Comparison of the support for catch crops in the Baltic Sea region countries

Abstract

Catch crops contribute to soil and environmental quality, which has determined a growing interest in their use as a nature-based solution. Though, the introduction of catch crops increases the complexity of farm management and is related with additional costs. In Latvia, the area under catch crops accounts for less than 5% of the arable land, while 30% is bare over the winter. In order to identify the possibilities for promoting of catch crops in Latvia, the objective of the study is to explore the support practices for growing of catch crops in the Baltic Sea region countries. The paper seeks to explore the main benefits associated with the growing of catch crops, followed by the study and synthesis of the main support measures. For the study, numerous information sources have been explored and appropriate research methods applied. Catch crops reduce nutrient leaching from the soil, transfer nutrients to the next crop, improve soil quality, reduce soil erosion, and mitigate climate change; these benefits can translate also at farm level, mainly as reduced N inputs. Growing of catch crops is being increasingly supported in the Baltic Sea countriesas a greening measure and by different agri-environment and climate measures of the RDPs 2014-2020. Growing of economic focus area catch crops (supported in quite a similar approach in these countries) and introduction of agri-environment scheme for catch crops (supported in directly and/or indirectly targeted way) can contribute to the solving of environmental problems and decrease the share of bare land left over the winter in Latvia.

Catch Crops: A Nutrient Reservoir in Post-Harvest Residues under Water Deficit

“…Undersown CCs may also be grazed or sold as forage or biofuel raw material [22,26]; however, the economic interest of these crops is rather low [27]. Reimer et al [28] classify CCs as so-called 'subsidiary crops', i.e., crops grown primarily for their agro-ecological benefits rather than for direct economic profit.…”

“…Along with the potential benefits of undersown CCs to farmers, the potential drawbacks of their introduction need to be mentioned, as well. These include increasing costs (purchasing seeds, management operations), making farm management more complex, and the possible reduction in the main (primary) crop yield due to competition of undersown CC for light, nutrients, and soil water [7,12,17,22,27]. These disadvantages seem to be compensated for by the wider benefits [22].…”