Fruit and soil quality of organic and conventional strawberry agroecosystems

Summary

This peer-reviewed field study, published in PLOS ONE, compared organic and conventional strawberry agroecosystems in California across multiple farms, examining both soil health and fruit quality outcomes. The study found that organically managed soils tended to show higher biological activity and organic matter content, whilst organic strawberries demonstrated superior antioxidant capacity and phytonutrient concentrations in a number of measures. The research contributes evidence to debates about whether farming system choice influences the nutritional and functional quality of fresh produce as well as the condition of the underlying soil resource.

UK applicability

Conducted in California's intensive strawberry-growing region, the findings are not directly transferable to UK conditions given differences in climate, soil type, and production methods; however, the principle that organic management may confer benefits to both soil health and fruit phytonutrient content is relevant to UK horticultural policy discussions and ongoing debates about organic certification value.

Key measures

Soil organic matter (%); microbial biomass; antioxidant activity (DPPH assay); vitamin C content (mg/100g); total phenolics (mg GAE/100g); fruit flavour ratings; marketable yield (t/ha); economic returns

Outcomes reported

The study measured soil quality indicators and fruit quality attributes — including antioxidant activity, phytonutrient content, and sensory properties — across matched organic and conventional strawberry farms. It also assessed yield and economic performance of the two systems.

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