Soil Physical Properties under Organic and Conventional Farming Systems in a Humid Tropical Environment

Soil physical degradation remains a major constraint to sustainable agricultural productivity in humid tropical regions, where intensive conventional farming practices often accelerate soil compaction and structural decline. Organic farming has been proposed as an alternative management system capable of improving soil physical quality; however, empirical evidence under tropical field conditions remains limited. This study evaluated the influence of organic farming practices on selected soil physical properties at the Rivers University Teaching and Research Farm, southern Nigeria. A randomized complete block design was used to compare organically and conventionally managed plots. Soil samples were collected at 0–20 cm depth and analyzed for bulk density, total porosity, moisture content, infiltration rate, aggregate stability, and texture using standard methods. Results showed that organic farming significantly reduced soil bulk density and increased total porosity, moisture content, infiltration rate, and aggregate stability compared to conventional farming (p ≤ 0.05). Improvements were attributed to continuous organic matter inputs and enhanced soil structural development. The findings demonstrate that organic farming practices enhance soil physical quality and provide a sustainable soil management option for humid tropical agro-ecosystems.