Diversified Arable Cropping Systems and Management Schemes in Selected European Regions Have Positive Effects on Soil Organic Carbon Content

Abstract

In the last few decades, various crop diversification strategies and management practices have been promoted to improve or at least maintain environmental quality and agroecosystem services. We conducted a data-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of alternatives for crop diversification and environmentally friendly farming management for arable crops in four selected European pedoclimatic regions and typical cropping systems in the Atlantic, Boreal, Mediterranean North, and Mediterranean South regions. The dataset was retrieved from 38 references and included data on site-specific environmental conditions, soil tillage, crop rotation, fertilization, and final soil organic carbon content (SOC). No tillage (NT) was more effective (7%) in increasing SOC content than minimum tillage (MT) across the studied depths (from 5 to 40 cm). Conservation tillage as whole, including NT, MT, and rotational tillage (RT) positively affected SOC content in the top 10 cm (28%) in comparison with conventional tillage (CT). Compared to monoculture, longer crop rotations (3-5 years) and the introduction of legumes resulted in higher increases in SOC contents (18%), that were higher in semiarid conditions (11%) than under humid and sub-humid climates (3.2%). The effect of fertilization on SOC contents was higher in the Mediterranean North region (28%), and organic fertilization showed the highest increases (25%) compared to the control with mineral fertilization. Higher increases in SOC contents with tillage and fertilization management were found in sites with lower SOC contents in the control treatment (conventional tillage and mineral fertilization respectively). The data analysis indicated that various European arable agroecosystems benefit both from diversified cropping systems and the adoption of environmentally friendly farming management and are thereby capable to increase SOC contents.

Soil Nitrate Nitrogen Content and Grain Yields of Organically Grown Cereals as Affected by a Strip Tillage and Forage Legume Intercropping

“…The application of strip tillage to forage legumes–winter wheat resulted in an average of 43.9% lower N-NO 3 content in both soil layers combined (0–60 cm) compared to conventional sowing after forage legume ploughing in. This confirms the statement that mineralization intensity and nitrogen supply can be managed by choosing the right tillage method [ 22 , 40 ]. Low soil nitrogen content was determined by several factors.…”

Crop Rotation Enhances Agricultural Sustainability: From an Empirical Evaluation of Eco-Economic Benefits in Rice Production

“…Therefore, conservation agriculture as a tool for sustainable development is essential so that natural resources can be used in a rational and economical manner for social and ecological sustainability [9]. Recent concern for the sustainability of agriculture and associated natural environments has led to renewed interest in practices that seek to increase production while improving soil health and ecological resilience [10][11][12][13] through crop diversification and comprehensive evaluation of the social, economic and ecological impacts of producing systems [14] by internalizing the externalities, i.e., the hidden benefits and costs are not reflected in marketing prices, associated with primary production systems. Agricultural diversification is referred to the reallocation of some farming resources such as lands, equipment and labor to other social or natural services and can be achieved by multiple paths such as changing cropping systems, modifying productive goals and switching to non-farming activities at spatial and/or temporal scales [15].…”

Combined Effect of Climate and Anthropopressure on River Water Quality

“…Points 7, 8, and 11–13 were classified in a different cluster each year. In these places, the Bzura flows through rural areas, where factors such as fertilization and irrigation of agricultural fields or mowing of meadows have a significant impact on the DOC level, which may change due to, for example, crop diversification [ 42 ]. A particularly clear change in the DOC levels was observed for points 11–13.…”