Genomics and Applied Biology 2026, Vol.17, No.1, 37-50 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/gab 37 Research Insight Open Access Effects of Organic Fertilizer Application on Soil Microbial Communities in Greenhouse Tomato Cultivation Lingli Shen1,2 1 Tongxiang Hangji Ecological Agriculture Technology Co., Ltd., Tongxiang, 314500, Zhejiang, China 2 Zhejiang Agronomist College, Hangzhou, 310021, Zhejiang, China Corresponding author: 55983288@qq.com Genomics and Applied Biology, 2026, Vol.17, No.1 doi: 10.5376/gab.2026.17.0004 Received: 05 Jan., 2026 Accepted: 10 Feb., 2026 Published: 22 Feb., 2026 Copyright © 2026 Shen, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Shen L.L., 2026, Effects of organic fertilizer application on soil microbial communities in greenhouse tomato cultivation, Genomics and Applied Biology, 17(1): 37-50 (doi: 10.5376/gab.2026.17.0004) Abstract The application of organic fertilizers has become an important strategy for improving soil quality and promoting sustainable agricultural development in greenhouse tomato cultivation. Soil microbial communities play a critical role in maintaining soil fertility, nutrient cycling, and plant health. This study reviews the effects of organic fertilizer application on soil microbial communities in greenhouse tomato cultivation systems. Organic fertilizers can significantly improve soil physicochemical properties, increase soil organic matter content, and enhance nutrient availability, thereby creating a favorable environment for microbial growth and activity. Numerous studies have shown that organic fertilizer application can increase microbial abundance and diversity, alter the composition of dominant microbial taxa, and promote beneficial microorganisms involved in nutrient transformation and disease suppression. Furthermore, organic fertilizers influence microbial functional activities, including enzyme production and key processes in carbon and nitrogen cycling, which ultimately contribute to improved tomato growth, yield, and fruit quality. A case study of organic fertilizer substitution for chemical fertilizers demonstrates that appropriate organic fertilization practices can effectively optimize soil microbial community structure and improve soil ecological functions in greenhouse systems. Overall, the integration of organic fertilizers into fertilization management provides an effective approach to enhancing soil microbial diversity and maintaining soil health in greenhouse tomato production. Future research should further explore the long-term impacts of organic fertilizer application and its interactions with soil microbial networks to support sustainable greenhouse agriculture. Keywords Organic fertilizer; Greenhouse tomato; Soil microbial community; Soil health; Sustainable agriculture 1 Introduction Greenhouse tomato cultivation has become a vital component of protected agriculture worldwide due to its ability to provide stable and high yields throughout the year. However, intensive greenhouse production often leads to soil degradation problems such as nutrient imbalances, reduced microbial diversity, soil acidification, and accumulation of soil-borne pathogens, which threaten long-term sustainability and crop productivity. Overfertilization with synthetic chemicals is a common practice that exacerbates these issues by altering soil pH and microbial community structure, ultimately reducing tomato yield and soil health (Chen et al., 2022; Song et al., 2022). Addressing these challenges requires sustainable management practices that restore soil quality while maintaining high productivity. The application of organic fertilizers in protected agriculture has gained attention for its ecological benefits in improving soil fertility and microbial function. Organic amendments such as bio-organic fertilizers, vermicompost, and composted organic matter enhance soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and nutrient availability, which positively influence soil enzyme activities and microbial diversity. These fertilizers can also reduce the incidence of diseases like Verticillium wilt by reshaping rhizosphere fungal communities and increasing beneficial microbial interactions. Moreover, integrating organic fertilizers with optimized application rates can improve photosynthetic efficiency and fruit yield in greenhouse tomatoes by promoting nutrient cycling and microbiome-mediated pathways (Lu et al., 2025; Zhao et al., 2025). Soil microbial communities play a crucial role in maintaining soil health and supporting crop growth through nutrient mineralization, disease suppression, and enhancement of plant physiological functions. Diverse bacterial
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ4ODYzNA==