Energy use and carbon emission of conventional and organic sugar beet farming

Comparative biodiversity of insects and mites was studied in organic and conventional farming systems (FS) of tomato at certified organic farming unit of ASPEE College of Horticulture and Forestry (ACHF) and conventional farm of N. M. College of Agriculture (NMCA), Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat during 2018 – 2020, respectively. Total 1016 insect and mite individuals belonging to 9 insect and 1 mite orders, 14 insect and 2 mite families of 20 species of insects and 2 mites were recorded at organic farm (FS) against 967 individuals belonging to 8 insect and 1 mite orders, 13 insect and 2 mite families containing 17 insect and 2 mite species at conventional farm (FS). The diversity of insect and mites was higher in organic as compared to conventional FS. Higher species richness (22), species abundance (1016), species evenness (J= 0.76), species richness index (R= 3.03) and Shannon diversity index (H= 2.36) was observed at organic FS against lower species richness (19), species abundance (967), species evenness (0.69), species richness index (2.62) and Shannon diversity index (2.04) in conventional FS. Insect order Hemiptera and mite order Acarina were more represented at conventional farm (49.63 and 30.50 %) as compared to organic farm (46.99 and 24.17 %). Insects of Coleoptera order were more abundant at organic FS as compared to conventional FS. Relative abundance of herbivores was higher (82.10 %) with lower species evenness (0.71), species richness (1.20) and Shannon diversity index (1.55) in conventional FS as compared to lower relative abundance (69.68 %) with higher species evenness (0.74), species richness (1.37) and Shannon diversity index (1.71) in organic tomato FS. Similarly, 288 insect and mite predators were recorded at organic farm as compared to 161 individuals of insect and mite predators in conventional tomato FS. The relative abundance of predators was higher (28.30 %) with higher species evenness (0.70), species richness (1.59) and Shannon diversity index (1.64) at organic farm whereas, relative abundance (16.55 %), species evenness (0.67), species richness (1.59) and Shannon diversity index (1.64) remained lower at conventional farm. Similarly, higher parasitoids (21), relative abundance (2.02 %), species evenness (0.96), species richness (0.37) and Shannon weiner index (0.67) was observed in organic FS as compared to conventional FS (15, 1.52, 0.91, 0.34 and 0.63). In the present investigation, no pollinators were observed in both the farming systems.

Economics of a farming system is the key determinant of its sustainability. Organic and conventional farming systems are two distinct types of production systems having contrasting farm management practices and output price as well. Furthermore, organic farming system is promoted for environmental protection and conventional farming system is cursed for the environmental degradation. The present study was conducted to compare the economics of organic and conventional vegetable production in Kathmandu valley. Thirty farmers each involved in commercial organic and conventional vegetable farming were selected randomly for the study. Data were collected through survey method using semi-structured questionnaire. The estimated per ropani per year cost of cultivation of vegetables in the organic farm (NPR 69,170) was lesser than in conventional farm (NPR 1,00,562). The gross return per ropani in a year in the organic vegetable farm (NPR 1,01,536) was significantly lesser than from conventional farms (NPR 1,35,747). Benefit to cost ratio (BCR) was higher in organic farm (1.47:1) in comparison to conventional farm (1.35:1). This study revealed that organic vegetable farming was more profitable than conventional vegetable farming in Kathmandu valley. To expand commercial agriculture: quality inputs, input and output price stability, co-operative or corporative marketing should be promoted.

Horticultural production is an increasingly important activity in Senegal that is mainly located in the Niayes region between Dakar and St Louis. However, the increasing use of pesticides and inorganic fertilizers has many implications for the environment. The recognition that conventional horticulture might have a negative impact on farmers and consumers health, and on the atmosphere through the emission of GHGs, has increased in recent years, leading some NGO’s to promote organic farming. Therefore, the rising level of environmental hazards from conventional farming system made it attractive to farmers in the Niayes to adopt sustainable agriculture practices based on organic farming. A whole farm model is used to compare the economic and environmental performances of the organic and conventional horticultural farming systems in the Niayes region in Senegal. The gross margin is regarded as the economic indicator, while carbon emissions are regarded as environmental indicators. The results indicate that the conventional farming system is still more attractive than the organic farming because the sale price is the same for both systems. There is no market for organic food in the region. Simulation results also reveal that there exists a “win-win” situation for conventional farmers when they partially adopt organic farmingsystem. However, environmental results in terms of carbon emissions reduction suggest that the organic system is more effective in mitigating climate change. Our study suggests that, through appropriate investment in agro-ecological research to improve organic management and the establishment of a local market for organic crops, organic farming can become a competitive alternative to conventional farming, when it comes to healthy food production with less environmental impact in the horticultural sector. However, further studies are needed on components of sustainable intensification to see which system of production is more profitable for farmers of the Niayes region, but also beneficial for the environment, and at regional and even national levels.

Evaluating the impacts of different wheat farming systems through Life Cycle Assessment

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have promising applications in low-quality farmlands all over the world, but research on their responses to conventional and organic farming systems in low-quality soil is limited. We hypothesized that the colonization activity and community diversity of AM fungi in conventional farming systems may not be lower than in organic farming on low-quality farmlands where beneficial symbiosis is required. We collected soil and maize root samples from medium to low fertility farmlands with conventional or organic farming systems in western Jilin Province, China. The colonization percentage and intensity, taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity, community composition of soil AM fungi, and soil factors were detected and compared between the two farming systems. The colonization intensity and operational taxonomic unit (OTU) taxonomic diversity on conventional farms were higher than on organic farms. Glomus was the most common genus on conventional farms, whereas Paraglomus and Glomus were the most common on organic farms. We also found a simpler AM fungal network structure with lower OTU phylogenetic diversity on conventional farms. Our findings suggested that though the conventional farming system resulted in different compositions and simpler structures of soil AM fungal community, there are potential diverse OTU resources currently present on conventional farms. This work has potential impacts on understanding the influence of different farming systems on soil AM fungi in low-quality farmlands and the development of efficient mycorrhizal inoculant production.

This review provides an introduction to organic farming, its history and concepts, organic certification systems and governmental support, impacts to the environment and food security, the quality of organic food, and the impact of organic farming on human health. Organic farming is a holistic approach to agriculture and food systems that is based on agroecosystem health, soil fertility, reduction of inputs, and locally to regionally adapted farming systems. The first organic ideas were developed after World War I in Europe as an alternative to the existing conventional farming systems which induced rapid and crucial social and environmental changes in rural areas. Today, organic farming is growing rapidly on a global scale, with around 370 million hectares currently under certified organic management and a turnover of organic products amounting to 60 billion US dollars. Given that organic farming has environmental benefits, some governments are subsidizing organic farmers, while others establish legally valid organic standards that must be followed to enhance consumer trust in organic labeling.Many recent studies comparing organic and conventional farming have been performed, although almost exclusively in North America and Europe. These studies show that environmental impacts of organic farming are less than those from conventional farming, but the conclusions depend on the different farming systems used for comparison and on the parameters that were assessed. For soil parameters such as organic matter or aggregate stability, the effect from organic farming systems was positive compared to conventional farming systems, although contrary results exist in some cases. For nitrate leaching, study results are diverse and depend on production systems (animal husbandry, crop production, proportion of legumes). For greenhouse gas emissions, organic farming provides lower emissions on a per hectare basis compared to conventional farming, but the same or higher emissions on a product basis because of lower yields. If the yield gap between organic and conventional farming systems could be reduced, the potential for a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions would rise. Organic farming performed better with regard to biodiversity compared to conventional farming for most taxa assessed. The impact of organic farming on food security cannot be clearly assessed because studies on the performance of organic farming in developing countries are lacking. Currently, some authors argue that organic farmers in developing countries profit from organic production if they can realize a price premium for the products and reduce input costs.One of the most important consumer motivations for the purchase of organic products is their health benefits. Organic products performed better than conventional products for different food compounds by containing less pesticide residues that are harmful to human health, having more desirable bioactive substances, and in the case of organic meat and milk, having more desirable fatty-acid composition. Animal experiments have shown positive health impacts from organic food. Several studies conducted on rats have indicated higher immune system reactivity in organically fed rats compared to conventionally fed animals. Similar results have been obtained for chickens and cows.The rapid growth of organic farming also can be a threat to future development if the organic sector cannot maintain its integrity and credibility. Organic products are available not only in farmer markets but in on-farm shops and organic food stores and are becoming increasingly present in conventional supermarkets. This involves long supply-chains, large suppliers, as well as processing, distribution, and trade via conventional processors and wholesalers. This conventionalization of organic food-chains may challenge the credibility of the organic sector as an environmentally friendly and socially fair form of agriculture. As the organic sector depends very much on this credibility, the question of how to retain this authenticity will be a major concern for the future.

Deciphering soil resistance and virulence gene risks in conventional and organic farming systems

Crop yield gap and stability in organic and conventional farming systems

Phosphorous (P) is strongly adsorbed by soil components, such as soil organic matter and soil amorphous minerals in Andisols, which have been identified as an influential factor in adsorption and release of soil P. The aim of this study was to characterize the pattern of soil P adsorption and release in both organic and conventional vegetable farming systems in Merbabu Mountain area, Indonesia. Soil samples were collected from soil layers (0 cm to 20 cm and 20 cm to 40 cm) in organic and conventional farming systems. The result showed that the highest adsorption rate was found in organic farming systems at a depth of 20 cm to 40 cm. The lowest adsorption rate was found in conventional farming systems with low input of organic matter at a depth of 20 cm to 40 cm. A higher rate of P release was also found in organic farming systems with a low input of organic matter. It can be concluded that vegetable soils in organic farming systems are not only highly capable of adsorbing P but also capable of releasing P rapidly.

Alternative approaches to therapeutics and subtherapeutics for sustainable poultry production

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of organic farming, in field (OF) and in glass-house (OFG), on selected soil biochemical properties compared with conventional farming (CF) in a horticultural area characterized by the same climate, soil type and topography. Results show that all soil enzyme activities were generally higher in OFG compared with OF and CF systems. Because of the different conditions of temperature, OFG presented a major loss of organic matter too. Catalase activity, metabolic potential (MP) and biological index of fertility (BIF) are suggested as the most suitable soil biological indicators for differentiating between organic (OF and OFG) and conventional (CF) farming systems. Organic farming systems, because of application of organic amendments and less deep tillage, showed a greater capacity to improve soil quality as compared with conventional production practices.

For the purpose of this chapter, low-input crops are defined as crops receiving limited or no synthetic external inputs in the form of pesticides and fertilizers. However, they do receive regular inputs of organic amendments in the form of cover crops, compost or manure to maintain soil fertility, high levels of activity by the soil microflora and fauna, and a good soil structure. Low-input crops are typically grown in organic or biological and integrated farming systems (National Research Council, 1989). Organic or biological farming systems are defined as systems where synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are not used. Instead, biological and cultural methods of pest and disease control are emphasized (National Research Council, 1989). Integrated farming systems may apply pesticides and fertilizers but at a reduced rate compared to conventional farming systems. High-input crops are considered to be crops that receive pesticides and fertilizers as currently used in conventional farming systems. Organic amendments are usually not applied (except in areas with excess manure). In addition to these differences in organic and synthetic inputs, organic and integrated farming systems often differ from conventional farming systems in their tillage operations. On many organic and integrated farms, minimum- tillage practices are utilized, i.e., soil cultivation to a depth of about 15 cm instead of 30 cm or more on conventional farms (El Titi and Landes, 1990). On the other hand, no-till practices are more commonly used on currnet conventional farms because of the need for some tillage for weed control on organic farms. Finally, crop rotations are often longer and spatial diversity greater in organic and integrated farming systems than in conventional farming systems (van Bruggen, 1995).

The organic horticultural farming system is a horticultural farming technique that relies on natural materials in its production and is a sustainable agriculture, in contrast to the conventional horticultural farming system which still relies on chemicals in its production process. The purpose of this research was to compare organic and conventional horticultural farming systems in Getasan district, Semarang. This study is a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study that employed survey methodologies. This study was conducted from July to December 2019 using a sample of 314 respondents, 90 organic horticulture farmers and 224 conventional horticulture farmers as research subjects. Research results showed that the average total additional cost of restoring soil nutrients in 100 m2 / year for organic horticulture farming was IDR. 69,958.33 less than the cost for conventional farming systems, which was IDR. 79,550.00 per 100 m2 per year, with a p-value of 0.032*. The cost of purchasing fertilizer in year / 100m2 on a conventional horticultural farm was IDR. 90,575.78, greater than the cost of organic horticulture farming which was only IDR. 73,170.38 with a p-value< 0,001*. The average yield of organic horticulture farms was somewhat higher than that of conventional farms during each growing season. The average annual income from yields in 100 m2/year for organic horticulture production was IDR 2,449,246.32, while conventional IDR. 2,369,641.10 with p-value of 0.441 although not statistically significant. The average profit per 100 m2 / year for an organic horticultural farming system was IRD. 1,549,303.42, which is greater than the profit value for a conventional horticultural farming system, which was IDR. 1,450,109.82, 959,289.06, although statistically not significant, with p-value = 0.228. The total annual production cost for the organic horticulture farming system was less than the conventional system, which was IDR 901,346.78 for the organic horticulture farming system and IDR. 921,084.17 for conventional, for every 100 m2 / year with p-value = 0.383, even though not statistically significant. Statistically, there was no significant difference in labor costs between the two agricultural systems, p-value 0.702, but descriptive analysis shows that the average labor cost per 100 m2/year for organic horticulture farming was IDR. 588,859.57, which is less than IDR. 591,760.50 for conventional horticulture farming. Based on the parameters analyzed, the outcome of this study demonstrates that the organic horticulture farming system is superior to the conventional horticultural farming system. Key words: Environmental value Fertilization costs, Cultivation profits, Labor expenses, Production costs

Climate change as an implication of global warming due to the influence of increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has become an important issue in recent decades. Organic farming plays an important role in mitigating climate change by reducing atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions through increased soil carbon sequestration. This study was designed to compare soil carbon sequestration levels between conventional and organic vegetable farming fields in Bali, Indonesia. Soil samples were taken from organic fields and conventional fields in pairs. Variables of soil organic carbon, soil labile carbon, and soil bulk density are measured. Vegetable yields were estimated by fresh weights from a quadrant of 45 plants (1.12 m2) in each farming system, which is then converted to the fresh weight per hectare. The results from soil analysis indicate that organic farming leads to soil with significantly higher soil carbon storage capacity than conventional farming. The labile C fraction shows a more significant increase compared to total C. Organic farming can increase by 1.13 tons C per hectare per year compared with the conventional farming system. The use of manure compost as an alternative in vegetable fields of Bali has resulted in increased soil organic carbon storage and gross benefits for farming. Although more research is needed on the actual emissions of CO2 gas from organic and conventional farming, this research can be used as an early indication that organic vegetable farming system can increase the mitigation of global warming, and build sustainable agriculture in Bali, Indonesia.

Allophane is a characteristic of Andisols whose presence can absorb soil organic matter. One of soil organic matter fractions called the “labile fraction” is currently an appropriate indicator in determining soil quality. However, there is limited information concerning the relationship between allophane and the labile fraction. This study assessed the content of allophane by selective dissolution methods and calculated the labile fraction of particulate organic matter and microbial activity related to the carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) soil cycles in organic and conventional vegetable farming systems of two depths (0–25 cm and 25–50 cm). The content of the labile fractions of C and N in organic farming systems is higher than in conventional farming systems, which is also higher in the upper layer compared to the lower layer. However, the availability of allophane in the upper layer and organic system tends to be low. Therefore, allophane has a strong negative correlation with the labile fractions of carbon and nitrogen. The results of this study estimate that phosphorus (P) sorption is higher in soils containing quite high allophane. Hence, an organic farming system that has low allophane content will result in higher P availability for plants.