How does organic farming shape the soil- and plant-associated microbiota?

Intensive agricultural practices have led to a decline in soil health, thereby affecting environmental sustainability. To feed the ever-increasing global population in a sustainable manner, shifting to eco-friendly agricultural practices is of paramount importance. In this respect organic farming, which excludes chemicals, has been widely popularised. However, the effect of such an intervention on microbial communities that are the major drivers of soil processes, is yet to be conclusively determined. Such an understanding is important for the maintenance of soil health and improvisations for enhancing the efficiency of the practice. A general belief is that organic farming results in a more diverse microbiota. But the information available is inconsistent and fragmented. Besides, limited efforts have been made to link the structure of microbial communities to soil functionality. The review is an attempt to critically re-look into the decade-old question of how organic farming shapes the microbial diversity of arable land, as well as the diversity of plant-associated microbial communities, especially in light of the popularization of the technique of next generation sequencing. Based on the available knowledge, the review aims to pave the way for future studies in the area by identifying the research gaps.