187
CP-6: 1.76 and 0.50 Mg ha
−1
) than higher-input organic farming (OF-5 & OP-P:
1.36 and 0.46 Mg ha
−1
) in season 1, but the difference is insignificant for season 2,
while the differences in the land rent between the higher-input conventional (422
and −121 US$ ha
−1
) and organic (509 and 36 US$ ha
−1
) practices are statistically
insignificant for both seasons. The innovative conventional practice (CF-30 + M &
CP-3-N + CU: 1.69 and 0.47 Mg ha
−1
) had a significantly higher yield in season 1
than the innovative organic practice (OF-3 + L & OP-N + CU: 1.32 and 0.66 Mg ha
−1
),
but the difference is statistically insignificant for season 2. However, the innovative
conventional practice (460 and −69 US$ ha
−1
) had a statistically significantly lower
land rent than the innovative organic practice (615 and 227 US$ ha
−1
) both in seasons 1 and 2.
The highest seed cotton yields in season 1 were obtained in the higher-input
conventional farming practice (CF-60 & CP-6: 1.76 Mg ha
−1
) and the innovative
conventional farming practice (CF-30 + M & CP-3-N + CU: 1.69 Mg ha
−1
), whereas
there are no statistically significant differences in the seed cotton yields between
any of the treatments in season 2.
Given that organic cotton farming requires lower production costs and receives a
higher output price than conventional cotton farming, it generally generates notably
higher land rents than conventional cotton farming in spite of similar or lower seed
cotton yields. Particularly the innovative organic practice (OF-3 + L & OP-N + CU:
615 and 227 US$ ha-1) generates the highest land rent both in seasons 1 and 2, and
these land rents are significantly higher than the land rents of all conventional
treatments.
Fig. 2 Variation in rainfall, soil moisture (% water-filled pore space, WFPS) and soil and air temperature during the experiment period for season 1 (Nov 2015 to June 2016) and season 2 (Oct
2016 to June 2017). Note: Arrows show planting (P) and harvesting (H) time
Yield and Profitability of Cotton Grown Under Smallholder Organic and Conventional…
CP-6: 1.76 and 0.50 Mg ha
−1
) than higher-input organic farming (OF-5 & OP-P:
1.36 and 0.46 Mg ha
−1
) in season 1, but the difference is insignificant for season 2,
while the differences in the land rent between the higher-input conventional (422
and −121 US$ ha
−1
) and organic (509 and 36 US$ ha
−1
) practices are statistically
insignificant for both seasons. The innovative conventional practice (CF-30 + M &
CP-3-N + CU: 1.69 and 0.47 Mg ha
−1
) had a significantly higher yield in season 1
than the innovative organic practice (OF-3 + L & OP-N + CU: 1.32 and 0.66 Mg ha
−1
),
but the difference is statistically insignificant for season 2. However, the innovative
conventional practice (460 and −69 US$ ha
−1
) had a statistically significantly lower
land rent than the innovative organic practice (615 and 227 US$ ha
−1
) both in seasons 1 and 2.
The highest seed cotton yields in season 1 were obtained in the higher-input
conventional farming practice (CF-60 & CP-6: 1.76 Mg ha
−1
) and the innovative
conventional farming practice (CF-30 + M & CP-3-N + CU: 1.69 Mg ha
−1
), whereas
there are no statistically significant differences in the seed cotton yields between
any of the treatments in season 2.
Given that organic cotton farming requires lower production costs and receives a
higher output price than conventional cotton farming, it generally generates notably
higher land rents than conventional cotton farming in spite of similar or lower seed
cotton yields. Particularly the innovative organic practice (OF-3 + L & OP-N + CU:
615 and 227 US$ ha-1) generates the highest land rent both in seasons 1 and 2, and
these land rents are significantly higher than the land rents of all conventional
treatments.
Fig. 2 Variation in rainfall, soil moisture (% water-filled pore space, WFPS) and soil and air temperature during the experiment period for season 1 (Nov 2015 to June 2016) and season 2 (Oct
2016 to June 2017). Note: Arrows show planting (P) and harvesting (H) time
Yield and Profitability of Cotton Grown Under Smallholder Organic and Conventional…