Agroecological Cover - Cover crops to increase soil organic matter and reduce weeds
- To develop innovative conservation agriculture systems based on the use of cover crops, temporary or perennial, which allow to take advantage of the principles of agroecology to get a wide range of agronomic and environmental benefits.
- Reverse both the organic matter reduction trend and the increase in weeds.
- Define the most suitable cover crops for use in the soil and climate conditions of the Emilia-Romagna region, and the agronomic management methods for these.
- Evaluate the agronomic effects, environmental and economic sustainability of the innovative farming practices, with the aim to promote a conscious transfer to farms.
- Selection of temporary cover crops (winter cover) and perennials.
- Cover crops cultivation, control of their development, termination of the temporary cover crops.
- Cultivation of spring-summer cereals (maize, sorghum) or soybean, as main crops alternating with cover crops.
- Assessment of the yields of the main crops and their quality characteristics;
- Assessment of the effects on the soil and economic-environmental sustainability (Carbon Footprint) of the proposed innovative systems.
- Training activities, technical-scientific and educational dissemination, including through the EIP-AGRI network.
Several farms in the Po Valley in recent decades have experienced a significant decrease in organic matter content of soils, with consequent negative effects on fertility and workability.
At the same time the infestation due to some weeds has become chronic, requiring heavy herbicides applications.
The Operational Group will develop innovative conservation agriculture systems based on the use of cover crops, temporary or perennial, which allow to take advantage of the
principles of agroecology to get a wide range of agronomic and environmental benefits, e.g. organic matter production, nutrients recycling, soil protection from heavy rains and intense heat, competition with weeds, others.
The project will consider both temporary cover crops, which can be inserted in the rotation between main crops and must be "finished" in a natural way (i.e. freezing) or artificial (chemical or mechanical termination), and perennial cover crops like alfalfa, which can allow to practice conservation agriculture on an alive and durable vegetation cover.
The simultaneous cultivation of different species in a mixture may maximize the positive effects of cover crops with complementary characteristics.
The proposed agronomic paths are absolutely 'pioneering' in the Emilia-Romagna region, while in other European countries (such as France, for example) cropping systems that are founded on the principles of agroecology are getting gradually more widespread.
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COVER
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CRPA
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Altro
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Fondazione CRPA
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Altro
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GOI CRPA
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Altro
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