Practice Abstract - Research and innovation

PA6: Optimising no-till methods within agroforestry
AGROMIX Pilot Site: Project Hansbeke Agro-Ecologie, Belgium

PA6: Optimising no-till methods within agroforestry
AGROMIX Pilot Site: Project Hansbeke Agro-Ecologie, Belgium

PHAE (Hansbeke AgroEcology, www.ppaehansbeke.be/en) is a certified organic arable farm in Belgium covering 60 hectares, which rotates the production of legumes, cereals, and temporary grassland. One of the farm’s main interests is the improvement of soil quality through the implementation of agroecological principles, including the method known as ‘no-tillage’ (farming without disturbing the soil surface through rotation) and the incorporation of ponds, trees, hedges, and grass strips on the farmland.

After years of conventional farming, farm manager Felix de Bousies observed the damage being done to the farm’s main asset: the soil. After learning about studies showing that the no-tillage approach can gradually restore soil fertility, improve soil drainage, and capture more carbon, de Bousies switched to this agroecological method in 2017.

In a no-tillage system, shallow cultivation fissures are created before sowing a main or cover crop. Weeds are controlled by light hoeing on the soil surface, the use of annual and permanent cover crops – including temporary grassland with goat grazing to exhaust weed seedbanks – and the use of ‘fast growing’ crops that quickly cover the soil to prevent weed germination.

It is hoped that PHAE will note an increase in soil fertility and biodiversity, improved drainage, and discover the additional benefits of reduced farm operating costs due to the no-tillage approach. The land managers also anticipate trees and hedges to benefit from the reduced disturbance of the soil, as well as from the additional fertilisation provided by biodegraded leaf litter in the absence of soil tillage.

PHAE (Hansbeke AgroEcology, www.ppaehansbeke.be/en) is a certified organic arable farm in Belgium covering 60 hectares, which rotates the production of legumes, cereals, and temporary grassland. One of the farm’s main interests is the improvement of soil quality through the implementation of agroecological principles, including the method known as ‘no-tillage’ (farming without disturbing the soil surface through rotation) and the incorporation of ponds, trees, hedges, and grass strips on the farmland.

After years of conventional farming, farm manager Felix de Bousies observed the damage being done to the farm’s main asset: the soil. After learning about studies showing that the no-tillage approach can gradually restore soil fertility, improve soil drainage, and capture more carbon, de Bousies switched to this agroecological method in 2017.

In a no-tillage system, shallow cultivation fissures are created before sowing a main or cover crop. Weeds are controlled by light hoeing on the soil surface, the use of annual and permanent cover crops – including temporary grassland with goat grazing to exhaust weed seedbanks – and the use of ‘fast growing’ crops that quickly cover the soil to prevent weed germination.

It is hoped that PHAE will note an increase in soil fertility and biodiversity, improved drainage, and discover the additional benefits of reduced farm operating costs due to the no-tillage approach. The land managers also anticipate trees and hedges to benefit from the reduced disturbance of the soil, as well as from the additional fertilisation provided by biodegraded leaf litter in the absence of soil tillage.

Source Project
AGROforestry and MIXed farming systems - Participatory research to drive the transition to a resilient and efficient land use in Europe
Ongoing | 2020-2024
Main funding source
Horizon 2020 (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
Geographical location
United Kingdom
Project details

Project Keywords