 0 1 . 0 0 1 0 1 - X

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water or preservation of natural resources for recreation and wildlife refuges. In

the national and global exchange systems, Germany is among the world-leading
net import nations of food, in spite of having fertile soils, favorable climate and
surplus agricultural production in some areas. Only these food transfers from
abroad allow agricultural production below yield optima, a high rate of meat
consumption and the loss by impermeabilization of 490 ha of arable land every
week which could nourish approximately 1000 people. .
All forms of agriculture cause changes in the balances and fluxes of the
preexisting ecosystem, thereby limiting self-regulatory ecosystem resiliency.
functions. The intensive agriculture of the past, with its strong reduction of
landscape structures and vast decoupling of energy and matter cycles, has
caused stress and degradation of the production basis; massive influence has also
been exerted on neighboring compartments. This has resulted in the well-known
problems of pesticide loads, high phosphate loads to surface waters via overfertilized soils or erosion, as such. To overcome the economic, social and political
inadequacies leading to ecological degradation, the demand for sustainable
agricultural management needs to be transposed into knowledge-based practical
instructions and political regulations on a regional scale. Thus, applied research
for a sustainable and ecologically compatible land use aimed at sufficient food
production is ever so important.
Leading up to the 1980s, most of the agroecosystem research had been
concerned with yield effects and yield optimization on a field scale, and with
matter dynamics in small watersheds. This approach gave short to midterm
results from implemented land use systems. Therefore, as the FAM Research
Network on Agroecosystems was founded in 1989, the discussion regarding
ways to minimize environmental damage caused by agricultural production
lacked a fundamental understanding of long-term ecosystem processes and their
interaction with economic and technical compulsions. A favored solution at that
timefrom an ecological perspectivewas the reduction of agricultural intensity by either setting aside land, implementing organic farming or extensive
agriculture. At the same time and becoming increasingly important, integrated
crop production systems have been suggested as a means towards sustainable
and resource-conserving agriculture.
The overall aim of FAM is to establish guidelines for an ecologically
compatible, site adequate and sustainable management of rural landscapes, while
maintaining high productivity levels. Our agroecosystem-oriented, interdisciplinary research aims to assess, record, forecast and evaluate the time course of
the environmental and socio-economic impacts of management-induced changes
on different structural and scale levels Table 1. .
The FAM project was co-founded by the GSF-National Research Center for
Environment and Health and the Technical University of Munich, and was
planned for a total runtime of 15 years at the Research Station Scheyern. The
research station, 150 ha in size, is a landscape section of the Bavarian country-

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Table 1
Experimental levels studied by the FAM Research Network on Agroecosystems
Level

Description

Landscape

tertiary hills, district of PfaffenhofenrIlm 400 km2 .,

Southern Bavaria, Germany
Research Station Scheyern 150 ha.
organic farming 68 ha., integrated crop production 46 ha.
between 2 and 7 ha on the Research Station Scheyern
16600 m2
exposure chambers, monolith lysimeter, pure green house,
model ponds 0.110 m2 .
cultures of organisms, soil aggregates, minirhizotrons,
microcosms 0.010.1 m2 .

Landscape section
Farm
Field
Plot
Model ecosystem
Laboratory systems

side and is under study by approximately 30 scientific groups. The project time
is divided into several phases. A review of the first project phase, occurring
between 1990 and 1992 is provided in Tenhunen et al. 2000. .
This GEODERMA Special Issue presents selected research papers from the
phase 19931998, a small subset of the wide range of topics encompassing the
FAM project: farming and economic aspects, biodiversity and effects on flora
and fauna, impacts on soil, water and air, and process modeling. Further
information on the FAM project is also available in the World Wide Web under:
http:rrfam.weihenstephan.de FAM Data base..
2. FAM hypotheses
The FAM has defined three central hypotheses Table 2. . These hypotheses
call for a holistic approach, including information on farming, energy and matter
Table 2
The three central hypotheses of the FAM Research Network on Agroecosystems
If land is cultivated according to the principles
of sustainability and ecological compatibility

Hypothesis

Adjoining systems will not be exposed to

excessive quantities of carbon and nitrogen
compounds and xenobiotics
The diversity of plant, animal and microbial
organisms and their communities will increase
and rare species will be able to establish
sustainable populations
The economical efficiency of the resources
required for the production of food will be
increased, and the quality of products will be
maintained at a high level

I. Land use can conserve or reestablish

ecosystem control functions
II. Land use can conserve or reestablish
habitat functions

III. Land use can conserve or reestablish

economical and ecological productivity

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fluxes in the agroecosystem as well as to adjoining ecosystems. Instruments

sensitive enough to detect and quantify early stage site-specific system changes
with sufficient accuracy to forecast future development and spatial distribution
need to be developed. Hence, it becomes increasingly important to set up
instruments which can be transferred to other systems, as well as allowing for an
economical and ecological evaluation of encountered changes.

3. FAM study area

3.1. Research Station Scheyern
The FAM project is carried out at the Research Station Scheyern, a 150 ha
cloister estate located 40 km north of Munich in southern Bavaria. Scheyern is
situated at an altitude of 445498 m above sea level in the tertiary hills, a
landscape demonstrating typical problems associated with intensive agricultural
use, such as erosion, soil compaction, groundwater contamination, impoverishment of flora and fauna, and having only few existing hedges and fallow stripes.
3.2. Climate and soil characteristics
Average annual precipitation in the Scheyern area is 803 mm, mean annual
temperature is 7.4 8C. The Research Station Scheyern represents the boundary
between the loessloam clay ridge and the loess loam sand ridge tertiary
landscape clay contents varying from 90 to 450 g kgy1 . , whereby the tertiary
hilltops and eroded slopes are of sandgravelclay composition. However,
approximately 85% of the Research Station is covered by a thin - 2 m. loess
loam or by loess deposits, and the area is divided by three main valleys, two of
which bear a line of ponds.
3.3. Landscape history
The tertiary hills, located between the Pleistocene moraines of the alpine
glaciers and the Danube river, have coarse and fine-grained deposits originating
from the Upper Sweet Water Molasses and are largely covered by thin quaternary loess layers. The landscape is characterized by asymmetrical valleys shaped
by uneven loess deposition, solifluction and erosion. The natural habitat is
primarily composed of woodruff, oak and beech forests. Agricultural activities
in this area taking place since the younger stone age and, in particular, the
intensive agriculture of the last decades have resulted in a marked reduction of
forests, hedges, lynchets and buffer strips. The Bavarian Tertiary hills represent
one-third of Bavarias agricultural region and demonstrate the typical pressures
of intensive agriculture: compaction, erosion and overdressing, low nutrient

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efficiency, and subsequent pollution of surface and groundwater, as well as

impoverishment of flora and fauna.

4. FAM project phases

The Research Station Scheyern has been leased for a time period of 15 years,
divided into several phases: inventory phase 19901992. , landscape redesign
fallrwinter, 1992r1993., project phase 19931998. and future project phase
19992005..
4.1. Inentory phase (19901992)
The FAM project began with an inventory phase. During the 2-year preliminary period, the arable land Fig. 1. was uniformly cultivated with winter wheat
1991. and spring barley 1992. , according to the principles of conventional
farming. The aim of this phase was to record differences between the various
sites at the Research Station and to create uniform starting conditions for
subsequent project phases. A grid of 600 measuring points 50 = 50 m. was
established throughout the experimental sites, allowing an inventory of various
conditions and parameters. Information obtained at these grid points was used to
create a data base http:rrwww.gsf.derFAMradis.html. used by the FAM
research groups and for geo information systems GIS. . In addition, modern
mathematical methods such as geostatistics and pedotransfer functions enable
detailed maps of the entire Research Station.
4.2. Landscape redesign (fall r winter, 19921993)
Following the inventory phase, in fall 1992, partitioning of arable and
grassland was redefined, considering aspects of nature and resource conservation
Fig. 2.. Plot size was reduced and forest edges, hedges, field boundaries and
fallow grounds were created. As a countermeasure against erosion, buffer stripes
were created along brooks, ponds and on slopes, and grassland was established
in the river valley. The landscape was redesigned to 1. avoid fertilizer and
pesticide input into water bodies; 2. minimize erosion, water losses, soil
compaction, and fertilizer and pesticide overlapping on headlands; 3. enable
more site-specific farming; 4. reduce effort and expenses required for agricultural purposes; 5. enhance the net income and aesthetic value of the farms, and
the biodiversity fauna and flora.; and 6. improve the recreational function of
the landscape.
Furthermore, the central part of the Research Station farmland. was divided
along the main watershed into two farms: organic and integrated, each striving
for ecological and economical sustainability. At the northern part of the Re-

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Fig. 1. Research Station Scheyern before land use redesign in 1992.

Fig. 2. Research Station Scheyern after land use redesign in 1992.

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search Station, a 39 ha plot was further sub-divided into experimental plots to

conduct detailed studies on management-induced changes Figs. 3 and 4. .
The field size was reduced to cut erosive slope lengths and facilitate
site-specific farming. Fallow strips between 3 and 15 m wide. were reintroduced between fields field margins. and along adjoining ecosystems surface
water and woods. to increase wildlife refuges and buffer capacity. Hedges were
planted with indigenous species or implemented as dead wood pilings. Dams
were erected to stop runoff at field borders. Steep arable land was transferred
into grassland or set-aside for succession permanent fallows. . Grassland seeds
were enriched with meadow species, and grazing intensity was reduced at very
wet or dry sites.
4.3. Project phase (19931998)
After landscape redesign, different managing approaches of organic farm and
integrated crop production began, and trial plots in the northern part of the
Research Station Scheyern were set up for detailed studies Figs. 3 and 4. .
Permanent monitoring was possible by broad measurement equipment; processes
were analyzed causally. About 30 subprojects deal with several topics: e.g. soil
properties and erosion, water and matter fluxes, crop plants, security of yield,
plant nutrition, xenobiotics, diversity of flora and fauna, economic aspects,
social acceptance, and modeling and forecasting. In this phase, the main focus
was to evaluate the economical and ecological changes induced by the different
management systems. To reach this aim, indicators were sought and validated.
In short, our investigations led to the following results, concerning the three
main hypotheses:
Hypothesis 1. Land use can conserve or reestablish ecosystem control functions.
The changed management helped to reduce the transfer of C and N compounds, as well as xenobiotics to adjacent systems. Through conservation tillage
direct drilling, mulching, reduced axle loads. coupled with the new plot design,
soil loss was reduced and the soil pool of organic nitrogen in microbial biomass
was increased, in spite of reduced N-fertilization. Emissions of N2 O from arable
land remained high. Nitrate and phosphate transfers to surface and groundwater
were significantly reduced. In the studied aquatic ecosystem, high nitrate and
phosphate pools facilitate a high biomass macrophyte production. This biomass
production buffers 50% of the phosphate and 30% of the nitrate input.
Another stress from former land use is atrazine, which is still detected in
some groundwater and deposition samples, even though application has been
banned for several years. Of the applied pesticides, 0.10.2% were detected in
surface waters after 12 weeks following application. With sufficient rain, a
rapid movement in the soil was observed. Conservation tillage improved infiltra-

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tion capacities. As a side effect, the amount of interflow 60180 cm below

ground., a typical phenomenon in the tertiary hills and matter transport via
interflow, increased.

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Adapting and improving the geophysical procedures of ground-penetrating

radar and electromagnetic induction enabled the mapping of mean water and
clay contents in a high spatial resolution 5 = 5 m. . These data formed a basis
for the validation of spatially extrapolating models and precision farming.
Hypothesis 2. Land use can conserve or reestablish habitat functions.
Changing the production system according to the principles of a sustainable
and ecologically compatible agriculture helped to increase the diversity of plant,
animal and microbial communities. For the soil fauna, clear reactions to the
changed management were indicated by an altered dominance structure of
collembola and an increase in earthworm biomass. The reduced pest control
efficacy in organic farming by the banning of chemical pesticides has led to an
increase in the abundance and species diversity of weeds. An increase in overall
abundance was also observed in the integrated crop production resulting from
reduced tillage increase in the surface diaspore pool and increased germination. .
In the integrated crop production, increased competition by weeds was successfully encountered with an adaptation of herbicide applications. This, in turn, led
to a significant decrease in rare and endangered species. An increased biodiversity was observed for several faunal groups.
Hypothesis 3. Land use can conserve or reestablish the economical and
ecological productivity.
It was verified that sustainable and environmentally friendly land use requires
sparing the employment of natural resources. Especially the resources soil and
water were significantly saved by the changed land use methods. At the same
time, the input of energy per ton of wheat was diminished, although weed
control efforts increased dramatically. Both production systems have thus been
shown to be economically sustainable.
Energy inputs in the integrated crop production are highly influenced by
mineral fertilization. N-fertilizer efficiency was increased by improving application strategies. Yield mapping with the aid of GPS revealed a high spatial
variability. Further improvements in N-efficiency with respect to these differences in yield potentials will be possible by utilizing precision farming.
Fig. 3. Research Station Scheyern after 1992. Management systems and permanent monitoring
equipment are shown.
Fig. 4. Research Station Scheyern after 1992. Management systems, field numbers, grid system,
.
and long-term observation areas are shown. A. Arable land, W. grassland, F. set-aside land, O
organic farming, trial plots, I. integrated farming, trial plots. The grid coordinates given as:
xxxryyy. allow to identify each point at the Research Station.

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4.4. Future project phase, from 1999 to 2003

In the project phase 19992003., the management of the organic and
integrated farms will continue as before. Monitoring of processes and conditions, recording of landscape redesign-induced changes and causal analysis of
processes will also be further carried out. Farming systems will be optimized by
precision farming. The establishment of indicators for sustainable land use is an
essential requirement for the evaluation methods. Lastly, models will be further
developed so as to enable forecasting of processes up to the landscape level.

5. Farming systemsorganic farm and integrated crop production

5.1. The organic farm
The goals of the organic farm are to establish closed nutrient and resource
cycles, on a 68.5 ha area having predominantly low sorption soils, following the
principles of organic farming according to Naturland and Bioland, which are
..
members of the German Association for Organic Farming AGOL
A seven-field crop rotation was set up on 31.5 ha of arable land with 1.
alfalfaclovergrass-meadow fixing N over 1.5 years, harvested as forage. ; 2.
seed potatoes with mustard intercropping: 3. winter-wheat with cover crop; 4.
sunflowers oil. with undersowing of alfalfaclovergrass-meadow; 5.
alfalfaclovergrass-meadow as forage; 6. winter wheat with white clover
undersowing; and 7. winter rye with undersowing of alfalfaclovergrassmeadow. The organic farm also has a 95-head cattle herd for meat production,
25 ha of grassland and 3.5 ha set-aside land, where succession occurs.
Sustainability is achieved by 1. banning mineral fertilizer and pesticides; 2.
minimizing external energy and matter supplies, minimizing damages to fauna
and flora, and minimizing matter exports to surface and groundwater; and 3.
optimizing N cycling in the crop rotation. Tillage intensity is reduced to a level
in which weed control and soil conservation efforts are balanced; plows are only
used when necessary. Wide tires and use of combines reduce both frequency and
impact of vehicular traffic. Mulching is implemented, cover crops and underseeds with diverse species conserve the soil, control weeds and enhance habitat
diversity. An important factor in organic farming is the selection of crop
varieties having a broad resistance against pests and being competitive to weeds.
Especially in the case of potatoes, resistance against Phytophtora infestans and
Colorado beetles represents a decisive factor. Manure is applied in appropriate
soil and weather conditions and immediately incorporated to minimize NH 3
volatilization losses.

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5.2. Integrated crop production

Integrated crop production is established on 46 ha having well-buffered soils.
The arable land 30 ha. is cultivated with a four-field crop rotation with cover
crops: 1. winter wheat; 2. potatoes; 3. winter wheat; and 4. maize. The
remaining area is used as grassland 1.8 ha. and as fallow land 8.8 ha. . Potatoes
and wheat are grown as cash crops; maize is used to feed 45 fattening bulls
living in neighboring farms. The slurry is brought back to the fields.
To achieve sustainability, integrated farming reduces tillage frequency and
intensity; moldboard plows are not used. Harrowing and chiseling are favored
methods in Scheyern. Wide tires and combines minimize soil compaction and
erosion. Cover crops, wheat and maize stubble mulch protect the soil surface,
and enhance soil faunal and microbial activity. Further tillage is avoided by
direct and no-till planting in mulch of the previous crop or cover crop. Leaching
is reduced by using crop varieties with a high ability to compete for nutrients,
water and light. Crop varieties exhibiting adequate resistance to the most
important diseases are preferred. Fertilizing strategies are optimized to the
plants needs and pesticides are not used for prevention pest threshold principle. but only when necessary.

6. Partners
The FAM Research Network on Agroecosystems is a cooperation between
the Agricultural Faculty of the Technical University of Munich in Freising
Weihenstephan and the GSF-National Research Center for Environment and
Health in MunichNeuherberg. Approximately 30 scientific groups collaborate
on this project.
The German Federal Ministry for Education and Research provides funding
for the FAM project, as a center of ecosystem research. The Bavarian State
Ministry for Research and the Arts pays the overhead costs and the agrarian
management of the Research Station Scheyern. The GSF-National Research
Center for Environment and Health in MunichNeuherberg and the Technical
University of Munich in FreisingWeihenstephan participate with their own
financial resources. FAM is part of the international ecological research program
Man and the Biosphere MaB. of the UNESCO United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization. .

Acknowledgements
We thank U. Weller for conceptualizing the maps of the Research Station
Scheyern.

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References
FAM Data base: http:rrwww.gsf.derFAMradis.html.
Tenhunen, J., Lenz, R.J.M., Hantschel, R., 2000. Ecosystem approaches to landscape management
in central Europe: Part III. Investigations in an agricultural catchment in the tertiary hills of
Southern Germany. Springer Ecological Studies, 147.