Monitoring and comparing cover crop performances (OK-Net Arable Practice abstract)

The acquired information on biomass production and expected nutri-ent release of cover crop species and/or cultivars will provide greater certainty for the selection of suitable varieties and the estimation of fulfilment of the nutrient requirements of the subsequent crop. Method and results of practical testing MERCI is an easy-to-use tool which simplifies: • Estimation of the dry matter produced per hectare (tonnes per hectare); • Calculation of the nitrogen trapped (or stored) by the cover crop; • Definition of the nitrogen refund levels for the subsequent crop (kg/ha). The references used in the calculations are based on more than 10 years of trials on cover crops in Poitou-Charentes/France. Simulations are carried out with INRA's STICS software. ITAB, together with a group of farmers, tested the MERCI method, undersowing different cultivars of white clover in a winter wheat field on a farm in Central France (Saint Fargeau, Yonne). The following 6 cultivars were grown: 3 dwarf cultivars (Huia, Rivendel and Pirouette), 2 intermediate “Hollandicum” cultivars (Merwi and Jura) and 1 giant cultivar (Excell). The cultivars were compared to a mixture of species as a control. The white clover species was sown on 26 March 2017 into winter wheat. Weeds, cover crop development (plant den-sity) and winter wheat development were monitored along the cover crop cycle (3 times). The performances of 4 cultivars were estimated in early November, using the MERCI method. Weeds were identified and their total ground cover was estimated. For each cultivar, the fresh biomass from three 1 m² plots was sampled (Fig. 1), weighed and used as an input in the MERCI tool. The most promising results were identified for Merwi cultivar (Tab.1)

Choosing cover crops for arable crop rotations (OK-Net Arable Practice abstract)

The tools aim at highlighting the main technical challenges as well as the ways and means of reflection, which can improve the understanding and the implementation of direct sowing into vegetal cover in organic agriculture. Practical recommendation First step: Determining the constraints Considering constraints with regard to suitability of cover crops helps to narrow the number of potential plant species. A first selection refers to the main crops, the intercropping period, dates of sowing and the soil type. Second step: Ranging objectives In a second step, applicable objectives are selected from a proposed list. The species that are best suited to meet the objectives are selected. Third step: Adapting cover crop management In a third step, the methods of sowing and crop termination are taken into account. If the selected species with the best characteristics do not match the available workforce and machinery, species selection is redefined. Fourth step: Final choice The fourth step refers to the selection of a single species or a combination of different species. Seed costs and seed availability on the market or the farm finalize cover crop selectio

Conservation Agriculture in Organic Farming Motivations of European Farmers and Diversity of Practices

One of the tasks of the TILMAN-Org project is to assess organic farmers' experiences and perceptions about reduced tillage and green manures. We carried out a survey with around 150 organic farmers that applied at least two out of the 3 following techniques: no tillage techniques, reduced tillage techniques and green manure techniques in 8 partner countries (Austria, Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and UK). The questionnaire addressed the motivations and major problems when adopting each conservation technique. We also collected data on the detailed crop management of one winter and one spring crop per farm (especially tillage and green manure management). The objectives of the data analysis are to: (i) identify farmers’ profiles of motivations and problems, (ii) identify the diversity of practices and their combination in farms depending on country and farm characteristics, and (iii) analyze the relationship between farmers’ profiles of motivations and their conservation techniques. The results of our analysis will be presented and discussed during this session. The final perspective of this work is to identify promising techniques for designing new cropping systems for Organic Farming, taking into account soil preservation

Indicators of weed competition on Organic Winter Wheat

Organic winter wheat production is limited by climatic and agronomic factors, including weed competition. The incidence of weeds on yield limitation can be characterized through various early indicators to predict weed occurrence and competition. A network of 10 fields of organic winter wheat was implemented in the South East of France in 2005-2006. Results showed that weed density, dynamics and diversity are good indicators for weed occurrence and competition

Monitoring weed regulation services by carabids (OK-Net Arable Practice abstract)

Preparing the seed cards • Prepare 10 sand paper cards (5 cm x 5 cm) per field and 10 predator exclusion cages with 1 cm squared metal net to avoid predation by mammals and birds. • Glue 10 poppy seeds on each card and place each card within an exclusion cage. Data collection • Collect data twice during the crop cycle, preferably in spring for winter cereals (avoiding drought periods). • Define two transects in the monitored field. Place 5 seed cards with exclusion cage along each transect and nail them into the floor (day D). • Remove them after 4 days of exposure to predators • Count the remaining seeds on each card

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

Similarity of technical logics of cropping systems organization between conventional and recently converted organic farmers in a water catchment area

Organic farming is considered as a solution to preserve water quality in drinking water catchments. For local managers of these catchments it is thus important to identify conventional farmers for potential conversion to organic farming. The aim of this article is to assess technical similarity of conventional farmers concerned by a water catchment to organic farming. We build a typology of farmers based on technical logics related to cropping systems organization. We differentiated five types of farmers among 18 conventional dairy farmers and three recently converted organic farmers. According to our results, only two farmers can be considered as close to technical logics identified in organic farms. Nevertheless, we could identify partial technical similarities for two other farmer groups. These similarities may be useful for catchment managers to initiate transitions towards organic farming

PLANT BASED-DIVERSITY PRACTICES IN CONVENTIONAL AND ORGANIC FARMING: A FARMERS’ SURVEY IN FRANCE

Enhancing plant-based diversity within agroecosystems may be an efficient way to achieve the objective of designing more resilient and low-input agricultural systems. The objectives of this study were (i) to describe the plant-based diversity practices implemented in organic or conventional agriculture in France and (ii) to identify the motivations of the farmers to apply such practices. It was also to compare the integration of such practices in organic or conventional farming systems. The survey was carried out in five French regions with 196 farmers that apply at least one plant-based diversification practice. Five diversification practices were studied: diversified crop rotations, use of catch crops, simultaneous intercropping, agroforestry and semi-natural landscape elements. Simultaneous intercropping and agroforestry are less applied compared to catch crops and semi-natural landscape elements because they imply a deeper change in the cropping system. Nevertheless, organic farmers apply more often such practices (simultaneous intercropping and agroforestry) and 40% of them applied more than 4 of these practices at the same time (compared to less than 20% of the conventional farmers). Organic farmers seem thus to be a step further than conventional farmers with regard to the transition towards agroecological systems

Faire évoluer son système et ses pratiques agricoles

National audienc

ORGANIC FARMERS IN EUROPE: MOTIVATIONS AND PROBLEMS FOR USING CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE PRACTICES. "TILMAN-ORG Session"

As conservation agriculture and organic farming are currently considered as environmentally friendly options for producing food, this study explores the motivations and problems of organic European farmers that apply at least two of the following techniques: (i) no-tillage, (ii) reduced tillage and/or (iii) green manures conservation practices. We carried out a survey about motivations and problems of 159 farmers located in 10 European countries with a questionnaire with closed-ended questions. Data were analysis with a principal component analysis followed by clustering to identify groups of farmers that share the same type of motivations and problems. The most important motivations are related to soil preservation concerns and problems are mainly linked to agronomic conditions and crop management. There are three groups of farmers that share the same type of attitude: “atypical farmers”, “soil conservationists” and “agro-technically challenged farmers”. According to this study, research may address in priority agronomic problems, such as weed infestation, caused by adoption of conservation agriculture in organic agriculture