A Review of Natural Farming and Soil Health Restoration: Mechanisms and Long-Term Impacts

Abstract

Natural farming (NF) is a biological and ecological approach adopted to rejuvenate soil functional processes, strengthen agroecosystem resilience, and reduce the use of artificial chemical agro-inputs. This review analyses the NF approach in terms of its principles, mechanisms, consequences, and limitations, with particular attention to soil health restoration. NF is based on agroecological principles such as minimum soil disturbance, constant soil cover, maintenance of living root systems, biologically driven nutrient recycling, inclusion of livestock manure, and exclusion of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, which together support soil biogeochemical processes and the re-establishment of soil-plant-microbe interactions. Biogeochemically, NF increases soil organic carbon (SOC) content, microbial activity and diversity, and the activity of enzyme systems (dehydrogenase, phosphatase, and urease), leading to accelerated nutrient mineralisation and improved nutrient use efficiency. At the same time, it contributes to the physical stabilisation of soil and water retention through increased aggregation, porosity, and water-holding capacity. Finally, NF strengthens pest and disease resistance through biologically mediated control based on competitive and antagonistic microbial interactions. Prolonged application of NF systems contributes to higher soil fertility, improved carbon sequestration capacity, increased biodiversity, and yield stability under changing climatic conditions. Nevertheless, barriers include limited long-term and multi-locational empirical data, performance differences across agroecological zones, lack of standardisation in bio-input production, and yield instability during the transition phase. Future research should focus on integrated approaches that combine NF technologies with precision agriculture tools, microbiome-based indicators of soil health, and effective carbon accounting systems.