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A Study on the Effects of Different Farming Systems on the Yield, Quality and Soil Microbiological Properties of Vegetables in Nanjing Region

Author: ShenMaoHua
Tutor: ZongLiangGang
School: Nanjing Agricultural College
Course: Environmental Science
Keywords: organic farming specially grown conventional farming vegetable yield quality soil microbial biomass soil respiration soil enzyme activity
CLC: S511
Type: Master's thesis
Year: 2009
Downloads: 43
Quote: 0
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Abstract

In order to assess the eco-environmental benefit of different farming systems and resolve the contradiction between quality and quantity of agricultural products. A field experiment was carried on to study the effects of organic farming, specially grown and conventional farming on vegetable yield, quality and soil microbiological properties in Nanjing. The results of this study are presented as follows:The yield trend of eight kinds of vegetables was basically the same. Organic farming system had the highest yield and conventional farming had the lowest yield. Compared with conventional farming, the yield of organic farming increased57.1%-377.5%. There was extremely significant difference (p<0.01) between the yield of organic and conventional kidney bean, significant difference (p<0.05) between the yield of organic and conventional cucumber, celery, lettuce, radish and broccoli but of no significant difference in soybean. In contrast to conventional farming, the yield of specially grown only increased between30%-65%except for kidney bean and soybean, and there was no significant difference between the yield of specilly grown and conventional farming.Compared with conventional farming, organic celery, broccoli and lettuce had a higher content of vitamin C, dry matter, soluble sugar and a lower content of nitrate content and soluble protein, the quality was significantly better than conventional ones. Compared with conventional farming, organic radish had a higher content of dry matter and a lower content of nitrate content and soluble protein, but no significant different of vitamin C and soluble sugar content. Organic radish was significantly of better quality than conventional ones. The quality indicator of different vegetables showed different levels. The dry matter content of celery, radishes and lettuce between orgranic and conventional farming systems was extremely significant difference (p<0.01), while the broccoli was significant difference (p<0.05). The vitamin C content of celery, broccoli and lettuce between orgranic and conventional farming systems was extremely significant difference (p<0.01), while the radish was no significant difference. The soluble protein content of radish between orgranic and conventional farming systems was extremely significant difference (p<0.01), while the broccoli and lettuce was significant difference (p<0.05) and celery was no significant difference. And the soluble sugar content of broccoli, celery and lettuce between orgranic and conventional farming systems was extremely significant difference (p<0.01), while radish was no significant difference. As a whole, the quality of vegetables from specially grown ranged between organic and conventional ones, was much better than conventional ones.Compared with conventional farming, the soil microbial biomass carbon, soil respiration and soil enzyme activity in organic farming was significantly increased, so organic organic farming can significantly improve soil micro-environment. The soil microbiological indicators from specially grown ranged between organic and conventional ones, so soil micro-environment has significantly improved too.The trend of soil micro-environment improvement from different farming systems was organic farming better than specially grown than conventional farming. In addition this study also found that enzyme activites had been affected by the growth of vegetables. For example, tomato enhanced soil urease activity and broccoli increased soil invertase activity even in soil samples from the conventional plots as compared with soybean in organic plots.In contrast to conventional farming, the vegetable yield of organic farming increased, vegetable quality improved, and soil micro-environment improved significantly, so organic farming has good eco-environmental benefits.In contrast to conventional farming, the vegetable yield of specially grown increased slightly, vegetable quality improved slightly, and soil micro-environment improved significantly. And in contrast to organic farming, specially grown has a higher operability in field, so it has good comprehensive benefits.

A Study on the Effects of Different Farming Systems on the Yield, Quality and Soil Microbiological Properties of Vegetables in Nanjing Region

Abstract

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