Lingli Shen^1,2

1 Tongxiang Hangji Ecological Agriculture Technology Co., Ltd., Tongxiang, 314500, Zhejiang, China
2 Zhejiang Agronomist College, Hangzhou, 310021, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
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

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.

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)

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.

Organic fertilizer; Greenhouse tomato; Soil microbial community; Soil health; Sustainable agriculture