A Portfolio of Effective Water and Soil Conservation Practices for Arable Production Systems in Europe and North Africa

Abstract

To secure sustainable food production for meeting the growing global demand for food, it is imperative, while at the same time challenging, to make efficient use of natural resources with minimal impact on the environment. The study objective is to provide insights into the multiple benefits and trade-offs of different sustainable agricultural practices that are relevant across pedo-climatic zones in Europe and North Africa, including conservation agriculture, crop diversification, organic agriculture, and agroforestry. Widespread adoption of these practices in specific regions depends on the effectiveness with which their applications and attributes are communicated to farmers, and their suitability to local conditions and opportunities. Scale impacts of the practices range from field to catchment levels, but the best empirical evidence has been generated at field level in on-farm and experimental trials. The outcomes from the application of each of these practices depend on variables specific to each site, including pedo-climatic zone, geography, weather, ecology, culture, and traditions. Each practice has trade-offs and the same practice can have different effects when compared to conventional agriculture. To make site-specific recommendations, a careful assessment of overall benefits must be made. Adoption can be stimulated when farmers have the opportunity to experiment on their own land and discover the advantages and disadvantages of different practices.

Adoption of Sustainable Water Management Practices among Farmers in Saudi Arabia

“…Accordingly, implementing inspection campaigns that monitor the compliance of famers with wastewater legislation, and apply penalties to violators, is critical for enhancing the adoption by farmers of wastewater use in irrigation. In general, the adoption of SWM practices can be stimulated when farmers discover the advantages and disadvantages of different practices and have the opportunity to experiment on their own land [72].…”

Nature‐based solutions enhance sediment and nutrient storage in an agricultural lowland catchment

“…Bertol et al (2017) found that nutrient and organic carbon concentrations in run‐off from no till were higher than from conventional tillage, with the cost of erosion losses from no till being 29% higher in terms of phosphate fertilizer. These differences demonstrate potential trade‐offs and highlight how the effectiveness of soil conservation practices may vary considerably across different landscapes due to factors such as soil or crop type (Choden & Ghaley, 2021; Deasy et al, 2009). Although changing agricultural practices may be part of the solution, mitigating soil loss and diffuse pollution may require additional interventions.…”

CROP Rotation and Diversity Practices among Rural Farmers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

“…The intensity of the use of chemicals and tillage in conventional agricultural production systems has negative effects on soil health and the environment [5]. To ensure a positive economic and environmental advantage to soil ecosystems, good and effective management practices such as crop rotation, low tillage, and the planting of cover crops are very necessary [6].…”