Summary
This systematic review synthesises 179 studies examining natural farming (NF) practices as an eco-friendly alternative to pesticide-dependent agriculture for disease management. NF approaches—including microbial formulations (jeevamrit, beejamrit), mixed cropping, grass mulching and on-farm fungicides—operate through enhanced soil microbial diversity, activated plant defence mechanisms and pathogen suppression. The review addresses mechanistic understanding gaps and calls for field-level validation to support sustainable agricultural strategy development.
Regional applicability
Natural farming practices, particularly those documented in diverse agroecological contexts within this global review, may be adapted to United Kingdom temperate systems, though specific components (e.g. jeevamrit formulations) require validation under UK soil and climate conditions. The review's emphasis on soil microbial enhancement and reduced synthetic pesticide dependency aligns with UK organic certification and integrated pest management standards.
Key measures
Soil microbial biodiversity, plant disease suppression, plant defence pathways activation, sustainability outcomes across field experiments and laboratory trials
Outcomes reported
The review synthesised evidence on mechanisms by which natural farming practices contribute to plant disease management through soil microbial enhancement and plant defence activation. Field-level validation and sustainability outcomes across diverse agroecological contexts were assessed.
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