Detailed report on trials of adding massive amount of organic material on an organic vegetable production. Main results : Soil fertility management using massive carbon inputs is an effective method for small-scale diversified market gardeners. The costs per hectare can be very high because the quantities used are in the order of several hundred tonnes, but when reduced to the surface area to be fertilised (a few hundred m²), the work is entirely feasible. The‘fertilising’ effect of these massive carbon inputs has been verified, since the indicators of good soil health and fertility are very good (organic matter rate, humus C/N, CEC, etc.). In addition, soil structure is improved, especially as living roots are present in the soil at the time of the massive input. As far as weed control using carbon mulch, such as compost, is concerned, Pierre Xavier has demonstrated theeffectiveness of this technique. The characteristics of certain types of compost mean that they can both feed plants and cover the soil, which limits weed dormancy. His experience has taught him to put in enough compost, more than 5 cm, to ensure that the compost mulch is effective against weeds.
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Agricultural run-off and subsurface drainage tiles transport a significant amount of nitrogen and phosphorus leached after fertilization. alchemia-nova GmbH in collaboration with University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna developed two multi-layer vertical filter systems to address the agricultural run-off issue, which has been installed on the slope of an agricultural field in Mistelbach, Austria. While another multi-layer addressing subsurface drainage water is implemented in Gleisdorf, Austria. The goal is to develop a drainage filter system to retain water and nutrients. Both multi-layer filter systems contain biochar and other substrates with adsorption properties of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus). The filter system can be of practical use if an excess of nutrients being washed out is of concern in the fields of the practitioner by keeping the surrounding waters clean. This approach may result in economic value by re-using the saturated biochar as fertilizer and improving the soil structure, thus increasing long-term soil fertility. Link: https://wateragri.eu/a-bio-inspired-multilayer-drainage-system/
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Grant Agreement No 858735This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Grant Agreement No 858735. FACTSHEET NANOCELLULOSE MEMBRANES FOR NUTRIENT RECOVERY Key information Functionalized nanocellulose membranes can take up nitrate and phosphate. These membranes can be put in a water treatment unit. As the membranes are biobased, degradable materials, they can after use be added to the soil, thus returning the leached nutrients back for their original purpose providing fertilizers (nutrient recycling).
Because variables such as temperature and humidity have a profound effect on the activity of crop pests, diseases and natural enemies, the ability to monitor environmental conditions within a crop has always been important for crop protection.