Plant Gene and Trait 2025, Vol.16, No.4, 173-181 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/pgt 176 4 Soil Health, Nutrient Cycling, and Microbiological Interactions 4.1 Effects on soil structure, organic matter content, and moisture retention After the application of organic fertilizer, the organic matter in the soil increased, the water retention capacity was stronger, and the structure was more stable (Luan et al., 2023). It can also reduce the salinity (electrical conductivity) of the soil, making the basic condition of the soil better (Zhang et al., 2024). Compared with using only chemical fertilizers, using organic fertilizers or a combination of organic fertilizers and chemical fertilizers can increase the useful nutrients such as organic matter, phosphorus and potassium in the soil, and also increase the enzyme activities in the soil, such as urease and sucrase. This is very helpful for maintaining the long-term health of the soil (Li et al., 2023). 4.2 Rhizosphere microbial diversity and functional roles The use of organic fertilizer or bio-organic fertilizer can also enrich the microorganisms in the soil, especially for beneficial bacterial communities such as fungi and bacteria, their quantity and activity level will increase (Li et al., 2024). These microorganisms can help plants absorb nutrients, reduce diseases, and promote better growth of crops (Gao et al., 2023; Wang et al., 2023). Organic fertilizer can also regulate the microbial structure in the soil, making the soil more drought-resistant and stable (Jin et al., 2022; Lee et al., 2025). 4.3 Nutrient cycling efficiency and long-term soil fertility trends Organic fertilizer or its combination with chemical fertilizer can make nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the soil more easily absorbed by plants (Hu et al., 2022). Organic fertilizer can also enhance the activity of soil enzymes, enabling nutrients in the soil to decompose faster and be utilized more fully (Luan et al., 2023). Compared with chemical fertilizers alone, organic fertilizers can better maintain the balance of soil nutrients, reduce loss, and also increase the yield and quality of crops (Sarkar et al., 2021). 4.4 Fertilizer residues and their legacy effects Organic fertilizers can also reduce the contents of nitrates, nitrites and heavy metals (such as cadmium and nickel) in cabbage and soil, thereby reducing the risks to the environment and food safety. Conversely, if chemical fertilizers are used continuously, these harmful substances may accumulate gradually in the soil and crops, bringing some hidden dangers (Rempelos et al., 2023; Zhang et al., 2024). So in the long term, the use of organic fertilizers is more conducive to improving the soil environment and reducing the problems caused by fertilizer residues. 5 Fertilizer Use Efficiency and Environmental Sustainability 5.1 Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and loss pathways in each system Controlling the amount of nitrogen fertilizer properly is the key to increasing the yield of cabbage and the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). There are many new fertilization methods, such as organic fertilizers, slow-release fertilizers, biochar fertilizers, and bio-bacterial agents, all of which can significantly increase NUE. For instance, some studies have found that replacing part of the chemical fertilizer with 30% organic fertilizer can increase NUE by 55.6% to 97% (Cui et al., 2022). After the application of biochar slow-release fertilizer, the efficiency of nitrogen absorption by crops is higher and the yield can also increase (Zhao et al., 2022). In addition, when using a moderate amount of biogas liquid fertilizer, such as DF-170, the NUE can even be more than twice as high as that of chemical fertilizers. However, if too much is used, it may instead reduce NUE and also cause the loss of ammonia volatilization (Jin et al., 2022). Another approach is to use biological agents together with a reduction in chemical fertilizers, which can also improve both NUE and yield (Sarkar et al., 2021). 5.2 Risk of nutrient leaching and runoff Long-term and excessive application of chemical fertilizers can easily lead to excessive inorganic nitrogen residue in the soil, and thus nitrogen is more likely to flow away with rainwater (Cao et al., 2023). The use of organic fertilizers and slow-release fertilizers can reduce this problem. They can lower the electrical conductivity of the soil and the active content of nitrogen, thereby reducing nitrogen loss (Sikora et al., 2020). Organic fertilizer can also improve soil structure, increase organic matter, and allow nitrogen to be retained for a longer time. It is also beneficial for preventing soil salinization (Jin et al., 2022; Zhang et al., 2024). In addition, using biochar fertilizer or liquid organic fertilizer can also reduce fertilizer loss and be more environmentally friendly (Zhao et al., 2022).
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