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
Key findings
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SICS 2 - Deep-rooting ley grass cultivars in arable rotation
Key findings
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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.
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) |
Read this fact sheet in Norwegian here |
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Key findings
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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) |
Read this fact sheet in Norwegian here |
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Key findings
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SICS 3 :- Precision agriculture (demonstration) |
Geographical description
Cropping systems
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.
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.
- reduced tillage
- leaving area in stubble until spring
- light autumn harrowing (leaving minimum 30 % straw on soil surface)
- direct drilling
- use of catch crops.
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 |
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. |
SICS 1 - CULTAN procedure + minimum tillage
Read this fact sheet in German here | |||
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Key findings
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SICS 2 - Green manure + Minimum tillage
Read this fact sheet in German here |
Key findings
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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 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.