Soil Fertility and Biodiversity in Organic Farming

✍ Scribed by Mader, P.

• Book ID: 115517232
• Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Year: 2002
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 867 KB
• Volume: 296
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0036-8075
• DOI: 10.1126/science.1071148

✦ Synopsis

An understanding of agroecosystems is key to determining effective farming systems. Here we report results from a 21-year study of agronomic and ecological performance of biodynamic, bioorganic, and conventional farming systems in Central Europe. We found crop yields to be 20% lower in the organic systems, although input of fertilizer and energy was reduced by 34 to 53% and pesticide input by 97%. Enhanced soil fertility and higher biodiversity found in organic plots may render these systems less dependent on external inputs.