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)

OPtimal strategies to retAIN and re-use water and nutrients in small agricultural catchments across different soil-climatic regions in Europe (OPTAIN)

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

Institute of Technology and Life Sciences – National Research Institute, Poland (ITP) - Poland

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

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

Comments:

-

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches (documented using WOCAT)

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Subsoiling is defined as tillage below a depth of about 35-40 cm which doesn't invert the soil. It breaks up compacted layers to improve rooting and infiltration. Subsoiling is not needed on light soils, because these are rarely at risk of compaction.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Subsoiling is carried out on arable land. Subsolier is pulled by a tractor and chisels (tines) break up a compacted layer below the surface. Subsoiling disturbs this dense layer and loosens the soil. This treatment improves air-water relations in the soil. The depth of subsoiling can be adjusted. On heavier soils, deeper subsoiling may be necessary. The farmer surveyed (who has a medium sized enterprise of about 400 ha) subsoils at a depth of 40-45 cm. Subsoiling is used especially for root crops such as sugar beet - and for other crops to a lesser extent, depending on the needs and condition of the soil. It is possible to adjust the spacing of the chisels (tines) and the power of the tractor. An average spacing between the chisels is 50 cm. A 200 horsepower tractor is able to pull a five-tine subsoiler. If time permits, the whole field should be subsoiled. Subsoiling takes quite a long time (about 10 ha per day). This technology is required every year when sugar beet is planted. In other fields, only machinery tracks and headlands (where the machine turns) should be subsoiled every year. Subsoiling is often used after harvest and before other field operations such as ploughing etc. On average, due to crop rotation, the whole field is only subsoiled once every four years. Subsoiling is a form of tillage which can be used instead of traditional ploughing to loosen soil without inverting it: thus it can form part of a reduced tillage system.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.4 Videos 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:

• 10-50 years ago

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through land users' innovation
• during experiments/ research

Comments (type of project, etc.):

-

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem

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

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

• No (Continue with question 3.4)

3.4 Water supply

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

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• minimal soil disturbance

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

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

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

If relevant, indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (e.g. 1 USD = 79.9 Brazilian Real): 1 USD =:

4.45

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	-	-

Comments:

-

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	-
Equipment	-
Plant material	-
Fertilizers and biocides	-
Construction material	-
Other	-

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Subsoiling	late summer, early autumn (after harvest of crops)

Comments:

The exact date of performing subsoiling depends on several conditions, for example: (i) soil moisture conditions in the field; (ii) date of harvest crop in the field intended to be subsoil; (iii) subsoiler and tractor availability.
The subsoiler is a simple machine, the frame is durable but the chisels wear out very fast, especially due to dry soil conditions.

4.6 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	skill labour	person-hour	1.0	30.0	30.0	100.0
Equipment	tractor and subsoiler (depreciation)	machine-hour	1.0	10.0	10.0	100.0
Equipment	chisels	machine-hour	1.0	25.0	25.0	100.0
Equipment	tractor fuel	liter per hour	20.0	7.0	140.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					205.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					46.07

Comments:

It is assumed, that within 1 hour the worker is subsoiling 1 ha in average conditions (field size = 40 ha; subsoiling about 10 ha per day and costings given for 1 hectare)

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

price of fuel, area needed to subsoling, moisture conditions in the fields, granulometric compisition of the soil

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

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

Land ownership:

• individual, not titled
• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• leased
• individual

Water use rights:

• individual

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

Yes

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Climate and disaster risk reduction

Specify assessment of on-site impacts (measurements):

Changes that can be measured: soil density decrease, soil porosity increase, infiltration rate increase, plant rooting depth increase, stable yield, reduced emission of CO2.

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

Specify assessment of off-site impacts (measurements):

Changes that can be measured: decreased CO2 emission.

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	increase or decrease	How does the Technology cope with it?
seasonal rainfall	summer	decrease	moderately
seasonal rainfall	autumn	decrease	moderately

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	moderately

Comments:

In order to obtain the appropriate result of the subsoiling operation, it should be performed in conditions of adequate (optimum) soil moisture.
In the Kujawy region dry agrometeorological conditions are observed more frequently than wet ones. In conditions of insufficient soil moisture (dry and hard soil) chisels “tear up” the soil and the effect of its proper loosening is not achieved. At the same time performing subsoiling in very dry soil conditions is associated with high soil resistance the tractor must overcome. This results in increase in the tillage cost.
In conditions of excessive soil moisture soil “smearing effect “ occurs and the effect of its proper loosening is also not achieved.
Due to the observed in the region warming of the climate and the unfavourable changes in the distribution of rainfall throughout the year, water deficits in the soils may become more and more frequent. It may cause more rare occurring conditions which are optimal for performing subsoiling. This will be a problem for farmers using this tillage and it will limit possibility of performing subsoiling.

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)?

Comments:

-

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 11-50%

If available, quantify (no. of households and/ or area covered):

-

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

• 91-100%

Comments:

-

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

No

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
The effects of subsoiling are so noticeable (increased crop yield and quality) that it is worth doing, especially on root crops (e.g. sugar beet). The yield-forming effect of this treatment is also visible throughout the entire crop rotation
It improves air-water relations in the soil. This treatment eliminates the soil layer with excessive density, loosening this layer and the layers located above. It is also recommended for farmers who irrigate their fields.
Thanks to the treatment, the plants (i) are better rooted, (ii) give higher yield, especially root crops, (iii) penetrate the soil and reach water more easily, without encountering an obstacle. Other plants also achieve stronger root system, as well as better take up and absorb water and nutrients.
This treatment improves biological properties of the soil and reduces root diseases;

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Subsoiling used as a part of reduced tillage lets to reduce magnitude of CO2 emission from soil.
Subsoiling enhances water supply of plants by capillary rise.
As a loosening treatment, it exposes the soil to water and wind erosion to a lesser extent than ploughing.

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?
Subsoiling is an additional activity, not popular and it is not cheap.	To create the program for subsidies for such activities.
Most often it is performed as after harvesting and as pre-winter tillage. In order to be the most economically effective, subsoiling should be performed in optimal conditions of soil moisture due to wearing chisels.	Monitoring of agrometeorological conditions and proper organisation of activities in the farm.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Subsoiling requires very good knowledge of the field (due to risk of drainage system damage).	To possess knowledge of spatial distribution of drainage pipes in the fields, to have maps of the field with such information.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Influence of agrireclamation measures on water-physical properties of compact soils, changes in roots and plant yields (Wpływ zabiegów agromelioracyjnych na właściwości fizyczno-wodne gleb zwięzłych oraz ukorzenienie i plony roślin), Miatkowski Z., 2001., Bibl. Wiad. IMUZ, no 99, pp 107 (in Polish, summary in English)

Available from where? Costs?

Library of Institute of Technology and Life Sciences, National Research Institute (ITP)

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Subsoiling in conventional and conservation tillage for sugar beet growing (Zastosowanie głęboszowania w tradycyjnej i konserwującej uprawie roli pod buraki cukrowe). Miatkowski Z., Sołtysik A., Banaszak H., 2006, Problemy Inżynierii Rolniczej vol. 2, p. 53-60.

Available from where? Costs?

Library of ITP and http://yadda.icm.edu.pl/baztech/element/bwmeta1.element.baztech-article-BAR0-0016-0084

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Effects on Soil Water Holding Capacity and Soil Water Retention Resulting from Soil Health Management Practices Implementation

URL:

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/AWC_Effects_on_Soil_Water_Holding_Capacity_and_Retention.pdf

Title/ description:

Preparation of the beet stand (Przygotowanie stanowiska pod buraki). KWS Agrotechnical Bulletin (Biuletyn Agrotechniczny KWS), no. 3/2003 (4).

URL:

https://docplayer.pl/38709652-Biuletyn-agrotechniczny-kws-biuletyn-agrotechniczny-kws.html

7.4 General comments

-