Regenerative Grazing and Polyculture: An Agroecological Model for Boreal Fringe Farming

Enhancing Nutrient Cycling and Biodiversity through Integrated Livestock-Crop Systems

Abstract

As industrial monocultures face increasing input costs and soil degradation, agroecological models offer a resilient alternative. This article investigates the integration of rotational grazing and polyculture systems in the Canadian Boreal fringe. The research evaluates the "Nutrient Synergism" between livestock waste and cereal crop yields, demonstrating a reduction in synthetic fertilizer dependency by up to 40%. Utilizing longitudinal soil health data, the study tracks increases in fungal-to-bacterial (F:B) ratios and total soil carbon. This contribution to JARS advocates for a return to mixed-farming systems, supported by modern GPS-fencing and biodiversity monitoring, as a cornerstone of national food security.