IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlands/v11y2022i6p780-d823687.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Soil-Improving Cropping Systems for Sustainable and Profitable Farming in Europe

Author

Listed:
  • Rudi Hessel

    (Wageningen Environmental Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Guido Wyseure

    (Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium)

  • Ioanna S. Panagea

    (Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium)

  • Abdallah Alaoui

    (Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Hallerstrasse 12, 3012 Bern, Switzerland)

  • Mark S. Reed

    (Centre for Rural Economy, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
    Thriving Natural Capital Challenge Centre, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), King’s Buildings, W Mains Rd, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK)

  • Hedwig van Delden

    (Research Institute for Knowledge Systems (RIKS), Hertogsingel 11A, 6211 NC Maastricht, The Netherlands)

  • Melanie Muro

    (Milieu Consulting SRL, Chau. de Charleroi 112, 1060 Brussels, Belgium)

  • Jane Mills

    (Countryside and Community Research Institute, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham GL50 4AZ, UK)

  • Oene Oenema

    (Wageningen Environmental Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Francisco Areal

    (Centre for Rural Economy, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK)

  • Erik van den Elsen

    (Wageningen Environmental Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Simone Verzandvoort

    (Wageningen Environmental Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Falentijn Assinck

    (Wageningen Environmental Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Annemie Elsen

    (Bodemkundige Dienst van België, Willem de Croylaan 48, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium)

  • Jerzy Lipiec

    (Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Doświadczalna 4, 20-290 Lublin, Poland)

  • Aristeidis Koutroulis

    (School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Akrotiri Campus, Chania 731 00, Crete, Greece)

  • Lilian O’Sullivan

    (Teagasc, Environment, Crops, Environment & Land Use Programme, Johnstown Castle, Co., Y35 TC97 Wexford, Ireland)

  • Martin A. Bolinder

    (Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), P.O. Box 7044, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden)

  • Luuk Fleskens

    (Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Ellen Kandeler

    (Institute of Soil Science and Land Evaluation, Soil Biology Department, University of Hohenheim, Emil Wolff Str. 27, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany)

  • Luca Montanarella

    (Joint Research Centre, European Commission, Via E. Fermi, 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy)

  • Marius Heinen

    (Wageningen Environmental Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Zoltan Toth

    (Georgikon Campus Keszthely, Institute of Agronomy, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2100 Gödöllő, Hungary)

  • Moritz Hallama

    (Institute of Soil Science and Land Evaluation, Soil Biology Department, University of Hohenheim, Emil Wolff Str. 27, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany)

  • Julián Cuevas

    (Agronomy Department, CeiA3, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain)

  • Jantiene E. M. Baartman

    (Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Ilaria Piccoli

    (Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Italy)

  • Tommy Dalgaard

    (Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Blichers Alle 20, 8830 Tjele, Denmark)

  • Jannes Stolte

    (Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), Oluf Thesens vei 43, 1433 Ås, Norway)

  • Jasmine E. Black

    (Countryside and Community Research Institute, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham GL50 4AZ, UK)

  • Charlotte-Anne Chivers

    (Countryside and Community Research Institute, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham GL50 4AZ, UK)

Abstract

Soils form the basis for agricultural production and other ecosystem services, and soil management should aim at improving their quality and resilience. Within the SoilCare project, the concept of soil-improving cropping systems (SICS) was developed as a holistic approach to facilitate the adoption of soil management that is sustainable and profitable. SICS selected with stakeholders were monitored and evaluated for environmental, sociocultural, and economic effects to determine profitability and sustainability. Monitoring results were upscaled to European level using modelling and Europe-wide data, and a mapping tool was developed to assist in selection of appropriate SICS across Europe. Furthermore, biophysical, sociocultural, economic, and policy reasons for (non)adoption were studied. Results at the plot/farm scale showed a small positive impact of SICS on environment and soil, no effect on sustainability, and small negative impacts on economic and sociocultural dimensions. Modelling showed that different SICS had different impacts across Europe—indicating the importance of understanding local dynamics in Europe-wide assessments. Work on adoption of SICS confirmed the role economic considerations play in the uptake of SICS, but also highlighted social factors such as trust. The project’s results underlined the need for policies that support and enable a transition to more sustainable agricultural practices in a coherent way.

Suggested Citation

  • Rudi Hessel & Guido Wyseure & Ioanna S. Panagea & Abdallah Alaoui & Mark S. Reed & Hedwig van Delden & Melanie Muro & Jane Mills & Oene Oenema & Francisco Areal & Erik van den Elsen & Simone Verzandvo, 2022. "Soil-Improving Cropping Systems for Sustainable and Profitable Farming in Europe," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-27, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:6:p:780-:d:823687
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/6/780/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/6/780/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Salamon, Petra & Banse, Martin & Donnellan, Trevor & Haß, Marlen & Jongeneel, Roel & Laquai, Verena & Leeuwen, Myrna van & Reziti, Ioanna & Salputra, Guna & Zirngibl, Max-Emanuel, 2019. "AGMEMOD Outlook for Agricultural and Food Markets in EU Member States 2018-2030," Thünen Working Paper 281305, Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut (vTI), Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries.
    2. René Rietra & Marius Heinen & Oene Oenema, 2022. "A Review of Crop Husbandry and Soil Management Practices Using Meta-Analysis Studies: Towards Soil-Improving Cropping Systems," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-31, February.
    3. Dirk Vrebos & Francesca Bampa & Rachel E. Creamer & Ciro Gardi & Bhim Bahadur Ghaley & Arwyn Jones & Michiel Rutgers & Taru Sandén & Jan Staes & Patrick Meire, 2017. "The Impact of Policy Instruments on Soil Multifunctionality in the European Union," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-18, March.
    4. Ioanna S. Panagea & Antonio Berti & Pavel Čermak & Jan Diels & Annemie Elsen & Helena Kusá & Ilaria Piccoli & Jean Poesen & Chris Stoate & Mia Tits & Zoltan Toth & Guido Wyseure, 2021. "Soil Water Retention as Affected by Management Induced Changes of Soil Organic Carbon: Analysis of Long-Term Experiments in Europe," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-15, December.
    5. Andres Trujillo-Barrera & Joost M. E. Pennings & Dianne Hofenk, 2016. "Understanding producers' motives for adopting sustainable practices: the role of expected rewards, risk perception and risk tolerance," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 43(3), pages 359-382.
    6. Jennifer Bussell & Felicity Crotty & Chris Stoate, 2021. "Comparison of Compaction Alleviation Methods on Soil Health and Greenhouse Gas Emissions," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-10, December.
    7. Verena Seufert & Navin Ramankutty & Jonathan A. Foley, 2012. "Comparing the yields of organic and conventional agriculture," Nature, Nature, vol. 485(7397), pages 229-232, May.
    8. De Leijster, V. & Verburg, R.W. & Santos, M.J. & Wassen, M.J. & Martínez-Mena, M. & de Vente, J. & Verweij, P.A., 2020. "Almond farm profitability under agroecological management in south-eastern Spain: Accounting for externalities and opportunity costs," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    9. Nadia Glæsner & Katharina Helming & Wim De Vries, 2014. "Do Current European Policies Prevent Soil Threats and Support Soil Functions?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(12), pages 1-26, December.
    10. Martin A. Bolinder & Felicity Crotty & Annemie Elsen & Magdalena Frac & Tamás Kismányoky & Jerzy Lipiec & Mia Tits & Zoltán Tóth & Thomas Kätterer, 2020. "The effect of crop residues, cover crops, manures and nitrogen fertilization on soil organic carbon changes in agroecosystems: a synthesis of reviews," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 25(6), pages 929-952, August.
    11. Xin Zhang & Eric A. Davidson & Denise L. Mauzerall & Timothy D. Searchinger & Patrice Dumas & Ye Shen, 2015. "Managing nitrogen for sustainable development," Nature, Nature, vol. 528(7580), pages 51-59, December.
    12. Abdallah Alaoui & Moritz Hallama & Roger Bär & Ioanna Panagea & Felicitas Bachmann & Carola Pekrun & Luuk Fleskens & Ellen Kandeler & Rudi Hessel, 2022. "A New Framework to Assess Sustainability of Soil Improving Cropping Systems in Europe," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-15, May.
    13. Ilaria Piccoli & Till Seehusen & Jenny Bussell & Olga Vizitu & Irina Calciu & Antonio Berti & Gunnar Börjesson & Holger Kirchmann & Thomas Kätterer & Felice Sartori & Chris Stoate & Felicity Crotty & , 2022. "Opportunities for Mitigating Soil Compaction in Europe—Case Studies from the SoilCare Project Using Soil-Improving Cropping Systems," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-26, February.
    14. François J Dessart & Jesús Barreiro-Hurlé & René van Bavel, 2019. "Behavioural factors affecting the adoption of sustainable farming practices: a policy-oriented review," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 46(3), pages 417-471.
    15. Niki Rust & Ole Erik Lunder & Sara Iversen & Steven Vella & Elizabeth A. Oughton & Tor Arvid Breland & Jayne H. Glass & Carly M. Maynard & Rob McMorran & Mark S. Reed, 2022. "Perceived Causes and Solutions to Soil Degradation in the UK and Norway," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-21, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Mohamed Moncef Serbaji & Moncef Bouaziz & Okba Weslati, 2023. "Soil Water Erosion Modeling in Tunisia Using RUSLE and GIS Integrated Approaches and Geospatial Data," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-22, February.
    2. Jantiene E. M. Baartman & Joao Pedro Nunes & Hedwig van Delden & Roel Vanhout & Luuk Fleskens, 2022. "The Effects of Soil Improving Cropping Systems (SICS) on Soil Erosion and Soil Organic Carbon Stocks across Europe: A Simulation Study," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-28, June.
    3. Abdallah Alaoui & Moritz Hallama & Roger Bär & Ioanna Panagea & Felicitas Bachmann & Carola Pekrun & Luuk Fleskens & Ellen Kandeler & Rudi Hessel, 2022. "A New Framework to Assess Sustainability of Soil Improving Cropping Systems in Europe," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-15, May.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jantiene E. M. Baartman & Joao Pedro Nunes & Hedwig van Delden & Roel Vanhout & Luuk Fleskens, 2022. "The Effects of Soil Improving Cropping Systems (SICS) on Soil Erosion and Soil Organic Carbon Stocks across Europe: A Simulation Study," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-28, June.
    2. Julie Ingram & Jane Mills & Jasmine E. Black & Charlotte-Anne Chivers & José A. Aznar-Sánchez & Annemie Elsen & Magdalena Frac & Belén López-Felices & Paula Mayer-Gruner & Kamilla Skaalsveen & Jannes , 2022. "Do Agricultural Advisory Services in Europe Have the Capacity to Support the Transition to Healthy Soils?," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-26, April.
    3. Mingyue Li & Jingjing Wang & Kai Chen & Lianbei Wu, 2020. "Willingness and Behaviors of Farmers’ Green Disposal of Pesticide Packaging Waste in Henan, China: A Perceived Value Formation Mechanism Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-18, May.
    4. de Lauwere, Carolien & Slegers, Monique & Meeusen, Marieke, 2022. "The influence of behavioural factors and external conditions on Dutch farmers’ decision making in the transition towards circular agriculture," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    5. Bourceret, Amélie & Accatino, Francesco & Robert, Corinne, 2024. "A modeling framework of a territorial socio-ecosystem to study the trajectories of change in agricultural phytosanitary practices," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 494(C).
    6. Luncheng You & Gerard H. Ros & Yongliang Chen & Qi Shao & Madaline D. Young & Fusuo Zhang & Wim de Vries, 2023. "Global mean nitrogen recovery efficiency in croplands can be enhanced by optimal nutrient, crop and soil management practices," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    7. Dazhuan Ge & Hualou Long & Li Ma & Yingnan Zhang & Shuangshuang Tu, 2017. "Analysis Framework of China’s Grain Production System: A Spatial Resilience Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-21, December.
    8. Veronika Hannus & Johannes Sauer, 2021. "Understanding Farmers’ Intention to Use a Sustainability Standard: The Role of Economic Rewards, Knowledge, and Ease of Use," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-21, September.
    9. Massfeller, Anna & Meraner, Manuela & Hüttel, Silke & Uehleke, Reinhard, 2022. "Farmers' acceptance of results-based agri-environmental schemes: A German perspective," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    10. Mingyue Li & Yu Liu & Yuhe Huang & Lianbei Wu & Kai Chen, 2022. "Impacts of Risk Perception and Environmental Regulation on Farmers’ Sustainable Behaviors of Agricultural Green Production in China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-20, June.
    11. Love Offeibea Asiedu-Ayeh & Xungang Zheng & Kobina Agbodah & Bright Senyo Dogbe & Adjei Peter Darko, 2022. "Promoting the Adoption of Agricultural Green Production Technologies for Sustainable Farming: A Multi-Attribute Decision Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-21, August.
    12. Cabini, Emanuele & Fontana, Luca & Malavasi, Pierluigi & Iavicoli, Ivo, 2018. "Land use: The perception of risk by the citizens and local administrators in the North of Italy," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 553-564.
    13. Fritz Wittmann & Michael Eder, 2023. "Farmers facing changed urban dietary patterns: whether and what to adapt?," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 28(7), pages 1-26, October.
    14. Xiaohong Zhou & Donghong Ding, 2022. "Factors Influencing Farmers’ Willingness and Behaviors in Organic Agriculture Development: An Empirical Analysis Based on Survey Data of Farmers in Anhui Province," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-21, November.
    15. Clarisse Mendoza Gonzalvo & Wilson Jr. Florendo Aala & Keshav Lall Maharjan, 2021. "Farmer Decision-Making on the Concept of Coexistence: A Comparative Analysis between Organic and Biotech Farmers in the Philippines," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-21, September.
    16. Massfeller, Anna & Meraner, Manuela & Hüttel, Silke & Uehleke, Reinhard, 2021. "Farmers’ acceptance of results-based agri-environmental schemes – insights from a case study in North Rhine-Westphalia," 61st Annual Conference, Berlin, Germany, September 22-24, 2021 317066, German Association of Agricultural Economists (GEWISOLA).
    17. Tanushree Haldar & A. Damodaran, 2022. "Can cooperatives influence farmer’s decision to adopt organic farming? Agri-decision making under price volatility," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(4), pages 5718-5742, April.
    18. Wang, Wei & AL-Huqail, Arwa & Ali, Elimam & Abbas, Mohamed & Assilzadeh, Hamid, 2024. "Analysis of the sustainability index for ecologically low-input integrated farming: A comprehensive assessment of environmental, economic, and social impact," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 493(C).
    19. Wąs, Adam & Malak-Rawlikowska, Agata & Zavalloni, Matteo & Viaggi, Davide & Kobus, Paweł & Sulewski, Piotr, 2021. "In search of factors determining the participation of farmers in agri-environmental schemes – Does only money matter in Poland?," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    20. Madhu Khanna & Ruiqing Miao, 2022. "Inducing the adoption of emerging technologies for sustainable intensification of food and renewable energy production: insights from applied economics," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 66(1), pages 1-23, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:6:p:780-:d:823687. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.