Abstract
Background: The debate between organic and conventional farming systems extends beyond yield to encompass soil health, a critical component of sustainable agriculture. While numerous individual studies have compared soil health indicators, a comprehensive quantitative synthesis is lacking.Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis of 30 global field studies published between 2006 and 2023, extracting data on physical, chemical, and biological soil health indicators. We calculated standardized mean differences (Hedges' g) and employed random-effects models to estimate overall effect sizes. Moderator analyses examined the influence of climate, soil type, and duration of organic management.Results: Organic farming significantly enhanced soil organic carbon (g = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.28–0.62), microbial biomass carbon (g = 0.71, 0.50–0.92), and enzyme activities (g = 0.63, 0.41–0.85) compared to conventional farming. However, soil pH and bulk density showed no significant differences. Effect sizes varied by climate, with stronger benefits in temperate regions. Longer organic management duration (>10 years) amplified positive effects on biological indicators.Conclusions: Organic farming generally improves biological and organic matter-related soil health indicators, while physical and chemical indicators show mixed responses. These findings support organic agriculture as a viable strategy for enhancing soil quality, though context-specific factors must be considered.