Direct seeding in the Mediterranean
Direct seeding consists of sowing seeds directly into the soil without prior ploughing
Benefits: It conserves soil moisture, limits erosion, preserves soil fertility and encourages the development of beneficial micro-organisms and earthworms.
Recommendations: In the Mediterranean, direct seeding is suitable for cereal crops such as wheat and barley, and for certain legumes (chickpeas, faba beans, fenugreek, etc.).
Machinery: Direct seeding requires a specific, heavy-duty seeder, enabling seeding on more compact soils, often covered with residues. In the presence of green cover, disc seeders are used, and tine seeders for plots with significant surface biomass such as straw.
Equipment adapted to small-scale farmers: Direct seeders are generally expensive. However, more compact no-till seeders with narrow working widths are being developed by ICARDA in Tunisia and Algeria, for example. These seed drills are ideal for small-scale Mediterranean farmers.
Challenges: High equipment cost still limits no-till dissemination. Targeted subsidies, and collective investment through cooperatives can help. Weed management is also a challenge, with crop rotations and innovative management methods required to minimize or avoid herbicide use. Soil improvement through conservation agriculture often takes several years: appropriate training and technical support are needed to ensure successful adaptation of this technique to local conditions. Exchanges with peers are also very useful
Additional information
Mediterranean agrosystems: cereal plains
Fostering agroecology transition in North Africa through multi-actor, evaluation, and networking
Ongoing | 2022-2026
- Main funding source
- Horizon Europe (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
- Geographical location
- France, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Netherlands, Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia, South Africa, Switzerland