Crop Productivity and Economics during the Transition to Alternative Cropping Systems

Abstract

Many environmental benefits accrue from reducing tillage and increasing crop diversity; however, economic factors often encourage the continued use of intensive tillage and specialized crop production. This study examined crop yields, input costs, and economic returns during the transition to a range of cropping system alternatives in the northern Corn Belt region, including different system (organic, conventional), tillage (conventional, strip-tillage), rotation (corn-soybean, corn-soybean-wheat/alfalfa-alfalfa) [Zea mays L., Glycine max (L.) Merr., Triticum aestivum L., Medicago sativa L.], and fertility (no fertilizer/manure, fertilizer/manure applied at recommended rates) treatments. Increasing crop diversity and reducing tillage intensity reduced total costs by $24-102 ha 21 within conventional treatments, and $16-107 ha 21 within organic treatments. Yields of corn, soybean, and wheat were more than 15% lower when using organic vs. the highest yielding conventional practices. Treatments receiving fertilizer or manure had wheat yields more than 0.3 Mg ha 21 and alfalfa yields 2.7 Mg ha 21 higher than treatments that did not receive fertilizer or manure. Within conventional systems, no significant differences in the 4-yr net present value of net returns were detected for tillage and rotation alternatives. Net present values for the organic systems without organic price premiums were at least $692 ha 21 lower than for the best conventional systems suggesting a barrier to the adoption of these systems should organic price premiums decline. However, when organic price premiums were included, most organic treatments had net present values comparable to or exceeding those from conventional treatments.

Mineralizable soil nitrogen and labile soil organic matter in diverse long-term cropping systems

“…Yields of grain crops are often, though not always, lower in organic than in conventional systems (Porter et al 2003;Delate and Cambardella 2004;Archer et al 2007;Cavigelli et al 2008). Nitrogen limitations are often an important factor limiting corn grain yield in organic systems (Berry et al 2002;Cavigelli et al 2008).…”

Spring-Interseeded Winter Rye Seeding Rates Influence Weed Control and Organic Soybean Yield

“…In 2005, more than 55% of the organic field crop production hectares in Missouri were soybean, while Missouri ranked 23rd in the USA for the number of certified organic producers in 2007 [1]. Missouri farmers have noted increased profit margins with organic versus conventional crop production systems in mid-west states [2,3] and are more likely to consider using land previously set aside in the conservation reserve program for organic crop production [4]. Claypan soils in Missouri enrolled in the conservation reserve program generally are highly erodible.…”

Diversification, Yield and a New Agricultural Revolution: Problems and Prospects

“…Regardless of the mechanism, transition from industrial may be difficult if yields drop without price premiums on products or subsidies from governmental/non-governmental agencies to compensate for the loss [23,39,[87][88][89][90]. For example, in a global meta-analysis [39] found that farmers transitioning to conservation agriculture experienced a yield loss of around 3% for the first two years.…”

“…For example, in a global meta-analysis [39] found that farmers transitioning to conservation agriculture experienced a yield loss of around 3% for the first two years. Similarly, transitioning organic farmers may experience yield losses, and thus the usual three-year period before price premiums are realized through organic certification is financially difficult for farmers [23,[87][88][89][90]. The effect of the transition to organic on yields, however, is variable [45].…”

“…Some studies reported organic yields were comparable or higher than in industrial systems within the first year of transition [85,91]. Others saw yields in organic break even with industrial after 1-3 years, [92], while some studies found yields did not reach the level of industrial yields during the three year time period examined [88][89][90]. Because of the variability in the response of yields to transition, predictions of yield losses cannot be made with certainty, making it difficult for a farmer to plan adequately (particularly given all of the other uncertainties, such as impact of pests, disease and weather, inherent to farming [93]).…”