NSF Org:	DEB Division Of Environmental Biology
Recipient:	MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Initial Amendment Date:	August 17, 1992
Latest Amendment Date:	August 4, 1998
Award Number:	9211771
Award Instrument:	Continuing Grant
Program Manager:	Scott L. Collins DEB  Division Of Environmental Biology BIO  Directorate for Biological Sciences
Start Date:	September 1, 1992
End Date:	April 30, 1999 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$3,679,914.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$3,679,914.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 1992 = $607,500.00 FY 1993 = $570,000.00 FY 1994 = $56,898.00 FY 1995 = $585,000.00 FY 1996 = $600,000.00 FY 1997 = $576,050.00 FY 1998 = $684,466.00
History of Investigator:	G. Philip Robertson (Principal Investigator) robert30@msu.edu Katherine Gross (Co-Principal Investigator) Eldor Paul (Co-Principal Investigator) Stuart Gage (Co-Principal Investigator) Richard Harwood (Co-Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	Michigan State University 426 AUDITORIUM RD RM 2 EAST LANSING MI  US  48824-2600 (517)355-5040
Sponsor Congressional District:	07
Primary Place of Performance:	Michigan State University 426 AUDITORIUM RD RM 2 EAST LANSING MI  US  48824-2600
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:	07
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	R28EKN92ZTZ9
Parent UEI:	VJKZC4D1JN36
NSF Program(s):	INSTRUMENTAT & INSTRUMENT DEVP, LONG TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH, LONG-TERM RSCH IN ENVIR BIO, BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH COLLECTION, EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC PROGRAM
Primary Program Source:	app-0193  app-0194  app-0195  app-0196  app-0197  app-0198
Program Reference Code(s):	1129, 1228, 1306, 5912, 9169, 9177, 9178, 9186, 9198, 9251, EGCH, ENVI, SMET
Program Element Code(s):	110800, 119500, 119600, 119700, 597800
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.074

ABSTRACT

In 1987 a Long-Term Ecological Research Project in Agricultural Ecology was initiated to examine basic ecological relationships in row crop ecosystems typical of the U.S. Midwest. The project's original goal was to test the basic, long-term hypothesis that agronomic management based on knowledge of ecological interactions in cropping systems can effectively replace management based on chemical subsidies. The same overall goal guides the project today. In order to test this hypothesis an experimental site was established in which different cropping systems, corresponding to different levels of agronomic/ecological disturbance, are used to test a series of working hypotheses. Working hypotheses are built around the general topic areas of nutrient availability/ retention, plant competition, and consumer (insect, pathogen) dynamics. Over the initial award period substantial progress has been made towards meeting the short-term goals of establishing a secure agricultural research site with long-term potential, of putting in place an integrated sampling program to address important long-term questions in both ecology and agronomy, and most importantly, of testing and refining the initial hypotheses. In this new project period the aim is to extend plot-based research to the regional landscape and to address seven basic ecological hypotheses that are critical for understanding the ecological underpinnings of modern agriculture and for providing the knowledge needed to sustain future agricultural production.

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