Impact of Organic Farming on Crop Yield and Soil Fertility
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59436/jsiane.v5i1.31.2583-2093Keywords:
Organic Farming, Soil Fertility, Crop Yield, Sustainable Agriculture, Soil Organic Carbon, AgroecologyAbstract
Organic farming has emerged as a sustainable agricultural system aimed at improving soil fertility, enhancing biodiversity, and reducing environmental degradation. The present study evaluates the impact of organic farming practices on soil fertility parameters and crop yield in comparison with conventional agricultural systems. Organic farming relies on natural inputs such as compost, farmyard manure, green manure, and biological pest control, avoiding synthetic fertilisers and pesticides. The study analyses key soil health indicators, including soil organic carbon (SOC), nitrogen content, and microbial biomass, along with crop productivity under organic management. Results indicate that organic farming significantly enhances soil fertility by increasing SOC, improving nutrient cycling, and promoting microbial activity. Soil organic matter was found to increase by 40–60% under long-term organic management, leading to improved soil structure and water retention capacity. However, crop yield under organic systems was observed to be slightly lower during initial transition phases, with an average yield gap of 15–20% compared to conventional systems. Long-term studies demonstrate that yields stabilise and may become comparable due to improved soil quality and ecosystem resilience. Organic farming also contributes to environmental sustainability by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing biodiversity, and minimising soil and water pollution (FAO, 2022). The findings suggest that organic farming is a viable approach for sustainable agriculture, improving soil fertility while ensuring long-term crop productivity. Adoption of organic practices can play a significant role in achieving global food security and environmental conservation goals.
References
Blanco-Canqui, H., & Lal, R. (2008). Principles of soil conservation and management. Springer.
Bünemann, E. K., Bongiorno, G., Bai, Z., Creamer, R. E., De Deyn, G., de Goede, R., … & Brussaard, L. (2018). Soil quality – A critical review. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 120, 105–125.
Doran, J. W., & Zeiss, M. R. (2000). Soil health and sustainability: Managing the biotic component of soil quality. Applied Soil Ecology, 15(1), 3–11.
FAO. (2022). The state of food and agriculture: Leveraging food systems for inclusive rural transformation. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Giller, K. E., Witter, E., Corbeels, M., & Tittonell, P. (2015). Conservation agriculture and smallholder farming: The heretics’ view. Field Crops Research, 114(1), 23–34.
Hole, D. G., Perkins, A. J., Wilson, J. D., Alexander, I. H., Grice, P. V., & Evans, A. D. (2005). Does organic farming benefit biodiversity? Biological Conservation, 122(1), 113–130.
IPCC. (2021). Climate change 2021: The physical science basis. Cambridge University Press.
Lal, R. (2015). Restoring soil quality to mitigate soil degradation. Sustainability, 7(5), 5875–5895.
Lal, R. (2020). Soil organic matter and soil health. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 75(5), 111A–117A.
Reganold, J. P., & Wachter, J. M. (2016). Organic agriculture in the twenty-first century. Nature Plants, 2(2), 15221.
Seufert, V., Ramankutty, N., & Foley, J. A. (2012). Comparing yields of organic and conventional agriculture. Nature, 485(7397), 229–232.
Six, J., Bossuyt, H., Degryze, S., & Denef, K. (2004). A history of research on the link between soil biota and soil structure. Soil and Tillage Research, 79(1), 7–31.
Tilman, D., Cassman, K. G., Matson, P. A., Naylor, R., & Polasky, S. (2002). Agricultural sustainability and intensive production practices. Nature, 418(6898), 671–677.
Zhou, Z., Wang, C., & Luo, Y. (2022). Effects of organic fertilizers on soil fertility and crop yield. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 10, 1058071.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Maharaj Singh Educational Research Development Society
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
