Problem

Using high levels of nitrogen fertilizers in wheat crops can cause negative environmental impacts, such as nutrient leaching and contamination of local and ground water supplies or greenhouse gas emission. Additionally, nitrogen fertilizers are costly for farmers. However, nitrogen stress can cause problems with yield losses and lower quality grains.



Solution

A pre-crop is any crop grown before a succeeding crop within a rotation. Pre-crops can be selected to improve nitrogen nutrition and soil structure for the subsequent crop. Using appropriate pre-crops can reduce the need for water and nitrogen fertilizer inputs by fixing atmospheric N (in the case of legume pre-crops) and building soil organic matter for moisture retention and better soil structure.



Practical recommendation

Benefits from pre-crops will depend on environmental factors and multiple variables are associated with choosing appropriate pre-crops for wheat (Figure 1). The criteria set out in Figure 2 can help with selecting an appropriate pre-crop for winter wheat. Use the Decision Tree (Figure 3) as a guide in selecting pre-crops suitable for specific farming contexts. This guide breaks down decisions problem by identifying relevant criteria in Figure 2 to choose an appro-priate pre-crop for a specific farming context, increasing the chances to improve crop yield and optimize resource use efficiency.



For more information please see https://zenodo.org/record/6866317

Problem

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) root colonization is traditionally measured by microscopy. Roots are first stained and then carefully mounted on a glass slide before examination on the microscope to identify and count fungal structures inside the roots. But microscopy is labor-intensive, and results depend on the observer.



Solution

Methods such as, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) can improve quantification and analysis of AMF. This practice abstract provides a short protocol describing qPCR as a method to quantify AMF in plant roots.



For more information please see https://zenodo.org/record/6873877

Problem

In Hungary, organic potato production is mainly based on commercially available varieties bred for the convention-al, high-input sector. There is a lack of availability, information, and guidance for organic growers to select appropri-ate potato varieties for their production systems. There are risks involved in testing conventional varieties under organic conditions on a large scale, because their performance may be different from official variety descriptions. Moreover, farmers usually do not have always the skills or equipment to accurately measure yield differences among varieties.



Solution

Analysis of qualitative and quantitative attributes of a wide range of varieties on a small scale can be carried out by farmer themselves, to better understanding of the most appropriate varieties for organic systems. As an example, on-farm testing for determining quantitative and qualitative parameters of 13 well-known potato varieties have been carried out on 12 organic farms in Hungary.



Practical recommendation

• Before selecting varieties for organic production, test varieties bred under conventional conditions on a smaller area first: for arable farms plant one or half a row; for horticultural farms 10 m² is enough to test the perfor-mance.

• Pests and disease are highly important factors in organic production. Therefore, resistance in varieties is im-portant and it is advised to grow locally bred varieties as they are better adapted to local conditions, as op-posed to imported varieties (Figure 2).



For more information see https://zenodo.org/record/6866349

Problem: Failure to generate meaningful and positive knowledge exchange between scientists and agricultural practitioners can be a setback to progress for both the agricultural and scientific industries. The lack of knowledge exchange can limit the uptake and upscaling of new innovations in farming, as designed, produced and supported through scientific research. Conversely, failure to exchange knowledge can inhibit the capacity of scientists to capture practical knowledge and valuable information from farmers.



Solution: To facilitate knowledge exchange between scientists and agricultural practitioners, cross-sector communication, both individually and in groups, is essential. It can be facilitated in a number of ways, including online webinars and workshops, open forums, consultations and in-person events. This contributes to effective and high-quality knowledge exchange between people that tend not to interact very often, while trying to fulfil the same goal.



More information: https://zenodo.org/record/6044162

Problem: Many agronomic experiments, such as those carried out in the SolACE Project, are designed to vary a single factor, with all other conditions being equal. This can be limiting in what can be measured in one experiment, at one time. Opposingly, an agroecological approach is based on using and measuring several factors in the same field, adapted to various pedoclimatic conditions and objectives. This is also a limitation, as pedoclimates can often vary across short distances on-farm, at different times during the year.



Solution: The “Diagchamp method” is a diagnostic, holistic approach to identify and hierarchize the limiting factors of final crop yield directly in the farmer’s fields by comparing crop growth to a climatic potential. The user of this method can compare results from agronomic experiments against agronomic diagnoses. Retrieving an agronomic diagnosis is done by choosing a sample field and assessing multiple agronomic factors. This creates a baseline that suggests what the potential output of the field could be, based on the field data taken previously, which can then be compared with the actual production yields.



Benefits: The acquired agronomic diagnosis is adapted to site-specific contexts (soil, climate, management practices, etc.) of different farmers who use the method. Applying this method can help to identify technical improve-ments and by comparing performances of plots in the same system. The method can be used by one farmer orgroups of farmers from the same region. The method can enable farmers to make economic comparisons between varying factors when comparing the agro-nomic diagnosis and field results or production yields.



More information: https://zenodo.org/record/6044262

Problem: Both water and nitrogen stress in crops is a problem for agriculture across Europe and beyond. If irrigation cannot be scheduled, dry seasons lead to water stress in potato crops, resulting in yield losses and lower tuber quality. Furthermore, nitrogen stress can also cause similar problems on yields and lower tuber quality for potato crops. Nitrogen stress and deficiency in crops can be caused by excessive irrigation and heavy rains, because of nutrient leaching. The latter can also potentially contaminate local and ground water.



Solution: Pre-crops are used to improve soil structure and fertilization for the subsequent crops planted in the same field area. Using adequate pre-crops require less water and nitrogen fertilizer input. In west Switzerland, rye and soybean pre-crops for following potato crops have been tested, in very sandy, well-draining soils, where water use efficiency can be low. It was observed that yield losses were minimized with the pre-crops planted before.



Benefits: Choosing to use pre-crops can bring multiple benefits to farmer. Soil cover and organic matter can be thereby in-creased, while roots provide adequate structureand po-rosity. Additionally, water is a limited resource. With pre-crops, less water needs to be applied. In some circum-stances, pre-crops, such as soybean, can provide some livestock grazing. With improved nitrogen and water availability in soils due to pre-crops, financial costs of nitrogen fertilizer and till-age can be reduced. This, in conjunction with minimized yield losses, increases gross margins for farmers.



More infomation: https://zenodo.org/record/6045102

Problem: Ploughing can cause negative effects, especially when water or nutrients are restricted. Specifically, ploughing destroys the soil aggregate and capillary structure, increases the mineralisation of soil organic matter and causes soil compaction, all impacting soil health and functions.



Solution: Mulch sowing is a method of reduced soil tillage, based on sowing a main crop into the crop residues of the previous crop or catch crop. The soil is loosened, but not turned, and only an upper, shallow layer is mixed thoroughly.



Benefits: The organic material remaining on the soil surface pro-tects the soil from crusting/sealing and erosion. The decomposing organic matter in the upper soil layer enriches the soil with humus. The lack of soil in-version preserves the soil structure, improving soil environment and thus the bearing capacity and water retention of the soil, as well as increasing the earthworm population. Reduced-till-age methods also usually reduce costs, including those re-lated to fossil fuel consumption, compared to ploughing.



Practical recommendations:

o Selection of suitable crops that are less susceptible to weeds as well as high-growth, nitrogen-efficient varieties.

o Plant winter grain legumes, cereals or oilseed rape after cereals, potatoes or other root vegetables.

o Apply green manure/intermediate crop for forage after silage maize, potatoes or cereals. (e.g. vetch- oats-peas mixture, mustard, cereal-grain legumes mixtures).

o Suitable machines for reduced tillage are a cultivator with wing-shares or over-lapping swing shares (i.e. disc harrow) and, for heavy clay soils, a stubble plough. Use a working depth of at least 10cm.



More information: https://zenodo.org/record/5211681

Problem: Dry periods after harvesting cereals increase the difficulty of sowing a new ley. The tradition of sowing in July/August can therefore be risky.



Solution: Sowing a grass-clover ley into the cereal crop in March/April uses the residual soil moisture from winter for the establishment of the ley. In most cases, the sowing is successful. Under the shade of the cereal crop, the ley develops without becoming a competitor or interfering with the harvest. After removing the straw, the undersown ley quickly develops, forming a dense sward.



Advantages:

• Higher yields in grass-clover leys due to earlier devel-opment

• Better establishment in dry summers

• Seamless transition from cereals to grass-clover ley without ploughing or other soil tillage.

• A few weeks after cereal harvest the fully-grown ley can be used for cutting or grazing.

• Rather good suppression of annual weeds



Disadvantages:

• Presence of perennial weeds, such as docks, is increased due to a lack of stubble cultivation.

• Mechanical weed control is no longer possible.

• It is not possible to restore the soil once it has been compacted by the harvester.

• Uneven establishment of grass-clover leys due to soil compaction from heavy harvesters



Practical recommendations:

• The ley is undersown in spring (March/April), between tillering and bolting of the cereal (preferably be-fore a wet period, as the crop cannot be rolled).

• The ley is best sown with a seeder for grass-clover, in combination with a harrow passage.

• Several clover mixtures are possible; farms without livestock may also use only white or red clover.



More information: https://zenodo.org/record/3529114