Study Site Trials

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

General Treatment Category Study Site Trials
Tillage and crop rotations  1.Compaction alleviation experiment in no-till system - No-till without alleviation (control); Ploughing; Low disturbance subsoiling; Mycorrhyzal inoculant. Barley in Year 1, Field Beans in Year 2.
 2. Deep-rooting ley grass cultivars in arable rotation – 5 modern deep rooting ley grass cultivars; Mixture of ryegrass and clover (control). Low disturbance sub-soiling and unharvested treatments have been superimposed on the experimental plots.

 General Treatment CategoryStudy Site Trials 

Study Site poster 2018 (download)

 SICS 1 - Compaction alleviation in no-till system

Compaction alleviation experiment 2018 lowres   UK cultivation  

 

Key findings

  • If there is a compaction problem, direct drilling will result in a yield penalty.
  • Earthworm numbers were consistently lower in the two cultivated plots. This supports previous research which found that ploughing reduces earthworm populations.
  • Water stable aggregates were slightly improved by AMF inoculation. Fungi are known to stick aggregates together, so inoculation is improving soil structure, although very moderately.
  • The compaction resulted in higher N2O emissions in the compacted direct drilled plots but CO2 and overall global warming potential was lower.

 

SICS 2 - Deep-rooting ley grass cultivars in arable rotation

 Deep rooting grass ley experimental plots lowres   UK crops  

 

Key findings

  • In unharvested plots, Fojtan had significantly higher root volume at depth than the control and Donata.
  • Less intensive harvesting and lower associated compaction may increase the potential for reduced flood risk through Fojtan root growth.
  • Fojtan and Donata are as productive and palatable to weaned lambs as a conventional ryegrass and clover ley.
  • Cutting and grazing the forage create soil compaction and reduce root growth and the soil’s ability to absorb water.
  • Using Fojtan could contribute to flood risk management if combined with low intensity harvesting.
  • The different grass cultivars resulted in no significant differences in VESS scores, earthworm numbers, soil organic carbon or penetration resistance. Further soil carbon research is now being conducted as a result of this trial.
  • Some of the stakeholders who participated in a final workshop which presented the results of the study were disappointed with the findings of the study, with a suggestion that a longer-term data set would have been more plausible.
  • Regardless, stakeholders remain largely supportive of the SoilCare project.

 

Geographical description

The Allerton Project runs a 333ha mainly arable farm at Loddington in central England. The soils are mainly Hanslope and Denchworth clays overlying Iron stone. The farm is at approximately 150 metres asl and receives approximately 650mm annual rainfall.

Farm map
Case study farm at Loddington, central England.

 

Cropping systems

Cropping intensity
The cropping system is broadly typical of others in the area but adopts an Integrated Farm Management approach with the creation of habitats to encourage beneficial predatory and pollinating insects and other wildlife.

Types of crop
The crop rotation is wheat, rape, wheat, beans or oats but pasture is also present on the farm and grass leys are being brought into the rotation. A three or four-course rotation including wheat, ape and beans or oats is typical of the local area, although a two-course wheat rape rotation has been practiced until recently.

Management of soil, water, nutrients and pests
Over the past decade, there has been a move from plough based to reduced tillage and most recently, a no till approach to crop establishment. Crop residues are returned to the soil. Cover crops are adopted before spring sow crops. Soil are tested for P, K and Mg at least once in each rotation. Some fields mapped for soil type and nutrients. Variable rate N application using Yara’s N Sensor. No irrigation.

Soil improving cropping system and techniques currently used
Reduced tillage or no-till, crop residue returned, cover crops.

Problems that cause yield loss or increased costs
Soil compaction and low organic matter affect rooting capacity, nutrient uptake and soil moisture, as well as runoff and water pollution. Blackgrass (Alopecurus myosuroides), often associated with waterlogged soils, causes severe competition and high herbicide costs.

External drivers and factors

Institutional and political drivers
CAP Greening has increased stages in crop rotation locally, but not at Loddington itself. Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive influences pesticide use and encourages IPM. Water Framework is a major policy driver influencing soil management, fertiliser application, cropping and pesticide use.

Societal drivers
Environmental criteria such as popular interest in wildlife conservation influence the production of cereals for human consumption (e.g. Conservation Grade, Kelloggs). Conservation of farmland birds and pollinating insects.

Bio-physical drivers
Prolonged heavy rainfall in 2012 affected yields over a two-year period. Increasing intensity of winter storm events, and dry summers could suppress yields in future. Soil management needs to adapt accordingly.

Study Site Trials

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

General Treatment Category Study Site Trials
Cover crops    1. Biological compaction release (4 levels of compaction) - Cover crop with deep root crops (3 types of crops); No cover crops
 2. Cover crop - Catch crop - Undersown of Mix 1: Chicory, perennial ryegrass and alfalfa; Undersown of Mix 2: White clover, “Birdsfoot trefoil” and crimson clover; Sown after harvest Mix 3: Forage radish and ww. Ryegrass; Sown after harvest Mix 4: vetch, hairy vetch and pisum; No cover crop (Barley)
   3. Precision agriculture (demonstration) 

 

 

 

SICS 1 :- Biological compaction release - Cover crops with deep roots– (3 types of cover crops)

 

 SoilCare Solør O. Sveen    Planterøtter SoilCare Solør T. Seehusen   

 norway cover crops

 Read this fact sheet in Norwegian here

 
 SoilCare Solør 2 O. Sveen      
 

 Key findings

  • The yields for all three seasons showed a variation between years but no significant effect of treatments on yields. 
  • The results for the soil organic carbon (SOC) show no clear effect of crop rotation, but a tendency towards reduced SOC on the non-compacted reference plots was identified. In addition, a trend towards lower N min following compaction was identified, especially in rotations 2 and 3.
  • Alfalfa had a positive effect on bulk density, especially on a compacted plot, where the bulk density improved significantly compared to the compacted state.
  • Although the oil seed variety grown had been expected to be well-adapted to the short growing season in Norway, the oilseed established poorly. It is expected that Alfalfa residues will result in a considerable amount of biomass on and in the soil (roots). This addition of biomass will result in increased SOC over time.
 

SICS 2 :- Cover crops/Catch crops 

- Undersown of Mix 1: Chicory, perennial ryegrass and alfalfa;

- Undersown of Mix 2: White clover, “Birdsfoot trefoil” and crimson clover;

- Sown after harvest Mix 3: Forage radish and ww. Ryegrass;

- Sown after harvest Mix 4: vetch, hairy vetch and pisum;

- No cover crops (Barley) 

 

Picture1
 

norway cover crops 2

Read this fact sheet in Norwegian here

 
Hvitsten 1 001 cropped    
 

Key findings

  • It was difficult to establish and achieve a sufficient density of cover crop plants in the small plot scale experiment in Øsaker, especially in years that were dry (2018) and in years with high precipitation (2019).
  • Occasionally high amounts of weeds (chickweed), as well as practical challenges, might have affected the growth of the cover crop species and the main crop in later years.
  • High temperatures in 2018 resulted in poor plant growth and consequently, an excess in mineral nitrogen in the soil, as illustrated by the high levels of mineral N in 2018 compared to 2019 and 2020
  • Differences in soil organic carbon between years could be an effect of the summer drought.
  • The plant species most often observed through field observations was vetch in the Spring sown nitrogen fixating cover crop mixture and ryegrass in the Spring and Autumn sown cover crops root mix treatments. Crimson clover in the Spring sown nitrogen fixating cover crop treatment and radish in Autumn sown cover crops root mix treatment was observed occasionally. 
  • The results show a decrease in mean relative crop yield for treatments where legume cover crop species were included (Spring and Autumn sown nitrogen fixating cover crop treatments). 

   
 

SICS 3 :- Precision agriculture (demonstration) 

   
 Apelsvoll 001
 
       

Geographical description

 
The study site is located in Akershus county in south-eastern Norway, one of the main areas for cereal cropping systems. The total area of Akershus county is 4918 km2 with agricultural area covering ca. 900 km2. Marine sediments with clay and silt dominate. Artificial land levelling was performed in the 70-80ties to promote use of larger machinery and cereal cropping systems. In some municipalities, up to 40 % of the agricultural area is levelled, resulting in high erosion risk. The county area will be used for stakeholder analyses. Precipitation range between 665-785 mm annually and winter period with frozen soils and snowmelt has a major influence and soil processes (infiltration, erosion). Soil data is available for each farmer’s field.The catchments Skuterud (6.8 km2) and Mørdre (4.5 km2) within Akershus county will be used for more detailed analyses. Skuterud and Mørdre represent cereal production in undulating landscapes with erosion problems. In addition, use will be made of two experimental field sites: Apelsvoll cropping system experimental site and Kjelle experimental fields. The Apelsvoll cropping system is located on Apelsvoll, near the largest lake in Norway, Mjøsa, in Central South-east Norway (120 km north of Oslo). The altitude is 250 m.a.s.l. The cropping system was established in 1988/1989, it covers 3.2 ha. The experiment comprises 12 mini-farms, each having a four-year crop rotation. Altogether six cropping systems are represented (two replicates): Three systems with cash-cropping (mainly cereals) and three systems with both arable and fodder crops, representing mixed dairy production. Kjelle is located near Bjørkelangen, about 60 km east from Oslo, on an area with shallow slopes. The experiments started in 2014, with emphasise of this experiment (9 plots, each 8 x 50 m in size) on analysing soil management effects on soil surface discharge and infiltration
 

Cropping systems

 
Cropping intensity
Akershus County is dominated by conventional agricultural cropping intensity; organic farming is ongoing on a small scale. Conservation methods and precision management is promoted and under research, but not widespread. Grain and oil seed production covers 69% of the agricultural area, 26% is used for forage crops. In Skuterud catchment, 90 % of the area is used for grain and oil seed production and 10 % for grass cultivation, while in Mørdre catchment 85% of the area is used for grain production, 6 % for potatoes and 4% for grass production. Skuterud has 43% autumn wheat, 30% oats and 19% barley, while Mørdre has 40% oats and 33% barley. The arable crops at Apelsvoll experimental site include spring cereals (wheat, barley, oats) and potatoes and oats with peas. Fodder crops include grass–clover leys and meadow grasses with red clover. Kjelle has an annual grain production with focus on soil management.
 
Management of soil, water, nutrients and pests
Autumn ploughing has dominated cereal production. Subsidies promoting reduced tillage has led to increased spring tillage (53% for total cereal area) and light autumn harrowing replacing ploughing. All farmers are obliged to have a fertilizer plan based on soil samples to receive production support.
 
Soil improving cropping system and techniques currently used The Regional Environmental Programme supports, by use of subsidies:
  • reduced tillage
  • leaving area in stubble until spring
  • light autumn harrowing (leaving minimum 30 % straw on soil surface)
  • direct drilling
  • use of catch crops.
In addition, support is given for grass on areas with high erosion risk, buffer zones, grassed waterways and sedimentation ponds.
 
Problems that cause yield loss or increased costs
From 1991 the area of cereal production has decreased in Norway. From 2000 it is reduced by 14 %. Part of the area has shifted from cereal to grassland production - promoted by subsides for grassland to reduce erosion and improve water quality. Subsidies for meat production has also increased the area of grassland. In addition, the crop yield/unit area has shown stagnation and even a decreasing trend, but with high variations. An expert group appointed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food in 2013 has explained losses due to: soil compaction, lack of good drainage, lack of crop rotation, plant diseases, choice of variety, genetic material, suboptimal level of fertilizer, plant health issues.Reduced tillage to reduce erosion can increase fusarium and reduce yields. A follow up project- from evaluation to action – is now focusing on dissemination activities to extension service and farmers to increase yields. The expert group has also listed both economic and societal reasons for lower yields. 

Study Site Trials

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

General Treatment Category Study Site Trials
Fertilization / amendments

Trial site 1 – Conventional farmer
SICS:
Under-foot fertilisation after CULTAN
Study focus:
Under-foot fertilisation after CULTAN should improve the nitrogen supply to the plants – (specific machinery for direct application of fertilization directly to the roots).
Experiment:
The CULTAN technique (2 total fertilisations - first starting fertilisation, same on entire field) is compared to the organic fertilisation with pig manure (2 total fertilisations - first starting fertilisation, same on entire field) and the mineral fertilisation of pig manure and Lonza-Sol (3 total fertilisations - first starting fertilisation, same on entire field), both distributed on the soil surface.

 Soil-improving crops Trial site 2 – Conventional farmer:
SICS: Green manure and minimum tillage
Cluster: Soil improving crops
Study focus: Green manuring and minimum tillage are applied between crop rotation and to avoid the usage of Glyphosate
Experiment: Comparison of the usage of glyphosate versus green manuring and minimum tillage in different contexts.


Study Site poster 2018

 

SICS 1 - CULTAN procedure + minimum tillage

   SS04 BILLUND POSTER FRAUENFELD SICS2    switzerland fertilisation amendmentRead this fact sheet in German here
 

 

SS04 BILLUND POSTER FRAUENFELD SICS2b

 

 

Key findings

  • The relatively high mineral nitrogen measured in the SICS can attest to a relative nitrogen assimilation by the plants. However, this observation cannot be generalized for all study periods, nor for fields.
  • While SOC values improved in the observation field during some periods, they remain comparable to the SOC value of the control treatment in the second observation field. The comparison between the values of the remaining properties of SICS and control do not show differences (e.g. soil properties and crop yield). Continuous measurements are needed to confirm the long-term benefits of CULTAN.
  • The assessment of the overall sustainability of the SICS (CULTAN) is negative. This is due to the increase in production costs resulting from the fact that special machinery is required. The expected benefit of more efficient nitrogen assimilation by plants resulting in higher yields is demonstrated during some periods. However, this observation cannot be generalized for all periods. Nevertheless, a positive effect is that the SICS slightly reduces the farmer’s workload. 

 

 SICS 2 - Green manure + Minimum tillage

   SS04 BILLUND POSTER FRAUENFELD SICS3    swiss amendment 2Read this fact sheet in German here

 

 Key findings

  • The results obtained while comparing the performance of SICS with the control consisting attest to the potential of green manures as offering an alternative to pesticides.
  • The main drawback of the SICS was the perceived risk that some plants or weeds might survive winter. This would negatively affect the quality and quantity of the following sugar beet crop. The practices of some farmers are far removed from sustainable farming. There is, therefore, a need to encourage and support them in the transition away from pesticide use. It is, however, important to recognise that sustainable beet cultivation is not yet well established. In addition, pests can lead to a significant loss in yield. These considerations show that without concrete support such as subsidies, this task will be challenging.

 

Geographical description

The study site is located near Frauenfeld (47° 34’ N, 8° 52’ E), the capital of the canton Thurgau, in the northeastern part of the Swiss Midlands. The main river is the Thur, a tributary to the Rhein. The soil, situated on a wide valley bottom at 385 m above sea level, is a calcaric fluvisol (alluvial deposits). The topsoil is a sandy loam. Layers of coarser material are found in the subsoil. The organic carbon content varies between 5x10-3 and 0.5x10-3 kg kg-1. The bulk density is 1.4 kg l−1 and the pre-consolidation load is 80 kPa. The experimental area of 1 km2 is situated in the plain of the river Thur with a surface area of about 15 km2

Pedo-climatic zone
The site is under two predominant influence climates: the continental and the Alpine South climates. The annual average temperature is about 11.2 °C and precipitation is abundant (906 mm year-1) due to the proximity of the pre-alpine relief in the South. The study site situated in low sloping land has a low risk to surface runoff generation but field inundation is not excluded, while it has high susceptibility to leaching (fluvisol, draining soil structure until the groundwater table at about 1.5 m depth).

Cropping system

Cropping intensity

In Frauenfeld site, both conventional and conservation cropping systems are used. Depending on the soil moisture conditions and the rut depth after the harvest, rotary cultivator or plough (furrow wheel) are used, especially before sugar beet and potato crops. All produced animal excreta (pig liquid manure, rotted manure including straw from beef fattening), straw residues of maize and beet leaves will be returned or incorporated into the soil. Minimum soil tillage (harrow) is used after potato. The rotation constellation including artificial meadow and special cultures (strawberries) is not favourable for controlled traffic farming (CTF).

Types of crops
The rotation includes the following crops: corn as starter crop, then sugar beet, potato and cereal (winter wheat or spring barley). In the case of annual artificial grassland or annual strawberries, sowing or planting occurs after cereal.

Management of soil, water, nutrients and pests
The management has to be done according to the proof of ecological requirements of FOAG, Federal Office for Agriculture. The root and tuber crops occupy an important place in the rotation (between 60% and 75%) weakening soil structure of the topsoil. In summer, when the crops suffer from drought, irrigation overcomes this deficiency for root, tuber crops and strawberries and helps to establish artificial grassland in August. Water used for irrigation is provided from the water table with a level of about 1.5 m from the soil surface. Except for the strawberries, the organic fertilizers in form of liquid manure (from pig production) or rotted manure (from fattening cattle) will be applied directly after harvest for the nitrogenous, phosphate and potash needs. Additional drilled mineral nitrogen fertilizers are reserved for cereals (ammonium nitrate), potato (ammonium sulfate) and corn (urea). For the fight against weeds, selective herbicides will be applied: corn, sugar beer, strawberries (soil and foliar herbicide) and cereals (contact herbicide). Fungicide and insecticide are used especially for potatoes: between 7 and 10 applications for potato blight (Phytophtora infestans), and 1 application for Colorado beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata).

Soil improving cropping system and techniques currently used
Soil cropping systems and techniques used in the site are: soil tillage, reduced ploughing, combination seed drill for cereals after potato, flotation tyres on traction vehicles. The precision by sowing and planting is ensured by means of GPS. Trickle irrigation is used for strawberries.

Flotation tyres topspoil degradationtopspoil degradation
Flotation tires by seeding with a combination seed drill (Photo of the Etudy site, 14.10.2010) Effect of topsoil degradation due to heavy machines in corn field (Photo of the study site, 22 Sept. 2000)

 

Problems that cause yield loss or increased costs
Yield loss is closely linked to soil properties, climatic conditions, selected crops in the rotation and the peak workload over the year. Although the water reserves are abundant, soil suffers from drought during summer months when rain becomes rare due to its high infiltration capacity and low organic carbon content. In autumn, depending of the precipitation intensity, the risk of compaction is high. Yield loss in the corn is about 20 % in the ruts of heavy propelled harvester. Due to the peak workload during September and October, the harvest of silage maize and sugar beet is often delayed. The compaction risk under wet soil conditions causes crop loss. There is, also, not enough time remaining for cover cropping and green manuring in autumn. Stubble and organic residues are hardly decomposed and nitrogen mineralization remains blocked prejudicing the next culture. The structure degradation associated with rainfall regime and the harvest calendar is generally limited on the topsoil and disappears in the short or medium term.

External drivers and factors

Institutional and political drivers
While agricultural and environmental policies of Switzerland have been defined autonomously with regard to Europe, basic features of the respective European and Swiss policy frameworks are rather similar (e.g., high degrees of protectionism, direct payments for ecological and other services, strong presence of public regulation). The national ordinance on direct payments contains a clause that farmers who intend to receive direct payments must take suitable protection measures against soil degradation and water contamination. Subsequently, cantonal authorities, such as soil protection agencies and agricultural offices, began to develop different approaches to implement these regulations: they devised special control systems using soil erosion risk maps and agricultural inspectors. They are also conducting training courses, producing information leaflets, and implementing financial support programs for no-tillage.

Societal drivers
Public opinion: there is an increasing demand of local and biological products in Switzerland. There is also a real competition with European products that offer equivalent but cheaper products. These facts create a food system in which the buyers influence the prices, and farmers must comply. Biological products take an important place in the demand, since they have become part of conventional markets (from farm gate sales to major retail chains).

Bio-physical drivers
Based on regional climate models, future summers are likely to occasionally favor more frequent extreme events that result in catastrophic flooding, despite a general trend toward drier summer conditions. These changes will have significant impact on crops in many ways (e.g., delay in harvest and increase in the peak workload during some months). In addition, soil degradation and deficient soil aeration will be caused by the use of heavy agricultural machinery.