Who Do You Strive To Be? Exploring Norms of Good Farming for Sustainable Soil Management in Four European Regions

Knowledge sharing and adoption behaviour: An imperative to promote sustainable soil use and management

Management of agricultural soils for greenhouse gas mitigation: Learning from a case study in NE Spain

Soil health and management matters: A survey of field tree nursery producers

Core Ideas Reports on soil water content semivariograms among soil management practices are rare. Semivariogram ranges shifted after only 2 yr of newly imposed soil practices. Findings have implications for scaling remotely sensed soil water in agriculturally mosaic areas. Near‐surface soil water content (SWC) and its spatial patterns are important for landscape hydrological responses to precipitation as well as our ability to remotely sense and model such responses. Our objective was to measure and evaluate near‐surface SWC semivariograms of agricultural fields with newly imposed (i.e., <2 yr) side‐by‐side soil and residue management practices (i.e., reduced tillage systems and cover crops) in the midwestern United States. Range parameters were consistently smaller when cover crops were planted (20–25 m less) and tillage area and/or intensity was reduced (12–27 m less) compared with no cover crop and chisel plowing, respectively, except in a clayey Vertisol. Nugget and sill parameters did not have consistent trends across soil management practices or sites. These data, although brief and preliminary in scope, provide clear proof of concept that spatial pattern shifts can be clearly detected in newly imposed soil‐management systems even though differences in SWC means are not always evident.

A series of soil N mineralization indices were evaluated using 153 samples chosen from arable fields representing a wide range of soil types, management practices, and climatic zones. These indices were compared against potentially mineralizable N (N 0 ) determined by aerobic incubation at 25°C for 24 wk. Three different pools of mineralizable N were recognized: Pool I, the mineralization flush on rewetting in the first 2 wk; Pool II, gross N mineralization in the next 22 wk; and Pool III, the potentially mineralizable N, predicted from the fitted curve, that did not mineralize during the incubation period. Pool I was highly correlated with CaCl 2 –N, KCl‐NH 4 , and KCl‐NO 3 , which extract soil mineral N. Pool III was significantly correlated with ultraviolet absorbance of NaHCO 3 extract at 205 and 260 nm (NaHCO 3 –205 and −260), Illinois soil N test, NaOH direct‐distillation N, and hot KCl‐NH 4 , which mostly extract hydrolyzable organic N. All indices except the mineral N based methods, phosphate‐borate buffer method, and microbial biomass C were significantly related to N 0 , which includes both Pools II and III. The NaHCO 3 –260, NaOH direct‐distillation N, and Illinois soil N test had the highest correlations with N 0 ( r 2 = 0.74, 0.61, and 0. 51, respectively). Total organic C and N represent long‐term changes in N 0 and were almost as effective in predicting N 0 as the other indices ( r 2 = 0.60 and 0.67, respectively); however, they would be expected to be less sensitive to short‐term changes in N 0 due to changes in soil management practices and history.

Nowadays, subjects such as eco-design requirements, product rating or code compliance with regard to energy efficiency are expanding towards a pan-European level. This leads to the necessity of defining zones within the European region, which share common climatic characteristics and will further facilitate the quick estimation of building energy performance. Towards this direction stands the current paper; it presents an approach for defining climatic zones in Europe on the basis of the amount of heating and cooling degree days. It is applied for the climate classification of selected European cities and is compared with the conventional scheme based solely on heating degree days. Since the approach is orientated mainly towards the assessment of building energy performance, its outcomes are evaluated with regard to the actual heating and cooling energy needs of a reference building unit with office use located in representative cities of the proposed climatic zones and facing the four cardinal orientations. The classification of climatic zones on the basis of both heating and cooling degree days leads to more realistic results, since nowadays cooling needs form a substantial part of the energy balance of the building, especially in the Mediterranean regions.

Soil plays a central role in most aspects of human societies, and there is a large body of literature about sustainable soil management. Nevertheless, soil is currently facing degradation arising from different threats, which undermines sustainable development globally. In order to design effective research and policy strategies, it is necessary to identify the current knowledge level about sustainable soil management. This study summarises the key findings from a systematic stocktake of available knowledge about agricultural soil management practices in 23 European countries, which included the identification of soil management practices in use, the associated impacts and the soil challenges addressed. The aim of the study was to understand the current state of knowledge about the impacts of soil management practices, investigated and/or implemented across Europe. The results were analysed at the European level and were also grouped into European Regions and Environmental Zones. Key findings from this study were the identification of knowledge gaps that are key to climate mitigation and adaptation. There is a knowledge gap about soil management practices to avoid greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural soils, as the few reported studies evidence the complexity of the processes governing these emissions. Further knowledge is needed on the impact of tillage practices on long‐term carbon storage and distribution along the soil profile, as the reported knowledge was not consensual about carbon storage in deeper soil layers.

Mediterranean agriculture is increasingly threatened by soil degradation and climate change. Conservation agriculture (CA) is a farming approach characterized by reduced soil disturbance, soil cover, and crop rotation that provides agronomic, economic, and environmental benefits to farmers, but which is not yet widespread in the Mediterranean region. To investigate the sociocultural aspects of CA adoption, we examined farmers’ understandings of ‘good soil management’ and a ‘good farmer’ identity. We employed network analysis to visualize and compare farmers’ mental models of these concepts and how they differed according to farmers’ tillage practices. We found that crop rotation is a prominent concept cognitively tied to fertilizer application, bridging conventional and reduced tillage practices. CA farmers’ mental models of soil management are more complex than conventional farmers’. Demonstrating productivity and having experience and knowledge were the most prominent aspects of farmers’ understanding of a ‘good farmer’. For CA farmers, this was tied to environmental responsibility and innovation, whereas for conventional farmers, a set of best practices including tillage and the use of mineral fertilizers, was valued more highly. CA may compete with held understandings concerning soil management among conventional farmers. CA adoption programmes could be better tailored to align with their cultural values.

Soil and crop management practices have a profound impact on carbon (C) sequestration, but the mechanisms of interaction between soil structure and soil organic C (SOC) dynamics are not well understood. Understanding how an aggregate stores and protects SOC is essential to developing proper management practices to enhance SOC sequestration. The objectives of this article are to: (1) describe the importance of plants and soil functions on SOC sequestration, (2) review the mechanisms of SOC sequestration within aggregates under different vegetation and soil management practices, (3) explain methods of assessing distribution of SOC within aggregates, and (4) identify knowledge gaps with regards to SOC and soil structural dynamics. The quality and quantity of plant residues define the amount of organic matter and thus the SOC pool in aggregates. The nature of plant debris (C:N ratio, lignin content, and phenolic compound content) affects the rate of SOC sequestration. Mechanisms of interaction of aggregate dynamics with SOC are complex and embrace a range of spatial and temporal processes within macro- ( > 250 μ m e.c.d.) and microaggregates ( < 250 μ m e.c.d.). A relevant mechanism for SOC sequestration within aggregates is the confinement of plant debris in the core of the microaggregates. The C-rich young plant residues form and stabilize macroaggregates, whereas the old organic C is occluded in the microaggregates. Interactions of clay minerals with C rich humic compounds in correlation with clay mineralogy determine the protection and storage of SOC. Principal techniques used to assess the C distribution in aggregates include the determination of total organic C in different aggregate size fractions, isotopic methods to assess the turnover and storage of organic C in aggregates, and computed tomography and X-ray scattering to determine the internal porosity and inter-aggregate attributes. The literature is replete with studies on soil and crop management influences on total organic C and soil aggregation. However, research reports on the interactions of SOC within aggregates for C sequestration are scanty. Questions still remain on how SOC interacts physically and chemically with aggregates, and research is needed to understand the mechanisms responsible for the dynamics of aggregate formation and stability in relation to C sequestration.

In the context of climate change, French Polynesia is committed to increasing qualitatively and quantitatively local food production. In this regard, agroecology is perceived as a sustainable pathway to improve farming practices. This article proposes first a theoretical framework to analyze the proximity of farmers' management to agroecological principles. Second, it describes the current use of agroecological pest and soil management practices by French Polynesian farmers. And third, it explains which agronomic and socio-economic factors drive the implementation of agroecological practices. For this, qualitative interviews were conducted with 32 farmers on three islands, and statistical analyses were carried for correlation between the use of practices and socio-economic variables. Results show that French Polynesian farmers implement different soil and pest management practices that are in line with agroecological principles. Farmers scored better in terms of pest management with high plant diversity, implementation of crop rotations, and mechanical weed management. There is a significant influence of the “cropping system” and the “production system” (organic, integrated, and conventional) on the use of practices as well as proximity to agroecological principles. Identified pathways for an agroecological transition are implementing farmer to farmer knowledge exchange, farmer networks, and farm demonstrations as well as training of extension services staff.

The analysis of soil nematode communities provides information on their impact on soil quality and the health of different agricultural cropping systems and soil management practices, which is necessary to evaluate their sustainability. Here, we evaluated the status of nematode communities and trophic groups’ abundance in fifteen fields hosting different cropping systems and managed according to organic or conventional practices. The nematode population densities differed significantly across cropping systems and management types covering various European climatic zones (spanning 121 to 799 individuals per sample). Population density was affected by the duration of the cropping system, with the lowest value in the vegetable cropping system (on average about 300 individuals) and the highest in the long-term fruiting system (on average more than 500 individuals). The occurrence and abundance of the different trophic groups was partly dependent on the cropping system or the management method, particularly for the bacteria, fungal and plant feeders. The taxonomical classification of a subset of samples allowed us to identify 22 genera and one family (Dorylaimidae) within the five trophic groups. Few taxa were observed in all fields and samples (i.e., Rhabditis and Cephalobus), while Aphelenchoides or Pratylenchus were present in the majority of samples. Phosphorus content was the only soil chemical parameter showing a positive correlation with total nematode population and bacterial feeders’ absolute abundance. Based on the nematological ecological indices, all three cropping systems were characterized by disturbed soil conditions, conductive and dominated by bacterivorous nematodes. This knowledge could lead to a choice of soil management practices that sustain a transition toward healthy soils.

Northeast China (NEC) is one of the major agricultural production areas in China, producing about 30% of China’s total maize output. In the past five decades, maize yields in NEC increased rapidly. However, farmer yields still have potential to be increased. Therefore, it is important to quantify the impacts of agronomic factors, including soil physical properties, cultivar selections, and management practices on yield gaps of maize under the changing climate in NEC in order to provide reliable recommendations to narrow down the yield gaps. In this study, the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM)-Maize model was used to separate the contributions of soil physical properties, cultivar selections, and management practices to maize yield gaps. The results indicate that approximately 5%, 12%, and 18% of potential yield loss of maize is attributable to soil physical properties, cultivar selection, and management practices. Simulation analyses showed that potential ascensions of yield of maize by improving soil physical properties PAYs, changing to cultivar with longer maturity PAYc, and improving management practices PAYm for the entire region were 0.6, 1.5, and 2.2 ton ha−1 or 9%, 23%, and 34% increases, respectively, in NEC. In addition, PAYc and PAYm varied considerably from location to location (0.4 to 2.2 and 0.9 to 4.5 ton ha−1 respectively), which may be associated with the spatial variation of growing season temperature and precipitation among climate zones in NEC. Therefore, changing to cultivars with longer growing season requirement and improving management practices are the top strategies for improving yield of maize in NEC, especially for the north and west areas.

Adoption of a fall established, high biomass cereal rye cover crop has potential to diversify weed management in corn and soybean production systems, reducing the selection pressure for resistance to postemergence herbicides. However, farmers and crop consultants express concern about limited weed suppression from an overwintering cover crop in areas where high biomass production is limited by cooler spring temperatures, such as in the Upper-Midwest U.S. Use of a preemergence herbicide, regardless of cover crop adoption, is a standard recommendation for improving early season weed control in corn and soybean. Field experiments were conducted at two sites in Wisconsin to assess the effects of six soil management practices (tillage, no-till, and four cereal rye cover crop termination timings/methods) with or without the use of a preemergence herbicide on weed suppression at the time of postemergence herbicide application and crop productivity. Results showed that cereal rye biomass increased &amp;gt; 6x between termination at the time of cash crop planting versus termination two weeks later. In corn and soybean, weed ground cover was lower for soil management with cereal rye cover crop terminated two weeks after cash crop planting (≤ 7% weed cover) compared to all other soil management practices (≥ 23% weed cover) when a preemergence herbicide was not used. Use of a preemergence herbicide resulted in low weed ground cover across treatments in corn (≤ 7% weed cover) and soybean (≤ 13% weed cover). Corn and soybean yield was not affected by preemergence herbicide treatments. Corn yield was lower at the south-central Wisconsin location for the soil management with a cereal rye cover crop terminated two weeks after cash crop planting (9.82 Mg ha-1) compared to all other soil management practices (≥ 12.07 Mg ha-1); at the southwest Wisconsin location, corn yield was greater for the conventional tillage treatment (14.28 Mg ha-1) compared to all other soil management treatments (≤ 10.89 Mg ha-1). Soil management did not affect soybean yield, although yields were different between locations with 3.44 Mg ha-1 at the south-central Wisconsin compared to 4.77 Mg ha-1 at the southwest Wisconsin location. These results indicate that in the absence of a high biomass cereal rye cover crop, preemergence herbicides are important for in-season weed control. Also, the inclusion of a late-terminated cereal rye cover crop in soybean should be considered as an effective management practice for reducing weed ground cover without affecting crop yield.

The use of vegetation suppression, such as herbicide application and mechanical plowing in olive orchards can exacerbate soil erosion. Maintaining understory vegetation can mitigate erosion and enhance soil fertility. Although prior research has assessed the soil management impact on erosion, knowledge gaps persist regarding dominant erosion processes across spatial scales and management effects on soil microenvironments (tree canopy, wheel ruts, vegetation strips). This study systematically evaluates how soil management (herbicides, plowing, no intervention) and spatial scales (microplots, hillslope plots) affect erosion dynamics, soil properties and their interactions with rainfall, ground cover, and orchard characteristics in Alentejo, Portugal. Over two years, seven orchards with varying management practices were monitored for erosion rates, ground cover, and soil properties. Soil management strongly influenced erosion, with herbicides inducing the highest hillslope-scale erosion (average 11.3 t ha−1 yr−1) and plowing dominating microplot erosion, while untreated plots exhibited minimal erosion (up to 99 % lower than the herbicide treatments). Wheel rut areas increased hillslope erosion through runoff concentration and bare soil, while vegetation strips suppressed it completely. Tree canopy areas varied: plowing mobilized new sediments, whereas untreated/herbicide microplots showed no erosion due to vegetation cover or stone‑lag armoring. Hillslope erosion stemmed from cumulative runoff, while microplots were influenced by soil properties like roughness or bulk density. Our findings highlight the need to consider scale effects in erosion modelling and policy. Future research should explore longer-term trends, expand underlying conditions (e.g. soil types, climatic zones or management practices), and refine soil erosion models to support sustainable soil conservation.

After World War I (1914–1918) a search for a permanent form of cultivation in Nigeria began. Among the methods tried were replacement of natural fallow with leguminous covercrops, planted grass fallow, and late minimum or zero tillage. With zero tillage, weed control and fertilizer application methods are problems that need immediate attention. An experiment conducted for 4 years employed the following eight treatments: (1) no tillage, no fertilizer; (ii) no tillage, fertilizer surface applied, herbicide applied; (iii) conventional tillage, fertilizer worked into the soil with implements; (iv) no tillage, fertilizer banded with hoe; (v) conventional tillage, fertilizer banded with hoe; (vi) herbicide, fertilizer banded with hoe; (vii) herbicide, no fertilizer; and (viii) herbicide, fertilizer mixed in a groove and maize (Zea mays L.) planted in the groove (partial tillage).Post harvest soil analysis indicated that the treatments did not appreciably affect the nutrient elements in the soil except for K which recorded a 19% increase in the last year. Tillage and fertilizer application reduced the organic matter content of the soil by 19 and 33% over the 4‐year period.The bulk density did not change much but tilled plots recorded slight increases with a range of 1.29 to 1.36 g/cm3. No‐tilled plots retained more water than tilled plots.Treatments with fertilizer gave much greater average yields than those without fertilizer. The decline in yield was related to the level of soil organic matter, method of fertilizer application, and tillage operations. Banded fertilizer had an edge over other methods. Tillage operations constituted an important factor of yield reduction, although the effect was masked by fertilizer treatment. The herbicide effect was probably on the organic matter level but this was masked by fertilizer treatments as well.In developing a more permanent form of agriculture in the tropics, soil management practices especially under a zero‐tillage system, should recognize weed control methods, and fertilizers that minimize reduction in soil organic matter and maintain high yield under continuous land use.