Farmer Rafael Alonso Aguilera in his organic olive grove, with drip irrigation and cover crop SICS. Photo credit: Jasmine Black

In our second newsletter (November 2017), we introduced you to the two Spanish study sites, located in the South-East of Spain near Almeria – Area A in the Sorbas-Tabernas Basin and Area B in the Cabo de Gata Natural Park. Recently the SoilCare research team met in Almeria to discuss project progress and visit the two study sites 

 Piling up woodchip to be spread over the trial fields. Photo credit: BDB

In our third newsletter (September 2018), we introduced the Belgium study site in Flanders, which is running two different SICS trials. We now have some interesting preliminary findings from their first trial which uses ramial woodchip incorporated as a soil amendment to increase organic matter, soil biodiversity and soil quality in general. Initial results of woodchip applications are being compared to others including manure, food waste and bought-in compost.