Maize seeding with Strip till (Baptiste Drouet)
The region Pays de Loire in Western France has a temperate climate with warm summers and mild winters. The region has many rural areas, dedicated mostly to agriculture with large economic centres and urban conurbations (e.g. the Nantes area). The rotation 2+2 technology is being applied on a dairy farm in Pays de Loire (La Pouëze), implementing Soil Conservation Agriculture. Fields have not been ploughed for 9 years and direct seeding of cover crops (primarily clover that is cut as green mulch, although may be cut for silage) and winter crops has been used for 4 years.
The rotation Maize/Wheat/Maize/Wheat was changed to a Maize/Maize/Wheat/Wheat rotation (2+2). In the traditional rotation Maize/Wheat/Maize/Wheat, there were 2 sequences (wheat followed by maize and maize followed by wheat) and 1 interval cover cropping (every two years). In the new 2+2 rotation Maize/Maize/Wheat/Wheat, the crops in the rotation are not changed but the number of sequences is doubled (4 sequences: wheat/wheat; maize/maize; wheat/maize; maize/wheat) and there are 2 cover cropping intervals (years 0 & 3) instead of one. This 4 year cycle can then be repeated. This modification allows more diversity in the rotation including variation in timing of the cover crops (some long gaps between wheat and maize, some short between wheat and wheat) and, in our no tillage system, helps to limit weed pressure on both crops.
In a no-tillage system, keeping weed seeds on the surface exposes them to climatic hazards and predators. Thus in this new system regime, during the two years of maize, the wheat weed seeds are neither in optimal conditions for dormancy, nor in optimal conditions for germination, which decreases the stock of seeds of wheat weeds. Thus in our no tillage system, the weed pressure (including resistant rye grass) has been significantly reduced.
The 2+2 rotation improved production, reduced/prevented land degradation and reduced weed pressure.
Initial investment costs are limited to purchasing the management equipment.
Benefits of the 2+2 rotation include:
Increased: crop production, farm income, water drainage, nutrient cycling, soil organic matter carbon, vegetation cover, beneficial species, habitat diversity
Reduced: risk of production failure, workload/time, fuel surface water runoff, evaporation, soil crusting, soil compaction, impact on soil life, weed emergence
The compilation of this SLM technology is a part of the European Interreg project FABulous Farmers which aims to reduce the reliance on external inputs by encouraging the use of methods and interventions that increase the farm’s Functional AgroBiodiversity (FAB). Visit www.fabulousfarmers.eu and www.nweurope.eu/Fabulous-Farmers for more information.
Localização: La Pouëze, Pays de la Loire, França
Nº de sites de tecnologia analisados: Local único
Difusão da tecnologia: Uniformemente difundida numa área (approx. 0,1-1 km2)
Em uma área permanentemente protegida?: Não
Data da implementação: menos de 10 anos atrás (recentemente)
Tipo de introdução
| Especifique a entrada | Unidade | Quantidade | Custos por unidade (€) | Custos totais por entrada (€) | % dos custos arcados pelos usuários da terra |
| Mão-de-obra | |||||
| Workforce | person days per ha | 2,0 | 200,0 | 400,0 | 100,0 |
| Equipamento | |||||
| Seeder + roll for wheat and cover crops | 1ha/yr | 1,0 | 35,0 | 35,0 | 100,0 |
| Strip till for maize | 1ha/yr | 1,0 | 25,0 | 25,0 | 100,0 |
| Pneumatic drill for maize | 1ha/yr | 1,0 | 18,0 | 18,0 | 100,0 |
| Material vegetal | |||||
| Wheat seeds (4 year cycle) | 1ha/yr | 1,0 | 15,0 | 15,0 | 100,0 |
| Maize seeds (4 year cycle) | 1ha/yr | 1,0 | 30,0 | 30,0 | 100,0 |
| Cover crop seeds (4 year cycle) | 1ha/yr | 1,0 | 5,0 | 5,0 | 100,0 |
| Fertilizantes e biocidas | |||||
| Fungicide (1 maize + 1 wheat - 4 year cycle) | 1ha/yr | 1,0 | 12,0 | 12,0 | 100,0 |
| Herbicide (1 maize + 1 wheat - 4 year cycle) | 1ha/yr | 1,0 | 10,0 | 10,0 | 100,0 |
| Fertiliser (1 maize + 1 wheat - 4 year cycle) | 1ha/yr | 1,0 | 70,0 | 70,0 | 100,0 |
| Manure (1 maize - 4 year cycle) | 1ha/yr | 1,0 | 5,0 | 5,0 | 100,0 |
| Custos totais para a manutenção da tecnologia | 625.0 | ||||
| Custos totais de manutenção da Tecnologia em USD | 694.44 | ||||
Evidence of improved yield and quality in crop with new rotation system due to reduced weed stress
Evidence of improved yield and quality in crop with new rotation system due to reduced weed stress
Significant reduction in the frequency of tool changeover.
Reduction in weed control required
Increased crop production and yield with less weed control management.
No till system and continuous crop cover reduces surface run off.
No till system and continuous crop cover for improved rooting system supports better soil infiltration
Continuous crop cover retains moisture better
Continuous crop cover retains moisture better
No till system and continuous crop cover reduces surface run off.
Continuous crop cover and no till system stops soil from crusting
Continuous crop cover and no till system reduces soil compaction
No till system and continuous crop cover for improved rooting systems and increased soil organic matter
Continuous crop cover and no till system improves vegetation cover
Continuous crop cover and no till system improves vegetation cover
