The foundation of Organic Farming is a microbially active soil enriched with organic matter and a balanced mineral diet. Humus building practices not only supply plant nutrients, but increase tolerance to pests and disease, help control weeds, retain soil moisture, and ensure produce quality. A field experiment was conducted in Shirvan, Iran, during 2005 in order to demonstrate the effects of organic amendments, synthetic fertilizers and compost extracts on crop health, productivity and shelf life of commonly used tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill). Treatments included different manures of cattle, sheep and poultry, house-hold compost and mineral fertilizers, five aqueous extracts from cattle manure, poultry manures, grren-waste and household composts and water as control. The effects of fertilizer type on tomato yield and marketable yield was significant (P<0.05). Poultry and cattle manures as well as household compost caused higher yields compared to control and ineral fertilizer treatments. However, marketable yield 6 weeks after string was highest in poultry manures and lowest in mineral fertilizers. The effect of aqueous extract was not significant on either crop health or tomato yield and storability.

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