Reducing Soil Disturbance Improves Agricultural Soil Health Across Farming Systems

A new study led by the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) reveals that less intensive soil management significantly improves soil health and multifunctionality.

Research conducted on over 50 Dutch farms, encompassing both conventional and organic systems, showed that reducing practices like frequent ploughing and increasing the use of grass-clover cover crops results in better soil performance.

Surprisingly, the intensity of soil disturbance was found to have a stronger effect on soil health than whether the farm was organic or conventional. This suggests that even conventional farms, which make up the majority, can greatly improve soil functionality by adopting less invasive techniques. The research emphasized that organic carbon content and bacterial biomass are key indicators of healthy soils.

Moreover, crop yields did not diminish with reduced soil management intensity, challenging the idea of ‘sustainable intensification’ and proposing ‘productive de-intensification’ as a more sustainable farming goal.

These findings, part of the Vital Soils project, indicate that meaningful improvements in soil health are achievable without fully transitioning to organic farming.