Summary
This randomised block design field trial, conducted at the College of Agriculture, Pune, India (May–November 2024), compared five farming systems — conventional, standard package of practices, organic, zero-budget natural farming, and climate-resilient farming — in terms of their effects on soil physico-chemical and biological properties under soybean cultivation on Inceptisol. The study provides short-season evidence that alternative farming systems, particularly climate-resilient approaches, may enhance soil nutrient availability and biological activity relative to conventional practice, though stable chemical parameters such as pH and EC suggest these changes are not yet reflected in broader soil chemistry. As a single-season study, the findings offer indicative rather than conclusive evidence of long-term soil health trajectories under these contrasting management regimes.
UK applicability
This study was conducted in a semi-arid Indian context on Inceptisol soils under a soybean crop, which limits direct transferability to UK conditions; however, the comparative framework — particularly the evaluation of organic and climate-resilient farming practices against conventional systems — is broadly relevant to UK debates around sustainable soil management and the Environmental Land Management scheme.
Key measures
Soil pH; electrical conductivity (EC); calcium carbonate content; available macronutrients (likely N, P, K); available micronutrients; soil biological properties (likely microbial biomass or enzyme activity)
Outcomes reported
The study measured soil physico-chemical properties (pH, EC, calcium carbonate, available macro- and micronutrient content) and biological properties under five contrasting farming systems in a soybean crop grown on Inceptisol. Results indicated that whilst chemical properties such as pH, EC and calcium carbonate were largely unaffected by treatment, available nutrient content and biological indicators were improved under certain practices, with climate-resilient farming appearing to perform most favourably.
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