project - EIP-AGRI Operational Group
Organic rice production in areas with natural constraints such as the Ebro Delta
Producción ecológica de arroz en zonas con limitaciones naturales como el Delta del Ebro
Context
At present, organic rice in the Ebro Delta covers an area of less than 2%. This is due to major problems for the rice sector in the Ebro Delta in being competitive in terms of obtaining a viable and sustained yield over the years in the fields where organic rice is grown.
The main problem is weed infestation in the fields after a few years of organic rice production. This leads to exponential growth in labour costs for weed removal year after year and the rice fields become infested with weed seeds.
Furthermore, we need to find solutions for controlling fungal diseases and pests that severely affect the crop by assessing responses in different varieties.
The high salinity of the soils in the Ebro Delta is also a limiting factor that must be taken into account. This salinity becomes a determining factor when defining farming strategies and agronomic practices in water management, soil tillage, weed management and seeding typology and/or planting strategies.
Finally, the impact of all the strategies on biodiversity in the paddy fields is assessed to improve the agricultural system in the Ebro Delta area.
Objectives
Main objective
− To increase the competitiveness of the rice sector in organic rice farming in areas with natural limitations such as the Ebro Delta.
Specific objectives
− Optimise the management of pests, weeds, diseases and fertilisation by defining new agronomic strategies in organic rice farming in the Ebro Delta.
− Preserve and enhance biodiversity in an agricultural system of high value in terms of nature and landscape.
− Assess the effects of various farming strategies on biodiversity.
Objectives
Objetivo principal
- Aumentar la competitividad del sector arrocero en la producción ecológica de arroz en zonas con limitaciones naturales como el Delta del Ebro.
Objetivos específicos
- Optimizar la gestión de plagas, malas hierbas, enfermedades y la fertilización definiendo nuevas estrategias agronómicas en el cultivo ecológico de arroz en el Delta del Ebro.
- Preservar y mejorar la biodiversidad en un sistema agrario de alto valor natural y paisajístico.
- Evaluar los efectos sobre la biodiversidad de diferentes estrategias de cultivo.
Activities
- Review of interesting strategies
A compilation was made of the studies in the Ebro Delta compatible with organic rice production.
- Plots
The trials were carried out on plots representative of the Ebro Delta soil and climate conditions.
- Varieties
Interesting and representative varieties were chosen in the region and their adaptation to organic production and tolerance to pests and diseases were assessed.
- Fertilisation
Different strategies with fertilisers authorised for organic farming were assessed, both in dry seeding and conventional seeding and planting strategies, for all the different varieties.
- Weed control
- Assessment of chironomid damage by cropping strategy
Activities
- Revisión de estrategias interesantes
Se ha hecho una recopilación de los estudios realizados en el Delta del Ebro compatibles con la producción ecológica del arroz.
- Parcelas
Los ensayos se han realizado en parcelas representativas de las condiciones edafoclimáticas del Delta del Ebro.
- Variedades
Se han escogido variedades y se ha evaluado su adaptación a la producción ecológica y su tolerancia a plagas y enfermedades.
- Fertilización
Se han evaluado fertilizantes autorizados en agricultura ecológica.
- Control de malas hierbas
Se han testado diferentes estrategias para el control directo o indirecto de malas hierbas.
- Evaluación de los daños por quironómidos según estrategias de cultivo
Project details
- Main funding source
- Rural development 2014-2020 for Operational Groups
- Rural Development Programme
- 2014ES06RDRP009 Spain - Rural Development Programme (Regional) - Cataluña
Location
- Main geographical location
- Tarragona
EUR 209 032.00
Total budget
Total contributions from EAFRD, national co-financing, additional national financing and other financing.
Contacts
Project coordinator
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Marc Ibeas Huguet
Project coordinator