The impact of sustainable agricultural practices on plant species diversity in local environments

Azhar Taher Sleibi

Abstract


Agricultural intensification can reduce plant diversity and degrade habitats, highlighting the need for farming practices that maintain ecological sustainability. This study evaluated the effects of organic, integrated sustainable and conventional farming systems on plant biodiversity and habitat condition across 15 farms (five per system). Plant diversity was assessed using the Shannon–Wiener biodiversity index, while crop rotation, plant species richness, and habitat degradation were comparatively evaluated. Organic farms exhibited the highest mean Shannon–Wiener index (2.96), followed by integrated sustainable farms (2.67), whereas conventional farms recorded the lowest value (2.36). Habitat degradation showed the opposite trend, with the highest score under conventional management (8.0) and the lowest under organic management (2.4). Organic and integrated sustainable farms also generally showed greater crop-rotation implementation and plant species richness than conventional farms. Crop rotation was strongly and positively correlated with plant biodiversity (r = 0.87), whereas habitat degradation showed a strong negative correlation with biodiversity (r = −0.89). Overall, the findings indicate that sustainable farming practices, particularly organic management, are associated with enhanced plant diversity and reduced habitat degradation. Promoting diversified rotations and minimizing habitat disturbance may therefore contribute to biodiversity conservation and more sustainable agricultural landscapes.

Keywords


Agricultural sustainability; Plant biodiversity; Organic farming; Crop rotation; Habitat degradation

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.33804/pp.010.05.6214

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