Organic and Conventional Farming Systems Effect on Soil Properties: A Review

Abstract

Food security is of significant concern in developing countries. Increasing global population, consumption rates, shrinking of the available land and declining soil fertility are putting pressure on viable agricultural land and natural resources to attain food security. Therefore, conventional production system is practiced to meet the potential yield of food requirements. Scientists, organizations and policy makers emphasize on practicing organic farming system as an alternative for high productivity and high-quality agricultural products on a sustainable origin, and high- quality food could be produced through organic practice without affecting the environment. Agricultural intensification through conventional farming systems have proved to increase yield in the short-term but in the long- run jeopardized soil fertility through loss of viable soil nutrients. Despite conventional farming increasing yields, over the past 10 years, enormous controversy has raged over the use of fertilizers and pesticides and its impact on the environment. Another debate on the concern whether organic farming can feed the sharply fast-growing global population has been of the recent topic of discussion. Organic farming when given enough time can be able to produce sufficient food to curb food insecurity. Organic farming practice in Africa and other developing countries is still facing the challenge of production of sufficient biomass for organic inputs. Conventional farming without amendments cannot help in achieving agricultural sustainability.