14
May
Organic Grain Systems Lap Chemical-Intensive Practices in Critical Soil Health Markers
(Beyond Pesticides, May 14, 2025) Research by the Rodale Institute, Ohio State University, and Tennessee State University, published in Soil Science of America Journal, documents that organic grain cropping systems contain higher concentrations of total nitrogen and soil organic carbon, exceeding those found in conventional, chemical-intensive systems. This study is an extension of the Rodale Institute’s Farming System Trial (FST), a 40-year-long field study with the overarching goal of “[a]ddress[ing] the barriers to the adoption of organic farming by farmers across the country.â€
As communities across the country express concerns over the economic uncertainty surrounding tariffs on imported goods, organic advocates continue to call for investment in organic agriculture as a form of economic development. Previous economic analysis by Pennsylvania State University, published in the research report Economic impact of organic agriculture hotspots in the United States, finds that the domestic development of organic certified processing facilities, wholesalers, brokers, producers, and other aspects of the supply chain together could create highly sought after economic development in disinvested areas across the nation; areas that may have been historically battered by free trade agreements like the US-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA) and may be interested in promoting local revitalization efforts.
Background Information and Methodology
The methodology of this study is further discussed in previous Daily News articles and below in the section on organic versus conventional agricultural research.
The research authors did not declare any conflicts of interest in the context of developing this study. Financial support for this research includes, but is not necessarily limited to, Villum Kann Rasmussen Foundation and the Carbon Management and Sequestration Center. They also go on to thank Rodale Institute, including former Chief Scientist Kristine Nichols, PhD, “for helping develop soil sampling protocols and providing professional support during project implementation.â€
Results Main Takeaways
The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) conducted a review of the study in their newly created research tool, The Organic Research Hub. OFRF arrived at three main findings:
- “Manure-derived C[arbon] may be retained at larger proportions in the soil than C from cover crop residues, resulting in the long-term accumulation of topsoil SOC [soil organic carbon;]
- N[itrogen] additions through leguminous cover crop residue or composted manure may be more effective compared to mineral N fertilizers in enhancing TN [total nitrogen] over time [; and]
- Reduced tillage (RT) in organic cropping systems may contribute to higher SOC and TN concentrations between 0-20 cm, but may reduce crop yields slightly.â€
Klaus Lorenz, PhD, Ohio State University researcher and project director for the development of this study, shared some key farmer takeaways:
- “After 34 years, there is a significant difference in SOC and TN concentrations and stocks between conventional and organic grain cropping systems.
- Periodic applications of composted manure may enhance topsoil SOC accumulation in organic grain cropping systems, compared to conventional grain cropping systems.
- Organic grain cropping systems, both with and without manure integration, may enhance TN accumulation when compared to conventional grain cropping systems.â€
The researchers conclude that farming systems should continue to be assessed after 50-100 years to account for “management-associated changes in less responsible soil properties such as SOC.†The length of time required to conduct these studies underscores the importance of investing in long-term research projects, including through the Organic Research and Extensive Initiative (OREI). (See recent Daily News here to learn more about efforts to expand funding as the Senate Appropriations process moves forward this month.) The benefits of this type of research, which emphasizes exploring the nuances of soil health indicators and linkages to agricultural practices, stand to impact all farmers since this affects the function and success of any farming operation looking to invest back into their land.
Organic versus Chemical-Intensive Agricultural Research
Beyond Pesticides has reported extensively on mounting scientific evidence and peer-reviewed research on organic food systems as a solution to the issue of toxic inputs and practices. This research, and various other offshoots for different crops, has emerged from the concept of “continuous improvement†from the Rodale Institute’s 40-year comparative field study on organic versus non-organic farming, finding that “No-till and organic no-till are not created equal. Conventional no-till utilizes herbicides to terminate a cover crop, whereas organic systems use tools like the roller crimper. We have found that organic no-till practices year after year do not yield optimal results, so our organic systems utilize reduced tillage, and the ground is plowed only in alternating years.â€
The Rodale Institute’s website adds that, in order to model standard agricultural approaches, GM (genetically modified) crops and no-till were introduced to the conventional plots in 2008 when those techniques became common in the U.S. (See Daily News here.)
The Institute’s Farming Systems Trial (FST) on its 12-acre Pennsylvania parcel uses 72 experimental plots, with three broad approaches:
- Organic manure, representing a typical organic dairy or beef operation, featuring long rotations of annual feed grain crops and perennial forage crops, fertilized through legume cover crops and periodic applications of composted manure, and using diverse crop rotations as primary defenses against pests;
- Organic legume, representing a typical cash grain operation, featuring mid-length rotations of annual grain crops and cover crops, deploying leguminous cover crops as the sole fertilizers, and using only crop rotations as pest defense; and
- Conventional synthetic, representing a typical U.S. grain-producing enterprise, using synthetic nitrogen fertilizer, and controlling weeds with synthetic herbicides (according to recommendations of Penn State University Cooperative Extension).
As reported, each of those three is further divided into “no-till†and “tillage†strategies (tillage being the practice of digging up, turning over, or otherwise agitating the soil with mechanical tools — typically a plow or disc). This yields six different systems in the FST.
The FST finds:
- Organic systems achieve 3–6 times the profit of conventional production;
- Yields for the organic approach are competitive with those of conventional systems (after a five-year transition period);
- Organic yields during stressful drought periods are 40% higher than conventional yields;
- Organic systems leach no toxic compounds into nearby waterways (unlike pesticide-intensive conventional farming;
- Organic systems use 45% less energy than conventional; and
- Organic systems emit 40% less carbon into the atmosphere.
There are recent studies that compare chemical-intensive and regenerative organic agriculture, including a literature review published in Ecosystem Services by researchers at Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies and Rodale Institute European Regenerative Organic Center. This 2025 study identifies the biodiversity and soil health benefits of regenerative organic agriculture. In comparison to chemical-intensive farming, regenerative organic agriculture increases soil organic content by 22 percent, soil total nitrogen by 28 percent, and soil microbial biomass carbon by 133 percent, according to the research. (See Daily News here.)
There are additional studies that quantify the ecological and climate resilience benefits of organic agricultural practices, covered in previous Daily News. (See here and here.)
The work of Organic Farming Research Foundation provides the public, as well as farmers and agricultural researchers, with an analysis of peer-reviewed and experimental research in an easy-to-navigate hub. See a recent Daily News, Initiative in the European Union Embraces Organic as a Climate Solution, as Fires Accelerate in the U.S., to learn more about how this model can be further applied in the United States and European Union.
Call to Action
See the Keeping Organic Strong webpage to stay informed of critical issues that affect health, biodiversity, and climate in the context of continuous improvement of national organic standards.
What pesticides are registered for use on your average fruits and vegetables? See Eating with a Conscience to learn about the potential impacts on the ecosystems and farmworkers where produce is grown with petrochemical pesticides.
For more information on the pesticide hazards and adverse health linkages, see Gateway on Pesticide Hazards and Safe Pest Management and Pesticide-Induced Diseases Database.
All unattributed positions and opinions in this piece are those of Beyond Pesticides.
Sources: Soil Science of America Journal, Organic Farming Research Foundation
