Impact of integrated farming systems on nutrient cycling efficiency and farm profitability

Abstract

Integrated farming systems link two or more agricultural enterprises to recycle nutrients between them. This research quantified nitrogen and phosphorus use efficiency, organic carbon balance, and net returns in four systems crop-livestock, crop-fish, agroforestry, and conventional monoculture over two years (2021-2023) near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. N use efficiency was highest in agroforestry (41.2 kg/kg) and lowest in monoculture (24.6 kg/kg). Soil organic carbon increased by 0.18% in agroforestry versus a 0.04% decline in monoculture. Net farm income was 38-67% higher in integrated systems. Nutrient recycling between enterprises can substantially raise resource efficiency and profitability in arid-zone agriculture.