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)

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

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Undersowing of grass into maize helps prevent leaching of nitrogen in sandy soils, and keeps the soil surface covered year-round. However, the time of sowing, choice of grass variety and seeding rate are all crucial to its success.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Hooibeekhoeve (a farm education and research facility) started to experiment with undersowing in 2015. The aim was to have a well-developed catch crop/cover crop in the field during autumn and winter that could prevent nitrogen leaching. Initially, the grass was sown together with the maize, or when the maize reached the 8-10 leaf stage. But both techniques have their weaknesses and a better alternative proved to be undersowing the grass at the 4-6 leaf stage. This has been the practice since 2019, and gives the best of both worlds.

Considerations regarding time of undersowing include the following:
•Sowing at the 8-10 leaf stage is often confronted with adverse the field/weather conditions which are almost never optimal.
•Sowing together increases competition between grass and maize, and therefore lower yields of maize: however, the earlier you sow the grass, the better the effect on prevention of nitrogen leaching.
•Timing of sowing has an influence on the choice of grass and the amount of seed required:
- Early stage (simultaneous sowing and at the 1-2 leaf stage): tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) develops and grows slowly and therefore leads to less competition with the maize: 15 kg/ha of seed is required.
- When sowing at the 4-6 leaf stage, a combination of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata) is the preferred grass mixture: again, sown at 15 kg/ha. The effect on maize yield is even positive when sowing at this stage - possibly due to the mechanical weed control, which stimulates mineralisation.
- Sowing at the 8-10 leaf stage: Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) is used at 20 kg/ha. This has the vigour to grow under the maize when maize is already tall enough tolerate this dominating grass.

The grass must be sown between, and not within the maize rows. A motorised hoe with seed box is used. This machine weeds between the rows of the maize and at the same time sows the grass. RTK-GPS tracking is needed to do this correctly.

Weed control is not an easy job in this system, and the earlier you sow the grass, the more difficult is the problem. Because there are two different crops in the field at the same time, you have to keep both in consideration when selecting plant protection products. Therefore, it is not recommended to use this technique in fields with high weed pressure, especially not where there are grassy weeds.

After the harvest, the cover crop – grass – has already formed a dense carpet. This gives protection to the soil during harvest and no further soil tillage is needed, or desirable in the autumn. The grass can then be ploughed in or killed with a herbicide in the early-spring ready for a new crop.

This undersowing technique demonstrates a decrease of N residue compared to ‘no catch/ cover crop’ and ‘sowing of catch/ cover crop after harvest’ every year and at every location. This is a positive finding. However, farmers find it hard to implement, due to the possible negative effect on the yield of the maize and difficulties with weed control.

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:

Antwerpen

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

If precise area is not known, indicate approximate area covered:

• 0.1-1 km2

Is/are the technology site(s) located in a permanently protected area?

No

Map

×

2.6 Date of implementation

Indicate year of implementation:

2015

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• during experiments/ research

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

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No

Cropland

• Annual cropping

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Is intercropping practiced?

Yes

If yes, specify which crops are intercropped:

Maize is harvested, grass is not.

Is crop rotation practiced?

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:

• rainfed

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• integrated soil fertility management

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

• A1: Vegetation/ soil cover

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

chemical soil deterioration

• Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content (not caused by erosion)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• prevent land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

The choice of the grass and the amount of seed is different at the various possible several stages of undersowing:
-Early stage (together and maize at the 1-2 leaf stage): tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) was used. This grass develops and grows slowly and therefor only little competition with the maize: seeding rate = 15 kg/ha.
-4-6 leaf: a combination of English ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and cock’s foot (Dactylis glomerata) was used at 15 kg/ha.
-8-10 leaf: Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum): 20 kg/ha is used. This type of grass still has the vigour to grow under the maize and the maize is already tall enough to deal with this dominating grass.
Dimensions: 75 cm between each row of maize. In between the maize are 5 rows of grass. Between the maize row and the grass is a bare soil of 12.5 cm at each side of the maize row.
In case of 4-6 or 8-10 leaf, the sowing can be combined with mechanical weed control.

Author:

Gert Van de Ven

Date:

01/07/2021

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

Euro

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

0.91

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The way of sowing, the seed and the use of plant protection products

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

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

Hooibeekhoeve has a variety of habitat and biodiversity approaches being used and tested on the farm providing an excellent place for resilient farming and wildlife.

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:

• state

Land use rights:

• 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

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

Specify assessment of on-site impacts (measurements):

Based on expert assessment of impacts witnessed and expected outcomes.

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

Specify assessment of off-site impacts (measurements):

Based on expert assessment of impacts witnessed and expected outcomes.

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

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

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

Comments:

Recurrent costs (has to be done every year).

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 1-10%

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

• 91-100%

6.6 Adaptation

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

No

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Article on use of cover crops in/after maize

URL:

1)http://www.lcvvzw.be/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/A2020_3-Vanggewassen-in-ma%C3%AFs-is-onderzaai-een-optie.pdf

Title/ description:

Article on use of cover crops in/after maize (2022)

URL:

2)https://www.lcvvzw.be/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/B2022_1-Brochure-Functionele-leidraad-groenbedekkers-bij-mais.pdf

Title/ description:

Article on this technique in grain maize

URL:

3)https://www.lcvvzw.be/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/A2022_13-Groenbedekkers-bij-korrelmais.pdf

Title/ description:

Article on undersowing after grassland tearing

URL:

4)https://www.lcvvzw.be/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/A2022_12-gelijk-en-onderzaai-bij-mais-na-gescheurd-grasland.pdf