Crop residue is left on the field after maize harvest to reduce soil erosion and enhance carbon sequestration. (Brigitta Toth)
1. The case study area is situated within the catchment of river Zala in western Hungary. The climate is moderately warm, moderately humid, the number of sunshine hours per year are high. Mean annual temperature of the region is about 10 ˚C. The average amount of rainfall is between 600 and 700 mm / year. 37% of the total catchment area is arable land which is much lower than the national average, 27% is forest, which exceeds the national average. 15% of the land is under grassland management, 5% is horticulture, 3% is pomiculture, 2% is viticulture, 1% is reed management and fish farming. In arable land non irrigated cereals, maize and oil crops are the main farming system classes. Among permanent crops vineyard and fruit trees are the most significant.
2. In this technology reduced disturbance of the soil is used, non-inversion of soil is applied. At least 30 percent of crop residues are left on the field. Primary tillage is usually carried out by rippers or combinated disk rippers. Machinery is usually supplied by agricultural contractors in case of farms smaller than 100 ha.
3. The purpose of the technology is to improve soil structure, reduce decomposition of organic matter, increase water infiltration, reduce soil erosion and soil compaction.
4. Special equipment is needed for soil management: soil loosener and minimum-tillage equipment to perform tillage and seeding in one pass. Primary tillage is due in autumn, secondary tillage (surface preparation) is performed in early spring.
5. It improves soil microbial activity, biodiversity, deeper rooting. Further to it fuel efficiency is better compared to conventional tillage.
6. Its disadvantage is the higher risk of weed infestation.
Location: Rádóckölked, Zala, Hungary
No. of Technology sites analysed: 2-10 sites
Spread of the Technology: applied at specific points/ concentrated on a small area
In a permanently protected area?:
Date of implementation: 2002
Type of introduction
| Specify input | Unit | Quantity | Costs per Unit (Forint) | Total costs per input (Forint) | % of costs borne by land users |
| Labour | |||||
| primary tillage | day/ha | 0.1 | 15000.0 | 1500.0 | 100.0 |
| Equipment | |||||
| primary tillage machine (0.67 hour 1 ha) | machine hours | 0.67 | 14570.0 | 9761.9 | 100.0 |
| Total costs for maintenance of the Technology | 11'261.9 | ||||
| Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD | 43.82 | ||||
Productivity is increased through improved soil health, decreased surface runoff, better nutrient and water holding capacity, which can be seen in medium to longer term.
Productivity is increased through improved soil health, decreased surface runoff, better nutrient and water holding capacity, which can be seen in medium to longer term.
Production failure is decreased through improved soil health, decreased surface runoff, better nutrient and water holding capacity.
Less labour time and cost are required due to fewer tillage trips and cultivation operations for seedbed preparation, and soil management needs significantly less fuel as well.
Through improved productivity and decreased production failure risk food security is improved.
Farmers applying conservation tillage practices will get a wider knowledge about factors causing land degradation and management practices which can decrease or prevent it.
Nutrient and pesticide losses are decreased through decreased runoff which increases water quality.
Surface runoff is reduced due to increased soil cover by leaving at least 30% of crop residue on field before and after planting the next crop.
Soil moisture content is increased due to the mulch on the soil surface which reduces evapotranspiration and also due to improved soil pore system in which storage pores are increased, so available water for plants is increased as well.
Soil cover is increased due to leaving at least 30% of crop residue on field before and after planting the next crop.
Soil loss is decreased due to decreased runoff.
Crop residues left on the filed help to protect the soil aggregates from splash erosion and crusting through raindrops. Aggregates are more stable in the topsoil also due to reduced soil disturbance resulting in higher total porosity which enhances downward water movement.
Crop residues left in the field return the carbon fixed in the crops to the soil. The carbon sequestration potential of the soil depends on the crop type, soil moisture content, soil mineralogy, soil texture, porosity and temperature. Different carbon categories have different turnover rates. Reduced runoff reduces the organic matter loss.
Accumulation of crop residues and organic matter in the surface layer creates favourable feeding conditions, therefore microbial biomass increases.
Due to improved soil structure and porosity soil moisture storage is increased which can buffer the impact of drought.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emission is reduced by less tillage operations emitting less CO2 by tractor engine and decreased oxidative breakdown of soil organic matter through minimized mechanical tillage.
