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A global meta-analysis of yield stability in organic and conservation agriculture

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  • Samuel Knapp

    (Plant-Soil-Interactions, Research Division Agroecology and Environment
    Technical University of Munich)

  • Marcel G. A. Heijden

    (Plant-Soil-Interactions, Research Division Agroecology and Environment
    University of Zurich)

Abstract

One of the primary challenges of our time is to enhance global food production and security. Most assessments in agricultural systems focus on plant yield. Yet, these analyses neglect temporal yield stability, or the variability and reliability of production across years. Here we perform a meta-analysis to assess temporal yield stability of three major cropping systems: organic agriculture and conservation agriculture (no-tillage) vs. conventional agriculture, comparing 193 studies based on 2896 comparisons. Organic agriculture has, per unit yield, a significantly lower temporal stability (−15%) compared to conventional agriculture. Thus, although organic farming promotes biodiversity and is generally more environmentally friendly, future efforts should focus on reducing its yield variability. Our analysis further indicates that the use of green manure and enhanced fertilisation can reduce the yield stability gap between organic and conventional agriculture. The temporal stability (−3%) of no-tillage does not differ significantly from those of conventional tillage indicating that a transition to no-tillage does not affect yield stability.

Suggested Citation

  • Samuel Knapp & Marcel G. A. Heijden, 2018. "A global meta-analysis of yield stability in organic and conservation agriculture," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-05956-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05956-1
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    Cited by:

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    3. Zheng, Jing & Fan, Junliang & Zhou, Minghua & Zhang, Fucang & Liao, Zhenqi & Lai, Zhenlin & Yan, Shicheng & Guo, Jinjin & Li, Zhijun & Xiang, Youzhen, 2022. "Ridge-furrow plastic film mulching enhances grain yield and yield stability of rainfed maize by improving resources capture and use efficiency in a semi-humid drought-prone region," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
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    7. John R. Schramski & C. Brock Woodson & Garrett Steck & Dylan Munn & James H. Brown, 2019. "Declining Country-Level Food Self-Sufficiency Suggests Future Food Insecurities," Biophysical Economics and Resource Quality, Springer, vol. 4(3), pages 1-9, September.
    8. Dániel Fróna & János Szenderák & Mónika Harangi-Rákos, 2019. "The Challenge of Feeding the World," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-18, October.
    9. Margaux Lapierre & Gwenolé Le Velly & Douadia Bougherara & Raphaële Préget & Alexandre Sauquet, 2023. "Designing Agri-Environmental Schemes to cope with uncertainty," Post-Print hal-04690270, HAL.
    10. Mohamed Allam & Emanuele Radicetti & Valentina Quintarelli & Verdiana Petroselli & Sara Marinari & Roberto Mancinelli, 2022. "Influence of Organic and Mineral Fertilizers on Soil Organic Carbon and Crop Productivity under Different Tillage Systems: A Meta-Analysis," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-19, March.
    11. Barbieri, Pietro & Starck, Thomas & Voisin, Anne-Sophie & Nesme, Thomas, 2023. "Biological nitrogen fixation of legumes crops under organic farming as driven by cropping management: A review," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    12. Dardonville, Manon & Bockstaller, Christian & Villerd, Jean & Therond, Olivier, 2022. "Resilience of agricultural systems: biodiversity-based systems are stable, while intensified ones are resistant and high-yielding," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    13. Bourceret, Amélie & Accatino, Francesco & Robert, Corinne, 2024. "A modeling framework of a territorial socio-ecosystem to study the trajectories of change in agricultural phytosanitary practices," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 494(C).
    14. Marianne Lefebvre & Estelle Midler & Philippe Bontems, 2020. "Adoption of Environment-Friendly Agricultural Practices with Background Risk: Experimental Evidence," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 76(2), pages 405-428, July.
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    16. Lapierre, Margaux & Le Velly, Gwenolé & Bougherara, Douadia & Préget, Raphaële & Sauquet, Alexandre, 2023. "Designing agri-environmental schemes to cope with uncertainty," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    17. de la Cruz, Vera Ysabel V. & Tantriani, & Cheng, Weiguo & Tawaraya, Keitaro, 2023. "Yield gap between organic and conventional farming systems across climate types and sub-types: A meta-analysis," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    18. Ostandie, Noémie & Giffard, Brice & Tolle, Pauline & Ugaglia, Adeline Alonso & Thiéry, Denis & Rusch, Adrien, 2022. "Organic viticulture leads to lower trade-offs between agroecosystem goods but does not improve overall multifunctionality," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    19. Liu, Yujie & Bachofen, Christoph & Wittwer, Raphaël & Silva Duarte, Gicele & Sun, Qing & Klaus, Valentin H. & Buchmann, Nina, 2022. "Using PhenoCams to track crop phenology and explain the effects of different cropping systems on yield," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    20. Dardonville, Manon & Legrand, Baptiste & Clivot, Hugues & Bernardin, Claire & Bockstaller, Christian & Therond, Olivier, 2022. "Assessment of ecosystem services and natural capital dynamics in agroecosystems," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    21. Boix-Fayos, Carolina & de Vente, Joris, 2023. "Challenges and potential pathways towards sustainable agriculture within the European Green Deal," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    22. Chantal Gascuel & Michèle Tixier-Boichard & Benoit Dedieu & Cécile Détang-Dessendre & Pierre Dupraz & Philippe Faverdin & Laurent Hazard & Philippe Hinsinger & Isabelle Litrico-Chiarelli & Françoise M, 2019. "Réflexion prospective interdisciplinaire pour l’agroécologie. Rapport de synthèse," Post-Print hal-02154433, HAL.
    23. Xunming Wang & Quansheng Ge & Xin Geng & Zhaosheng Wang & Lei Gao & Brett A. Bryan & Shengqian Chen & Yanan Su & Diwen Cai & Jiansheng Ye & Jimin Sun & Huayu Lu & Huizheng Che & Hong Cheng & Hongyan L, 2023. "Unintended consequences of combating desertification in China," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    24. Luncheng You & Gerard H. Ros & Yongliang Chen & Qi Shao & Madaline D. Young & Fusuo Zhang & Wim de Vries, 2023. "Global mean nitrogen recovery efficiency in croplands can be enhanced by optimal nutrient, crop and soil management practices," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.

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