Benefits and Challenges of organic soil management

Abstract

Agriculture feeds a growing world population, but is also one of the main causes of the global environmental crisis. The sustainable use of soil as a resource is the key challenge for the agricultural sector. Using the example of the 45-year-old DOK trial near Basel, the opportunities for organic farming to provide important ecosystem services in the long term will be demonstrated. The lecture will focus on the effects of conventional and organic land use systems on soil quality indicators such as soil carbon, soil biology and greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the limitations of organic land use systems will be discussed and further food for thought on sustainable land use will be provided