Journal article
Soil fertility and biodiversity in organic farming.
- Mäder P Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, Ackerstrasse, CH-5070 Frick, Switzerland. paul.maeder@fibl.ch
- Fliessbach A
- Dubois D
- Gunst L
- Fried P
- Niggli U
- 2002-06-01
Published in:
- Science (New York, N.Y.). - 2002
Agriculture
Animals
Arthropods
Biomass
Crops, Agricultural
Ecosystem
Fertilizers
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Manure
Pesticides
Phosphorus
Poaceae
Soil
Soil Microbiology
Solanum tuberosum
Switzerland
Triticum
English
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.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- closed
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.1126/science.1071148
- PMID 12040197
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/58482
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