PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Significant potential exists in Europe to decrease the flux of carbon to the atmosphere from croplands, and for cropland management to sequester soil carbon, linked to the amount of carbon stored in cropland soils. Changes in agricultural management can potentially increase the accumulation rate of soil organic carbon (SOC), contributing to the mitigation of global warming through the sequestration of atmospheric carbon or the prevention of carbon and nitrogen gas release. Legume crops in Europe represent less than 4% of arable lands, and European legume seeds are underused for animal and human nutrition. However, legumes in crop rotation can lead to the reduced emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs), thanks to reduced applications on nitrogen-based fertilizers. Other benefits relate to the reduced use of agrichemicals to protect the cereal crop, as legumes can reduce the incidence of cereal pathogens and pests and can help weed control. The introduction of legumes in the rotation can also enhance carbon sequestration in soil. Legume residues also help develop microorganisms by providing the organic nitrogen required to encourage the following crops in the rotation. The introduction of legumes as a cover crop increases the accumulation of soil carbon in the soil.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE AGRESTIC project aimed to foster the adoption by EU farmers of innovative and efficient cropping systems that have a high potential for climate change mitigation. It also aimed to widely distribute innovative tools and knowledge for climate change ready and resource-efficient agriculture. The proposed experimentation included the introduction of legumes and catch crops in the crop rotations in order to reduce GHG emissions and increase carbon sequestration and organic nitrogen supply. The introduction of a decision support system (DSS) was also planned to ensure efficient management of the innovative crop rotations, with a focus on diminishing the use of external inputs (nitrogen fertilisers, pesticides, etc.) and non-renewable resources (soil, water and fuel).
The project addressed specific objectives of the LIFE Regulation regarding the reduction of GHG emissions in the agricultural sector. The collection of data and the modelling of GHG fluxes from soils also contributed to knowledge on emissions accounting, according to rules set out in the Decision No 529/2013/EU.
RESULTS
The project was able to design and test, in three distinct geographical sites (in north, centre and south of Italy), innovative and efficient cropping systems (ECSs), including legumes and with high potential for climate change mitigation, compared to conventional cropping system (CCSs). In addition, it developed a prototype to measure, in the field, the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG), and a decision-support system capable to manage the whole crop rotation. The ecosystem services generated by the efficient cropping systems have been assessed, including their monetary value.
Specific achieved results are:
- Reduced agricultural GHG emission by 29% of total CO2eq at the pilot sites and increase of soil carbon sequestration.
- A web-based DSS (CROP.NET DSS) for supporting farmers in a resource efficient management, which allowed reduction by 23% of use of plant production products and decrease by 39% of the total nitrogen applied to the field.
- Implementation of a prototype for automated and continuous monitoring of soil GHG fluxes to measure the potential of ECSs in reducing emission from soil compared with conventional cropping systems.
- Calibration and validation of a model for estimating soil GHG emission and implementation of the model into the CROP.NET DSS.
- Assessment of the willingness to pay (WTP) and the potential payment values (PES) for the generated ecosystems services. Production of guidelines to integrate environmental performance in sectoral policies.
- Design of a quality label scheme for ECSs based on carbon footprint and ecosystem services, coherent with the indications of ISO14025 international standard for type III environmental labels and declarations, for the sunflower and tomato food chains.
