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(2009) who found that wheat yield was similar in organic and conventional systems.
However, such comparisons are likely to be highly dependent on soil and climate
conditions. Therefore, many studies indicate lower yields in organic than in conventional farming (e.g. Forster et al. 2013; Lee et al. 2015; Ponisio et al. 2015; Kniss et al.
2016; Suja et al. 2017; de Ponti et al. 2012; Seufert et al. 2012). These studies were
done in high-input farming systems under suitable climatic conditions with high fertiliser levels in conventional farming. Our result of a better economic performance of
organic production compared to conventional production is linked to the lower input
costs, especially the use of manure instead of inorganic fertilisers, and a higher price
of organic cotton compared to conventional cotton.
Higher-Input Scenario
For the higher-input scenarios, the higher yield of conventional farming compared to
organic farming in season 1 is mainly an effect of the higher rainfall in this season,
which favours higher N input in conventional (60 kg N ha
−1
) than in organic farming
(51.5 kg N ha
−1
), and more effective pest management in the conventional treatments
than in the organic treatments. The higher input of FYM in organic farming (OF-5)
resulted in a significant reduction in crop yield, for which the reason is not known. An
increase in N input in cotton farming increases seed cotton yield (Bell et al. 2003;
Prasad and Siddique 2004) because the increased N rate increases the leaf photosynthetic rate (Cadena and Cothren 1995). This leads to higher boll weight and seed cotton
yield. This result is in line with most studies which show higher yields in conventional
than in organic systems (Seufert et al. 2012). For instance, Forster et al. (2013) found
in a cotton-wheat-soybean rotation in India a higher yield in a conventional treatment
receiving 105 kg N ha
−1
than in an organic treatment receiving 65 kg N ha
−1
.
In season 2, yields were considerably lower with no significant differences in
yields between the two systems and treatments. This is linked to low soil moisture
availability in season 2 (the rainfall received in season 2 was 26% less than in season
1), such that soil moisture was the most limiting factor that resulted in stunted plants
which were then unable to utilise the higher N input. Due to lower production costs
and a higher cotton price of organic cotton compared to conventional cotton, higherinput organic farming (OF-5 & OP-P) had a somewhat better economic performance than higher-input conventional farming (CF-60 & CP-6), but these differences
are statistically insignificant in both growing seasons.
Innovative Practices
Manure-Fertiliser Combination
The innovative conventional practice of applying FYM in addition to the currently
practised rate of inorganic fertilisers (CF-30 + M) gives a similar yield as the higherinput conventional fertility treatment (CF-60), which is likely caused by similar N
inputs in these two treatments (CF-60: 60 kg N ha
−1
; CF-30 + M: 60.9 kg N ha
−1
).
Yield and Profitability of Cotton Grown Under Smallholder Organic and Conventional…
(2009) who found that wheat yield was similar in organic and conventional systems.
However, such comparisons are likely to be highly dependent on soil and climate
conditions. Therefore, many studies indicate lower yields in organic than in conventional farming (e.g. Forster et al. 2013; Lee et al. 2015; Ponisio et al. 2015; Kniss et al.
2016; Suja et al. 2017; de Ponti et al. 2012; Seufert et al. 2012). These studies were
done in high-input farming systems under suitable climatic conditions with high fertiliser levels in conventional farming. Our result of a better economic performance of
organic production compared to conventional production is linked to the lower input
costs, especially the use of manure instead of inorganic fertilisers, and a higher price
of organic cotton compared to conventional cotton.
Higher-Input Scenario
For the higher-input scenarios, the higher yield of conventional farming compared to
organic farming in season 1 is mainly an effect of the higher rainfall in this season,
which favours higher N input in conventional (60 kg N ha
−1
) than in organic farming
(51.5 kg N ha
−1
), and more effective pest management in the conventional treatments
than in the organic treatments. The higher input of FYM in organic farming (OF-5)
resulted in a significant reduction in crop yield, for which the reason is not known. An
increase in N input in cotton farming increases seed cotton yield (Bell et al. 2003;
Prasad and Siddique 2004) because the increased N rate increases the leaf photosynthetic rate (Cadena and Cothren 1995). This leads to higher boll weight and seed cotton
yield. This result is in line with most studies which show higher yields in conventional
than in organic systems (Seufert et al. 2012). For instance, Forster et al. (2013) found
in a cotton-wheat-soybean rotation in India a higher yield in a conventional treatment
receiving 105 kg N ha
−1
than in an organic treatment receiving 65 kg N ha
−1
.
In season 2, yields were considerably lower with no significant differences in
yields between the two systems and treatments. This is linked to low soil moisture
availability in season 2 (the rainfall received in season 2 was 26% less than in season
1), such that soil moisture was the most limiting factor that resulted in stunted plants
which were then unable to utilise the higher N input. Due to lower production costs
and a higher cotton price of organic cotton compared to conventional cotton, higherinput organic farming (OF-5 & OP-P) had a somewhat better economic performance than higher-input conventional farming (CF-60 & CP-6), but these differences
are statistically insignificant in both growing seasons.
Innovative Practices
Manure-Fertiliser Combination
The innovative conventional practice of applying FYM in addition to the currently
practised rate of inorganic fertilisers (CF-30 + M) gives a similar yield as the higherinput conventional fertility treatment (CF-60), which is likely caused by similar N
inputs in these two treatments (CF-60: 60 kg N ha
−1
; CF-30 + M: 60.9 kg N ha
−1
).
Yield and Profitability of Cotton Grown Under Smallholder Organic and Conventional…