Ecosystem Processes and Services
The choices we make on our land have flow on effects within, between and beyond the different systems. The four ecosystem processes we will briefly explore here are the mineral cycle, the water cycle, solar energy flow and we will finish up with community dynamics.
The Mineral Cycle
There are three phases to the mineral cycle, which are 1) moving minerals from below the soil to above; 2) placing the minerals back down onto the soil surface and 3) returning the minerals from the soil surface to below the soil surface. When they are all working together the cycle is ‘effective’. Returning nutrients to the soil is essential in completing the cycle.
When we remove commodities from the land, we reduce the amount of available minerals in circulation. The integration of livestock and the composting of crop residue are two effective ways to transfer minerals back into the ground.
When we remove commodities from the land, we reduce the amount of available minerals in circulation. As part of our management, we need to find ways to improve the cycling of minerals on our land and look at ways to return minerals to the farm in an efficient and cost-effective way. On the farm there are a variety of ways to effectively keep minerals cycling on our land such as the integration of livestock to help keep plant material cycling back to the soil, maintaining crop residues and cropping systems that enhance nutrient cycling processes.
The Water Cycle
We learn about the water cycle from a young age, water evaporates and rises, we then get condensation and precipitation before water is collected and starts the cycle again.
However, the story is a little more complex and exciting than that. The effectiveness of rainfall depends on two characteristics of the soil surface: Firstly, it depends on the soil surfaces infiltration rate, does the water seep into the soil of simply runoff; and secondly, if the raindrops infiltrate the soil surface, do they quickly evaporate due to soil temperature or do they remain.
Keeping the soil covered is the best way to keep water in our landscapes. If we have bare ground, we allow the thousands of tiny drops to slowly compact our land.
This makes it harder for plants to germinate and allows for the residual water to accumulate on the soil surface and runoff before seeping into the soil where it’s needed taking valuable topsoil with it! Water that does manage to seep in is often lost due to the temperature of the soil as it’s interacting directly with the sun. If our landscapes have a layer of armour (vegetation, stubble etc), we create a barrier that covers the ground, helps stop compaction, and allows water to infiltrate into the soil.
Solar Energy Flow
Solar energy drives life on earth. Almost everything, either directly or indirectly, uses solar energy for food. Through photosynthesis, plants convert sunlight into a sugar called glucose. Glucose is used as an energy source to feed microbes to help plants grow. Energy collected by plants changes due to the time of year, leaf shape and structure and the plants physiology. The energy captured then flows through life on earth. Our ability to survive and thrive relies on our ability to capture as much of this energy as possible
Community Dynamics
If we look at the natural environment, everything is made up of diverse components and populations. Traditionally, we have studied biodiversity from a reductionist viewpoint, but this has restricted our view of the complexity that lies around us. Community dynamics covers the components of biodiversity, as well as the succession process, age structures and interactions between complex communities. Important factors that we need to consider. The decision process allows us to ensure we have considered the social, environmental and economic outcomes and impacts of our decisions. This is always with reference to our context (our ‘why’) to make sure we are progressing to where we want to be.
First Nations Perspective
For First Nations people, the landscape is the library, or more commonly referred to as “Country”. This is why the protection of sacred sites and important cultural sites is so important, they literally hold thousands of years of accumulated knowledge. Each site adds a layer of story that encompasses the entire landscape, with some stories stretching across the entire nation, from the west coast to the east coast. They say when an Elder dies, it is a library burning. When a sacred/cultural site is destroyed, it is like erasing the memory of the library altogether.
Country, therefore, is a teacher. Country gave us language. We were given language by Country so that Country could speak through us, so that we could be taught how to care for Country. It is a reciprocal relationship. When we care for Country, Country will care and provide for us. Many believe that the restoration of landscape function and the flow of water, minerals, and energy can be restored.