Soil Functional Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services,

a Transdisciplinary Approach

SUSTAIN project (2011-2014)

SNOWMAN NETWORKKnowledge for sustainable soils

Meeting with the Orientation Committee

Paris, 26 February 2014

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Programme

9h30-11h30: Presentation concerning SUSTAIN - presentation of the project  and the sites- presentation of some french results- presentation of some dutch results

Coffee Break- presentation of transversal actions- Life Cycle Analyis- dissemination actions :

- actions addressed to several public        - brochures, technical guide

- opened day for farmers11h30-12h00 : general discussion

12h00-13h30 : lunch

13h30-14H00 : European view about agroecology ? (Ciro Gardi)14h00-14h50 : PEPITE and TILLMAN projects (Josephine Péigné)            - presentation             - discussion : what are  complementary/common results and transfer to users ?14h50 - 15h40: Ranking of indicators and Ecosystem services (Michiel Rutgers)            - presentation             - discussion : how can we apply this to  SUSTAIN resultsBreak16h00-16H30 : general discussion and synthesis : what about a common future ?

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What about SUSTAIN project ?

from october 2011 to december 2014

Brittany : a livestock region

Farm land in use = 1 711 200 ha

(6 % of national land in use)

Grassland : 703 600 ha

Cereals: 439 400 ha

Corn silage : 332 000 ha

Grain-maize : 126 000 ha

Rape : 31 500 ha

Vegetables : 83 200 ha

Brittany’s part in total french production

26 % of veal calves

20 % of collected milk

34 % of chicken production

58 % of pig production

(Year : 2008)

Regional French Context : Brittany

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No-tillage in Brittany (2010)

• Ploughed area : 748 439 ha• Reduced tillage : 232 542 ha• Annual crops : 987 014 ha

Reduced tillage/annual crops : 24 % vs 30% at national scale

Ploughed area : 76 %

Brittany Context

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Motivations of the farmers

• Working time saving

• Energy saving

• Amelioration of soil bearing capacity

Questions from the farmers

The impact of these technics on the soil , on the crops, on the water quality ?

Is the use of organic fertilizers compatible with the not ploughing practice ?

Netherlands

Total area of arable land 950,000 ha

(+/- 25% of land area)

50% of arable land on clay (loam) soils, 50% on sandy soils

Top 5 crops:

1. Corn (sandy soils, also in rotation with grassland)

2. Potatoes

3. Cereals (mainly for crop rotation reasons

4. Sugar beets

5. Onions

Dutch Context

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Reduced-tillage in the Netherlands• Mostly « non-inversion » tillage • < 1% of arable land except for south east of the country

-> erosion legislation• But interest among farmers is clearly growing

Dutch Context

SUSTAIN consortium partners

Dutch partners

Mirjam PullemanLijbert BrussaardSteven Crittenden

Ron De Goede

Wijnand SukkelGerard Korthals

Ben Delbaere, Veronika Mikos

PPO (Applied Plant Research)

European Center for Nature Conservation

Guénola PérèsDaniel Cluzeau(coordinator)

Michaël CorsonVincent HallaireSafya MenasseriThierry MorvanGuénola Pérès

(coordinator)

French partners

Djilali Heddadj

Understand how reduced tillage systems, as compared to conventional tillage systems, impact soil functional biodiversity and soil functions

Quantify the consequences of reduced tillage systems on soil ecosystem services

SUSTAIN Objectives

Develop tools such as - Soil disturbance-indicators - Life Cycling Analysis to evaluate the environmental impact of tillage systems

Investigate the socio-economic sustainability of reduced tillage systems

Dissemination

Kick-off meeting, 19-20 November 2013, Paris

SUSTAIN is conducted in France and the Netherlands

at experimental field sites and through regional farm networks

-

SUSTAIN collaborative approach

Lelystad

Hoeksche Waard

F K A

FKT

FKO

SUSTAIN analyses new data & existing datasets

Combination allows for a boarder perspective, reflecting different time scales.

Kerguéhennec

SUSTAIN collaborates with ECOSOM-Project (S. Houot, J. Faber)

SUSTAIN collaborates with - German colleagues M. Potthoff (univ. Göettingen) &

S. Schrader (vTI)

WP3 : Soil functions - Soil structure maintenance- Water regulation and filtering- OM and nutrient cycling- Pest regulation (nematode community)

WP4 : Ecosystem services -Food production-GHG mitigation

WP7 : Dissemination

WP5 : Sociology and economy- Sociology- Farm economics

WP6 : Modelling

- Indicator development- Environmental impact evaluation- System sustainability evaluation

WP2 : Soil biodiversity- Earthworms- Nematodes

SUSTAIN Work plan (7 WP)

Agricultural practices (tillage, reduced tillage, no tillage)

Experimental station of Kerguéhennec (Morbihan dept.) of CRAB since 2000 2 experimental designs under conventional system FKT and FKA 1 experimental design under organic farming (FKO)

Soil derived from micaschist, Dystric Cambisol (FAO) with a loamy texture and high organic matter (4.3%)

SUSTAIN - France – 3 field sites

F K A

FKT

FKO

"Transfer" experimentFKT

-> impact on run-offSince 2000

"Agronomic" experimentFKA

-> impact combined with OM inputsSince 2000

"Organic" experimentFKO

Since 2003 (destroyed 2013)

FKT

"Transfer" experimentFKT

-> impact of reduced tillage on run-off

« Transfer » trial – FKT site

3 Treatments are compared since 2000

with the same fertilisation

Crop rotation (every 2 years) : Grain maize – wheat – rye grass

Crop in January 2012

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FKT site – Treatments and Trial plane

3 plots (6 m X 50 m) X 3 blocs -> 9 plots in totalConventional tillage, Moulboard ploughing 25 cm and circular spike

Superficial tillage 8Harrowing at 8 cm then chisel since 2006

No till, Direct drilling Disc seeder (wheat, rape, phacelia) et cultivation on the row (maize)

N

Bloc 1Bloc 2Bloc 3

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« Agronomic » trial – FKA site

F K A

"Agronomic" experimentFKA

-> impact of reduced tillage combined with OM inputs

Treatments are compared since 2000

Crop rotation (4 years) : grain maize-wheat-rape-wheat-phacelia

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Crop in January 2012

FKA site – treatments : reduced tillage   X organic fertilisation

Conventional tillage LMoulboard ploughing 25 cm and circular spike

Superficial tillage 8 TS (S2) harrowing at 8 cm then chisel since 2006

No till (Direct drilling) SD (S1)disc seeder (wheat, rape, phacelia) et cultivation on the row (maize)

X

Mineral fertilization M

M Fertilisation + Cattle manure M-FB40 t of manure every 4 years

Pig slurry 25 m3/year LP

Poultry manure 6 t/year FV

With Equivalent N input

3 Tillage treatments 4 fertilisation treatments

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FKO "Organic" experimentFKO

-> impact of reduced tillage

« Organic » trial -  FKO site

Crop succession :Grain-maize – triticale – buckwheat – Protein pea – triticale – alfalfa – alfalfa – triticale – grain-maize - wheat

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4 treatments are compared since

2003 but will be distroyed in

November 2013 !!!!

Common fertilisation (guano or pig

slurry or cow manure)

Crop in January 2012

Bloc II

Chisel 15 cmChisel 8 cm

Conventional ploughing

Agronomic

ploughing

Bloc I

Bande enherbée

Bande enherbée

Bande enherbée

Bloc III

Bande enherbée

105 m

25 m

15 m

S

NW

E

12 m

Conventional ploughing

Conventional ploughing

Agronomic

ploughing

Agronomic

ploughing

Chisel 15 cm

Chisel 15 cm

Chisel 8 cm

Chisel 8 cm

FKO  site – Treatments and trial plan

4 plots (12 m X 25 m) X 3 blocs -> 12 plots in totalConventional tillage, ploughingMoulboard ploughing 25 cm and circular spike

Superficial tillage 8Harrowing at 8 cm then chisel since 2006

Superficial tillage 15 Harrowing at 15 cm then chisel since 2006

Agronomic ploughingMoulboard ploughing 15 cm and circular spike

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French site – Parameters measured (ex: FKA)

SOIL 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Physical properties

Structural state of surface

X X X X X X X X

Hydraulic conduticity

X X X X X

porosity X X X X X X X X X X

Structural stability

X X X X X

Morphological properties

Agricultural profil

X X X X X X

Chemical properties

analysis X X X

C and N stock X X X X X ? X ? X

Biological properties

Earthworm X X X

Microorgan X X X

Many parameters measured every year or ponctually

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CROPS 2000 2001 2002 2003 2044 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Disease X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Pests X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Weeds X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Root profile X X X X X X

Crop yield and component

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Crop analysis X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

French site – Parameters measured (ex: FKA)Many parameters measured every year or ponctually

In the case of FKT : run-off, pesticides transferts

SUSTAIN - Netherlands - 2 Field sites

Two areas reclaimed from the sea. Calcareous marine-loam soils with clay-loam texture.

Hoeksche Waard(farmer fields, since 2009)

Lelystad (experimental farm of PPO since 2008)

In the 2 field sites, conventional and organic managements

Lelystad – Soil parameters measured (not exhaustive)

SOIL 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Physical properties

Aggregate stability X X

Penetrometer resistance

X X X

Saturated conductivity X

pF curves X X

Bulk density & porosity X X X

Infiltration X X X

Soil moisture profiles X X X

Soil temperature X X X

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Not all data are available for all trials all years

Lelystad – Soil parameters measured (not exhaustive)

SOIL 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Chemical properties

Mineral N X X X X X

Soil C and N, total X X X X X

Greenhouse gas emissions

X X X

Biological properties

Earthworms X X X X

Nematodes X - - X

Microbial parameters X - X

Mycohrriza spore and root colonization (organic only)

- - X - -

Natural enemies of pest (arthropods)

X

CROPS 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Crop yield and component

X X X X X X

Crop analysis (some crops only)

X X X X X X

France

- former analysis were been done in 2003 on previous network of

reduced-tillage farms (11 pairs of farms : reduced vs conventional)

SUSTAIN - France & the Netherlands – Farm networks

Netherlands

- the network already exits (4 farms) due to collaborations between

- PPO and farmers

- University of Wageningen and farmers

- a new network will be analysed in 20114 (16 farms : 4 per each

department, 4 treatments : direct-seeding, superficial tillage, non-

inversed –tillage and conventional ploughing)

integration of more geological and climatic contexts

Results

On french experimental sites

FKO

Kick-off meeting, 19-20 November 2013, Paris

Conventional tillage, ploughingMoulboard ploughing 25 cm and circular spike

Superficial tillage 8Harrowing at 8 cm, chisel since 2006

Superficial tillage 15 Harrowing at 15 cm, chisel since 2006

Agronomic ploughingMoulboard ploughing 15 cm and circular spike

Biodiversity – soil functions (WP2 & WP3 ) – french site

Site description – Organic trial

Bloc II

Chisel 15 cmChisel 8 cm

Conventional ploughing

Agronomic

ploughing

Bloc I

Bande enherbée

Bande enherbée

Bande enherbée

Bloc III

Bande enherbée

105 m

25 m

15 m

S

N

E

12 m

Conventional ploughing

Conventional ploughing

Agronomic

ploughing

Agronomic

ploughing

Chisel 15 cm

Chisel 15 cm

Chisel 8 cm

Chisel 8 cm

4 plots (12 m X 25 m) X 3 blocs -> 12 plots in total

Orientattion committee 26 February 2014, Paris

Abundance, Biomass of earthworm (2013, after 7 years)

Abundance • no significant effect of reduced tillage (last ploughing 1 year ½ earthworm abundance can recover )• low depth of ploughing is favourable to abundance, but superficial tillage is depressive

87,7

66,1

Biodiversity – soil functions (WP2 & WP3 ) – french site - organic

Biomass• no significant effect of reduced tillage• bad effect of conventional ploughing (tendance)

Orientattion committee 26 February 2014, Paris

• Epigeic : absent (Cluzeau et al., 2012)

• Endogeic : dominant (Cluzeau et al., 2012)

positive impact of ploughing (LA, 15cm, p<0.01)

Earthworm ecological group (in 2013)

Reduced tillage 8 cm Reduced tillage 15 cm(C15)

Agronomical Ploughing (LA)

Conventional ploughing (CP)

epigeic

anecic endogeic

A. caliginosa A. chlorotica

• Anecic: positive impact of reduced tillage systems, C8 (p=0.012) (Chan, 2001)

N. giardi

Biodiversity – soil functions (WP2 & WP3 ) – french site -

Orientattion committee 26 February 2014, Paris

Earthworm community

earthworm abundance

endogeic abundance

Reduced tillage systmes

No impact

Biodiversity – soil functions (WP2 & WP3 ) – french site - organic

Orientattion committee 26 February 2014, Paris

Earthworm community

earthworm abundance

endogeic abundance

earthworm biomass

anecic abundance

Reduced tillage systmes

No impact Positive impact

Biodiversity – soil functions (WP2 & WP3 ) – french site - organic

Orientattion committee 26 February 2014, Paris

• negative impact of conventional tillage on C (p<0.05), N and P (tendance) (0-15 cm)

• strongly related to OM

positive impact of reduced tillage, but limited to 0-5 cm

Biodiversity – soil functions (WP2 & WP3 ) – french site - organic

Chemical analysis (2013, after 7 years)

Orientattion committee 26 February 2014, Paris

• negative impact of conventional tillage on C (p<0.05), N and P (tendance) (0-15 cm)

• strongly related to OM

positive impact of reduced tillage, but limited to 0-5 cm high stratification of OM depending on practices

• decrease from top to sub-soil for reduced tillage system (reduced tillage systems)

Biodiversity – soil functions (WP2 & WP3 ) – french site - organic

Chemical analysis (2013, after 7 years)

• homogeneity under ploughing system, folllowing the ploughing depth

Orientattion committee 26 February 2014, Paris

L. rubellus positively correlated with hydraulic conductivity at soil surface and 5 cm depth epi-anecic species

creates vertical and opend burrows at soil surface

Conductivity (soil surface)

Conductivity (15 cm depth)

Conductivity (5 cm depth)

Linking diversity to function (hydraulic conductivity)

Biodiversity – soil functions (WP2 & WP3 ) – french site - organic

Endogeic species negatively correlated with hydraulic conductivity endogeic (Francis et al, 2001)

Orientattion committee 26 February 2014, Paris

Relation with Ecosystem service (WP4 ) – french site - organic

• Weeds : increase of weed pressure under reduced tillage system ploughing limits the risk of weeds (Mamarot, 2004)

Weeds and Yield

v v

Weeds

Yield

• Yield : decrease under reduced tillage systems presence of weeds increase the comptetion for wtaer and nutrients resource (Armal, 2010)

Biological

chemicalAgronomical

Physical

Superficial tillage (8cm)

Superficial tillage (15 cm)

Agronomical ploughing (15 cm)

Conventional ploughing (25 cm)

Synthesis

Orientattion committee 26 February 2014, Paris

Results

On dutch experimental sites