At the Rutzendorf organic farm (150 ha; Marchfeld, Lower Austria), which is part of Landwirtschaftliche Bundesversuchswirtschaften (BVW) GmbH, a comprehensive long‑term study was established in 2003 to document, develop, and optimize organic arable farming and associated agri‑ecological measures. The study set out to determine how converting to organic management and establishing accompanying habitats affect soil indicators, nutrient, humus and water balances, plant communities, yield potential and crop quality, fauna, and economic viability.

To evaluate the sustainability of stockless organic arable systems, a long‑term trial has been conducted since 2003 by IFÖL (Institute of Organic Farming), comparing such systems with a livestock‑based control. Four fertilization treatments are tested, among other things, for their effects on soil properties (humus/soil organic matter and nutrient levels, soil structure), yields, and product quality:

  • DV1: green manuring only
  • DV2: green manuring + municipal biowaste compost
  • DV3: alfalfa removed + farmyard manure
  • DV4: alfalfa removed + biogas digestate (liquid slurry)

The Rutzendorf long‑term trial is the only continuously managed organic long‑term field experiment in Austria. Its results are therefore highly significant for both agricultural practice and scientific knowledge. The organic long‑term trial has been designated a “Regular Site” by LTER‑Austria (the Society for Long‑Term Ecological Research) and, together with other agricultural long‑term experiments, forms part of the agroecological eLTER Marchfeld cluster.

More information: https://deims.org/f3a6eebe-ae82-4fc6-a1ec-d9db723be139

 

 

Publications

Salehi, A., Gorfer, M., Surböck, A., Strohmeier, S., Seidel, S., Gregur, P., Berger, H., Gollner, G. (2026): Soil Physicochemical Properties, Microbial Communities, and Lucerne Performance under Organic Fertilization in a Long-Term Cropping System in Austria. European Journal of Agronomy 181: 128299.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2026.128299 

Salehi, A., Gorfer, M., Surböck, A., Strohmeier, S., Seidel, S, Gregur P., Berger, H., Gollner G. (2026): Soil profile stratification under long-term organic fertilization: responses of soil fertility, structure, and microbiomes in a lucerne-based rotation. EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-20346, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-20346.  EGU-Poster

Salehi, A., Surböck, A., Seidel, S., Friedel JK, Freyer, B., Gollner, G. (2026): Organische Düngungssysteme und die Ertragsstabilität in Bio-Fruchtfolgen über 10 Jahre. In: Beiträge zur 18. Wissenschaftstagung Ökologischer Landbau. Widerspruch begegnen - viele Antworten, ein Ökolandbau. 3. bis 6. März 2026, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms Universität Bonn. Hrsg.: Kemper, R., Athmann, M., Häring, A., Neuhoff, D., Müller-Lindenlauf, M., Schmitz, L., Stumm, C., Tiemann, I., Döring, T.F.; S. 32-35.

Salehi A, Surböck A, Gollner G, Eitzinger J, Friedel JK, Wohlmuth M-L, (2025): The effects of organic fertilization systems on yield and yield variability of lucerne and market crops: Insights from a 10-year field experiment in Austria. European Journal of Agronomy 169:127662. doi:10.1016/j.eja.2025.127662.

Salehi A, Surböck A, Freyer B, Friedel JK, Gollner G. (2025): 10-Year study on the impact of organic fertilization on winter wheat yield and quality following lucerne and grain pea in a dry sub-humid region under organic cultivation in Austria. Journal of agriculture and food research 21: 101888. doi:10.1016/j.jafr.2025.101888.

Tiefenbacher A, Schaumberger A, Kaul H-P, Zillner E, Hans A, Surböck A, et al. (2025): Data on yield and soil parameters of three diverse tilled long-term experimental sites in Austria (2018–2022). Scientific Data [Internet]. 2025;12:821. doi:10.1038/s41597-025-05086-6.