Earthworm sampling

Earthworms are key organisms and indicators of soil quality, which also links to the productivity of an ecosystem. The higher the earthworm density and diversity, the better the earthworm’s living conditions and the more fertile is the soil. They are relatively easy to detect and determine into three ecological groups. The number and distribution of the three ecological categories and the numerous earthworm species depends on soil management, soil type, the Vegetation and climate conditions. In this technical note, various methods how to sample, measure and interpret earthworms are shown

Participative design of conservation agriculture cropping systems in organic agriculture

This paper compares to co-design processes aiming at defining innovative cropping systems that combine conservation agriculture and organic farming

Co-designing innovative cropping systems to improve soil functioning in organic farming

Organic agriculture is called upon to raise production to meet growing demand all the while ensuring the respect of the environment. In this context, improving the soil biological activity is crucial. Farmers are taking great interest in agroecological practices, such as conservation tillage associated with soil cover crops. The inclusion of these practices into current organic crop management systems calls for profound changes in the whole system.In this paper, we present aeight steps method to help farmers designing innovative prototypes of cropping systems. The method involves three design workshops, starting with a given decontextualized situation, before progressively integrating farmers‟ constraints. The method was run with two groups of six and seven farmers respectively in two different regions of France.Of the 28 completed prototypes designed, we present here only the seven most detailed. They differ greatly from current cropping systems in their increased use of cover crops (four times more frequent) and greatly decreased reliance on deep soil tillage (mouldboard plowing was eight times less frequent). Farmers initiated the adoption of these innovations by anticipating technical and pedoclimatic constraints. The method, involving researchers and farmers, produced conditions thatencouraged the famers to act creatively. Further studies in the form of ex post trials are necessary to accurately assess the consequences of such innovative cropping systems on soil functioning and crop performance

Effect of reduced tillage in organic farming on soil structure measured by non-destructive X-ray computed tomography in two long-term experimental field trials

Reduction of tillage intensity by non-inversion and very superficial tillage techniques is expected to have effects on soil structure such as soil porosity and soil structure stratification. Our hypothesis was that, mainly due to earthworms’ activity, soil macroporosity increases in the superficial soil layer with non-inversion and very superficial tillage compared to ploughing whereas, the opposite would be observable in the deeper soil layers. In the framework of the FERTILCROP project (http://www.fertilcrop.net/fc-home-news.html), we compared the effects of ploughing, non-inversion tillage and very superficial tillage techniques on soil structure in soil strata and more specifically on soil macropores using non-destructive X-ray computed tomography (CT) method. In 2016, after the growing season but before land preparation, we collected undisturbed soil columns (24 cm diameter to 30 cm soil depth) in two long-term experiments Thil (France) and Aesch (Switzerland). At each site a conventional tillage treatment (ploughing to 18-20 cm soil depth) was compared with reduced tillage intensity treatments (rotary and chisel tillage to 5-7 cm soil depth in Thil; chisel to 8 cm soil depth in Aesch). As a reference, we also sampled undisturbed grassland soil from a nearby area. Soil structure was analysed by X-ray CT with a resolution of 0.5 mm. The number of pores per m2, total pore volume (%), and total pore length (cm per m2) were determined per soil pore class and per soil layer (1-6 cm and 10-15cm soil depth). Reduction of the tillage intensity (i.e. reduced tillage depth and non-inversion) resulted in an increased total length of all pore diameter size classes in the uppermost soil layer compared to ploughing, but especially of the pore diameter size classes <4mm2. In general, pore diameters of <4mm2 diameter are too small to be directly associated with earthworm activity, suggesting a rejection of the hypothesis. In addition, reduced tillage intensity in the Thil trial resulted in larger contrasts in pore numbers and volume between the upper and lower soil layers. In the Aesch trial on loess the effect was not statistically significant. Results obtained with X-ray CT confirm soil structure stratification obtained by reduced tillage intensity, previously shown with visual soil observations and penetration resistance measures in the same fields (Peigné et al., 2018)

Spatial variability of microbial indicators and assessment of tillage systems on the soil microbiological functioning on organic farming.

Reduction tillage, in modifying the soil microorganisms’ environment, modifies their potential to supply plants nutrients. This is of primary importance in organic farming as the nutrients availability is mainly dependent on the organic matter degradation by microorganisms. To study the effect of tillage on soil physical and microbiological properties, we compare 4 tillage practises (deep and shallow ploughing, chisel and no tillage) in an experimental field near Lyon. Our objective is to link a structural statement with a microbiological functioning in order to study the microorganisms’ abilities to supply nitrogen and phosphorus. For such studies, it is of primary importance to use a convenient sampling design as the microbiological properties are highly variable in space and time. So, we first studied, before the treatments differentiation, the spatial variability of some microbiological properties. We first present this study briefly and its utilities for the future assessment of the tillage practises on the soil microbiological functioning

Spade test

The spade test is a diagnosis tool to assess soil structure (scoring from 1 to 5 = very compacted). This tool is a simplified version of the soil profile diagnosis method that quickly provides information to the user and helps for decision making (e.g. tillage operations). The guideline document explains how to extract a soil block with a spade (20 cm * 20 cm * 25 cm or more) and interpret the observed soil structure. The spade test only requires a spade and a tarp. The leaflet contains an interpretation table for scoring the soil structure based on the observation of the clods. It also contains a notation sheet. The tool has been developed for organic agriculture but could be used in conventional agriculture. The test is applicable in all European pedo-climatic conditions

Test Bêche. Guide d'ultilisation

Afin de suivre l’état physique d’un sol, différents outils d’observation au champ existent. En Europe du Nord, on retrouve le test VESS (Visual Evaluation of Soil Structure) issu du test Peerlkamp. Ce test VESS permet d’apprécier la qualité de la structure des sols au niveau des premiers horizons. Il est basé sur un système de notation de 1 (très bonne qualité de structure du sol) à 5 (mauvaise qualité de structure du sol). En pratique, sa réalisation sur le terrain dure 5 à 15 minutes. Il permet d’avoir diverses informations sur les agrégats du sol (taille, forme, force, couleur) et les éléments biologiques (présence de racines). On peut aussi apprécier les éventuelles porosités. En Nouvelle-Zélande, le test VSA (Visual Soil Assessment) est pratiqué. Tout comme le test VESS, iI permet d’évaluer la qualité de la structure des sols au niveau des premiers horizons mais aussi les interrelations avec la production. Le sol prélevé est lâché depuis une hauteur de hanche, puis évalué selon différents critères. Ensuite, une note est attribuée prenant en compte ces différents critères pondérés. Les informations recueillies concernent la texture et la structure du sol, la porosité, les mottes, la couleur, la présence de lombrics, l’odeur, et les racines. En France, la méthode du profil cultural a été retenue pour évaluer la qualité des premiers horizons et des horizons profonds du sol. Cette méthode se base sur l’observation des modes d’assemblage et de la structure interne des mottes en lien avec les travaux du sol. Une observation de l’activité biologique (racines, macroorganismes, etc.) est également pris en compte dans la démarche. Ce test est assez contraignant étant donné qu’il faut creuser une fosse. Cela demande du temps et du matériel. Mais ce profil permet d’obtenir un diagnostic complet et plus précis sur l’état du sol et l’ensemble de ces horizons (Batey et al,2015). Issu de ce profil cultural, un test bêche a été mis en place, plus simple et plus rapide à mettre en œuvre. Il est basé sur la caractérisation de la structure du sol via l’assemblage et l’état interne des mottes de terre, telle que décrite par la méthode du profil cultural (Cf. Guide du profil cultural, 2016). Cette caractérisation se fait dans un premier temps à l’aide d’une bêche puis sur une bâche. Le diagnostic final permet de classer la structure du sol en 5 classes, en fonction de son degré de tassement. Ce test a été élaboré en 2007 par Yvan Gautronneau, Joséphine Peigné et JeanFrançois Vian au sein de l’ISARA-Lyon dans le cadre de l’enseignement. Suite à son développement dans deux projets CASDAR, il s’est peu à peu répandu au sein du monde professionnel, nécessitant alors un guide de réalisation de ce test adapté et formalisé. L’objectif de ce test est d’assurer un suivi simplifié de la structure du sol comme facteur explicatif de l’élaboration du rendement le long du cycle cultural. Il est réalisable rapidement, accessible à tous et peut être répété afin d’apprécier la variabilité structurale du sol d’une parcelle. Un diagnostic rapide peut alors être établi afin de voir la nécessité d’analyses plus approfondies (réalisation d’un profil cultural). Ce guide a été élaboré afin d’accompagner au mieux les utilisateurs lors de la réalisation de ce test. Il présente les différentes étapes à suivre pour son bon déroulement. Pour recueillir les informations lors de la réalisation du test, un dossier conçu pour le terrain est détachable à la fin de ce guide. Ce guide est réalisé dans le cadre du projet Agrinnov’ et SolAB, soutenus par le CASDAR (Compte d’Affectation Spéciale Développement Agricole et Rural). Il fait également partie du projet européen Fertilcrop (CORE organnic)

New challenges to improve organic bread wheat production in Europe

The total organic area in the EU-27 had an annual average growth rate of nearly 15% from 1998 to 2006 with winter wheat being the most important cereal crop. Wheat yield in organic farming is around 30% to 70% of yield of conventional farming but higher premia for organic wheat may to some extent compensate for this. Bread wheat is grown in a variety of crop rotations and farming systems and four basic organic crop production systems have been defined. Nitrogen deficiency and weed infestation are considered to be the most serious threat in organic wheat production. Organic wheat producers will have to fulfil the technological needs of bakers although the requirements differ widely from small artisan bakers to large enterprises handling the organic bread processing. To maintain and expand organic wheat production, there is a need to control weed population, manage nitrogen nutrition and maintain crop diversity in the cropping system. In order to obtain a share in the premium price of organic wheat products, farmers may involve in further processing and marketing

AGTEC-Org Agronomy Handbook of Methods

A common handbook was conceived in the CORE Organic AGTEC-Org project in order to give some elements of field trial monitoring

Improving baking quality, nutritional value and safety of organic winter wheat / Améliorer la qualité technologique, nutritionnelle et sanitaire du blé biologique, Principaux leviers agronomiques et technologiques

The organic bread wheat market has been diversified over time through the emergence of different sale channels. Processors require organic bread wheat of higher quality and safety in order to meet the consumers’ demand. The overall objective of the AGTEC-Org project was to identify agronomical and technological ways to improve the performance of organic wheat and flour. The findings would contribute to enhanced baking quality and nutritional value of organic flour, as well as prevention of mycotoxin contamination. The project involved 9 research centers or universities from 5 European countries for a total budget of about 1.5 million €. More than 400 experimental treatments were analyzed from 23 agronomic trials and 4 lab-experiments on food technology. Choice of cultivar is an efficient way to obtain higher grain quality. Intercropping legumes (grain or forage) improves weed control and N availability for wheat crop or succeeding crop. Green manure can be an effective alternative to farmyard manure. Fertilization with organic fertilizers improves yield and quality when water is available. Reduced tillage affects soil fertility and wheat yield but has little effects on grain quality. Milling process strongly influences flour characteristics. Stone milling improves the nutritive value and flour characteristics remain very stable independently of the milling yield. However, stone milling slightly raises DON levels. Characteristics of flour produced by means of roller milling appear very dependent on milling yield, instead. Increasing milling yield with the aim of enriching nutritional quality has a detrimental effect on either safety (DON) or bread-making quality (bread volume). Debranning before milling has a very positive impact on flour safety by reducing its DON content by 50 %