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

The RPTU University of Kaiserslautern-Landau has shown for the first time, in a joint study with BOKU University, that permaculture brings a significant improvement in biodiversity, soil quality and carbon storage.

In view of the challenges of climate change and species extinction, this type of agriculture proved to be a real alternative to conventional farming – and reconciled environmental protection and 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 is integrated into crop cultivation or the diversity of beneficial organisms is promoted to avoid the use of mineral fertilizers or pesticides.

In a study published in the journal Earth and Environment CommunicationsResearchers 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,” explains environmental scientist Julius Reiff from RPTU of the background to the study. “We wanted to close this gap and investigate whether permaculture actually has the repeatedly assumed 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 scientists examined various indicators of biodiversity and soil quality in the permaculture areas of these farms and in reference areas of otherwise dominant agriculture nearby.

For this purpose, soil samples from the plots were analyzed in the laboratory for their 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 in permaculture plots were significantly higher compared to surrounding conventional farmland, as well as compared to literature values ​​for conventional agriculture.

The carbon and humus contents of the permaculture soils were roughly comparable to the values ​​of the grassland soils in Germany. Pasture soil is considered an important reference, as it usually has the highest humus content in agricultural or forest areas in Germany.

The high content of humus in the soil is important for the conservation of nutrients and water – a key factor in times of climate change, for example to withstand periods of drought. Although no mineral fertilizers were used in the permaculture areas, their soils had a higher content of soil nutrients. This is also beneficial for human health. “The higher levels of nutrients in the soil suggest that these 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 areas than in the region’s predominantly agricultural reference areas. 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 areas. This is a good indicator of the overall biodiversity of an ecosystem and at the same time food base for important groups of species such as pollinators or natural antagonists of pests.

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

According to the researchers, the higher carbon stocks in the soil of permaculture areas can be explained on the one hand by a higher input of carbon-containing organic matter and on the other hand by the mulching effect.

This is because permaculture areas are fertilized almost exclusively with organic manure or compost; reduced tillage and a layer of mulch prevent topsoil from being eroded by heavy rainfall, for example. This means that carbon loss from the soil is lower in permaculture areas than in conventional farming.

The improvements seen can represent a real turning point

The research team draws a promising overall conclusion. “Permaculture appears to be a much more ecologically sustainable alternative to industrial agriculture,” said Julius Reiff. At the same time, yields from permaculture are comparable to those of industrial agriculture, as the researchers’ yet unpublished data show.

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

The phosphorus content the team found in the permaculture soils also gives cause 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 used in abundance and becomes a scarce commodity and a major challenge for agriculture worldwide. Another addition to permaculture,” said geoecologist Hermann Jungkunst from the RPTU.

Soil expert Johann Zaller from BOKU added, “I would not expect permaculture to promote earthworms and other soil organisms to this extent. Given the importance of soil life for mitigating climate extremes and for health and yield of crops, the results are very promising.”

Permaculture as a model? Politics and the education system have been 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 should be restructured in such a way that sustainable farming methods are given priority over conventional methods.

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

Furthermore, flagship projects can serve as living case studies to demonstrate the effectiveness of these sustainable farming methods.

The researchers conclude that permaculture seems to make possible the reconciliation of agriculture, environmental protection and nature conservation. This is a very hopeful finding given the dramatic environmental impact of conventional agriculture.