Farming methods for increased soil quality and higher crop stability during extreme weather

The main aim of the project is to shed light on the relationship between farming methods, soil quality and yield.

To study these relationships, we gather farmers in Västergötland and Östergötland and conduct surveys and interviews to identify risks, measures and knowledge gaps to ensure stable crop production in a changing climate, and measure the soil quality on a “good” and a “bad” field on each farm. Several years of data on farming methods, harvest and weather are collected from the fields to quantify the relationship between farming methods, soil quality and yield (yield level and yield stability). Our hypothesis is that good soil quality improves yield stability and that a more diversified (e.g. varied crop rotation) and less intensive (e.g. less tillage) farming system promotes soil quality.

The project consists of three parts:

• Part 1 aims to create networks of farmers in western and eastern Sweden.
• Part 2 aims to describe and identify farmers' perceived risks and awareness of climate change, as well as their current and future adaptation measures to a changing climate, through interviews, focus group interviews and a survey among farmers.
• Part 3 consists of a study on farms to quantify the impact of land management on soil quality, crop, productivity and yield stability.

SLU Competence Center on Advisory Services is primarily participating in part two and will conduct individual as well as focus group interviews and a survey that addresses these issues and reaches a larger group of farmers.

Funding: Agricultural Research Foundation.

Main applicant: Thomas Keller, Department of Soil and Environment, SLU.

Project duration: 2020–2022.