Description
The study compared grain yields between organic, conventional, and integrated nutrient management systems over 5 years and 10 crop seasons. Initially, conventional and integrated systems outperformed organic by 15-20% in the wet seasons. However, organic yields improved over time, becoming comparable to conventional yields by the 5th year. In dry seasons, the yield gap persisted for 4 years, with organic yields matching others only in the 5th year. This highlights the seasonal variability in organic system performance.
Findings
Organic farming systems require a transition period of 2-3 years before yields stabilize. This is due to the gradual buildup of soil fertility and biological activity from repeated organic applications. The slower nutrient release from organic sources may not match crop demands initially, especially in dry seasons. Farmers may need to be prepared for lower yields during this transition phase and consider strategies to bridge the yield gap, such as supplemental organic inputs or crop diversification.
Stats
Wet season organic yields: 4.68 t/ha (Year 1) to 5.36 t/ha (Year 5)
Conventional yields: 5.47 t/ha (Year 1) to 5.23 t/ha (Year 5)
Dry season organic yields: 3.52 t/ha (Year 1) to 3.98 t/ha (Year 5)
Dry season conventional yields: 3.79 t/ha (Year 1) to 4.18 t/ha (Year 5)