Organically and Conventionally Managed Soils: Biochemical Characteristics

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of organic farming, in field (OF) and in glass-house (OFG), on selected soil biochemical properties compared with conventional farming (CF) in a horticultural area characterized by the same climate, soil type and topography. Results show that all soil enzyme activities were generally higher in OFG compared with OF and CF systems. Because of the different conditions of temperature, OFG presented a major loss of organic matter too. Catalase activity, metabolic potential (MP) and biological index of fertility (BIF) are suggested as the most suitable soil biological indicators for differentiating between organic (OF and OFG) and conventional (CF) farming systems. Organic farming systems, because of application of organic amendments and less deep tillage, showed a greater capacity to improve soil quality as compared with conventional production practices.

KEYWORDS:

• Conventional farming
• organic farming
• organic glasshouse farming
• soil biological indexes
• soil enzyme activities
• soil mi-crobial biomass
• soil quality