Soil-centred organic amendments for sustainable vegetable cropping systems: Mechanisms and future prospects

Abstract

Organic soil amendments have gained increasing attention as sustainable tools for improving soil health and enhancing vegetable crop productivity in intensive agricultural systems. This systematic literature review synthesises current evidence on the effects of organic amendments, including farmyard manure (FYM), compost, vermicompost, green manures, crop residues and biochar, on soil quality and vegetable production. Relevant literature published between January 2000 and April 2026 was retrieved from Scopus, Web of Science (WoS), ScienceDirect, PubMed and Google Scholar following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The findings demonstrate that organic amendments significantly improve soil physical, chemical and biological properties by enhancing soil structure, aggregate stability, water-holding capacity, nutrient availability, microbial activity and organic carbon (C) accumulation. These improvements promote efficient nutrient cycling, greater nutrient-use efficiency (NUE) and improved crop resilience under diverse environmental conditions. Evidence further indicates positive effects on seed germination, plant growth, yield, quality attributes and nutrient uptake in a wide range of vegetable crops. The combined application of organic amendments with inorganic fertilisers through integrated nutrient management (INM) may complement organic amendments in specific production systems; however, this review primarily focuses on the mechanisms, applications and sustainability benefits of organic soil amendments, resulting in higher productivity and improved soil fertility compared with the use of either source alone. In addition to agronomic advantages, organic amendments contribute to C sequestration, reduced dependence on synthetic fertilisers, enhanced environmental sustainability and improved economic returns for farmers. Despite challenges such as labour requirements, variable nutrient release patterns and storage constraints, organic amendments remain essential components of sustainable vegetable production systems. Future research should focus on region-specific management strategies, long-term field evaluations and optimisation of amendment combinations to maximise soil health and crop productivity.