This experiment has been added by the GLTEN Curators using existing published sources.
Objective
SysCom India is one of three trials in three different countries (Kenya, India, Bolivia) assessing the effects of conventional and organic farming.
Description
Cotton, soybean and wheat production are compared in a two-year crop rotation. Treatments are (i) organic, (ii) biodynamic, (iii) conventional, and (iv) conventional with genetically modified Bt cotton. These treatments represent local farming systems and reflect the prevailing concerns of farmers, farmers’ organizations and politicians.
Data collection started in 2007. Parameters such as weather, agronomic and economic performance, soil fertility, nutrient contents in plant materials, as well as diversity of insects and weeds are assessed.
The climate is semi-arid, with an average annual precipitation of 800 mm in a single peak monsoon season, usually lasting from mid-June to September. Temperature ranges from 15 - 49°C and is highest in May/June and lowest in December/January.
Climate properties
Variable
Time period
Value (range)
Units
precipitation
800
millimeter
Design period: (2007—)
Design description
The experiment tests a two year rotation, with half of the plots in the first rotation phase and the other half in the second rotation phase.
Number of plots
32
Number of replicates
4
Number of harvests per year
2
Crops
Crop
Years grown
cotton
soybeans
wheat
Crop Rotation
Unnamed
1
cotton
2
soybeans
wheat
Factor
Factor name
Factor levels
farming system
biodynamic agriculture
Includes green manuring and intercropping, non-GM cotton. Pest control is by manual weeding and organic pesticides.
organic agriculture
Includes green manuring and intercropping, non-GM cotton. Pest control is by manual weeding and organic pesticides.
conventional agriculture
No green manuring or intercropping. Non GM-cotton. Pest control is by manual weeding and synthetic pesticides and herbicides.
GM agriculture
No green manuring or intercropping. GM Bt-cotton. Pest control is by manual weeding and synthetic pesticides and herbicides.