Impact of conventional, organic and conservation agriculture on soil functions and multifunctionality

Summary

The green revolution and the intensification of arable production have made a substantial contribution to increased world food production over the last 50 years. However, intensive agricultural practices have also given rise to environmental concerns such as decreased biodiversity, impaired water quality, and degraded soil quality. Soil is the basis for food production and provides a range of ecosystem functions, mostly mediated through the soil biota. Various strategies and management practices have been suggested to preserve and improve soil functioning. These include organic farming, agricultural practices with reduced or no soil tillage (e.g. conservation agriculture), and the use of cover crops instead of longer bare fallow periods. However, how soil improving cropping systems influence a range of soil functions is still unclear.