Summary
Published in the journal Sustainability in 2018, this paper by Tiziano Gomiero reviews the relationship between organic farming systems and soil quality, drawing on the broader scientific literature to assess how organic management affects soil biological, chemical, and physical properties. The paper likely synthesises evidence on the trade-offs and benefits of organic approaches relative to conventional agriculture, with particular attention to long-term soil health outcomes. It contributes to the ongoing debate about the sustainability credentials of organic food systems by grounding the discussion in soil science.
UK applicability
While the review is international in scope, its findings are broadly applicable to UK farming policy and practice, particularly in the context of the post-Brexit agri-environment framework (e.g. Sustainable Farming Incentive) which incentivises soil health improvements and organic conversion.
Key measures
Soil organic matter (%); microbial biomass; soil biodiversity indices; erosion rates; nutrient availability; crop yield comparisons
Outcomes reported
The paper likely reviews evidence on how organic farming practices influence key soil quality indicators such as organic matter, microbial biomass, erosion resistance, and nutrient cycling compared with conventional systems.
Topic tags
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