SOIL HEALTH AS A CORNERSTONE OF ECO-FRIENDLY GARDEN MANAGEMENT: A REVIEW OF PHYSICO-CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL DYNAMICS IN KAVIVARYA MOROPANT BOTANICAL GARDEN, BARAMATI, INDIA
Jul 2026· Asian Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology & Environmental Sciences· Vol 29, pp. 300-305· 0 citations
Abstract
Soil health plays a crucial role in plant productivity, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem stability, making it essential for sustainable garden management. This experimental study evaluated the impact of eco-friendly practices on the physico-chemical and biological properties of soil in a college botanical garden. Soil samples from organically managed plots were compared with those from conventionally managed plots using standard analytical and microbiological methods, assessing parameters such as soil pH, organic carbon, moisture content, microbial biomass, and enzyme activity. Results indicated significantly higher organic carbon, improved soil structure, and enhanced microbial activity in eco-friendly plots (p < 0.05), along with greater populations of beneficial nitrogen-fixing and phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms. These improvements supported better plant growth and reduced dependence on chemical inputs. The study highlights that practices such as composting, mulching, crop rotation, and biofertilizer application effectively enhance soil fertility and ecological sustainability, emphasizing botanical gardens as important sites for promoting sustainable horticultural management.
Soil salinization has become a major constraint on sustainable agricultural development and the improvement of crop productivity. However, the effects of biochar combined with different organic amendments on the microbial ecology of saline–alkaline soils and crop performance remain insufficiently understood. This study evaluated the effects of different amendment strategies, including sole applications of fulvic acid (FA), organic fertilizer (OF), and biochar (BC), as well as their combinations. Soil bacterial community composition, richness, and diversity, oat agronomic traits, hay yield, and forage quality indicators were assessed. Spearman correlation analysis and the Mantel test were employed to examine the relationships among soil physicochemical properties, microbial communities, and crop performance. Combined applications exerted stronger effects on modulating soil bacterial community composition than sole applications, while FA, BC, or their combinations significantly enhanced bacterial richness and diversity. Crop responses exhibited distinct functional differentiation among combined treatments. The biochar combined with fulvic acid (BC + FA) treatment showed the greatest potential for promoting oat growth and increasing yield, with plant height and stem diameter reaching 99.20 cm and 3.99 mm, respectively, and hay yield increasing by 48.5% compared with the control treatment. In contrast, the biochar combined with organic fertilizer (BC + OF) treatment significantly increased crude protein content (CP) and reduced acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) contents, indicating improved forage quality. Although the crude fat content was numerically higher under BC + OF, no significant differences were observed among treatments. Correlation analyses further revealed that changes in soil physicochemical properties were associated with variations in several dominant bacterial genera, which were correlated with oat agronomic traits and forage quality indicators. Overall, the combined application of biochar with fulvic acid or organic fertilizer improved saline-alkaline soil microbial characteristics and showed potential for enhancing forage oat yield and quality, with BC + FA primarily improving yield production and BC + OF mainly enhancing forage quality.
Teng Wang, Zhen Li, Shilan Shao et al.· Land· 0 citations
Soil quality is a crucial determinant of agricultural productivity and ecosystem sustainability. This study investigates the role of vermicompost as an effective amendment for revitalizing soil quality at St. Philomena's College (Autonomous) Mysore, focusing on its effects on physicochemical properties, biological activity and overall soil health. Vermicompost is the product of organic waste processing by earthworms, resulting in a nutrient-rich material that enhances soil structure, fertility and microbial diversity. Field experiments were conducted across diverse agro-ecosystems within the college's agricultural research facilities to assess the impact of varying vermicompost application rates on soil characteristics and plant growth. Key parameters measured included soil pH, organic matter content, nutrient availability (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium), microbial biomass, and plant growth metrics such as height, biomass. The results indicated significant improvements in soil structure, with increased aggregation and porosity, which facilitated enhanced water retention and aeration. Notably, vermicompost application led to a marked increase in organic matter levels, providing a sustained release of essential nutrients over time. Additionally, the combination of vermicompost with other organic amendments significantly increased plant growth parameters. For instance, studies have shown that vermicompost can enhance plant height by up to 26% and total biomass by 13% compared to controls. The also highlight the potential of vermicompost not only to ameliorate degraded soils but also to serve as a viable strategy for organic waste management. This study emphasizes the importance of integrating vermicompost into soil management regimes at St. Philomena's College to promote long-term soil health, enhance agricultural productivity including significant increases in plant growth and mitigate environmental impacts from conventional farming practices. Overall, vermicompost emerges as a multifaceted solution for revitalizing soil quality and improving plant growth, underscoring the need for broader adoption in modern agricultural systems.
Milagris Antonius, K. T. Vadiraj, T. Harsha· International Journal of Env...· 0 citations
Vermicompost is increasingly recognized as a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers, offering a wide range of agronomic and ecological benefits. This review synthesizes current knowledge on vermicompost’s role in enhancing soil fertility, improving crop yield and quality, suppressing plant diseases and pests, and contributing to organic waste recycling. Specifically, vermicompost improves soil structure, nutrient availability, and microbial activity, while acting as a biofertilizer and natural pest regulator through mechanisms such as induced systemic resistance and microbial antagonism. Field studies across various crops-including garlic, tomato, green gram, and maize demonstrate significant improvements in yield and nutritional content. Additionally, research conducted in Ethiopia highlights the potential of locally sourced vermicompost formulations and their integration with inorganic fertilizers for sustainable crop production. Overall, these findings affirm vermicompost’s value in organic agriculture and its contribution to soil health, environmental protection, and long-term ecosystem balance.
Mosissa Fekadu· Greener Journal of Soil Scie...· 0 citations
Greenhouse gasses emission, depletion of nutrients and soil degradation are major factors that are deteriorating soil health. A global challenge to agriculture is the production of enough crops while reducing the impact of intensive chemical inputs on the environment. Humic acids (HA), a main fraction of humic substances produced through humification of organic matter, are considered as multi-functional biostimulants playing an important role in sustainable and climate-smart crop production systems. Recent developments in molecular spectroscopy, humeomics, and soil–plant systems biology have significantly changed our understanding of HA; from inert recalcitrant macropolymers to supramolecular assemblies that are dynamic and govern soil physicochemical properties, microbial activity and plant physiological responses. This review critically synthesizes the available evidence on structure–function relationships of HA with soil fertility restoration, nutrient-use efficiency, crop productivity and environmental sustainability. Emphasis is placed on mechanisms involved in humic acid-mediated soil aggregation, cation exchange capacity improvement, nutrient chelation and modification of root architecture, hormonal signaling and stress tolerance. Nutrient-use efficiency can be improved through HA applications and lower synthetic fertilizer inputs, as well as long-term stabilization of soil carbon and immobilization of heavy metals through the formation of stable organo-mineral complexes. Despite these benefits, substantial variability in HA sources, extraction protocols and molecular composition as well as adoption methodologies continue to limit their reproducibility and widespread application. Knowledge gaps, such as the standardization of molecular characterization, omics-level validation of the plant and microbial responses, long-term field-scale assessment for carbon (C) permanence and agronomic performance of HA are discussed in this review. It also proposes future research and policy needs to develop humic-based amendments for resilient low-input agricultural systems.
M. Drosos, O. Oyebiyi, Muzammal Hoque et al.· Journal of Soils and Sedimen...· 0 citations
Soil Ameliorants are materials used to improve soil, playing a key role in rehabilitating and enhancing the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil. In the Organosol soil under study—commonly referred to as Histosol or Peat soil—the soil-improving materials play a vital role, as this soil is highly acidic, has very low levels of macro- and micro-nutrients, and contains organic acids that can be toxic to plants. The distribution of nutrients studied in Organosol soil shows a concentration of organic matter in the upper layer of the Organosol, where abundant nitrogen is bound organically; however, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium are very low due to leaching processes. In this study, the application of organic matter that supports microbial activity in Organosol soil—specifically the application of oil palm frond ash—can increase potassium (K) levels and soil acidity (pH), whilst the application of soil ameliorants can improve nutrient deficiencies in phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg), demonstrating a significant and pronounced effect when applied to Organosol soil.
Rhiki Budianto, E. Lubis· Tropical Plantation Journal· 0 citations
Rice-based agroecosystems in Bangladesh face mounting challenges from nutrient imbalance, declining soil organic matter, climate-related stress and inefficient fertilizer management. While intensive fertilizer use has raised productivity, it has also reduced nutrient use efficiency and degraded soil quality. Nanofertilizers and organic soil amendments have emerged as complementary strategies to improve nutrient management and soil health in rice systems. This review synthesizes 85 peer-reviewed field, pot and laboratory studies (2005-2025) from Bangladesh and comparable South Asian agroecosystems, evaluating the individual and combined effects of nanofertilizers and soil amendments (biochar, compost, green manure, lime) on rice productivity, soil properties, nutrient dynamics and environmental outcomes. Nanofertilizers improve nutrient use efficiency through controlled release, while amendments enhance soil organic carbon, microbial activity and nutrient retention. Combined application produces synergistic gains, with yield improvements of approximately 25-40% reported under specific experimental conditions. These integrated strategies reduce nutrient losses, strengthen soil function and support more efficient, climate-resilient rice production aligned with SDGs 2, 6, 13 and 15. Most available evidence, however, derives from short-term field and pot trials; long-term, multi-location studies are needed to evaluate nanoparticle fate, environmental safety, economic feasibility and farmer adoption under diverse rice-growing conditions before large-scale deployment.
Ishrat Alam, Khalid Syfullah, Bijoya Saha et al.· Agricultural Science Digest...· 0 citations
We use cookies to run the site and, with your consent, for analytics and to show ads.
See our Cookie Policy.
