Print

 

The SoilCare project has created several videos to show what experiments for Soil-Improving Cropping Systems are being carried out across Europe. Please click on the links below to watch.

  

 

SoilCare Overview video

Soil-improving cropping systems: Explainer video

 
  Watch this video for an overview of the SoilCare project and some of the soil-improving cropping systems being trialled  Watch our animated explainer video to find out what we mean by 'soil-improving cropping systems' in just two minutes!  
 

Overview of SoilCare front cover

 

Screenshot 2021 06 25 083800

 

 

 

 

 

Introducing the SoilCare Study Sites

 

 

France video frontcover

 

 

Diverse cover crops, early sown wheat and direct maize sowing in France

A diverse range of cover and companion crop mixes with early sown wheat (in August rather than November) and direct drilling of maize are all being trialled to improve soil health at the French study site.

 

 
 

Norway video frontcover

 

Cover crops for carbon & compaction in Norway

In Norway with the short growing season, it is difficult to get a cover crop established. Find out how the study site here is trying to establish them.

 

 
 

 

DenmarkSS Video

   

Soil improving cropping systems in Denmark

In one of the msot intensively farmed parts of the world, the Denmark study site is trialling cover crops to add nutrients between wheat, OSR, bean and / or fodder crops. They are also trialling a new robotic weeder by AgriIntelli.

 

 
 

 

Germany Study Site experiment video 

 

 

Cover crop termination with Glyphosate - effects on microorganisms in Germany

In Germany, the termination of cover crops using the controversial product Glyphosate is being monitored for its effects on the microbial soil populations and the wider soil health. 

 
   

Romania Study Site experiment video

 

 

Tillage experiments in Romania

Compaction is an issue in the Romanian study site, where several mechanical methods of alleviation are being trialled alongside break crops that are deep-rooting to help aerate soils and improve structure and organic matter.

 

 
 

 

Spain Study Site experiment video

 

 

 

Smart irrigation, min-till and cover crop experiments in Spain

A range of SICS components are being trialled in Spain across two different sites in a similarly arid region; a large-scale top fruit company and an organic olive grower. 

 
 

 

Portugal soilcare

 

 

 

Crop rotations, cover crops and fertilisation experiments in Portugal

Organic rice and alfalfa are being trialled on rotation, as well as using various legumes to provide soil nutrition and green manure. Organic amendments such as sludge are also being tested to see the effects on soil.

 
 

 

Norway video frontcover

 

 

  

Compaction alleviation experiments in the UK

UK arable soils are also experiencing compaction from intensive farming, therefore the study site is looking at ploughing with low-disturbance sub-soiling, mycorrhizae inoculations to help cover crops grow as well as deep rooting grasses.

 

 
 

Chris Stoate front cover

 

 

Results of the deep-rooting grass leys experiment for alleviating soil compaction in UK

 
 

 JennyBurrell videofrontcover

 

 

Results of the compaction alleviation experiment in the UK

 
 

 

SoilCare video front slide

 

 

Hungary study site: Assessing the effects of organic fertilisation and reduced sillage on Soil/

Zoltan Toth from the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences describes the study site area, the soil-improving cropping systems tested and their engagement with the stakeholder farmers 

 
 

 

Norway video frontcover

 

 

Fertiliser and cover crop experiments in Hungary

Farmers are trialling various cover crops to improve soil health and long-term field experiments in Hungary are experimenting with organic and mineral fertilisers.

 

 
 

 

Sweden Study Site experiment video

 

 

Sub-soil loosening experiments in Sweden

As with some of the other study sites, Sweden has compacted soils and is therefore looking into using sub-soiling to aerate and enhance soil structure.

 

 
 

 

Poland Study Site experiment video

 

 

Precision applications of liming and cover crop experiments in Poland

In Poland, the use of nutrient mapping systems are being trialled for farmers to apply lime in the field areas most needed, whilst cover crops are also being trialled to increase soil health more broadly.

 

 
 

 

Italy Study Site experiment video

 

 

Increasing soil organic matter and cover crops experiments in Italy

In Italy, low soil health and high compaction rates are being addressed by adding organic matter and trialling a range of cover crops.

 

 
 

 

Greece Study Site experiment video

 

 

Increasing soil organic matter and cover crops experiments in Greece

In order to address soil erosion, cover crops and minimum tillage practices are being trialled in the Greek study site.

 
 

 

Czech cover

 

 

 

No-till and mineral fertilizer reduction experiments in the Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, two approaches are being incorporated for increasing soil health and reducing chemical use - no till and mineral fertilizer application reductions.

 
 

 

Belgium cover website

 

Perennial wheat and woodchip soil amendment experiments in Belgium

A very novel approach is being taken in the Belgium study site - using perennial wheat as a way to minimise the impact upon soils that would usually be caused by machinery and ploughing as well as trialling woodchips to increase soil organic matter (carbon) to stimulate microbial activity.

 

 

 

 Introducing the SoilCare Stakeholders

 

Farmer UK frontcover

 

The importance of soil-improving cropping systems from a UK farmers' perspective

Arable farmer Phil Jarvis talks about the importance of soil-improving cropping systems for regenerating arable farming.

 
 

 

Spanish Study Site experiment video

 

                    

Spanish study site organic olive farmer on his SICS experience

 

Organic olive farmer Rafael talks passionately about his family farm and the benefits for him in trialling SICS with the support of researchers on the SoilCare team.

 
 

 

Italian farm advisor

 

 

Italian study site farm advisor talks about his work with SICS (Italian with English subtitles)

At the Italian study site Professor Antonio Berti talks to farm adviser Dott. Mario Boldrin from CIA - Agricoltori Italiani.

 
 

 

Swiss farmers

 

 

Swiss study site farmers discuss their SICS experiments

 

Swiss study site farmers talk about using the CULTAN fertiliser application method (Controlled Uptake Long Term Ammonium Nutrition), and using minimum tillage.

 
 

 

Farmer video front

   

Hungarian study site farmer gives his perspective on soil-improving cropping systems

 

 

 

 

 

    

 5 short videos on good practices in soil cultivation when preparing soil after grassland before maize sowing 

 
  Soil cultivation cover Soil cultivation cover2 Soil cultivation cover3 Soil cultivation cover4 Soil cultivation cover5  

 

 

To see all SoilCare videos on the SoilCare YouTube channel click here external link icon