Result & Discussion
Comparison of yields of different crop types under conventional and organic agriculture
Based on the results of ANOVA analysis, we can conclude indicating that the difference in average yield between different crop types is statistically extremely significant, while the difference in average yield between organic and conventional farming is statistically significant, but the effect is smaller than different crops. The interaction Crop_type:Farming_Type (Df = 6) has an F-value of 2.439 and a p-value of 0.0248, which is a larger p-value than Crop Type and Farming Type but still indicates that the degree of difference in yields between organic and conventional farming is not consistent across crop types.
Average yields were generally higher in conventional agriculture than in organic agriculture across all crop types.
Sugar crops and Vegetables had much higher average yields than the other crop types. However, the wide standard errors and 95% confidence intervals for Sugar crops and Vegetables suggest that the yield data for these crops have a high degree of variability, which may be influenced by a variety of agricultural conditions and environmental factors.
Effect of different fertilizers on different crops on organic and conventional agriculture
Organic Farming
In organic farming practices, crop yields are influenced by a number of factors, of which the type of fertilizer and the type of crop itself are determinants. By ANOVA on yield data for different fertilizer types and crop types, we assessed the extent to which these factors influence organic yields.
The yields of several organic fertilizer types and different crop types were statistically analyzed using ANOVA. In the item Organic Fertilizer Type, the p-value was 0.0432. the p-value was less than 0.05 indicating that statistically different fertilizer types had a significant effect on crop yields. Crop type (F-value 27.304, P-value <2e-16) had a significant effect on yield, indicating that there were significant differences in yield among crops. Organic fertilizer type had statistically significant effect on yield to a lesser extent than crop type.
Conventional Farming
ANOVA results showed that crop type (F value 41.844, P value <2e-16) had a highly significant effect on conventional yield, implying that yield differences between crop types were extremely significant. Organic fertilizer type also had a significant effect on conventional yield (F value 4.309, P value 0.00211), but the effect was small relative to crop type.
The box plots revealed the distribution of conventional yield across crop types under different fertilizer types. In particular, certain crop types such as vegetables and fruits showed higher yields with plant-based fertilizers, while cereal crops performed better with animal-based fertilizers. Thus, crop type is the dominant factor influencing traditional agricultural yields, more so than the effect of fertilizer type.
Conclusion & Discussion
In traditional agriculture, the average yield of root and vegetable crops is significantly higher than in organic farming. However, in the case of grains, fruits, and legumes, this difference is less pronounced, suggesting that these crops may be better suited to organic cultivation methods.
Although the yield of organic farming may be slightly lower, its environmental and social benefits could offset the shortfall in production. The significant interaction between crop type and farming practices indicates that agricultural producers need to consider the characteristics of crops when choosing agricultural practices. This also suggests that researchers should take into account the interactions between crops and the environment when designing agricultural systems. Organic farming has sustainable development advantages in environmental protection. Conducting in-depth research on crop types more suitable for organic farming and exploring methods to increase their yield is a very viable approach. Future research should consider more environmental and management variables to comprehensively assess their impact on agricultural yields.
Our comprehensive research demonstrates that in both organic and traditional agricultural practices, the type of organic fertilizer also holds significant importance, albeit to a lesser extent compared to crop types. While the impact of fertilizer type is secondary to that of crop type, it is nonetheless an important factor, particularly in strategies aimed at maximizing yields for specific crops. Moreover, the effectiveness of fertilizer types varies with different crops.
For organic agricultural producers, it is advisable to select crop and fertilizer combinations based on local soil and climate conditions, keeping in mind the significant role of crop type in yield optimization. In traditional agriculture, producers should consider the specific nutritional needs of their crops when choosing fertilizers. For example, nitrogen-rich plant-based fertilizers are recommended for crops with high nitrogen requirements, such as vegetables, while animal fertilizers might provide a more balanced nutrient profile for grain crops. Further field trials for other crop types are suggested to determine the most effective fertilizer type. In conclusion, traditional agricultural producers should make informed decisions based on the interplay between crop and fertilizer types, effectively optimizing yields.