The Long-Term Systems Studies were established in 2001 by Dr. Fred Allen at two University of Tennessee AgResearch and Education Centers. The experiments examined the interaction of cover crops, crop rotations, and application of poultry litter on crop yields, soil health, and cropping system profitability under no-tillage conditions. The cropping systems are representative of producers in the region and the two locations vary in soil types and physiographic regions. The overall goal is to determine best management practices that optimize economic and environmental benefits of cropping systems.

Producer relevance

The experiment represents cash-grain production systems. The majority of producers in the area would employ the simplest crop rotation (control). Innovative producers in the area would employ the most complex crop rotation.

Expected benefits

Experimental treatments were selected to be: carbon-building, cost-effective, use fewer external inputs, no-tillage, and soil health-building.

Local stressors

The expected climate change-related stressors in the area are: atmospheric conditions (e.g., short-lived climate pollutants, dust), droughts, heat, extreme precipitation events, floods, increased incidence of pests, seasonal temperature changes, and shifting rainfall patterns.