Table 2 Wisconsin Integrated Cropping Systems Trial (WICST) experimental cropping system descriptions

maize

Continuous maize with high inputs of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

Maize (Zea mays L.)

4

MS

Maize-soybean with minimum tillage and high inputs of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

Maize, soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.)

8

org. MSW

Organic maize-soybean-winter wheat with clover cover crop

Maize, soybean, winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.)

12

MaAA

Maize followed by three years of conventional alfalfa

Maize, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)

16

org. Mo/aA

Organic maize followed by oats/alfalfa followed by alfalfa

Maize, alfalfa, oats (Avena sativa L.)

16

MIRG

Management intensive rotationally grazed pasture seeded to red clover, timothy, smooth bromegrass, and orchardgrass

Timothy (Phleum pretense L.), bromegrass (Bromus inermis L.), orchardgrass (Dactlyis glomerata L.), red clover

4

prairie

Cool-season grassy waterways planted to soy in 1998 and to warm-season grass mixes in 1999. Burned every 2–3 years in spring.

See Liang et al. (2016) for full list of species⁴⁶.

6