Intercropping is considered to be a sustainable alternative to monocultures, and could contribute to reduced use of pesticides and artificial fertilizer and to biodiversity conservation. However, intercropping comes with several challenges. Some of these challenges can potentially be overcome through the inclusion of livestock in these production systems. This project investigates the potential role and benefits of livestock species in relation to intercropping and enhanced crop diversity at farm and field level, using 1) literature review, 2) farmer interviews and 3) a focus group discussion in which we developed an infographic on crop-livestock integration. The literature review indicated that crop-livestock integration can have many benefits, including less required input of pesticides and fertilizer, use and conversion of crop byproducts into animal protein, and financial risk management, but there are also downsides, including a reduced ease and efficiency of management. The interviews supported the outcomes of the literature study and highlighted aspects that require attention for practical implementation. Although the added value of integration of livestock strongly depends on the context and farm management, there appears to be great potential for the implementation of intercropping-livestock integration, on field, farm or regional scale, to achieve a biodiversity-positive agriculture.
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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.