Now in its third version, an online game developed by Iowa State University lets students learn about land-use concepts by mixing crops and conservation practices on a simulated 6,000-acre watershed, says Wallaces Farmer magazine. Professor Lisa Schulte-Moore, leader of the team that developed the game, People in Ecosystems Watershed Integration (PEWi), says the new version has more options than previous editions.
Players can choose 15 land uses in 10-acre increments on the simulated watershed, ranging from corn and soybean crops to using land for pasture and to create wetlands. Whatever scenario they choose, the game lists the results, such as soil erosion rates, water quality, carbon sequestration and crop yields. There also are yield-efficiency maps that shows which parts of the watershed are best-suited for particular crops.
PEWi, pronounced pee-wee, focuses on the Corn Belt but its lessons apply to agricultural regions anywhere, according Schulte-Moore. She says teachers can customize the game’s menu of land uses.
For an introduction to PEWi, click here.