Summary
This narrative review examines the multifaceted effects of organic fertiliser application on both soil fertility and crop resilience to abiotic stresses. The authors present evidence that organic fertilisers improve soil physical and biological properties whilst simultaneously enhancing plant physiological mechanisms—including osmoregulation, nutrient homeostasis, antioxidant responses and stress hormone synthesis—that confer greater tolerance to drought, salinity, heat and heavy metal contamination. The review aims to synthesise mechanistic pathways linking organic amendment use to improved crop productivity and stress resilience.
Regional applicability
The findings are potentially relevant to UK farming systems seeking to reduce chemical fertiliser dependency, particularly in light of recent policy drivers toward sustainable intensification. However, the review does not specify climate or pedoclimatic conditions, so applicability to UK-specific soil types, growing seasons and stress regimes (where drought and salinity are less pressing than in some global regions) would require field validation in British conditions.
Key measures
Soil organic matter content; soil structure and aggregate stability; nutrient uptake and use efficiency; cation exchange capacity; water-holding capacity; soil microbial activity; leaf water status; chlorophyll synthesis; osmolyte and hormone synthesis; antioxidant enzyme activity; tolerance indices for drought, salinity, heat and heavy metal stress
Outcomes reported
The review synthesises evidence on how organic fertilisers enhance soil fertility, crop yield and nutrient use efficiency, and documents mechanisms by which they improve plant tolerance to drought, salinity, heat and heavy metal stresses. The paper reports improvements in soil organic matter, structure, aggregate stability, microbial activity and multiple plant physiological traits under abiotic stress conditions.
Topic tags
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