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Organic agriculture promotes evenness and natural pest control

Author

Listed:
  • David W. Crowder

    (Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, USA)

  • Tobin D. Northfield

    (Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, USA)

  • Michael R. Strand

    (University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA)

  • William E. Snyder

    (Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, USA)

Abstract

Even break for organic crops Declining species number (richness) harms ecosystems, and conservation efforts have largely focused on conserving or restoring particular rare species. However, greater disparity in species relative abundances (evenness) might also do ecological harm, which could only be reversed by altering the densities of many species at once. A new survey of organic and conventionally managed potato fields shows that species evenness is greater under organic management. Replicating these levels of evenness in a field trial shows that the evenness of natural enemies found in organic fields promotes pest control and increases crop biomass. In organic crops many beneficial species (that eat pest insects) are equally common, which in potatoes leads to fewer pests and larger plants.

Suggested Citation

  • David W. Crowder & Tobin D. Northfield & Michael R. Strand & William E. Snyder, 2010. "Organic agriculture promotes evenness and natural pest control," Nature, Nature, vol. 466(7302), pages 109-112, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:466:y:2010:i:7302:d:10.1038_nature09183
    DOI: 10.1038/nature09183
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    Cited by:

    1. R. Michael Lehman & Cynthia A. Cambardella & Diane E. Stott & Veronica Acosta-Martinez & Daniel K. Manter & Jeffrey S. Buyer & Jude E. Maul & Jeffrey L. Smith & Harold P. Collins & Jonathan J. Halvors, 2015. "Understanding and Enhancing Soil Biological Health: The Solution for Reversing Soil Degradation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(1), pages 1-40, January.
    2. Stallman, Heidi R. & James, Harvey S., 2015. "Determinants affecting farmers' willingness to cooperate to control pests," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 182-192.
    3. Yufeng Luo & Haolong Fu & Seydou Traore, 2014. "Biodiversity Conservation in Rice Paddies in China: Toward Ecological Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(9), pages 1-18, September.
    4. Mollie Chapman & Susanna Klassen & Maayan Kreitzman & Adrian Semmelink & Kelly Sharp & Gerald Singh & Kai M. A. Chan, 2017. "5 Key Challenges and Solutions for Governing Complex Adaptive (Food) Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-30, September.
    5. Xiuping Yang & Dacheng Zhang & Qiqi Jia & Wentao Zhang & Tianyou Wang, 2019. "Exploring the Dynamic Coupling Relationship between Agricultural Economy and Agro-Ecological Environment in Semi-Arid Areas: A Case Study of Yulin, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-17, April.
    6. Simoncini, Riccardo & Ring, Irene & Sandström, Camilla & Albert, Christian & Kasymov, Ulan & Arlettaz, Raphael, 2019. "Constraints and opportunities for mainstreaming biodiversity and ecosystem services in the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy: Insights from the IPBES assessment for Europe and Central Asia," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    7. Thomas O. Crist & Valerie E. Peters, 2014. "Landscape and Local Controls of Insect Biodiversity in Conservation Grasslands: Implications for the Conservation of Ecosystem Service Providers in Agricultural Environments," Land, MDPI, vol. 3(3), pages 1-26, July.
    8. Vladimír Langraf & Kornélia Petrovičová, 2024. "Seasonal Dynamics of Epigeic Arthropods under the Conditions of Ecological Management of the Triticum aestivum Crop," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-14, March.
    9. Lauren Brzozowski & Michael Mazourek, 2018. "A Sustainable Agricultural Future Relies on the Transition to Organic Agroecological Pest Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-25, June.
    10. Coria, Jessica & Robinson, Elizabeth & Smith, Henrik G. & Sterner, Thomas, 2012. "Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystem Services Provision: Tale of Confused Objectives, Multiple Market Failures and Policy Challenges," Working Papers in Economics 546, University of Gothenburg, Department of Economics.
    11. Bastian Göldel & Darija Lemic & Renata Bažok, 2020. "Alternatives to Synthetic Insecticides in the Control of the Colorado Potato Beetle ( Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say) and Their Environmental Benefits," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-27, December.
    12. Salvatore Ceccarelli, 2014. "GM Crops, Organic Agriculture and Breeding for Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(7), pages 1-14, July.
    13. Parvathi, Priyanka & Waibel, Hermann, 2015. "Is Organic Agriculture and Fair Trade Certification a way out of Crisis? Evidence from Black Pepper Farmers in India," 55th Annual Conference, Giessen, Germany, September 23-25, 2015 209209, German Association of Agricultural Economists (GEWISOLA).

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