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Field-scale experiments reveal persistent yield gaps in low-input and organic cropping systems
Alexandra N Kravchenko1, Sieglinde S Snapp2, G Philip Robertson2,3
1Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824; kravche1@msu.edu.
Summary
Field experiments show that crop yields from small plots do not accurately predict yields in large agricultural fields, especially for alternative farming systems. This highlights the need for more field-scale research to understand real-world agricultural performance.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Agronomy
- Sustainable Agriculture
Background:
- Production system performance is often assessed at the experimental plot scale.
- Yield gaps between plot-scale and field-scale research are known but not systematically studied.
- The accuracy of plot-scale data for predicting field-scale outcomes requires investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally examine the extent and persistence of yield gaps between plot- and field-scale research.
- To compare the accuracy of plot-scale crop yield results in informing field-scale conclusions for different management practices.
- To assess the scale-dependency of conventional, reduced-input, and biologically based-organic management systems.
Main Methods:
- A 6-year experiment was conducted in southwest Michigan.
- A corn-soybean-wheat rotation was studied using conventional, reduced-input, and biologically based-organic management practices.
- Comparisons were made between 27 commercial-size agricultural fields and nearby plot-scale experiments (0.02-ha to 1.0-ha).
Main Results:
- Plot-scale yields matched field-scale yields for conventional management but not for alternative systems.
- Reduced-input and biological management yields were lower at the field scale compared to the plot scale, unlike conventional management.
- Conventional management demonstrated greater resilience to field-scale challenges than alternative practices, which were more reliant on timely interventions like mechanical weed control.
Conclusions:
- Plot-scale experiments may not accurately represent field-scale performance, particularly for alternative agricultural systems.
- Field-scale experimentation is crucial for evaluating new technologies and production systems, especially for organic farming and low-resourced systems.
- Results emphasize the need for wider adoption of field-scale research to accurately assess agricultural productivity and close yield gaps.
