Agronomic and economic performance of organic forage, quinoa, and grain crop rotations in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest, USA

Summary

This 2019 field study assessed the agronomic viability and financial performance of organic crop rotations incorporating forage, quinoa, and grain crops in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. The research, conducted by researchers at Washington State University, examines trade-offs between yield, economic return, and soil health outcomes as suggested by the rotation design. The findings contribute to understanding of sustainable intensification pathways for dryland organic farming systems in marginal climates.

UK applicability

The Palouse region's semi-arid dryland conditions and rainfall patterns differ substantially from most UK growing zones; however, findings on organic rotation design, soil carbon sequestration, and economic viability of alternative crops (quinoa) may inform UK organic systems research in drier regions of the south and east. The methodological approach to integrating agronomic and economic metrics would be transferable to UK organic farming research.

Key measures

Crop yields, gross revenue, net profit, production costs, soil properties, and rotation system performance across years

Outcomes reported

The study evaluated agronomic yields, economic returns, and soil health outcomes across organic forage, quinoa, and grain crop rotations in the Palouse region. It compared performance metrics between different rotation strategies under organic management in a semi-arid dryland context.

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