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Soil Fertility and Biodiversity in Organic Farming

Paul Maeder, Andreas Fließbach, David Dubois, Lucie Gunst, P. M. Fried, Urs A. Niggli

Science · 2002 · 2,959 citations

doi.org/10.1126/science.1071148

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.

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Maeder, P., Fließbach, A., Dubois, D., Gunst, L., Fried, P. M., & Niggli, U. A. (2002). Soil fertility and biodiversity in organic farming. Science, 296(5573), 1694–1697. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1071148

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