Canada's Organic Science Cluster

Activity B.6: Integrated grain-based cropping systems for biological and economic sustainability

Objectives:

1. Continue to measure biological, economic and ecological sustainability parameters for all organic systems at Glenlea. At the end of the proposed work, 20 years of data will be available for analysis.
2. Determine yield and economic stability and assess whether economic stability and yield productivity are linked for different organic price premium scenarios.
3. Increase the scope of indicators of ecological sustainability at Glenlea by measuring a) efficiency of energy flow in soil and microorganisms, b) nitrous oxide emissions from soil, and c) soil microbial diversity in organic and conventional management systems.
4. Determine the relationship between diversity (weeds, soil biota, etc) and food production and economic performance.  Does increased diversity in organic systems provide tangible stability benefits to the organic systems?

Learn More:

• Activity Summary
• Background and Supporting Documents
• Activity Researchers

Interesting Results to Date:

• NEW!! Multi-criteria Analysis of the Glenlea Organic Rotation: The First 19 Years
• NEW!! Soil Health after 19 Years Under Organic and Conventional Agriculture Management
• High yielding organic crop management decreases plant-available but not recalcitrant soil phosphorus
• Watch video of Dr. Martin Entz, Lead Researcher, discussing the Glenlea long term rotation trial

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