Study Site Trials
The SICS selected for trialling in this Study Site are described below:
| Country | General Treatment Category | Study Site Trials |
| Sweden | Sub soil loosening, tillage |
1. Sub soil loosening - Sub soiling loosening; Sub soiling loosening with straw pellets; Normal mouldboard ploughing - control |
Study Site poster 2018 (download)
SICS 1: Sub-soil loosening with straw pellets |
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Geographical description
The Orup site is located in in the county Skåne in Southern Sweden. Precipitation varies between 500 and 1000 mm per year. Mean temperature is around 0 °C in January and 16 °C in July. On the site the subsoil is compacted (density between 1.7 and 1.9 kg L-1).The soil is a silty sand and the compaction is most likely from the time the ground was formed, i.e.it has a natural origin. The harvests for this site have remained much lower than at the other soil fertility experiments, approx. 30-40% lower. In spring 2011, an inventory was made in Orup with regard to root growth in the subsoil. The results showing the same results as in previous studies in the 1990s: the roots of the crop is restricted to the topsoil and no roots grow below 30 cm depth. A structural improvement through liming is limited at Orup due to a low clay content (about 10%). In lighter soils such as this, a structural improvement can be achieved primarily through the supply of organic matter. Therefore, the experiment investigates the possibility of improving soil structure through the supply of organic material in combination with a mechanical subsoil loosening. The supply of organic material is made in the form of straw pellets that are blown into the ground.
Cropping systems
Different cropping intensities from no fertilization to high fertilization rates are applied at the Orup site. Both treatments with and without animal manure are run. Rates of manure are in relation to yields provided by the cropping system. The site is treated according to conventional agricultural practices of the region.
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| The map of Skåne showing the Orup study site |
Types of crops
Two 4-year rotations are applied:
- crop rotation with livestock: barley, ley, winter wheat and sugar beets
- crop rotation without livestock: barley, oil seed rape, winter wheat and sugar beet.
Management of soil, water, nutrients and pests
Soil tillage includes yearly mouldboard ploughing, cultivation, fertilization, manuring, chemical weed and pest treatment. Crops are rain-fed and no catch crops to combat N leaching are grown.
Soil improving cropping system and techniques currently used
Measures include crop rotation, use of animal manure, no removal of crop residues in non-manured plots, and
regular lime application.
