10216: Evaluation of sustainability: results from long term experimental arable systems in Tuscany
(2006) Evaluation of sustainability: results from long term experimental arable systems in Tuscany. Poster presented at What can organic farming deliver? COR 2006, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, 18-20 September 2006; Published in Atkinson, C; Ball, B; Davies, D H K; Rees, R; Russell, G; Stockdale, E A; Watson, C A; Walker, R and Younie, D, Eds. Aspects of Applied Biology 79, What will organic farming deliver? COR 2006, page pp. 175-179.
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Summary
The research is aimed at implementing a methodology in order to estimate the sustainability of an agricultural system, through the use of Agro-ecological and Sustainability Indicators. The methodology is applied to three stockless, experimental agricultural systems, part of a long-term experiment (MOLTE) managed with diverse typologies (old organic, new organic vs conventional). The results derived from the three different management systems are estimated by considering crop rotation and efficiency in terms of energetic, macro-element (N, P, K) and organic matter flow. These are related to the landscape and biodiversity system, as well as the soil and the environmental system. The research shows that the agro-ecosystems managed with the organic agriculture method has succeeded to attain optimal levels of sustainability. Independently of time duration from conversion, the organic systems are better than the conventional system for all indicators, with the exception of the soil indicators that showed remarkable resilience.
| Document Language: | English |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Sustainability and agro-ecological indicators, organic vs conventional agriculture, long-term experiment, crop rotation, farm efficiency, biodiversity, soil quality, environmental risk |
| Subject Areas: | Environmental aspects Crop husbandry > Crop combinations and interactions Soil > Soil quality |
| Research affiliation: | Italy > Univ. Firenze UK > Colloquium of Organic Researchers (COR) > COR 2006 |
| Total budget (Euro): | 0 |
| Orgprints ID Number: | 10216 |
| Contact: | MILLMAN, Mrs Carol A |
| Deposited On: | 18 December 2006 |
| EPrint Type: | Conference poster |
| Published?: | Published |
| Peer Review Status: | Not peer-reviewed |
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