Study Site Trials

 The SICS selected for trialling in this Study Site are described below:

Study Site poster 2018 (download)

Geographical description

The Szaniawy site is an area of about 30 km² located in Podlasi region (county Łuków). Main type of land use includes agricultural lands (80.5%) and forests/shrubs (13.5%). Elevation is approximately 160 m. The topography is mostly flat with little variation in absolute altitudes (less than 20 m). The climate is continental with high temperatures during summer and long and frosty winters. The average annual air temperature is 7.3 °C. Long-term annual total precipitation is 536 mm and the vegetation period last 200 to 210 days. Rainfalls are substantially higher during summer (212 mm) than winter (83 mm). The highest rainfall occurs in June and July (over 70 mm) and the lowest in January, February, and March (less than 30 mm). The soils were derived from loose sands, loamy sands, and loams. On average they contain 13% of clay and <1% of organic matter and are acidic or neutral (average pH 4.3 in KCl and 4.8 in H2O). The average value of the cation exchange capacity is 10 cmol kg-1.

General view of Szaniawy study site

Area surrounding study site

Pedo-climatic zone
Continental, sandy and loamy soils

Cropping systems

Traditionally conventional farming system is mostly used. The most frequent crops in crop rotation are cereals (60%), maize (35%), potatoes and others (5%). Choice of crops by small farmers who dominate in the region is profit driven.

Management of soil, water, nutrients and pests
Conventional tillage is the main type of tillage with percentage higher than 90%.