review · Journal of Plant Sciences
Applying organic amendments improves the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil while supporting environmental quality. Evidence shows that organic treatments reduce soil bulk density by over 5 percent compared with sole urea fertilisation, and every 1 percent increase in organic matter raises water holding capacity by up to 3.7 percent. Chemically, organic carbon can rise by up to 58 percent and organic nitrogen by up to 90 percent, depending on the dosage and material type. Biologically, repeated applications increase soil microbial biomass by up to 100 percent and enzymatic activity by 30 percent. These inputs also aid climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration. However, benefits are primarily long term, and organic resources often face competing demands as livestock fodder or fuel. Consequently, combining organic amendments with inorganic fertilisers alongside physical and biological conservation measures is recommended for sustained soil fertility.
Maintaining healthy soil is essential for long-term food security and climate change mitigation. This synthesis demonstrates that organic materials substantially improve soil structure, nutrient retention and biological activity over time. Recognising trade-offs, such as competing uses for biomass as fuel or animal feed, helps agricultural planners and land managers adopt balanced strategies combining organic inputs with conventional fertilisers and conservation practices.
The findings inform agricultural input blending, compost formulation and sustainable farm management programmes. Direct users include agricultural extension officers, fertiliser blenders and farm managers seeking optimal combinations of organic and inorganic inputs. Because the work is a literature review synthesising established agronomic data rather than testing a specific product, the findings represent early-stage conceptual guidance rather than a market-ready technology.
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The main objective of this paper is to review the main effects of organic amendments on soil fertility and environmental quality. The review showed that both organic amendment types could improve the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of soil and environmental quality in a dose dependent manner and frequency of application. Application of organic amendments lower soil bulk density values by more than 5% versus sole urea fertilized soil and for each 1% increase inorganic matter, soil water holding capacity increased by up to 3.7%. Organic amendments play a positive role in chemical characteristics of the soil including increase in organic carbon (up to 58% with 120 t ha<sup>-1</sup> versus unfertilized soil) and organic nitrogen up to 90% depending on the type and the level applied. Repeated application of organic amendments to cropland led to an improvement of microbial biomass by up to 100% and increased enzymatic activity by 30%. Organic amendments also play a positive role in climate change mitigation by soil carbon sequestration although the size of which is dependent on their type, rates and frequency of application. However, organic amendments have more of long-term return rather than short-term positive effect and there is competition of organic materials for the purpose of fodder or fuel. As a result, additional measures such as physical and biological soil conservation measures should get due attention and it is better to use the combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers in order to sustain soil fertility and environmental quality.
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DOI: 10.11648/j.jps.20200805.12
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