Soil Fertility and Biodiversity in Organic Farming

• Paul Maeder

  Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, Ackerstrasse, CH-5070 Frick, Switzerland.

• Andreas Fliessbach

  Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, Ackerstrasse, CH-5070 Frick, Switzerland.

• David Dubois

  Swiss Federal Research Station for Agroecology and Agriculture, Reckenholzstrasse 191, CH-8046 Zürich, Switzerland.

• Lucie Gunst

  Swiss Federal Research Station for Agroecology and Agriculture, Reckenholzstrasse 191, CH-8046 Zürich, Switzerland.

• Padruot Fried

  Swiss Federal Research Station for Agroecology and Agriculture, Reckenholzstrasse 191, CH-8046 Zürich, Switzerland.

• Urs Niggli

  Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, Ackerstrasse, CH-5070 Frick, Switzerland.

Abstract

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.

Journal

• Science

  Science 296 (5573), 1694-1697, 2002-05-31

  American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Keywords

• Multidisciplinary

Details

• CRID: 1363670319487210368
• NII Article ID: 80015321138
• DOI: 10.1126/science.1071148
• ISSN: 10959203
• ISSN: 00368075
• Web Site: https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.1071148
• Data Source:
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  • CiNii Articles