Soil Amendment Market Analysis, By Type (Organic & Inorganic), By Soil Type (Sand, Clay, Loam, and Silt), By Crop Type (Fruits & Vegetables, Oilseeds & Pulses, Cereals & Grains), and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

Healthy soil is the basic foundation of sustainable and productive agriculture. While the awareness of soil health is increasing, the demand for soil amendments and conditioners is also increasing. The amendments combine soil conditioners and fertilizers, making the soil more suitable for plant growth and increasing water retention capacity. Adding amendments in the soil helps the growth of plant roots and improves the overall soil health.

Soil pollution has been a serious threat to agricultural productivity and human food safety. Increasing global food requirements and a huge demand for chemical fertilizers negatively impacted soil health. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report 2018, in Australia, around 80,000 sites are estimated to degrade from soil pollution. Furthermore, 19% of the agricultural soil in China was found to be polluted. Growing awareness of consumers about the harmful effects of chemical fertilizers on soil and the environment has led to increased adoption of soil amendments.

The increasing demand for organic foods makes farmers depend more on organic farming practices. Additionally, there is increasing use of biofertilizers by farmers, and it helps create new opportunities for  soil amendment market growth. However, lack of awareness among farmers about applying these amendments leads to a low adoption rate, hindering industry expansion to some extent.

Impact of COVID-19 on Soil Amendment Market

The COVID-19 pandemic moderately impacted the global market. The pandemic disrupted the global food supply chain and impacted agricultural supply chain activities. The uneven supply of raw materials caused economic challenges to manufacturers of biofertilizers. The travel ban and lockdown situations led to trade restrictions in the worldwide agricultural market. For instance, United Phosphorous Ltd., a company offering agrochemicals, industrial chemicals, chemical intermediates, specialty chemicals, and crop protection solutions, reported a 7.1% decrease in sales in North America.

The decrease was experienced due to trade conflict between the U.S. and China. However, consumers' increased inclination toward organic and natural foods led to an increase in the demand for biofertilizers and soil amendments, creating a market potential for the product.

Key Insights

The report will cover the following key insights:

• Parent market overview


• Macro-economic factors


• COVID-19 impact on the market


• Industry growth and impact


• Industry dynamics – drivers, restraints, and opportunities


• Market trends and recent developments and new product launch


• Market sizing, estimation, forecasting, and growth prospects


• Regional analysis

Analysis by Type

The organic segment is expected to account for a significant value in the global soil amendments market share. Some organic amendments include animal manure, worm compost, crop residue, food waste, sludge, and peat moss. Organic compost and peat are used majorly as soil amendments. The rise in consumption of organic foods and the shift of farmers toward sustainable farming are the factors spurring organic soil amendment market share. There is extensive use of animal manure, green manure, and farm yard manure in agriculture.

The expansion of the agriculture sector positively impacted the consumption of organic soil amendments for farming requirements. Several fertilizer companies develop products that help improve soil quality. For instance, in December 2019, Dimicron QUÍMICA DO BRASIL LTDA, a Brazilian fertilizer company, launched an organic soil conditioner – DimiLOM. The new product is composed of organic acids and fulvic acids. The product helps in the physical and biological restructuring of soil.

Analysis by Soil Type

Based on soil type, clay soil is expected to hold a major share in the global market. Clay soils are ideal for plants having more moisture retention capacity. Major crops are grown on such soils due to their high nutrient content. The increased use of chemical fertilizers makes the clay soil alkaline and stops the plant from getting the necessary nutrients. Thus, these soils require compost and other organic matter amendments to retain the necessary nutrients. Land amendments are used in clay soils to prevent crusting, stop erosion, increase the pore size, and limit water runoff.

The loamy soil is expected to expand significantly over the forecast period. Such soil combination of sand, clay, and silt is suitable for high-value crops, especially fruits and vegetables. The loamy soil is porous in texture and allows water to flow through slowly, enabling better access to crop roots. These soils have high calcium and pH level. The loamy soils require organic amendments at least once a year which helps improve the soil quality.

Analysis by Crop Type

Based on crop type, the fruits and vegetable segment is expected to grow at a high CAGR during the forecast period. The drivers augmenting the market are the rising demand for high-value crops, which include fruits & vegetables, increasing awareness among people regarding health benefits, and the growing trend for organic foods. The soil amendments are required to promote the health and organic content of root and soil, which further helps to support market growth.

Analysis by Geography

North America is expected to account for a significant revenue in the global soil amendment market. Technological advancements in the region resulted in a movement toward large farmlands with a low crop diversity with other uses, such as grazing and recreational lands. Excessive use of pesticides and the use of toxic heavy metals are some common factors adversely affecting animal, soil, and microbial communities. Furthermore, the shift of consumers toward sustainability and increasing consumption of organic foods are major drivers propelling the market growth.

Various food manufacturing companies in the region develop products that help maximize economic returns for crops and benefit the environment simultaneously. For instance, in May 2022, PrairieFood, Inc., a startup company in the U.S., doubled its production of micro-carbon soil amendments. The company doubled its output due to advances in engineering activities and growing consumer demand. The product provides food sources for microbial biomass growth and helps improve overall soil health and functions.

The Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the market. Countries such as India and China have an enormous demand for food but have limited land under crop cultivation to produce enough food. The declining agricultural land and soil nutrient deficiency are the factors that drive the soil amendment market size. Several regional players adopt strategies to overcome soil degradation challenges and improve soil health. For instance, in May 2022, Koppert Biological Systems, a biological crop protection company, and United Phosphorous Ltd, an Indian multinational company, signed an agreement to improve soil health and promote sustainable agriculture in India. Koppert company produces a biofertilizer with the brand name Copio for UPL. The product helps to improve soil health, leading to better plant growth.

Key Market Players

Prominent players in the market include Adama, BASF, Bayer Crop Science Ltd., Evonik Industries AG, United Phosphorous Ltd, Coromandel, Food Machinery Corporation, Novozymes, Nufarm, Lallemand Inc, T Stanes and Company, Agrostar, The Dow Chemical Company, Israel Chemical Ltd, Corteva Agriscience, and others.   

Segmentation

Key Industry Developments

• September 2022: Israel Chemical Ltd, a multinational fertilizers company, launched biodegradable coated fertilizer technology. The innovative solution helped farmers maximize agricultural crop performance limiting environmental impact by reducing nutrient loss and increasing the efficiency of nutrient use.


• May 2022: Evonik, a German specialty chemical company, opened a new Applied Technology Center (ATC) in Sao Paulo, Brazil, including laboratories and pilot plants. The company aimed to expand local capabilities for producing biocompatible solutions.


• February 2022: Corteva Agriscience, an American multinational agricultural chemical, and seed company, launched an above-ground nitrogen stabilizer- PinnitMax TG. The product offers protection above and below ground and provides flexibility to farmer