Institut für Landwirtschaftliche Betriebslehre

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    Mineral-ecological cropping systems mitigate biodiversity-productivity trade-offs of the organic vs. conventional farming dichotomy
    (2024) Kasten, Marit Kinga; Witte, Felix; Sponagel, Christian; Bahrs, Enno; Köhler, Thomas; Morinière, Jérôme; Grass, Ingo; Kasten, Marit Kinga; Ecology of Tropical Agricultural Systems, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstrasse 13, Stuttgart, Germany; Witte, Felix; Department of Farm Management, University of Hohenheim, Schwerzstrasse 44, Stuttgart, Germany; Sponagel, Christian; Department of Farm Management, University of Hohenheim, Schwerzstrasse 44, Stuttgart, Germany; Bahrs, Enno; Department of Farm Management, University of Hohenheim, Schwerzstrasse 44, Stuttgart, Germany; Köhler, Thomas; Ecology of Tropical Agricultural Systems, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstrasse 13, Stuttgart, Germany; Morinière, Jérôme; AIM – Advanced Identification Methods GmbH, Niemeyerstr.1, Leipzig, Germany; Grass, Ingo; Ecology of Tropical Agricultural Systems, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstrasse 13, Stuttgart, Germany
    Conventional agriculture significantly reduces biodiversity, while organic farming promotes it, but often yields half as much. Addressing this biodiversity-productivity trade-off is crucial for future agriculture. Mineral-ecological cropping systems (MECS) have been suggested as an alternative, blending organic and conventional methods by avoiding chemical-synthetic pesticides and using mineral fertilizers. In a German experiment with 168 parcels, we compared MECS, conventional, and organic systems in terms of ecological and economic performance. Arthropod diversity was measured through standardized species collections and DNA-metabarcoding. Productivity was assessed via yields and economic profits. MECS showed similar arthropod diversity to other farming systems, achieved 90% of conventional crop yields, and produced 1.8 times of the organic yield. Profits from MECS were on average 37% higher than the conventional system with a short wheat-maize-soy crop rotation. Further farm-level studies are needed, but MECS could be a reasonable alternative to both organic and conventional farming and can mitigate biodiversity-productivity trade-offs.