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Optimizing Production Inputs for Economic and Environmental Enhancement (OPE3 )
OPE3 is an international research program involving U.S. Federal agencies, Universities, and private industry. The infrastructure of OPE3 provides a meaningful comparison of agricultural production systems with a research site that is large enough to capture the spatial variability of crop and soil parameters, yet not so large that the fields themselves are in different climatic or geologic settings. This site has four hydrologically bounded watersheds, 4 ha each, which feed a wooded riparian wetland and first-order stream. |
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Color Infrared Aerial Photography of OPE3
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Major Objectives: i) determine atmospheric, surface and subsurface watershed- scale fluxes of water, plant nutrients, and pesticides from three crop production systems;
ii) determine the behavior and environmental impact of chemical inputs on a wooded riparian wetland and first-order stream;
ii) develop remotely sensed data products and analytical techniques for measuring and managing the spatial variability of crops and soils;
iv) determine long-term economic and environmental impacts from three crop production systems and evaluate their tradeoffs using integrated economic and biophysical simulation models.
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| Structure and Philosophy: Although in its infancy, over 60 scientists internationally are involved on the OPE3 project, representing universities, government agencies, and industry. The project focuses on developing process-based algorithms and models at various spatial scales to resolve complex environmental and economic issues. Each research group involved with OPE3 must acquire its own funding, usually through competitive grants and contribute data to the overall project. By sharing data sets, scientists can leverage exiting fiscal and human resources when seeking grants.
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