Responses of soil organic carbon, aggregate diameters, and hydraulic properties to long-term organic and conventional farming on a Vertisol in India

Organic matter management can improve soil structural properties. This is crucial for agricultural soils in tropical regions threatened by high rainfall intensities. Compared to conventional farming, organic farming is usually deemed to increase organic carbon and improve soil structural properties such as stability and permeability. However, how much, if any, buildup of organic carbon is possible or indeed occurring also depends on soil type and environmental factors. We compared the impact of seven years of organic farming (annually 13.6 t ha(-1) of composted manure) with that of conventional practices (2 t ha(-1) of farmyard manure with 150-170 kg N ha(-1) of mineral fertilizers) on soil structural properties. The study was conducted on a Vertisol in India with a two-year crop rotation of cotton soybean wheat. Despite large differences in organic amendment application, organic carbon was not significantly different at 9.6 mg C g(-1) on average in the topsoil. However, the size distribution of water-stable aggregates shifted toward more aggregates <137 mu m in the organic systems. Cumulative water intake was lower compared to the conventional systems, leading to higher runoff and erosion. These changes might be related to the lower pH and higher exchangeable sodium in the organic systems. Our results indicate that higher application of organic amendments did not lead to higher soil organic carbon and associated improvement in soil structures properties compared to integrated fertilization in this study. Chemical properties may dominate soil aggregation retarding the uptake and integration of organic amendments for sustainable agricultural intensification in tropical, semiarid climates.

Automated summary

Organic matter management plays an important role in improving soil structural properties, particularly for agricultural soils in tropical regions with high rainfall intensities. Organic farming is believed to increase organic carbon and enhance stability and permeability of the soil. However, the accumulation of organic carbon depends on soil type and environmental factors. This study compared the impact of organic farming and conventional practices on soil structural properties and found that higher application of organic amendments did not lead to significant increases in soil organic carbon. Changes in aggregate size distribution and lower water intake in the organic systems might be attributed to pH and exchangeable sodium levels. Chemical properties may dominate soil aggregation and limit the integration of organic amendments for sustainable agricultural intensification in tropical, semiarid climates.