Yield and economic performance of organic and conventional cotton-based farming systems--results from a field trial in India.

Dionys Forster,Monika M Messmer,Christian Andres,Christine Zundel,Rajeev Verma,Paul Mäder,Jean-Marc Lacape

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0081039

Dionys Forster, Monika M Messmer + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0081039

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Abstract

The debate on the relative benefits of conventional and organic farming systems has in recent time gained significant interest. So far, global agricultural development has focused on increased productivity rather than on a holistic natural resource management for food security. Thus, developing more sustainable farming practices on a large scale is of utmost importance. However, information concerning the performance of farming systems under organic and conventional management in tropical and subtropical regions is scarce. This study presents agronomic and economic data from the conversion phase (2007–2010) of a farming systems comparison trial on a Vertisol soil in Madhya Pradesh, central India. A cotton-soybean-wheat crop rotation under biodynamic, organic and conventional (with and without Bt cotton) management was investigated. We observed a significant yield gap between organic and conventional farming systems in the 1st crop cycle (cycle 1: 2007–2008) for cotton (−29%) and wheat (−27%), whereas in the 2nd crop cycle (cycle 2: 2009–2010) cotton and wheat yields were similar in all farming systems due to lower yields in the conventional systems. In contrast, organic soybean (a nitrogen fixing leguminous plant) yields were marginally lower than conventional yields (−1% in cycle 1, −11% in cycle 2). Averaged across all crops, conventional farming systems achieved significantly higher gross margins in cycle 1 (+29%), whereas in cycle 2 gross margins in organic farming systems were significantly higher (+25%) due to lower variable production costs but similar yields. Soybean gross margin was significantly higher in the organic system (+11%) across the four harvest years compared to the conventional systems. Our results suggest that organic soybean production is a viable option for smallholder farmers under the prevailing semi-arid conditions in India. Future research needs to elucidate the long-term productivity and profitability, particularly of cotton and wheat, and the ecological impact of the different farming systems.

Highlights

The green revolution has brought about a series of technological achievements in agricultural production, in Asia
7.5 9.0 11.3 12.5 n.c.: not considered in economic calculations, c.: considered in economic calculations; No premium exists for organic soybean and wheat due to local market structures; Exchange rate INR: USD = 50:1. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0081039.t002 (Figure 3)
conventional with Bt cotton (CONBtC) consistently showed higher yields than the three other farming systems, except in 2010. This is in line with the findings of several international meta-studies, which reported generally higher yields and increased profitability in Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton compared to non-Bt cotton production [34,65,71]

Summary

Introduction

The green revolution has brought about a series of technological achievements in agricultural production, in Asia. The concept of organic agriculture builds on the idea of the efficient use of locally available resources as well as the usage of adapted technologies (e.g. soil fertility management, closing of nutrient cycles as far as possible, control of pests and diseases through management and natural antagonists) It is based on a system-oriented approach and can be a promising option for sustainable agricultural intensification in the tropics, as it may offer several potential benefits [6,7,8,9,10,11] such as: (i) A greater yield stability, especially in risk-prone tropical ecosystems, (ii) higher yields and incomes in traditional farming systems, once they are improved and the adapted technologies are introduced, (iii) an improved soil fertility and long-term sustainability of farming systems, (iv) a reduced dependence of farmers on external inputs, (v) the restoration of degraded or abandoned land, (vi) the access to attractive markets through certified products, and (vii) new partnerships within the whole value chain, as well as a strengthened self-confidence and autonomy of farmers. These trials are inherently difficult due to the many elements the farming systems are comprised of, necessitating holistic research approaches in order to make comparisons possible [19]

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