A Review of Organic and Inorganic Amendment Strategies in Tomato Cultivation Across Tropical Agro-Ecological Zones
Abstract
The choice between organic and inorganic amendment strategies for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) production has profound implications for soil health, crop productivity, fruit quality, environmental sustainability, and smallholder livelihoods in tropical agro-ecological regions. This review provides a systematic comparative analysis of organic amendmentssuch as compost, vermicompost, biochar, green manures, microbial inoculants, and inorganic fertilizers (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compounds, micronutrient fertilizers) across dimensions of yield response, soil physicochemical improvement, economic feasibility, and long-term soil health trajectories. Evidence from peer-reviewed field studies (2018–2025) consistently demonstrates that organic amendments match or exceed inorganic fertilizer yield outcomes over multi-season timeframes while generating substantial co-benefits for soil organic carbon, microbial diversity, water retention, and disease suppression that mineral fertilizers do not provide. Integrated strategies combining organic and reduced-rate inorganic inputs achieve the greatest short-term yields while progressively improving soil health. Nigerian evidence on organic pest management with neem extract and Path-Away® organic formulations demonstrates that organic principles extend beyond soil fertility management to encompass full agronomic systems in which synthetic chemical inputs are minimized. This review proposes criteria for evidence-based selection between organic, inorganic, and integrated amendment strategies in tropical tomato systems.