Comparative analysis of organic and conventional farming systems for vegetable production

Abstract:

Vegetable growers across the Aegean lowlands of Turkey face a difficult choice: conventional systems that maximise short-term yield or organic approaches that promise long-term soil health but may sacrifice marketable output. This research compared yield, input economics, soil quality, and produce safety under certified organic and conventional management for six vegetable crops tomato, aubergine, okra, chilli, cabbage, and cauliflower over two consecutive seasons (winter 2022-23 and summer 2023) at the Ege University, İzmir. Organic plots received farmyard manure, vermicompost, Azotobacter, phosphate-solubilising bacteria, and neem-based biopesticides, while conventional plots followed the standard fertiliser and pesticide schedule recommended by the provincial agriculture directorate. Conventional plots outyielded organic ones by 12-22% depending on crop and season, but organic plots showed 29.6% higher organic carbon, 14.3% greater available nitrogen, and 8.8% better dehydrogenase enzyme activity. Pesticide residue testing detected organophosphate traces in 31% of conventional samples against none in organic produce. Benefit-cost ratio was 1.92 for conventional and 1.78 for organic, but premium pricing narrowed this gap to near parity. The findings support transitional organic farming as economically viable if market linkages for premium produce are secured.