{"id":40991,"date":"2026-02-19T00:01:13","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T05:01:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/?p=40991"},"modified":"2026-02-18T15:27:43","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T20:27:43","slug":"study-shows-soil-carbon-sequestration-and-crop-yields-increase-substantially-in-organic-farming-systems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2026\/02\/study-shows-soil-carbon-sequestration-and-crop-yields-increase-substantially-in-organic-farming-systems\/","title":{"rendered":"Study Shows Soil Carbon Sequestration and Crop Yields Increase Substantially in Organic Farming Systems"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Beyond Pesticides<\/em>, February 19, 2026) A study published in Scientific Reports <\/em><\/a>highlights the benefits of organic agriculture<\/a> in comparison to different farming systems over five years on four crops (maize, tomato, faba bean, and potato). \u201cSoil carbon sequestration<\/a> is a long-time storage of carbon in soil which represents 70% of the carbon in land,\u201d the authors note. \u201cTherefore, the main aim of this study is to investigate the effect of the agricultural practice systems on the soil carbon sequestration and properties, productivity, water consumption, soil carbon sequestration, CO2<\/sub> emission and cost of some agricultural crops.\u201d As a result, the experiment reveals that, compared to chemical-intensive farming, organic methods enhance soil properties, reduce water consumption, provide higher yields and higher soil carbon sequestration, reduce CO2 emissions, and achieve the highest total net profit for all four crops after five years.<\/p>\n

Study Importance<\/strong><\/p>\n

The topic of food security and sustainable agricultural systems is a crucial one, particularly as environmental degradation escalates. \u201cRecently, organic agricultural systems have drawn much attention as alternative ways to produce food and ensure security in terms of environmental sustainability,\u201d the researchers say, while Beyond Pesticides<\/a> and organic advocates have been discussing the viability of organic agriculture for decades. The most important factor for crop production is soil quality, as healthy soils provide vital ecosystem services for nutrient and water cycles, as well as offering habitat for soil biodiversity<\/a>. Soil processes and the soil microbiome<\/a> are very complex in nature, relying on many soil quality indicators such as soil organic carbon (SOC), pH, and available phosphorus.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe SOC content has a direct and indirect impact on biological, chemical, and physical soil properties,\u201d the authors share. They continue: \u201cNowadays, SOC contents decrease in the intensified agricultural system… Consequently, there is an urgent need for agricultural practices to counteract SOC losses and build additional SOC.\u201d<\/p>\n

Previous research<\/a> shows that organic farming systems improve soil quality indicators such as SOC contents, microbial biomass, and soil respiration. These alternative management practices, as defined by the Organic Foods Production Act<\/em> (OFPA) and implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), provide a holistic solution to the escalating public health, biodiversity, and climate crises. As the only agricultural system with a requirement for a farm systems plan, inspections, and certification for compliance with organic standards, an enforcement mechanism, and rigorous public oversight, organic farming promotes sustainable, cost-competitive, and profitable practices that enhance soil health<\/a> and biodiversity<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Under OFPA, organic producers are prohibited from using synthetic inputs unless found by the National Organic Standards Board<\/a> (NOSB) that their use: \u201c(i) would not be harmful to human health or the environment; (ii) is necessary to the production or handling of the agricultural product because of the unavailability of wholly natural substitute products; and (iii) is consistent with organic farming and handling.\u201d Under this USDA organic standard, nearly all petrochemical pesticides and all synthetic fertilizers, as well as sewage sludge (biosolids), are prohibited<\/a>, and the organic sector continues to grow exponentially.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Organic farming is one of the best ways not only to reduce the deterioration of water quality but also to decrease food toxicity,\u201d the researchers write. \u201cFields that have been continuously managed organically for years<\/a> have lower numbers of pests, which has been attributed to increased biodiversity and abundance of multiple trophic interactions as well as changes in plant metabolites.\u201d<\/p>\n

Methodology and Results<\/strong><\/p>\n

The current study was conducted on 27 plots at a farm in Belbeis, Al-Sharqia Governorate, Egypt. All plots had a five-year crop rotation of maize and tomato in the summer season and faba bean and potato in the winter season, with three replicates per farming system (conventional, organic, and biodynamic).<\/p>\n

Regarding effects on the physical and chemical properties of soil, the results \u201cindicate that the bulk density of the soil changed with the type of farming practice,\u201d with organic having lower bulk density (less compacted and more microbial activity) than conventional. The use of chemical fertilizers in the conventional system also shows an increase in soil pH. \u201cThese results agreed with those obtained by Lori et al<\/em>.<\/a> who found that the organic farming system gave the best soil quality compared to the conventional farming system,\u201d the authors note.<\/p>\n

The water consumption for the four different crops \u201cincreased during the experimental period for conventional farming system more than the other farming systems (organic and biodynamic), because the use of biofertilizers increases the water holding capacity, which shows how organic farming systems can save water compared to conventional ones. Water use efficiency values for organic plots were also higher than conventional plots. The experiment highlights how soil carbon sequestration is lowest in conventional systems, which is supported by previous research<\/a>. The amount of CO2<\/sub> emission reduction is higher in organic systems when compared to conventional systems, also supported by previous scientific literature<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Regarding crop yield, and due to the improvement of soil properties with organic methods, the highest yield after the fifth season was with organic systems<\/strong>. \u201cThe maize yield increased by 6.97, 30.92<\/strong> and 21.79% for conventional, organic<\/strong> and biodynamic, respectively, after five year,\u201d the researchers report. They continue: \u201cThe tomato yield increased by 21.37, 65.89<\/strong> and 54.48% for conventional, organic<\/strong> and biodynamic, respectively, while, the faba bean yield increased by 30.47, 51.69<\/strong> and 31.96% for conventional, organic<\/strong> and biodynamic, respectively, and the potato yield increased by 27.19, 38.50<\/strong> and 44.85% for conventional, organic<\/strong> and biodynamic, respectively.\u201d These results agree with previous findings as well. (See studies here<\/a>, here<\/a>, and here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

In summary, the authors state: \u201cThe experiment was carried out successively to investigate the effect of the agricultural practice systems on the soil properties, yield, water consumption, CO2<\/sub> emission and cost of some agricultural crops. It is concluded that the agricultural practices for different farming systems enhanced the soil properties,\u201d with undeniable benefits of organic agriculture.<\/p>\n

Previous Research<\/strong><\/p>\n

Scientific literature, as highlighted in the Daily News<\/em> coverage below from the last two years, continues to support the viability, productivity, and profitability of widespread organic agriculture. In establishing healthy soils through organic practices, the use of petrochemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers becomes obsolete.<\/p>\n

Through the following roundup of articles, the environmental and health benefits of organic systems that are crucial for sustainable food production continue to be documented:<\/p>\n