Organic Farming Enhances Soil Health, Biodiversity, and Profitability While Reducing Emissions: A Comparative Assessment for Sustainable Crop Production

Abstract

This study presents a comparative assessment of organic and conventional farming practices across five distinct agroecological zones to determine which system better supports sustainable crop production. We employed a field-based experimental design involving 100 farms (50 organic, 50 conventional) and measured key agronomic, environmental, and economic indicators, including crop yield, soil organic carbon, water use efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions, and net farm income. The results demonstrate that organic farming, although producing a slightly lower average yield (6.05 t ha⁻¹ versus 6.48 t ha⁻¹ for conventional systems), significantly outperformed conventional farming across multiple sustainability dimensions. Specifically, organic systems increased soil organic carbon by 78.7%, improved water use efficiency by 22.6%, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 40.2%. Furthermore, organic farms achieved a 9.7% higher net farm income (USD 2,940 ha⁻¹ versus USD 2,680 ha⁻¹) and an 18.0% higher benefit-cost ratio. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive relationships between soil organic carbon and the sustainability index (r = 0.94), as well as between biodiversity and crop yield (r = 0.76). The novelty of this research lies in its integrative approach, combining agronomic, environmental, and economic evaluations to demonstrate that organic farming delivers superior soil health, enhanced biodiversity, greater resource-use efficiency, and improved profitability while substantially lowering emissions. We therefore conclude that organic farming presents a more sustainable pathway for crop production, though constraints such as limited market access and transitional yield reductions must be addressed.