1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Preventing and Remediating degradation of soils in Europe through Land Care (EU-RECARE )

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

University of Padova (UNIPD) - Italy

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

21/10/2014

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Ja

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Maintenance of continuous soil cover; alternating crops and cover crops as a practice to improve soil quality and reduce diffuse agricultural water pollution

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Continuous soil cover on croplands in the Veneto region is characterised by growing seasonal cover crops alternated to the main crop. Continuous cover cropping has been promoted as an agri-environmental measure of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) by Veneto region to extend sustainable land management and reduce diffuse water pollution. Indeed cover crops incorporate available inorganic N that remains within the soil after harvest and reduce water erosion. The type of crop species depends on the crop succession.

Purpose of the Technology: Cover crops have been proposed to the farmers with the aim of reducing environmental impacts of traditional agricultural practices. Compared with systems that does not use cover crops, the continuous soil cover provides long-term agronomical and environmental benefits due to a reduction of negative impacts on agro-ecosystems.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: The application of cover crops involves the alternation of autumn-winter cereals, rapeseed or other herbaceous crops with maize, soybean, sorghum etc. Cover crops that are sown after the main culture are neither fertilized nor treated with pesticides during growing, while at the end of the crop cycle they are buried as green manure in order to improve soil organic matter content, nutrient cycle and finally soil fertility.

Natural / human environment: Growing seasonal cover crops between annual crops have the potential to provide multiple benefits in a cropping system. Cover crops prevent water erosion and pollution as well as increase soil physical properties. Due to the effect of green manure and root growth, cover crops supply nutrients and increase soil organic matter content. They improve soil biodiversity and break pest cycles.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• less than 10 years ago (recently)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Soils in the low Venetian plain of the Veneto region generally suffer from a loss of soil organic matter (SOM) that is strongly affected by their natural texture and climatic conditions. Moreover, in the last 50 years intensive tillage practices contributed to a further SOM decrease, estimated at 0.02-0.58 t/ha/y of carbon. Finally, high intensive agriculture practices increased nonpoint source pollution and in turn caused a decline of surface and groundwater quality.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): To date, few farmers have adopted voluntarily the continuous soil cover to reduce a decline of soil fertility and water quality, symptom of poor perception of the problem. Adoption of SLT by farmers was sustained only by means of regional subsidies.

3.3 Further information about land use

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

Comments:

Water supply: Also rainfed, full irrigation

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 210 Longest growing period from month to month: March to SeptemberSecond longest growing period in days: 180

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved ground/ vegetation cover

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

If the Technology is evenly spread over an area, indicate approximate area covered:

• 10-100 km2

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: agronomic measures

Type of agronomic measures: cover cropping, green manure

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion, Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content, Bc: reduction of vegetation cover, Hp: decline of surface water quality

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Bp: increase of pests / diseases, loss of predators

Main causes of degradation: soil management (lack of organic input with fertilizations), population pressure (high population density and competition for land)

Secondary causes of degradation: crop management (annual, perennial, tree/shrub) (crop monoculture instead of crop rotation)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• prevent land degradation
• reduce land degradation

Comments:

Main goals: mitigation / reduction of land degradation

Secondary goals: prevention of land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Continuous soil cover is here carried out with direct sowing of ryegrass on a sorghum field. Sorghum was in turn used as cover crop after harvesting of winter wheat.

Location: Low Venetian plain of Veneto region

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate

Technical knowledge required for land users: low

Main technical functions: control of raindrop splash, improvement of ground cover, increase of surface roughness, improvement of water quality, buffering / filtering water

Secondary technical functions: control of dispersed runoff: impede / retard, improvement of surface structure (crusting, sealing), increase in organic matter, increase in nutrient availability (supply, recycling,…), sediment retention / trapping, sediment harvesting

Cover cropping
Material/ species: e.g. barley and vetch, ryegrass, sorghum
Quantity/ density: 35 kg/ha

Green manure
Material/ species: e.g. sudan grass
Quantity/ density: 1.5-6 t/ha
Remarks: Strongly dependant on: 1) type of cover crop; 2) differentiation between summer and winter c.c.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Euro €

Indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (if relevant): 1 USD =:

0.8

4.4 Establishment activities

Comments:

No initial investment needed

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Cover crops: chopping	Agronomic
2.	Main crop: seedbed preparation	Agronomic
3.	Main crop: harrowing	Agronomic
4.	Main crop: weed control	Agronomic
5.	Main crop: fertilisation	Agronomic
6.	Main crop: harvesting	Agronomic
7.	Cover crops: sowing	Agronomic

4.7 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Equipment	Cover crop chopping	ha	1.0	343.0	343.0
Equipment	Main crop: seedbed preparation	ha	1.0	191.0	191.0
Equipment	Main crop: harrowing	ha	1.0	63.0	63.0
Equipment	Main crop: weed control	ha	1.0	44.5	44.5
Equipment	Main crop: harvesting	ha	1.0	152.0	152.0
Equipment	Cover crops: sowing	ha	1.0	121.0	121.0
Plant material	Seeds main crop	ha	1.0	190.5	190.5
Plant material	Seeds cover crop	ha	1.0	191.0	191.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Main crop: fertilisation (fertilizer)	ha	1.0	254.0	254.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Main crop: weed control (biocides)	ha	1.0	125.0	125.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					1675.0

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Although machinery costs are the largest part of total ones, they are almost completely the same for systems adopting - or non adopting - the technology. As a result, additional seeds as cover crop and field labour for sowing are the main costs for implementation of the technology.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

5.3 Soils

If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

Soil fertility is low-medium
Soil drainage/infiltration is medium
Soil water storage capacity is medium

5.4 Water availability and quality

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Ground water table: <5m (The area surrounding the Venice lagoon (1240 km2) is even below the sea level (down to -2 m) and currently cultivated due to land reclamation. As a result water table is kept artificially low)
Water quality (untreated) is good drinking water (groundwater) or for agricultural use only (surface water)

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

High population density, infrastructures and intensive agriculture practices affect the state of biodiversity.

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly common / average land users

Population density: 200-500 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 0.5% - 1%

5% of the land users are rich.
95% of the land users are average wealthy.

5.7 Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land use rights:

• leased
• individual

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Water availability and quality

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

	Season	Type of climatic change/ extreme	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	not known

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

Comments:

Establishment costs N/A

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many have did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 0-10%

Comments:

100% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Prevents erosion How can they be sustained / enhanced? Maintenance of cover crop
Improves soil fertilty, biodiversity, structure, organic matter content How can they be sustained / enhanced? Usage of organic fertilizations on the main crop
Allows natural control of weeds How can they be sustained / enhanced? Higher seeding rate
Improves knowledge on soil cover benefits and agroecology How can they be sustained / enhanced? Improve farmers' education

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
Increase costs of input and management	Increase awareness on long-term soil benefits and keep subsidies
In summer seasons increases the competition for water resources	improve planning and knowledge of suitable species

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Programma di sviluppo rurale per il veneto 2007-2013, Regione Veneto, 2007. Dipartimento Agricoltura e Sviluppo Rurale.