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)?

23/04/2015

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

Yes

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Re-introduction of biosolids to improve fertility of mineral soils

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Since 1960, organic amendments in Italy have been the unique source of nutrients for croplands. Only in the last fifty years, mineral inputs (e.g. nitrogen, phosphorus) have achieved great importance to supply the increasing nutrient needs of cropping systems, although their use do not replace the whole benefits that organic matter provides to the crops and the soil.

Purpose of the Technology: The re-introduction of organic amendments as a fertilisation management strategy is therefore promoted to increase the soil quality and reduce the loss of organic matter, especially in mineral soils. Therefore in Veneto region it was adopted as an agri-environmental measure of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013 to extend sustainable land management.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: The agricultural production in the Veneto region is somehow divided between a flat area upstream (northern plain), where breeding is a very important agricultural activity and a flat area downstream (southern plain), where most of the grain and soybean production is concentrated. In this context, the low economic value given to organic amendments makes it difficult to move manure for north to south. As a result, the RDP finaced the use of organic inputs throughout the agricultural lands, especially favouring the re-introduction of organic amendments in mineral soils with low organic matter cointent.

Natural / human environment: The soil will benefit from organic amendments input. Particularly, high soil organic matter content will improve nutrient cycling and availability, soil water storage capacity, soil structure stability and finally crop productivity. From an environmental point of view, using organic amenedments istead of mineral inputs as a fertilization strategy will improve the carbon cycle by reducing GHG emissions to the atmosphere and increasing the soil organic carbon (SOC) content.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

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

2.7 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.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Decrease of productivity, soil compaction. To date, few farmers has adopted voluntarily conservation practices to reduce a decline of soil fertility and SOM content, symptom of poor perception of the problem. Moreover, the low technical know-how causes low yield performances and discouraged farmers to adopt the SLT.

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

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

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• integrated soil fertility management

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:

• 1,000-10,000 km2

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: agronomic measures

Type of agronomic measures: manure / compost / residues

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Bh: loss of habitats

Main causes of degradation: soil management, population pressure

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:

Secondary goals: rehabilitation / reclamation of denuded land

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: low

Technical knowledge required for land users: low

Main technical functions: increase in organic matter

Secondary technical functions: improvement of subsoil structure (hardpan), increase / maintain water stored in soil

Manure / compost / residues
Material/ species: Farmyard manure
Quantity/ density: 30 t/ha

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

€

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

0.8

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Purchase and distribution of manure	Agronomic	1/year

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
Labour	Purchase and distribution of manure	t/ha	30.0	5.6	168.0	15.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					168.0

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Moving large amounts of organic amendments of low economic value, where required. Estimated costs consist of material transportation and distribution.

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
Soil drainage/infiltration is medium
Soil water storage capacity is medium

5.4 Water availability and quality

5.5 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%

Off-farm income specification: It is assumed that this technology is spread throughout the agricultural sector,therefore it is not possible to define an average off-far income.

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 ownership:

• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• leased
• individual

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)
• leased

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

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 well

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

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

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

Comments:

Comments on acceptance with external material support: The technology was adopted by farmers who did not reduce their incomes as a consequence of its application

Comments on spontaneous adoption: Farmers with livestock partly adopt the technology voluntarily

There is no trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Improves soil fertility

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Enhances distribution of organic amendments throughout the whole region How can they be sustained / enhanced? Favouring the reconversion from liquid to farmyard manure
Promotes knowledge between partners

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?
Costs for transport and distribution of large amiunts of material with low economic value	More subsidies
	Promoting knowledge between partners

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
High doses can increase diffuse pollution

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.