Reduced tillage and green manures for sustainable organic cropping systems (TILMAN-ORG)
Organic farming systems contribute to ecosystem services such as the maintenance of soil quality and biodiversity. Reduced tillage and green manures are efficient conservation agriculture tools that can be adapted to further improve organic crop production systems. The TILMAN-ORG project’s overall goals are to design improved organic cropping systems with: (a) enhanced productivity and nutrient use efficiency, (b) more efficient weed management and (c) increased biodiversity, but (d) lower carbon footprints.
These goals will be achieved by adapting and integrating conservation agriculture techniques (in particular reduced tillage and improved use of green manures) into organic farming systems to intensify biological soil functions like nutrient cycling, soil carbon build-up, and biological nitrogen fixation, while at the same time optimising management protocols for weeds (which are the main challenge when introducing minimum tillage systems). Optimum techniques for organic systems will be identified using an integrated approach Farmers’ experiences and perceptions about reduced tillage and green manures will be assessed in semi-structured interviews. Existing data from medium and long-term trials on reduced tillage and green manures provided by the consortium and the published existing peer reviewed and grey literature, will be evaluated with respect to yield stabilisation, soil quality and biodiversity (WP1 and WP2). Experimental Case Studies on soil quality and greenhouse gas emissions, weed management and functional biodiversity, and improved nutrient management will be carried out, and carbon stocks under reduced tillage compared to ploughing will be measured (WPs3-5). Data from long-term tillage trials across Europe will be exploited to calibrate NDICEA, a decision support tool to predict soil organic carbon and nitrogen fluxes in the soil - plant system. Design of optimised cropping systems by modelling approaches based on results from the literature and case studies (WP6). This will also involve the preparation of guidelines focused on helping farmers to address weed management challenges, and temporary shortages of nitrogen supply in order to improve yields and yield stability, thus improving both the environmental and economic sustainability of organic farming systems. The project’s dissemination activities will target farmers, advisors, and the scientific community, but also the agricultural support industries and policy makers.
The main innovative strategy of the project is to adapt conservation agriculture approaches to organic farming drawing on existing field experiments across Europe.ILVO will contribute especially to WP1 and WP5 by performing a case study on improved nutrient management in reduced tillage systems by use of green manures and appropriate off-farm inputs. Decomposition and integration of incorporated green manures and their interaction with supplemental fertilizers will be investigated and related to crop performance and nutrient utilization. This study is based on two field trials: 1) A two-year field trial at ILVO, starting with a grass-clover ley, sown in 2010. This two factorial experiment starting in 2012 focuses on the impact of time and intensity of tillage and on N- and P-utilization from the grass-clover by the subsequent crop. In autumn 2012, plant based compost will be applied as a third factor before sowing green manure. The experiment will be continued in a similar way in 2013. 2) An existing strip experiment at Inagro with a similar but more limited factorial design than the two-year field trial at ILVO. The same crop sequence is planned in 2012-2013 for both trials.
Vlaamse overheid – ADLO (Afdeling Duurzame Landbouwontwikkeling)
Referenties projectconsortium:
Armengot, Laura; Berner, Alfred; Blanco-Moreno, José Manuel; Mäder, Paul and Sans, F.Xavier (2014) Long-term feasibility of reduced tillage in organic farming. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, online, - .
Armengot, Laura; Berner, Alfred; Mäder, Paul and Sans, F. Xavier (2014) WEED FLORA IN A LONG-TERM REDUCED TILLAGE TRIAL, “TILMAN-ORG session”. In: Rahmann, G. and Aksoy, U. (Eds.) Building Organic Bridges, Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut, Braunschweig, Germany, 3, Thuenen Report, no. 20, pp. 969-972.
Balen, Derk van (2012) Mechanisatie in dienst van bodembeheer. [mechanisation serving soil management.] Ekoland, May 2012, 32 (5), pp. 12-13.
Barberi, Paolo (2013) Functional Agrobiodiversity: The Key to Sustainability? In: Bhullar, Gurbir S. and Bhullar, Navreet K. (Eds.) Agricultural Sustainability - Progress and Prospects in Crop Research. Elsevier (Academic Press), London, Waltham, San Diego, chapter 1, pp. 3-20.
Berner, Alfred; Mäder, Paul; Messmer, Monika; Fließbach, Andreas; Krauss, Maike; Dierauer, Hansueli; Clerc, Maurice; Koller, Martin; Meier, Matthias and Schader, Christian (2012) Reduzierte Bearbeitung – fruchtbarere Böden? Ergebnisse aus Parzellenversuchen und von Praxisbetrieben. Lebendige Erde, 3, pp. 40-43.
Casagrande, Marion; Lefèvre, Vincent; Capitaine, Mathieu and Peigne, Joséphine (2015) Participative design of conservation agriculture cropping systems in organic agriculture. Poster at: The 5th International Symposium for Farming Systems Design, Montpellier, France, 7th-10th September 2015.
Casagrande, Marion and Peigné, Joséphine (2013) Conservation Agriculture in Organic Farming Motivations of European Farmers and Diversity of Practices. Paper at: Organic Producers' Conference, Birmingham, UK, January 22-23.
Casagrande, Marion; Peigne, Joséphine; David, Christophe; Sans, Francesc Xavier; Blanco-Moreno, José Manuel; Cooper, Julia; Gascoyne, Kate; Antichi, Daniele; Bàrberi, Paolo; Bigongiali, Federica; Surböck, Andreas; Kranzler, Andreas; Beeckman, Annelies; Willekens, Koen; Luik, Anne; Peetsmann, Elen; Grosse, Meike; Heß, Jürgen; Clerc, Maurice; Dierauer, Hansueli and Mäder, Paul (2014) ORGANIC FARMERS IN EUROPE: MOTIVATIONS AND PROBLEMS FOR USING CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE PRACTICES. "TILMAN-ORG Session". In: Rahmann, G. and Aksoy, U. (Eds.) Building Organic Bridges, Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut, Braunschweig, Germany, 1, Thuenen Report, no. 20, pp. 295-298.
Casagrande, Marion; Peigne, Joséphine; Payet, Vincent; Mäder, Paul; Sans, F. Xavier; Blanco-Moreno, José Manuel; Antichi, Daniele; Barberi, Paolo; Beeckmann, Annelies; Bigongiali, Federica; Cooper, Julia; Dierauer, Hansueli; Gascoyne, Kate; Grosse, Meike; Heß, Jürgen; Kranzler, Andreas; Luik, Anne; Peetsmann, Elen; Surböck, Andreas; Willekens, Koen and David, Christophe (2015) Organic farmers’ motivations and challenges for adopting conservation agriculture in Europe. Organic Agriculture, online, pp. 1-15.
Cooper, J.M.; Baranski, M.; Nobel de Lange, M.; BARBERI, P.; Fliessbach, A.; Peigne, J.; Berner, A.; Brock, C.; Casagrande, M.; Crowley, O.; Davide, C.; De Vliegher, Alex; Döring, Thomas F.; Entz, M.; Grosse, M.; Haase, T.; Halde, C.; Hammerl, V.; Huiting, H.; Leithold, G.; Messmer, M.; Schloter, M.; Sukkel, M.; van der Heijden, M.; Willekens, K.; Wittwer, R. and Mäder, Paul (2014) Effects of reduced tillage in organic farming on yield, weeds and soil carbon: meta-analysis results from the TILMAN-ORG project. In: Rahmann, G. and Aksoy, U. (Eds.) Building Organic Bridges, Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut, Braunschweig, Germany, 4, Thuenen Report, no. 20, pp. 1163-1166.
Cooper, Julia (2014) TILMAN - the final report. Organic Farming Magazine, 2014 (117), pp. 35-37.
Cooper, Julia; Baranski, Marcin; Nobel de Lange, Majimcha; Gattinger, Andreas and Mäder, Paul (2013) Using reduced tillage and green manures in organic systems – what is the research telling us? Paper at: Organic Producers' Conference, Birmingham, UK, January 22-23.
Cooper, Julia and Crowley, Oliver (2012) Reduced tillage and green manures. Organic Farming, 2012, pp. 37-39.
Costanzo, Ambrogio and Bàrberi, Paolo (2013) Functional agrobiodiversity and agroecosystem services in sustainable wheat production. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, online, - .
Denzler, Lukas (2015) Dezente Helfer im Untergrund - Bodenlebewesen reduzieren Nährstoffauswaschung im Ackerbau. Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 21 January 2015, p. 54.
Fließbach, Andreas; Baars, Ton; Huisman, Sebastiaan; Jorgas, Thorsten; Lewandowska-Robak, Maja; Strässer, Cornelius and Mäder, Paul (2014) Variability of soil fertility and crop yield on a sandy field site in western Poland under bio-dynamic management". In: Rahmann, G. and Aksoy, U. (Eds.) Building Organic Bridges, Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut, Braunschweig, Germany, 4, Thuenen Report, no. 20, pp. 1063-1064.
Fliessbach, Andreas; Hammerl, Verena; Antichi, Daniele; Barberi, Paolo; Berner, Alfred; Bufe, Cornelia; Delfosse, Philippe; Gattinger, Andreas; Grosse, Meike; Haase, Thorsten; Heß, Jürgen; Hissler, Christophe; Koal, Phillip; Kranzler, Andreas; Krauss, Maike; Mäder, Paul; Peigné, Joséphine; Pritsch, Karin; Reintam, Endla; Surböck, Andreas; Vian, Jean François and Schloter, Michael (2014) Soil quality changes in field trials comparing organic reduced tillage to plough systems across Europe (TILMAN-ORG Session). In: Rahmann, G. and Aksoy, U. (Eds.) Building Organic Bridges, Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut, Braunschweig, Germany, 4, Thuenen Report, no. 20, pp. 1051-1054.
Grosse, Meike; Haase, Thorsten and Heß, Jürgen (2014) Influence of Reduced Tillage and Green Manures on Weed Emergence and Yield in Organic Farming (TILMAN-ORG SESSION). In: Rahmann, G. and Aksoy, U. (Eds.) Building Organic Bridges, Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut, Braunschweig, Germany, 2, Thuenen Report, no. 20, pp. 411-414.
Grosse, Meike; Haase, Thorsten and Heß, Jürgen (2014) Wirkung von reduzierter Bodenbearbeitung und Gründüngung im Ökologischen Landbau auf den Beikrautbesatz. In: Tagungsband 26. Deutsche Arbeitsbesprechung über Fragen der Unkrautbiologie und -bekämpfung.
Grosse, Meike and Heß, Jürgen (2014) Der kurzfristige Einfluss von drei Zwischenfruchtarten und zwei verschiedenen Bodenbearbeitungen auf Frühjahrs-NO3-N des Bodens und Ertrag der Hauptfrucht Hafer. Poster at: 13. Wissenschaftstagung Ökologischer Landbau, Hochschule für nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde, 17. - 20. März 2015.
Haase, Thorsten; Grosse, Meike; Kölsch, Eberhard and Heß, Jürgen (2012) Wirkung von reduzierter Bodenbearbeitung und Gründüngung auf die N-Verfügbarkeit unter der folgenden Hauptfrucht im Ökologischen Landbau. Mitteilungen der Gesellschaft für Pflanzenbauwissenschaften: Bodenfruchtbarkeit – Bedeutung und Bestimmung in Pflanzenbau und Bodenkunde, 24, pp. 182-183.
Haby, Jessica; Döring, Thomas F.; Crowley, Oliver; Lazzaro, Mariaterresa and Smith, Jo (2014) Wirkungen konservierender Bodenbearbeitung auf Regenwürmer unter Kleegras im ökologischen Landbau. [Effects of reduced tillage on earthworms during the ley phase in an organic rotation.] Paper at: 13. Wissenschaftstagung Ökologischer Landbau, Hochschule für nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde, 17. - 20. März 2015.
{Project} TILMAN-ORG: Reduced tillage and green manures for sustainable organic cropping systems. Runs 2011 - 2014. Project Leader(s): Mäder, Dr. Paul , Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL).
International Innovation, (2013) Green fingers. International Innovation, 2013, pp. 76-78.
Kauer, Karin; Tein, Berit; Sanches De Cima, Diego; Talgre, Liina; Eremeev, Viacheslav; Loit, Evelin and Luik, Anne (2015) Soil carbon dynamics estimation and dependence on farming system in a temperate climate. Soil and Tillage Research, 154, pp. 53-63.
Krauss, Maike (2013) Pflugverzicht als Klimaschutzstrategie? Schweizer Bauer, 6 July 2013, p. 40.
Krauss, Maike; Gattinger, Andreas; Skinner, Colin and Krause, Hans-Martin (2013) Ist der Biolandbau klimafreundlicher? Zürcher Bauer, 6 September 2013, p. 4.
Krauss, Maike; Gattinger, Andreas; Skinner, Colin and Krause, Hans-Martin (2013) Ist der Biolandbau klimafreundlicher? BauernZeitung, 30 August 2013, p. 1.
Kuntz, Marianne; Berner, Alfred; Gattinger, Andreas; Scholberg, Johannes; Mäder, Paul and Pfiffner, Lukas (2013) Influence of reduced tillage on earthworm and microbial communities under organic arable farming. Pedobiologia - International Journal of Soil Biology, 56, pp. 251-260.
Mäder, Paul (2013) Reduced tillage and green manures for sustainable cropping systems - Overview of the TILMAN-ORG project. Paper at: Organic Producer’s Conference, Birmingham, UK, January 22 - 23.
Mäder, Paul; Fliessbach, Andreas; Berner, Alfred and Gattinger, Andreas (2014) Soil Micro-Organisms as influenced by Farming Systems and Management Practices. Paper at: ASA, CSSA, & SSSA International Annual Meeting. Symposium-Managing Microbial Communities and Processes in Organic, Transition and Hybrid Agroecosystems: I, Long Beach, California, November 2-5, 2014.
Mäder, Paul; Fliessbach, Andreas; David, Christophe and Cooper, Julia (2014) The Potential Use and Benefits of Reduced till in Organic Agriculture Systems. Paper at: ASA, CSSA, & SSSA International Annual Meeting: Innovations in Organic Food Systems: Opportunities for Meeting Ecosystem Services Challenges with Organic Farming - Part I, Long Beach, California, November 2-5, 2014.
Mäder, Paul; Fliessbach, Andreas; Willer, Helga and Krauss, Maike (2015) Reduzierte Bodenbearbeitung weiterentwickeln. Ökologie & Landbau, 2015, 4/2015, pp. 26-28.
Matt, Darja; Eremeev, Viacheslav; Tein, Berit; Roasto, Mati; Pehme, Sirli and Luik, Anne (2014) The metabolomic fingerprint and microbiological quality of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in different organic growing systems "TILMAN-ORG Session". In: Rahmann, G. and Aksoy, U. (Eds.) Building Organic Bridges, Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut, Braunschweig, Germany, 1, Thuenen Report, no. 20, pp. 227-230.
Matt, Darja; Eremeev, Viacheslav; Tein, Berit; Roasto, Mati; Pehme, Sirli and Luik, Anne (2014) The metabolomic fingerprinting and microbiological quality of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in different organic growing systems. Poster at: 18th IFOAM Organic World Congress, Istanbul, Turkey, 13.-15.10.2014.
Peigne, Joséphine; Casagrande, Marion; David, Christophe; Sans, Francesc Xavier; Blanco-Moreno, José Manuel; Cooper, Julia; Gascoyne, Kate; Antichi, Daniele; Bàrberi, Paolo; Bigongiali, Federica; Surböck, Andreas; Kranzler, Andreas; Beeckman, Annelies; Willekens, Koen; Luik, Anne; Matt, Darja; Grosse, Meike; Heß, Jürgen; Clerc, Maurice; Dierauer, Hansueli and Mäder, Paul (2014) DIVERSITY OF CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE PRACTICES AMONG EUROPEAN ORGANIC FARMERS “TILMAN-ORG SESSION”. In: Rahmann, G. and Aksoy, U. (Eds.) Building Organic Bridges, Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut, Braunschweig, Germany, 1, Thuenen Report, no. 20, pp. 287-290.
Pfiffner, Lukas (2014) Earthworms – Architects of fertile soils. Technical guide. Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, CH-Frick.
Rietberg, P.I.; Burgt, G.J.H.M.; Tein, Berit; Luik, Anne and Sans, F. Xavier (2014) IMPROVING NITROGEN MANAGEMENT IN REDUCED TILLAGE SYSTEMS BY USE OF GREEN MANURES AND APPROPRIATE OFF-FARM INPUTS: REUSLTS OF TILMAN-ORG. TILMAN-ORG SESSION. In: Rahmann, G. and Aksoy, U. (Eds.) Building Organic Bridges, Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut, Braunschweig, Germany, Thuenen Report, no. 20, pp. 807-810.
Runno-Paurson, Eve; Hansen, Merili; Tein, Berit; Loit, Kaire; Jõgi, Kätlin; Luik, Anne; Metspalu, Luule; Eremeev, Viacheslav; Williams, Ingrid and Mänd, Marika (2014) Cultivation technology influences the occurrence of potato early blight (Alternaria solani) in an organic farming system. Zemdirbyste-Agriculture, 101 (2), pp. 199-204.
Salat, A.; Armengot, L.; Sans, F.X. and Blanco-Moreno, J.M. (2014) SHORT-TERM EFFECTS OF CROP HUSBANDRY ON THE WEED COMMUNITY OF A CEREAL-LEGUME ROTATION, “TILMAN-ORG session”. In: Rahmann, G. and Aksoy, U. (Eds.) Building Organic Bridges, Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut, Braunschweig, Germany, 3, Thuenen Report, no. 20, pp. 973-976.
Sanches De Cima, Diego; Reintam, Endla; Eremeev, Viacheslav and Luik, Anne (2013) Soil chemical properties under different nutrient managements in Estonia. In: Mikomägi, Annika and Vilumaa, Kadri (Eds.) Book of Abstracts Down to Earth, p. 63.
Sanches De Cima, Diego; Reintam, Endla and Luik, Anne (2012) Soil physical properties under different cropping systems in Estonia. In: NJF Report seminar 448: Soil compaction – effects on soil functions and strategies for prevention , 8 (1), pp. 65-67.
Sanchez de Cima, Diego; Reintam, Endla and Luik, Anne (2013) Effects of organic versus conventional farming on different chemical soil parameters in Estonia. In: Løes, Anne-Kristin; Askegaard, Margrethe; Langer, Vibeke; Partanen, Kirsi; Pehme, Sirli; Rasmussen, Ilse A.; Salomon, Eva; Sørensen, Peter; Ullvén, Karin and Wivstad, Maria (Eds.) Organic farming systems as a driver for change, NJF Report, no. 9 (3), pp. 163-164.
Sanchez de Cima, Diego; Reintam, Endla and Luik, Anne (2012) Soil physical properties under different cropping systems in Estonia. In: European Confederation of Soil Science Societies, Book of Abstracts S03.01-P-31, p. 1030.
Sanchez de Cima, Diego; Reintam, Endla; Tein, Berit; Eremeev, Viacheslav and Luik, Anne (2015) Soil Nutrient Evolution during the First Rotation in Organic and Conventional Farming Systems. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 00, pp. 1-13.
Sans, F. Xavier; Armengot, Laura; Blanco-Moreno, José Manuel; Bocci, Gionata; Carlesi, Stefano and Barberi, Paolo (2014) EFFECT OF CONSERVATION PRACTICES ON FUNCTIONAL DIVERSITY AND ASSEMBLY OF WEED COMMUNITIES: A DATABASE OF FUNCTIONAL TRAITS. In: Rahmann, G. and Aksoy, U. (Eds.) Building Organic Bridges, Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut, Braunschweig, Germany, 3, Thuenen Report, no. 20, pp. 977-978.
Talgre, Liina; Eremeev, Viacheslav; Sanchez de Cima, Diego; Tein, Berit; Reintam, Endla; Matt, Darja and Luik, Anne (2014) Green manures as winter cover crops enhance soil improvement and weed regulation in crop rotation. Poster at: TILMAN-ORG project meeting in Lyon, France, Lyon, France, 25.-27.06.2014.
Talgre, Liina; Tein, Berit; Eremeev, Viacheslav; Matt, Darja; Reintam, Endla; Sanches De Cima, Diego and Luik, Anne (2013) In crop rotation green manures as winter cover crops enhance ecosystem services of farming. In: Løes, Anne-Kristin; Askegaard, Margrethe; Langer, Vibeke; Partanen, Kirsi; Pehme, Sirli; Rasmussen, Ilse A.; Salomon, Eva; Sørensen, Peter; Ullvén, Karin and Wivstad, Maria (Eds.) Organic farming systems as a driver for change, NJF Report, no. 9 (3), p. 57.
Tein, Berit; Eremeev, Viacheslav; Reintam, Endla; Talgre, Liina; Sanchez de Cima, Diego and Luik, Anne (2013) Effect of green manures on weeds, crop yields and soil properties in Estonia. Poster at: 7th ORC Organic Producers Conference: Making producer-led innovation a reality, Birmingham, UK, January 2013.
Tein, Berit; Kauer, Karin; Eremeev, Viacheslav; Luik, Anne and Loit, Evelin (2013) Effect of conventional and organic cropping systems on SOC dynamics. In: Proceedings of the International conference “Soil carbon sequestration for climate food security and ecosystem services” Reykjavík, Iceland 26-29 May 2013.
Tein, Berit; Kauer, Karin; Eremeev, Viacheslav; Luik, Anne; Selge, Are and Loit, Evelin (2014) Farming systems affect potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuber and soil quality. Field Crops Research, 156 (1), pp. 1-11.
Tein, Berit; Kauer, Karin; Runno-Paurson, Eve; Eremeev, Viacheslav; Luik, Anne; Selge, Are and Loit, Evelin (2015) The Potato Tuber Disease Occurrence as Affected by Conventional and Organic Farming Systems. American Journal of Potato Research, 93, pp. 1-11.
TILMAN-ORG, (2014) Reduced TILlage and Green MANures for sustainable ORGanic Cropping Systems. Project leaflet. .
Van Gils, Bert; Willekens, Koen; Beeckman, Annelies and Delanote, Lieven (2014) Onderzoek naar niet-kerende bodembewerking en groenbemesters: resultaten veldproeven 2013. BIOpraktijk, 1 April 2014, pp. 1-3.
Willekens, Koen; Van Gils, Bert; De Vliegher, Alex; Delanote, Lieven; Beeckman, Annelies and Vandecasteele, Bart (2014) The effect of tillage prctices on a leek crop's nitrogen utilization from a grass-clover sward. In: Rahmann, G. and Aksoy, U. (Eds.) Building Organic Bridges, Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut, Braunschweig, Germany, 1, Thuenen Report, no. 20, pp. 57-60.
Willekens, Koen; Vandecasteele, Bart and De Vliegher, Alex (2014) SOIL QUALITY AND CROP PRODUCTIVITY AS AFFECTED BY DIFFERENT SOIL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN ORGANIC AGRICULTURE "TILMAN-ORG Session". In: Rahmann, G. and Aksoy, U. (Eds.) Building Organic Bridges, Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut, Braunschweig, Germany, 1, Thuenen Report, no. 20, pp. 65-68.
10 Europese partnerlanden (Nederland, België, Frankrijk, Spanje, Italië, Duitsland, Oostenrijk, Zwitserland, Verenigd koninkrijk, Estland) voeren samen dit project uit.