1.2 Detalles de contacto de las personas de referencia e instituciones involucradas en la evaluación y la documentación de la Tecnología

Nombre del proyecto que financió la documentación/ evaluación de la Tecnología (si fuera relevante)

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

Nombre de la(s) institución(es) que facilitaron la documentación/ evaluación de la Tecnología (si fuera relevante)

Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry of Slovenia – Institute of Agriculture and Forestry Maribor (KGZS) - Eslovenia

1.3 Condiciones referidas al uso de datos documentados mediante WOCAT

El compilador y la/s persona(s) de referencia claves aceptan las condiciones acerca del uso de los datos documentados mediante WOCAT:

Sí

1.4 Declaración de la sostenibilidad de la Tecnología descrita

¿La Tecnología aquí descrita resulta problemática en relación a la degradación de la tierra, de tal forma que no puede considerársela una tecnología sostenible para el manejo de la tierra?

No

2.1 Breve descripción de la Tecnología

Definición de la Tecnología:

Crop rotation is good practice in agricultural production. It comprises alternating different types of crops, usually in a specific order. Crop rotation maintains soil fertility, reduces the risk of diseases and pests, and optimizes nutrient utilization. In Slovenia, a 5-year rotation is proving especially effective.

2.2 Descripción detallada de la Tecnología

Descripción:

Crop rotation is a system of alternating arable crops, forage plants, aromatic herbs, and vegetables, generally in a specific sequence. It can be applied in fields, gardens, or enclosed growing spaces. Crop rotation is adaptable and can be used under different farming systems, such as organic, integrated, and conventional farming. It maximises the efficiency of biological, organizational, and spatial influences on soil and plants. The fundamental element of crop rotation is the selection of plant species that are most effectively alternated on the same piece of land over different years. To ensure the best selection, it is essential to understand the farming technology, the type and structure of the soil, and its nutrient composition.
By implementing good crop rotation, nutrient utilization is optimized, and the risk of diseases and pests is reduced. Crop rotation also ensures the sustainable use of soil by improving its structure and fertility. The inclusion of cover crops in a rotation helps to maintain continuous soil cover. Crop rotation also facilitates better adaptation to climate change (drought, hail, floods etc), depending on the plants included in the rotation. The inclusion of green manure crops and the use of organic fertilizers can reinforce crop rotation and further support soil fertility enhancement and conservation.
To establish and maintain crop rotation, a detailed plan must be prepared, including the selection of crops based on soil characteristics, nutrient requirements, and crop sequencing needs. A fertilization plan should also be developed in parallel. It is crucial to ensure appropriate agricultural machinery, especially for specialty crops, and to have sufficient labour available, as more complex rotations may increase workload. Additionally, market research for new crops and demand assessment should be conducted.
In summary, crop rotation offers numerous benefits:
- Enhances soil fertility and improves soil structure.
- Reduces diseases, pests, and weeds.
- Minimises nutrient leaching and soil erosion.
- Increases organic matter content in the soil.
- Boosts biodiversity and strengthens soil resilience to weather changes.
- Enables efficient resource utilization and reduces production costs.
Thus, crop rotation offers numerous benefits that farmers appreciate – all of which help ensure higher and more sustainable yields. However, this technology requires specific knowledge, precise planning, and careful scheduling, which increases the complexity of production. It also demands more labour and sometimes additional machinery, leading to higher production costs. Furthermore, marketing various crops requires careful consideration, which can pose a challenge for farmers.
Crop rotation in Slovenia is supported by Agri-Environmental-Climate Payments (CAP), which enables farmers to receive funding for implementing a diverse and effective crop rotation system.

An effective 5-year rotation system in Slovenia typically follows the following sequence:
1st year – flowering grass mixture
2nd – winter barley
3rd – grain maize
4th – wheat
5th – oil pumpkins

This ensures that at least three different annual crops are grown within the five years, while integrating legumes like alfalfa or red clover every 3–4 years to enrich soil nitrogen levels. Cereals may appear up to three times in the rotation, but never in consecutive years. After cereal crops the farmer may alternatively sow non-winter-hardy honey-producing cover crops. Despite this structured guidance, many rotations in Slovenia remain too narrow. National laws and guidelines for agri-environmental measures support farmers in designing good crop sequences.

2.3 Fotografías de la Tecnología

2.5 País/ región/ lugares donde la Tecnología fue aplicada y que se hallan comprendidos por esta evaluación

2.6 Fecha de la implementación

Si no se conoce el año preciso, indique la fecha aproximada:

• hace menos de 10 años (recientemente)

2.7 Introducción de la Tecnología

Especifique cómo se introdujo la Tecnología:

• mediante la innovación de usuarios de tierras
• durante experimentos/ investigación

Comentarios (tipo de proyecto, etc.):

Over the years, the farmer has experimented with different farming methods and discovered the benefits of crop rotation. His rotation plan is tailored to the farm’s needs, specific production requirements related to on-farm animal husbandry, and market opportunities. He is one of several farmers in the area practicing crop rotation, which is also supported and encouraged through CAP subsidies.

3.1 Propósito(s) principal(es) de la Tecnología MST

• mejorar la producción
• reducir, prevenir, restaurar la degradación de la tierra
• conservar el ecosistema
• preservar/ mejorar biodiversidad
• crear impacto económico benéfico

3.2 Tipo(s) actuales de uso de la tierra donde se aplica la Tecnología

Mezcla de tipos de uso de tierras dentro de la misma unidad de tierras: :

No

3.3 ¿Cambió el uso de tierras debido a la implementación de la Tecnología?

¿Cambió el uso de tierras debido a la implementación de la Tecnología?

• No (Continúe con la pregunta 3.4)

3.4 Provisión de agua

Provisión de agua para la tierra donde se aplica la Tecnología:

• de secano

3.5 Grupo MST al que pertenece la Tecnología

• sistemas de rotación (rotación de cosecha, cosecha rotatoria con descanso, agricultura migratoria)

3.6 Medidas MST que componen la Tecnología

3.7 Principales tipos de degradación de la tierra encarados con la Tecnología

3.8 Prevención, reducción o restauración de la degradación de la tierra

Especifique la meta de la Tecnología con relación a la degradación de la tierra:

• prevenir la degradación de la tierra
• reducir la degradación de la tierra

4.1 Dibujo técnico de la Tecnología

4.2 Información general sobre el cálculo de insumos y costos

Especifique cómo se calcularon los costos e insumos:

• por área de Tecnología

otra / moneda nacional (especifique):

EUR

Si fuera relevante, indique la tasa de cambio de dólares americanos a la moneda local (ej. 1 U$ = 79.9 Reales Brasileros): 1 U$ =:

0,85

4.3 Actividades de establecimiento

	Actividad	Momento (estación)
1.	Purchase of a roller	1st year

Comentarios:

At the beginning, the farm is assumed to be equipped with standard agricultural machinery. However, to expand the crop rotation to a 5-year system, additional specialized equipment is usually required for cultivating new crops. Such machinery is later typically used for around 20 years or more, although the standard depreciation period for such equipment is approximately 12 years. This is only an estimated time frame, as actual usage may vary. Farmers generally continue using the roller as long as it remains functional and economically viable. Depreciation was not included in the cost calculation, as it is generally accounted for at the whole-farm level rather than per individual measure/crop production.

4.4 Costos e insumos necesarios para el establecimiento

	Especifique insumo	Unidad	Cantidad	Costos por unidad	Costos totales por insumo	% de los costos cubiertos por los usuarios de las tierras
Equipo	Roller	piece	1,0	6100,0	6100,0	70,0
Costos totales para establecer la Tecnología					6100,0
Costos totales para establecer la Tecnología en USD					7176,47

Si el usuario de la tierra no cubrió el 100% de los costos, indique quién financió el resto del costo:

Part of the agricultural machinery intended for the implementation of environmental measures can be funded through non-repayable grants from European and national funds under the CAP.

4.5 Actividades de establecimiento/ recurrentes

	Actividad	Momento/ frequencia
1.	Total variable costs of grain maize production	Once a year
2.	Total variable costs of barley production	Once a year
3.	Total variable costs of wheat production	Once a year
4.	Total variable costs of oil pumpkin production	Once a year
5.	Total variable costs of flowering grass mixture production	Once a year

Comentarios:

Variable costs represent the total production costs for each specific crop, including seeds, plant nutrients, plant protection products, other material costs, variable machinery and labor costs, insurance, and financing costs.

4.6 Costos e insumos necesarios para actividades de mantenimiento/ recurrentes (por año)

	Especifique insumo	Unidad	Cantidad	Costos por unidad	Costos totales por insumo	% de los costos cubiertos por los usuarios de las tierras
Otros	Variable costs of grain maize production	ha	5,72	1518,0	8682,96	100,0
Otros	Variable costs of barley production	ha	5,72	1112,0	6360,64	100,0
Otros	Variable costs of wheat production	ha	5,72	1354,0	7744,88	100,0
Otros	Variable costs of oil pumpkin production	ha	5,72	2061,0	11788,92	100,0
Otros	Variable costs of flowering grass mixture production	ha	5,72	477,3	2730,16	100,0
Indique los costos totales para mantenecer la Tecnología					37307,56
Costos totales para mantener la Tecnología en USD					43891,25

Comentarios:

The farmer cultivates a total of 28.6 hectares of arable land, theoretically divided into five equal parts under the 5-year crop rotation system. For comparison purposes only, if a simpler system with just maize, wheat, and barley were used and the 28.6 ha were equally divided into three parts (9.53 ha per crop), the total variable costs would amount to 37,967.52 €. Such an even distribution is not practiced in reality—it is used here solely to illustrate the cost comparison.

4.7 Factores más determinantes que afectan los costos:

Describa los factores más determinantes que afectan los costos:

The total area is theoretically divided into five equal parts, following the 5-year crop rotation system. However, in practice, this division is not perfectly even. Other important cost factors include variations in input prices (such as seeds, fertilizers, and plant protection products), machinery costs, labor availability, and weather conditions that impact yields and operational efficiency.

5.1 Clima

5.2 Topografía

Indique si la Tecnología se aplica específicamente en:

• no relevante

5.3 Suelos

5.4 Disponibilidad y calidad de agua

¿La salinidad del agua es un problema?

No

¿Se está llevando a cabo la inundación del área? :

Sí

Frecuencia:

frecuentemente

Comentarios y especificaciones adicionales sobre calidad y cantidad de agua:

Hydromelioration was carried out in the area, a drainage system and water retention systems (e.g. ponds and basins) were arranged.

5.5 Biodiversidad

5.6 Las características de los usuarios de la tierra que aplican la Tecnología

5.7 Área promedio de la tierra usada por usuarios de tierra que aplican la Tecnología

5.8 Tenencia de tierra, uso de tierra y derechos de uso de agua

Tenencia de tierra:

• individual, con título

Derechos de uso de tierra:

• arrendamiento
• individual

Derechos de uso de agua:

• comunitarios (organizado)

¿Los derechos del uso de la tierra se basan en un sistema legal tradicional?

No

Especifique:

Based on national legal system.

5.9 Acceso a servicios e infraestructura

6.1 Impactos in situ demostrados por la Tecnología

Impactos socioeconómicos

Producción

Disponibilidad y calidad de agua

Ingreso y costos

Impactos socioculturales

Impactos ecológicos

Ciclo de agua/ escurrimiento de sedimento

Suelo

Biodiversidad: vegetación, animales

Especifique la evaluación de los impactos en el sitio (mediciones):

The data have not been obtained through specific measurements but rather through a questionnaire with the farmer and insights from other farms and agricultural advisors.

6.2 Impactos fuera del sitio demostrados por la Tecnología

Especifique la evaluación de los impactos fuera del emplazamiento (medidas):

The data have not been obtained through specific measurements but rather through a questionnaire with the farmer and insights from other farms and agricultural advisors.

6.3 Exposición y sensibilidad de la Tecnología al cambio climático gradual y a extremos relacionados al clima/ desastres (desde la percepción de los usuarios de tierras)

Cambio climático gradual

Cambio climático gradual

	Estación	Incremento o reducción	¿Cómo es que la tecnología soporta esto?
temperatura anual		incrementó	moderadamente
temperatura estacional	verano	incrementó	no muy bien
temperatura estacional	primavera	incrementó	bien
temperatura estacional	otoño	incrementó	bien
temperatura estacional	invierno	incrementó	bien
lluvia estacional	verano	incrementó	moderadamente
lluvia estacional	primavera	incrementó	no muy bien
lluvia estacional	otoño	disminuyó	moderadamente

Extremos (desastres) relacionados al clima

Desastres climatológicos:

	¿Cómo es que la tecnología soporta esto?
tormenta de lluvia local	moderadamente
granizada local	nada bien

Desastres climatológicos

	¿Cómo es que la tecnología soporta esto?
ola de calor	moderadamente
sequía	no muy bien

Desastres hidrológicos

	¿Cómo es que la tecnología soporta esto?
inundación general (río)	moderadamente

Otras consecuencias relacionadas al clima

Otras consecuencias relacionadas al clima

	¿Cómo es que la tecnología soporta esto?
período extendido de crecimiento	bien

6.4 Análisis costo-beneficio

¿Cómo se comparan los beneficios con los costos de establecimiento (desde la perspectiva de los usuarios de tierra)?

¿Cómo se comparan los beneficios con los costos de mantenimiento/ recurrentes (desde la perspectiva de los usuarios de tierra)?

Comentarios:

The establishment costs are relatively high due to investments in new machinery, which can be quite expensive. As a result, the short-term return is considered slightly negative. However, when comparing benefits with these costs, the long-term advantages—such as higher product quality, reduced yield losses, environmental protection, and increased diversification—have a neutral/ balanced impact, leading to more stable and resilient production. In the short term, the comparison of benefits with maintenance and recurrent costs is slightly negative, primarily due to increased labor requirements, the need for more knowledge, and a higher risk of errors. However, as these challenges are addressed and efficiency improves, the long-term outlook is slightly positive, especially due to the potential reduction in costs over time.

6.5 Adopción de la Tecnología

• 1-10%

De todos quienes adoptaron la Tecnología, ¿cuántos lo hicieron espontáneamente, por ej. sin recibir nada de incentivos/ materiales:

• 0-10%

Comentarios:

Most of the farmers decide for sustainable practices because of the subsidies, but there are three main reasons why many farmers don't adopt the subsidized form of 5 years crop rotation under the agri-environmental scheme (KOPOP), despite available support:
1. One of the specific conditions of the KOPOP measure is that farmers are not allowed to reduce their arable land area over the 5-year period. Due to uncertainty—especially regarding leased land—many farmers hesitate to commit.
2. Farmers prefer to maintain flexibility in their production choices so they can respond to market demand, grow more profitable crops, or focus on crops that are easier to cultivate.
3. Many farmers prioritize lower-cost production systems that offer higher profit margins, which discourages them from choosing more diverse and potentially riskier rotations.

6.6 Adaptación

¿La tecnología fue modificada recientemente para adaptarse a las condiciones cambiantes?

Sí

Si fuera así, indique a qué condiciones cambiantes se adaptó:

• mercados cambiantes

Especifique la adaptación de la Tecnología (diseño, material/ especies, etc.):

The specific changes in crop rotation often involve adjustments based on market conditions, input costs, or weather-related risks. For example, a farmer may decide to stop producing soy due to lower prices or higher production risks and instead increase the area under barley, which is less input-intensive and more market-stable. Such changes are made annually, allowing farmers to remain flexible within the broader rotation framework, even if they maintain a diverse system overall.

6.7 Fuerzas/ ventajas/ oportunidades de la Tecnología

Fuerzas/ ventajas/ oportunidades desde la perspectiva del usuario de la tierra
Reduced costs of pesticides and mineral fertilizer use.
Improved soil fertility and higher yields.
Reduced weed pressure.
Improved soil structure.

Fuerzas/ ventajas/ oportunidades desde la perspectiva del compilador o de otra persona de referencia clave
Reduction of nitrate leaching into drinking water.
Contribution to environmental protection and emission reduction.
Preservation of biodiversity.
Support for sustainable agricultural practices.

6.8 Debilidades/ desventajas/ riesgos de la Tecnología y formas de sobreponerse a ellos

Debilidades/ desventajas/ riesgos desde la perspectiva del usuario de la tierra	¿Cómo sobreponerse a ellas?
Need for additional knowledge.	Providing targeted training and advisory services to improve knowledge and technical skills.
More time required for planning and monitoring.	Using digital tools and software for more efficient planning and monitoring.
Monoculture is not allowed.	Emphasizing long-term benefits, such as improved soil fertility and yield stability, to outweigh the limitations of monoculture.
Higher labor costs.	Optimizing mechanization and labor organization to reduce workload and improve efficiency.

Debilidades/ desventajas/ riesgos desde la perspectiva del compilador o de otra persona de referencia clave	¿Cómo sobreponerse a ellas?
Improperly implemented crop rotation can lead to the spread of pests and diseases and soil depletion.	Providing training and guidelines on proper crop rotation planning to prevent pest and disease buildup and maintain soil fertility.
Incorrectly collected soil samples for soil analysis, which serves as the basis for fertilizer planning, can result in inaccurate calculations for optimal fertilization and nutrient management.	Educating farmers on correct soil sampling techniques to ensure accurate soil analysis and nutrient management planning.
Lack of farm records and planning can make it difficult to optimize crop rotation.	Encouraging systematic record-keeping and the use of digital tools to document and optimize crop rotation strategies.

7.1 Métodos/ fuentes de información

7.2 Vínculos a las publicaciones disponibles

Título, autor, año, ISBN:

Ballot, R., Guilpart, N., and Jeuffroy, M.-H. (2023). The first map of crop sequence types in Europe over 2012–2018, Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 15, 5651–5666.

¿Dónde se halla disponible? ¿Costo?

https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-5651-2023

Título, autor, año, ISBN:

Nowak, B., Michaud, A., & Marliac, G. (2022). Assessment of the diversity of crop rotations based on network analysis indicators. Agricultural Systems, 199, 103402.

¿Dónde se halla disponible? ¿Costo?

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2022.103402

7.3 Vínculos a la información relevante disponible en línea

Título/ descripción:

Improved Crop Rotation – Ecologic Institute (2022)

URL:

https://www.ecologic.eu/19055

Título/ descripción:

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food. (2024). Unified Application 2024: Guidelines for the implementation of interventions under the Strategic Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy 2023–2027. Ljubljana, Slovenia.

URL:

https://www.kgzs.si/uploads/eiv24/NAVODILA%201/00_VELIKA_NAVODILA_2024_-_CELOTA_-_28_5_24.pdf