Concilier fertilité, autonomie et travail en maraîchage biologique : expérimentation de systèmes de cultures innovants - projet PERSYST

Over a four-year period, we evaluated innovative cropping systems for diversified organic vegetable production in Western France, combining contrasting approaches to soil tillage reduction and fertilization based on exogenous plant biomass, in addition to cover crops. Our findings demonstrate that exogenous plant biomass can effectively replace conventional organic fertilizers or animal manure to maintain or enhance soil fertility while ensuring comparable yields. However, it may negatively affect labor conditions, particularly when equipment is not properly adapted. Reduced soil tillage (without plowing) had no significant impact on soil fertility, yield, or labor. The effects of no-tillage were context-dependent, varying according to initial conditions and specific contexts.