Does regenerative agriculture quickly improve soil health?

Agricultural soils are experiencing increasing degradation due to intensive practices and climate change. This situation threatens food production and ecosystem balance. In response, alternative methods such as regenerative agriculture are generating growing interest. This approach aims to restore soil quality by reducing tillage, limiting chemical inputs, and integrating natural practices such as organic fertilizers, crop rotations, and cover crops.

A recent study evaluated the effects of a regenerative agricultural model applied over five years on market garden plots in Spain. The results show that this method significantly increases soil moisture and organic matter while reducing its electrical conductivity, an indicator of salinity. After just two years, the activity of enzymes essential to nutrient cycling was strengthened, a sign of improved biological health. Populations of small soil organisms, such as mites and enchytraeid worms, also increased, giving way after five years to larger species such as insects, crustaceans, and millipedes.

Regenerative agriculture profoundly impacts soil function. It promotes water retention, reduces erosion, and improves soil structure through the accumulation of organic matter. Enzymes, which play a key role in the decomposition of organic matter and the release of nutrients, see their activity stimulated. This results in better availability of nutrients for plants and greater resilience to climatic hazards.

However, the transition to these practices is not immediate. The first few years may lead to a temporary decline in biological activity as microbial communities and soil fauna adapt. This phenomenon is explained by the shock caused by the cessation of chemical inputs and changes in farming techniques. Once this hurdle is overcome, the benefits become clear: soils regain richer biodiversity and more complex trophic networks, essential for their long-term fertility.

The studied plots demonstrated that regenerative agriculture can restore degraded soils within a few years. It thus offers a concrete solution for reconciling agricultural productivity and environmental preservation. Farmers and policymakers can rely on these results to encourage more sustainable practices while anticipating the challenges of the first years of conversion. These changes contribute not only to soil health but also to the production of healthier food and the fight against climate change through carbon storage.

Credits and Attributions

Primary Source

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-026-08437-3

Title: Regenerative agriculture improves soil functioning and the complexity of soil food webs after a short transition period

Journal: Plant and Soil

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Authors: Mónica Molinares-Becerra; Juan F. Aguiar; Ana María García-López; Joaquina María García-Martín; Isabel M. Liberal; Marta Rodríguez-Reyes; Paloma Yáñez Serrano; Ramón Casimiro-Soriguer; Pablo Homet; Raúl Ochoa-Hueso