Permaculture has been found to be a sustainable alternative to conventional agriculture

In a joint study with BOKU University, the RPTU University of Kaiserslautern-Landau demonstrated for the first time that permaculture significantly improves biodiversity, soil quality and carbon storage.

Given the challenges of climate change and species extinction, this type of agriculture has emerged as a real alternative to conventional farming – combining environmental protection with high yields.

Permaculture uses natural cycles and ecosystems as a blueprint. Food is produced in an agricultural ecosystem that is as self-regulating, natural and diverse as possible. For example, livestock farming is integrated into crop production or a diversity of beneficial organisms is encouraged to avoid the use of mineral fertilizers or pesticides.

In a study published in the journal Earth and environment communicationresearchers from RPTU and BOKU have now for the first time comprehensively investigated the effects of this planning and management concept on the environment.

“Although permaculture projects have been established around the world since the 1970s, there has been surprisingly little accompanying scientific research,” environmental expert Julius Reiff from the RPTU explains the background to the study. “We wanted to close this gap and investigate whether permaculture actually has the repeatedly predicted positive effects on the agricultural ecosystem in practice.”

Permaculture: Clear benefits for biodiversity and soil quality

The research team examined a total of nine farms in Germany and Luxembourg. The researchers examined various indicators of biodiversity and soil quality on the permaculture plots of these farms and on reference plots of otherwise predominant agriculture in the vicinity.

For this purpose, soil samples from the plots were analyzed in the laboratory for organic carbon content, micro- and macronutrients and the activity of soil microorganisms. Biodiversity of earthworms, birds and plants was determined as a measure of biodiversity.

According to the study, soil quality and biodiversity on permaculture plots were significantly higher compared to surrounding conventional farmland and compared to literature values ​​for conventional agriculture.

The content of carbon and humus in permaculture soils was roughly comparable to values ​​in pastures in Germany. Grasslands are considered an important reference because they usually have the highest humus content from agricultural or forestry areas in Germany.

A high humus content in soil is important for storing nutrients and water – a key factor in times of climate change, for example to withstand periods of drought. Although mineral fertilizers were not used on permaculture plots, their soils had a higher content of soil nutrients. This is also beneficial for human health. “Higher levels of nutrients in the soil indicate that they are also higher in the crops produced,” says Julius Reiff.

In addition to soil quality, biodiversity also benefits: researchers found three times more bird species in permaculture plots than in reference plots of predominantly agricultural land in the region. They also identified three times more earthworms and a higher biomass of soil microorganisms, which are essential for the decomposition and conversion of nutrients in the soil.

Compared to conventional agriculture, researchers found three times the number of plant species in permaculture plots. This is a good indicator of the overall biodiversity of the ecosystem and at the same time a food base for important groups of species such as pollinators or natural antagonists of pests.

Greater species diversity is also created by growing mixed crops and usually in combination with woody plants (agroforestry) in permaculture. This diversity of plants and structures is attractive to a wide variety of animal groups. The absence of pesticides is also beneficial for biodiversity.

Higher carbon reserves in the soil of permaculture areas can be explained, on the one hand, by a higher supply of carbon-containing organic matter and, on the other hand, by the mulching effect, according to scientists.

Permaculture areas are fertilized almost exclusively with manure or compost; reduced tillage and a layer of mulch prevent erosion of the top layer of the soil by, for example, heavy rainfall. This means that the loss of carbon from the soil is lower in permaculture areas than in conventional cultivation.

The observed improvements could represent a real turnaround

The research team draws a promising overall conclusion. “Permaculture appears to be a much more environmentally sustainable alternative to factory farming,” said Julius Reiff. At the same time, the income from permaculture is comparable to industrial agriculture, as the researchers’ unpublished data show.

“Given the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss, the observed improvements would be a real game changer if applied to larger areas,” says ecosystem analysis expert Martin Entling from the RPTU.

The phosphorus content that the team found in permaculture soils also gives reason for hope. “I did not expect such a high amount of phosphorus. Plants need phosphorus from the soil in order to grow. In intensive agriculture, phosphorus is applied in abundance and is becoming a scarce commodity and a big challenge for agriculture worldwide. Another supplement for permaculture,” said geoecologist Hermann Jungkunst from RPTU.

Soil expert Johann Zaller from BOKU added: “I would not have expected permaculture to support earthworms and other soil organisms to such an extent. Given the importance of soil life for mitigating climate extremes and for crop health and yields, the results are very promising.” .”

Permaculture as a model? Politics and the education system are challenged

In order for permaculture to be introduced into agricultural practice on a larger scale, the researchers recommend that financial incentives such as taxes and subsidies be restructured to favor sustainable farming methods over conventional methods.

The education system for farmers also needs to be overhauled to teach more sustainable approaches such as permaculture, agroecology and pesticide-free regenerative agriculture.

In addition, flagship projects could serve as living case studies to demonstrate the effectiveness of these sustainable agricultural methods.

The researchers conclude that permaculture seems to make it possible to reconcile agriculture, environmental protection and nature conservation. This is a very promising finding considering the dramatic impact of conventional agriculture on the environment.