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Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Assessment of Labile Organic Carbon in Soil Using Sequential Fumigation Incubation Procedures
Published on: October 29, 2016
Soil fertility and biodiversity in organic farming
Paul Mäder1, Andreas Fliessbach, David Dubois
1Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, Ackerstrasse, CH-5070 Frick, Switzerland. paul.maeder@fibl.ch
Abstract:
An understanding of agroecosystems is key to determining effective farming systems. Here we report results from a 21-year study of agronomic and ecological performance of biodynamic, bioorganic, and conventional farming systems in Central Europe. We found crop yields to be 20% lower in the organic systems, although input of fertilizer and energy was reduced by 34 to 53% and pesticide input by 97%. Enhanced soil fertility and higher biodiversity found in organic plots may render these systems less dependent on external inputs.
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