Study Shows Organic Transition Improved Soil

A study appearing in the Agronomy Journal documented the effect of the transition to organic farming on chemical and biochemical properties of a loam soil through a succession of five crop cycles over a 3-year period. This Spanish study, "Effect of Implementing Organic Farming on Chemical and Biochemical Properties of an Irrigated Loam Soil," found organically fertilized soils showed an increase in quantity and quality of organic matter, and an improvement in nutrient content, compared to inorganically fertilized soils. The study also noted that in general, animal compost improved chemical and biological properties more than vegetal compost.