Aplicación de la teoría ecológica a la solución de problemas agronómicos

Authors

  • María Semmartin IFEVA, Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. San Martín 4453, 1417 Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Carlos Di Bella IFEVA, Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. San Martín 4453, 1417 Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Agustín Grimoldi IFEVA, Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. San Martín 4453, 1417 Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Martín Oesterheld IFEVA, Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. San Martín 4453, 1417 Buenos Aires, Argentina

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to show the relation between ecology and agronomy. We particularly stress the importance of ecological knowledge as part of the professional education of agronomists. Agronomy studies agricultural systems in order to generate management techniques aimed at maximizing different objectives within the context of a limited environment. Ecology provides the framework for a better analysis of agricultural problems and a better underestanding of agroecosystems. We introduce two agricultural problems as examples: (1) grazing management in natural grasslands and (2) weed control in crop systems. In both situations, an ecological perspective allows to analyze agricultural problems at different scales, according to the hierarchies determined by different levels of organization. Regarding grazing management, it is very important to consider basic ecological concepts on individual plant response to defoliation, competition among species, demography, canopy structure, community species composition, and energy flow. In the case of weed control, we stress the importance of ecological concepts on invasion and perpetuation strategies of individual plants, population demography, and interspecific relations (largely competition) between weeds and crops and among different weeds. The use of these and many other ecological concepts becomes important for the optimal management of natural resources.

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Published

1993-06-01

How to Cite

Semmartin, M., Di Bella, C., Grimoldi, A., & Oesterheld, M. (1993). Aplicación de la teoría ecológica a la solución de problemas agronómicos. Ecología Austral, 3(1), 057–066. Retrieved from https://ojs.ecologiaaustral.com.ar/index.php/Ecologia_Austral/article/view/1718

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 1 (1993)

Section

Teaching tools

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