This paper aims to perform a meta\uffe2\uff80\uff90analysis of the literature comparing the environmental impacts of organic and conventional farming and linking these to differences in management practises. The studied environmental impacts are related to land use efficiency, organic matter content in the soil, nitrate and phosphate leaching to the water system, greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity.
Design/methodology/approachThe theoretic framework uses the driver\uffe2\uff80\uff90state\uffe2\uff80\uff90response framework and literature data were analysed using meta\uffe2\uff80\uff90analysis methodology. Meta\uffe2\uff80\uff90analysis is the statistical analysis of multiple study results. Data were obtained by screening peer reviewed literature.
FindingsFrom the paper's meta\uffe2\uff80\uff90analysis it can conclude that soils in organic farming systems have on average a higher content of organic matter. It can also conclude that organic farming contributes positively to agro\uffe2\uff80\uff90biodiversity (breeds used by the farmers) and natural biodiversity (wild life). Concerning the impact of the organic farming system on nitrate and phosphorous leaching and greenhouse gas emissions the result of the analysis is not that straightforward. When expressed per production area organic farming scores better than conventional farming for these items. However, given the lower land use efficiency of organic farming in developed countries, this positive effect expressed per unit product is less pronounced or not present at all.
Original valueGiven the recent growth of organic farming and the general perception that organic farming is more environment friendly than its conventional counterpart, it is interesting to explore whether it meets the alleged benefits. By combining several studies in one analysis, the technique of meta\uffe2\uff80\uff90analysis is powerful and may allow the generation of more nuanced findings and the generalisation of those findings.
", "keywords": ["Agriculture and Food Sciences", "2. Zero hunger", "GREENHOUSE-GAS EMISSIONS", "Environmental management", "NEW-ZEALAND", "CROPPING SYSTEMS", "NITROUS-OXIDE", "SOUTHERN GERMANY", "Agriculture", "SOIL QUALITY INDICATORS", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "MODELING APPROACH", "15. Life on land", "7. Clean energy", "Organic foods", "12. Responsible consumption", "Europe", "13. Climate action", "LEACHING LOSSES", "PHOSPHORUS P", "11. Sustainability", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "LONG-TERM CHANGES"], "contacts": [{"organization": "Mondelaers, Koen, Aertsens, Joris, Van Huylenbroeck, Guido,", "roles": ["creator"]}]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1108/00070700910992925"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/British%20Food%20Journal", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1108/00070700910992925", "name": "item", "description": "10.1108/00070700910992925", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1108/00070700910992925"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2009-09-26T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1111/gcb.14815", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-13T16:19:22Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2019-08-30", "title": "How to measure, report and verify soil carbon change to realize the potential of soil carbon sequestration for atmospheric greenhouse gas removal", "description": "AbstractThere is growing international interest in better managing soils to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) content to contribute to climate change mitigation, to enhance resilience to climate change and to underpin food security, through initiatives such as international \uffe2\uff80\uff984p1000\uffe2\uff80\uff99 initiative and the FAO's Global assessment of SOC sequestration potential (GSOCseq) programme. Since SOC content of soils cannot be easily measured, a key barrier to implementing programmes to increase SOC at large scale, is the need for credible and reliable measurement/monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) platforms, both for national reporting and for emissions trading. Without such platforms, investments could be considered risky. In this paper, we review methods and challenges of measuring SOC change directly in soils, before examining some recent novel developments that show promise for quantifying SOC. We describe how repeat soil surveys are used to estimate changes in SOC over time, and how long\uffe2\uff80\uff90term experiments and space\uffe2\uff80\uff90for\uffe2\uff80\uff90time substitution sites can serve as sources of knowledge and can be used to test models, and as potential benchmark sites in global frameworks to estimate SOC change. We briefly consider models that can be used to simulate and project change in SOC and examine the MRV platforms for SOC change already in use in various countries/regions. In the final section, we bring together the various components described in this review, to describe a new vision for a global framework for MRV of SOC change, to support national and international initiatives seeking to effect change in the way we manage our soils.Abstract. Extreme sensitivity of soil organic carbon (SOC) to climate and land use change warrants further research in different terrestrial ecosystems. The aim of this study was to investigate the link between aggregate and SOC dynamics in a chronosequence of three different land uses of a south Chilean Andisol: a second growth Nothofagus obliqua forest (SGFOR), a grassland (GRASS) and a Pinus radiata plantation (PINUS). Total carbon content of the 0-10cm soil layer was higher for GRASS (6.7 kg C m-2) than for PINUS (4.3 kg C m-2, while TC content of SGFOR (5.8 kg C m-2) was not significantly different from either one. High extractable oxalate and pyrophosphate Al concentrations (varying from 20.3-24.4 g kg-1, and 3.9-11.1 g kg-1, respectively) were found in all sites. In this study, SOC and aggregate dynamics were studied using size and density fractionation experiments of the SOC, \uffce\uffb413C and total carbon analysis of the different SOC fractions, and C mineralization experiments. The results showed that electrostatic sorption between and among amorphous Al components and clay minerals is mainly responsible for the formation of metal-humus-clay complexes and the stabilization of soil aggregates. The process of ligand exchange between SOC and Al would be of minor importance resulting in the absence of aggregate hierarchy in this soil type. Whole soil C mineralization rate constants were highest for SGFOR and PINUS, followed by GRASS (respectively 0.495, 0.266 and 0.196 g CO2-Cm-2d-1 for the top soil layer). In contrast, incubation experiments of isolated macro organic matter fractions gave opposite results, showing that the recalcitrance of the SOC decreased in another order: PINUS>SGFOR>GRASS. We deduced that electrostatic sorption processes and physical protection of SOC in soil aggregates were the main processes determining SOC stabilization. As a result, high aggregate carbon concentrations, varying from 148 till 48 g kg-1, were encountered for all land use sites. Al availability and electrostatic charges are dependent on pH, resulting in an important influence of soil pH on aggregate stability. Recalcitrance of the SOC did not appear to largely affect SOC stabilization. Statistical correlations between extractable amorphous Al contents, aggregate stability and C mineralization rate constants were encountered, supporting this hypothesis. Land use changes affected SOC dynamics and aggregate stability by modifying soil pH (and thus electrostatic charges and available Al content), root SOC input and management practices (such as ploughing and accompanying drying of the soil).
", "keywords": ["DECOMPOSITION", "NEW-ZEALAND", "DENSITY FRACTIONS", "[SDU.ASTR] Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]", "HUMIC-ACID", "Life", "QH501-531", "QH540-549.5", "2. Zero hunger", "QE1-996.5", "CULTIVATED SOILS", "Ecology", "[SDU.OCEAN] Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Ocean", " Atmosphere", "Geology", "LAND-USE CHANGE", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "ALUMINUM", "15. Life on land", "[SDU.ENVI] Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Continental interfaces", " environment", "MACROORGANIC MATTER", "C SEQUESTRATION", "[PHYS.ASTR.CO] Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Cosmology and Extra-Galactic Astrophysics [astro-ph.CO]", "Earth and Environmental Sciences", "FOREST SOILS", "[SDU.STU] Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries"], "contacts": [{"organization": "Huygens, D., Boeckx, P., van Cleemput, O., Oyarz\u00fan, C., Godoy, R.,", "roles": ["creator"]}]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2-159-2005"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Biogeosciences", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.5194/bg-2-159-2005", "name": "item", "description": "10.5194/bg-2-159-2005", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.5194/bg-2-159-2005"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2005-06-24T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "2164/13497", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-13T16:27:02Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2019-08-30", "title": "How to measure, report and verify soil carbon change to realize the potential of soil carbon sequestration for atmospheric greenhouse gas removal", "description": "AbstractThere is growing international interest in better managing soils to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) content to contribute to climate change mitigation, to enhance resilience to climate change and to underpin food security, through initiatives such as international \uffe2\uff80\uff984p1000\uffe2\uff80\uff99 initiative and the FAO's Global assessment of SOC sequestration potential (GSOCseq) programme. Since SOC content of soils cannot be easily measured, a key barrier to implementing programmes to increase SOC at large scale, is the need for credible and reliable measurement/monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) platforms, both for national reporting and for emissions trading. Without such platforms, investments could be considered risky. In this paper, we review methods and challenges of measuring SOC change directly in soils, before examining some recent novel developments that show promise for quantifying SOC. We describe how repeat soil surveys are used to estimate changes in SOC over time, and how long\uffe2\uff80\uff90term experiments and space\uffe2\uff80\uff90for\uffe2\uff80\uff90time substitution sites can serve as sources of knowledge and can be used to test models, and as potential benchmark sites in global frameworks to estimate SOC change. We briefly consider models that can be used to simulate and project change in SOC and examine the MRV platforms for SOC change already in use in various countries/regions. In the final section, we bring together the various components described in this review, to describe a new vision for a global framework for MRV of SOC change, to support national and international initiatives seeking to effect change in the way we manage our soils.