Organic but Also Low-Input Conventional Farming Systems Support High Biodiversity of Weed Species in Winter Cereals

Evaluating Soil Quality in Organic, Low-Input, and Conventional Farming Systems

Soil quality is an evolving concept intended to aid farmers, land managers, researchers, public decisionmakers, and others in the management of soil resources. The central question of soil quality assessment is “how does a soil function?” and a variety of physical, chemical, and biological indicators can be used to address it. This question, however, is complicated by the interdependencies betw...

Weed Biology and Weed Management in Organic Farming

Does organic farming benefit biodiversity?

The intensification and expansion of modern agriculture is amongst the greatest current threats to worldwide biodiversity. Over the last quarter of the 20th century, dramatic declines in both range and abundance of many species associated with farmland have been reported in Europe, leading to growing concern over the sustainability of current intensive farming practices. Purportedly sustainable...

Utilization of Natural Farm Resources for Promoting High Energy Efficiency in Low-Input Organic Farming

Both organic and conventional farming processes require energy input in the form of diesel fuel for farming equipment, animal feed, and fertilizer compounds. The most significant difference between the two methods is the use in conventional farming of mineral fertilizers and pesticides that are minimally employed in organic management. It is argued that organic farming is more environmentally f...

Soil fertility and biodiversity in organic farming.

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 9...