Non-inversion shallow cultivation [Belgium]
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- Compiler: Unknown User
- Editor: –
- Reviewers: David Streiff, Alexandra Gavilano
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technologies_966 - Belgium
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Expand all Collapse all1. General information
1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology
Key resource person(s)
SLM specialist:
Gillijns Katleen
Catholic University of Leuven
Belgium
SLM specialist:
Govers Gerard
Catholic University of Leuven
Belgium
Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
Soil and water protection (EU-SOWAP) {'additional_translations': {}, 'value': 1170, 'label': 'Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)', 'text': 'Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven) - Belgium', 'template': 'raw'}1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT
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 (documented using WOCAT)
Introduction of conservation agriculture in a highly mechanised … [Belgium]
Combination of 'dissemination of the SWC technology 'non-inversion tillage'' and research.
- Compiler: Unknown User
2. Description of the SLM Technology
2.1 Short description of the Technology
Definition of the Technology:
The technology consists of the use of cover crops and of a non-inversion seedbed preparation
2.2 Detailed description of the Technology
Description:
The technology consists of agronomic measures. The most important thing is that the farmers are not allowed to invert the soil by ploughing. Farmers may only cultivate their fields as minimum and as shallow as possible. Farmers also have to use a cover crop, if possible. In this way the soil is always covered with residues of a previous crop or with residues of the cover crop. The improvement of the ground cover protects the soil against different kinds of water erosion. In the long term period, the soil structure will improve (more organic matter in top soil) and more earthworm activity will be determined. The infiltration of water will increase.
Purpose of the Technology: Protecting the soil against erosion and increasing infiltration.
Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: The farmer may never plough.
Natural / human environment: The technology is applied on cropland with annual crops.
2.3 Photos of the Technology
2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment
Country:
Belgium
Region/ State/ Province:
Flanders
Further specification of location:
Vlaams-Brabant
Specify the spread of the Technology:
- evenly spread over an area
If the Technology is evenly spread over an area, specify area covered (in km2):
0.0046
Comments:
Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 0.0046 km2.
It's a fiedl trial with 3 treatments: every treatment is 4620 m² (see map). The treatments are: non-inversion shallow cultivation, non-inversion deep cultivation and conventional ploughing. In the region of this field, other farmers are also experimenting with new technologies on their own fields.
Map
×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:
- during experiments/ research
Comments (type of project, etc.):
In the Walloon part of Belgium and in the surrounding countries (France, Germany), farmers are already applying this technology for a long time. In Flanders, the technology was introduced in the '1970 by a professor De Ploey of our Faculty. Farmers didn't see the benefits of the technology and decided not to implement the technology. Now time has changed: farmers know that they have to do something ageist the erosion problem.
3. Classification of the SLM Technology
3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology
- reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied
Cropland
- Annual cropping
Annual cropping - Specify crops:
- cereals - maize
- root/tuber crops - potatoes
- root/tuber crops - sugar beet
- wheat
Number of growing seasons per year:
- 1
Specify:
Longest growing period from month to month: Mar-Oct; Second longest growing period from month to month: Apr - Nov
Is crop rotation practiced?
Yes
If yes, specify:
Normal sequence of crops at the farm: sugar beet - wheat- potatoes - maize. Crop rotation at the experimental field: maize - wheat - sugar beet.
Comments:
Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): 1. Soil loss by water erosion. 2. soil erosion related environmental problems (muddy floods, retention pond sedimentation, declining water quality due to sediment and sediment - fixed contaminants)
Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Strong nitrogen regulations and EU rules are hindering the farmer.
Type of cropping system and major crops comments: Normal sequence of crops at the farm: sugar beet - wheat- potatoes - maize. Crop rotation at the experimental field: maize - wheat - sugar beet.
3.4 Water supply
Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:
- rainfed
3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs
- improved ground/ vegetation cover
- minimal soil disturbance
3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology
agronomic measures
- A2: Organic matter/ soil fertility
- A3: Soil surface treatment
- A4: Subsurface treatment
Comments:
Type of agronomic measures: better crop cover, manure / compost / residues, mineral (inorganic) fertilizers, breaking compacted topsoil, minimum tillage
3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology
soil erosion by water
- Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion
- Wg: gully erosion/ gullying
- Wo: offsite degradation effects
physical soil deterioration
- Pk: slaking and crusting
Comments:
Main causes of degradation: other natural causes (avalanches, volcanic eruptions, mud flows, highly susceptible natural resources, extreme topography, etc.) specify (soil erosion), lack of knowledge
Secondary causes of degradation: other human induced causes (specify) (agricultural causes: hevay machinery)
3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation
Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:
- prevent land degradation
4. Technical specifications, implementation activities, inputs, and costs
4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology
Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):
Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high
Technical knowledge required for land users: high
Main technical functions: improvement of ground cover, increase of infiltration, improvement of soil structure
Secondary technical functions: control of raindrop splash, control of dispersed runoff: impede / retard, increase in organic matter
Better crop cover
Material/ species: winter barley 2003
Quantity/ density: 200 kg/ha
Agronomic measure: removing less vegetation cover (every year)
Remarks: by not ploughing
Agronomic measure: better crop cover2004
Material/ species: maize 2004
Quantity/ density: 178600
Remarks: seeds/ha
Agronomic measure: better crop cover 2004
Material/ species: winter wheat 2004
Quantity/ density: 165 kg/ha
Agronomic measure: better crop cover 2005
Material/ species: oats 2005
Quantity/ density: 110 kg/ha
Manure / compost / residues
Material/ species: slury injection 2004
Quantity/ density: 40000l/ha
Remarks: before sowing
Mineral (inorganic) fertilizers
Material/ species: nitrogen 2004
Quantity/ density: 200kg/ha
Remarks: 26%
Agronomic measure: mineral (inorganic) fertilizers
Material/ species: nitrogen 2005
Quantity/ density: 175 kg/ha
Remarks: 39%
Agronomic measure: mineral (inorganic) fertilizers
Material/ species: nitrogen 2005
Quantity/ density: 45 kg/ha
Remarks: 27%
Agronomic measure: mineral (inorganic) fertilizers
Material/ species: Haspargit
Quantity/ density: 800 kg/ha
Agronomic measure: mineral (inorganic) fertilizers
Material/ species: nitrogen 2005
Quantity/ density: 120 kg/ha
Remarks: 38%
Minimum tillage
Material/ species: every year
Remarks: the field is cultivated as minimal as possible
4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities
Activity | Timing/ frequency | |
---|---|---|
1. | sowing maize, inorganic nitrogen | apr 2004 / |
2. | sowing winter barley | oct 2003 / |
3. | injection of slurry, herbicide paraquat | mar 2004 / |
4. | spraying herbicides | may 2004 / |
5. | harvesting, sowing winter wheat | nov 2004 / |
4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)
Comments:
Comparing to ordinary field operations, there are normally no additional costs if applying the new technique. The farmer will not plough anymore, this is an economic benefit. In some cases and for some crops the farmer will use another machine, for example: the farmer will need a direct drilling machine for sowing sugar beets in stead of a normal sowing machine. In Flanders, always agricultural contractors are sowing beets (not farmers). The agricultural contractor will ask the same price for normal sowing machine as for the direct drilling machine. Although farmers have no additional costs, they get subsidies (80€/ha.year for shallow cultivation, 200€/ha.year for no tillage) from the Flemish Government for practicing the new technique - subsidies are mainly given to encourage the farmers.
Additional info: inorganic nitrogen - mar 2005 spraying herbicides - apr 2005 inorganic nitrogen - apr 2005 spraying herbicides - apr 2005 spraying herbicides - may 2005 spraying herbicides - jun 2005 inorganic nitrogen - jun 2005 harvesting winter wheat - aug 2005 injection of farm yard manure - sep 2005 sowing oats - sep 2005 broadcasting Haspargit - sep 2005
5. Natural and human environment
5.1 Climate
Annual rainfall
- < 250 mm
- 251-500 mm
- 501-750 mm
- 751-1,000 mm
- 1,001-1,500 mm
- 1,501-2,000 mm
- 2,001-3,000 mm
- 3,001-4,000 mm
- > 4,000 mm
Specify average annual rainfall (if known), in mm:
780.10
Agro-climatic zone
- sub-humid
5.2 Topography
Slopes on average:
- flat (0-2%)
- gentle (3-5%)
- moderate (6-10%)
- rolling (11-15%)
- hilly (16-30%)
- steep (31-60%)
- very steep (>60%)
Landforms:
- plateau/plains
- ridges
- mountain slopes
- hill slopes
- footslopes
- valley floors
Altitudinal zone:
- 0-100 m a.s.l.
- 101-500 m a.s.l.
- 501-1,000 m a.s.l.
- 1,001-1,500 m a.s.l.
- 1,501-2,000 m a.s.l.
- 2,001-2,500 m a.s.l.
- 2,501-3,000 m a.s.l.
- 3,001-4,000 m a.s.l.
- > 4,000 m a.s.l.
Comments and further specifications on topography:
Slopes on average: 10 %
Landforms: The main topography is a plateau (100 m above sea level) in which rivers are incised. The technology is applied at fields situated on the slopes between the plateau and the valley
5.3 Soils
Soil depth on average:
- very shallow (0-20 cm)
- shallow (21-50 cm)
- moderately deep (51-80 cm)
- deep (81-120 cm)
- very deep (> 120 cm)
Soil texture (topsoil):
- medium (loamy, silty)
Topsoil organic matter:
- medium (1-3%)
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 depth on average: The loess deposits which vary in thickness between a few dm to several m cover Tertiary sands
Soil texture (topsoil): 60% loam, 30% sand and 10% clay
Topsoil organic matter: 1,2%
Soil fertility is high
Soil drainage / infiltration is good
Soil water storage capacity is medium - high
5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology
Market orientation of production system:
- commercial/ market
Off-farm income:
- less than 10% of all income
Relative level of wealth:
- rich
Level of mechanization:
- mechanized/ motorized
Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:
Population density: 200-500 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 0.5% - 1%
70% of the land users are rich and own 80% of the land.
Off-farm income specification: The farmer is only working with his own farm.
5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology
- < 0.5 ha
- 0.5-1 ha
- 1-2 ha
- 2-5 ha
- 5-15 ha
- 15-50 ha
- 50-100 ha
- 100-500 ha
- 500-1,000 ha
- 1,000-10,000 ha
- > 10,000 ha
5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights
Land ownership:
- individual, titled
Land use rights:
- individual
6. Impacts and concluding statements
6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown
Socio-economic impacts
Income and costs
farm income
Comments/ specify:
Because of reduced working time and lower fuel consumption.
Other socio-economic impacts
special equipement
Socio-cultural impacts
conflict mitigation
farmers opinion of a non-ploughed field
Ecological impacts
Water cycle/ runoff
surface runoff
Quantity before SLM:
34
Quantity after SLM:
16
Comments/ specify:
Also 21 before and 16 after
Soil
soil cover
Comments/ specify:
More residues
soil loss
Quantity before SLM:
4.47
Quantity after SLM:
1
Comments/ specify:
Significant reduction in soil loss
Other ecological impacts
biodiversity
Comments/ specify:
more earthworms
use of herbicides
6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown
downstream flooding
Comments/ specify:
Because of less runoff
groundwater/ river pollution
6.4 Cost-benefit analysis
How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?
Short-term returns:
slightly negative
Long-term returns:
very positive
How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?
Short-term returns:
very positive
Long-term returns:
very positive
6.5 Adoption of the Technology
- single cases/ experimental
Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?
- 91-100%
Comments:
Comments on acceptance with external material support: survey results
100% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support
1 land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support
Comments on spontaneous adoption: survey results
There is a strong trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology
Comments on adoption trend: Nowadays about 49% of the farmers in the region are practising conservation tillage, whereas only 33% was doing it in 2001. At the beginning of the project 63% of the farmers intend to cultivate their fields in a conservative way into 3 years. (based on e
6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view |
---|
less soil erosion |
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view |
---|
The technology clearly reduces the erosion risk while maintaining profitability. |
The new technology also has other benefits on soil structure and biodiversity. |
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? |
---|---|
high investment costs for buying new agricultural machinery | |
more attention to crop damages caused by slugs and mice should be given | |
Practicing the new technology requires a relative dry soil |
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view | How can they be overcome? |
---|---|
Practicing the new technology requires a greater skill of the farmers. | education, training |
7. References and links
7.1 Methods/ sources of information
7.2 References to available publications
Title, author, year, ISBN:
SOWAP - Project. 2003-2006.
Available from where? Costs?
www. Sowap.org
Links and modules
Expand all Collapse allLinks
Introduction of conservation agriculture in a highly mechanised … [Belgium]
Combination of 'dissemination of the SWC technology 'non-inversion tillage'' and research.
- Compiler: Unknown User
Modules
No modules