Diversity Of Wheat Crop Management From Conventional To Organic Farming: Socio-Economic And Ecological Assessment.

Summary

" Biological control is considered a promising way to reduce pesticide use in cropping systems. In this study we aimed to assess biological control and natural enemy communities in a diversity of organic and conventional wheat fields. We also aimed to evaluate economic and labor aspects of cropping systems studied. Twenty pairs of organic and conventional fields were studied in Brittany, France in 2016. Data on carabid abundance and species richness, as well as pest predation rates were collected in fields; crop management and machinery used were also surveyed. We identified 2 organic crop management types and 3 conventional types. Results were not equal for all types of each category. One type of organic crop management, associated with less work for farmers and more economic profit, was beneficial to carabid beetles. Predation rate was lower only in one type of conventional crop management compared with other management types. This study underlines the need to account for the diversity of crop management strategies to assess socio-economic and ecological aspects in organic and conventional farming systems."