Overview of the knowledge about sustainable soil management practices in Europe

• Main Author: Paz,A.
• Publication Date: 2022
• Other Authors: Castanheira,N., Vicente,C., Carrasco,M., Gonçalves,M.C.
• Format: Article
• Language: eng
• Source: Repositórios Científicos de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (RCAAP)
• Download full: http://scielo.pt/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0871-018X2022000301211
• topic: soil management; sustainable practices; agricultural soil; knowledge gaps

Abstract The awareness about the vital role of soil for nature and society has been increasing. Soil is presently a priority in European research, development, and innovation programs. In order to design effective research strategies, there is the need to identify the current knowledge level and its gaps. With that aim, this study collected systematic information from twenty three European countries about the impacts of sustainable soil management practices. Each team reported impacts of sustainable practices, based on a total of thirty predefined practices, grouped in four management groups (Soil tillage and cover, Crop and cropping system, Nutrient management and crop protection, and Water management). The impacts were related to the soil challenges defined by the European Joint Programme Soil. The results show that the knowledge is rather well spread over practices in the four management groups, both generally and regionally. There was a high variability in the level of knowledge or awareness about the practices related to the different soil challenges. The need for further knowledge on practices to decrease greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural soils could be clearly identified.