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vol. 11, nr. 1 (2008)
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Analysis of organic and conventional farming system – a case study
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Soňa Valtýniová1, Jan Křen2
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1 Department of Agrosystems and Bioclimatology, Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 61300 Brno, Czech Republic |
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2 Agrotest fyto, Ltd., Havlickova 2787, 76701 Kromeriz, Czech Republic |
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vol. 11 (2008), nr. 1,
pp. 271-278
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abstract:
The aim of the presented work was to identify the differences and special features of sustainability assessment of organic and conventional farming systems. The nutrient and organic matter balance, system productivity and energy balance were calculated on the basis of agronomic records from organic and conventional farms from a 3-year period. Software model Repro (Hülsbergen and Diepenbrock 1997) was used. There was a significant difference in nutrients input and structure of applied fertilizers between the farms. Most frequently plus nitrogen (N) and minus phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) balance occurred in both systems. Organic matter balance was figured out as the supply grade (%). Result of no farm in any year met the optimum range. Even when organic matter income was similar on both farms, the organic farm performed unstable results, caused mainly by instable crop structure and organic fertilizer management, and the conventional one performed a stable low organic matter balance. Fossil energy consumption was lower in organic farming, but in the case of machinery use and consumption of fuels, the organic farm made a higher demand than the conventional one. Also, when the productivity of the organic system was significantly lower, the efficiency of energy use was lower only slightly.
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keywords:
farming systems, organic farming, sustainability assessment, nutrient balance, energy balance
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original in:
English
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