Summary
This narrative review synthesises research published through December 2023 on organic soil amendments and their impact on soil quality and agricultural productivity. The authors conclude that compost, vermicompost, biochar, and pomace offer promise for short-term improvements in soil structure and organic matter accumulation, though effectiveness varies substantially by soil texture, application rate, and cropping system. The review emphasises that integrated, tailored soil management approaches are necessary, and identifies tillage–amendment interactions and long-term effectiveness as priority areas for future investigation.
UK applicability
The findings are relevant to UK soil management and sustainable agriculture policy, particularly for restoring degraded soils common in intensive arable systems. However, the heterogeneity of amendment effects across soil types means UK practitioners would require context-specific validation for temperate clay, silt, and sandy loam soils typical of different UK regions.
Key measures
Soil organic matter content, aggregate formation, soil structure, water retention capacity, pH levels, nutrient availability, carbon sequestration, soil degradation restoration
Outcomes reported
The review synthesised evidence on how organic amendments (compost, vermicompost, biochar, pomace) affect soil chemical and physical properties, soil structure, water retention, nutrient availability, and carbon sequestration across various soil types and climates. Effects were found to vary significantly depending on soil texture, application rates, and cropping systems.
Topic tags
Dig deeper with Pulse AI.
Pulse AI has read the whole catalogue. Ask about this record, its theme, or how the findings apply to UK farming and policy — every answer cites the underlying studies.