Evaluating The Strengths And Weakness Of Conventional, No-Till And Organic Cropping Systems: An Assessment Of Yield, Soil Protection And Environmental Performance

In a comprehensive study on 60 observed fields in organic, conventional and no-till cropping, a coherent set of different indicators for cropping management, crop performance and soil physical, chemical and biological properties has been developed to describe and assess these systems. The high yield level in conventional, the soil surface protection and diversity of crops in no-till, and the higher soil organic carbon content and the complexity of root-associated microbial networks in organic systems underline the areas for improvement to be considered for the further development of sustainable cropping systems.