Title: The Logården project: development of an ecological and an integrated arable farming system
Abstract: On the research-farm Logården in south-west Sweden a farming system project is carried out according to the methodology for farming systems research elaborated by a European research network in an EU Concerted action. The main emphasis is on development of an Ecological Arable Farming System (EAFS) and of an Integrated Arable Farming System (IAFS). The design of the project does not give priority to comparisons between the different systems, but a Conventional Arable Farming System (CAFS) is also used in the project as a reference. The aim of the project is to achieve a long-term persistent, sustainable and productive food supply in combination with a minimum of negative impacts on the abiotic environment. In the Ecological Arable Farming System (EAFS) there were lower yield levels than expected, probably mainly due to nitrogen deficiency during especially the early part of the growing season. The economic result in EAFS, as net surplus, was dramatically improved in 1995 compared to previous years. This is due to the new situation when Sweden joined the EU, with high arable area payments, together with a large demand for ecological products on the market that gave higher prices of these products. In the Integrated Arable Farming System (IAFS) the total use of pesticides was reduced by 70% during 1995, but the use of herbicides was above the desired level of 50% compared with the Conventional Arable Farming System (CAFS). The average yields in IAFS were similar to those in the conventional system. Despite this, the economic result for IAFS was lower, the reason being higher machinery costs, extra costs for seeds for undersowing (white clover), and more expensive weed control in the undersown crops. Also the yields of triticale (not grown in the other systems) were low due to winter damage.
Publication Year: 1997
Publication Date: 1997-01-01
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 16
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