BMP 2.- Use of minimum soil disturbance practices

No-tillage, zero-tillage or direct drilling are different names for a technique which aims to establish a crop without previous mechanical preparation (tilling, ploughing) of the seedbed.

Minimum soil disturbance – optimised through a no-tillage approach – favours the proliferation of beneficial soil organisms such as earthworms and ants. These organisms perform useful functions such as improving aeration and water infiltration by opening spaces in the soil as they feed, nest, and move from place to place.

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Management target
Sustainability Indicators

DIRECT:

1.- Enhancement of Agro-biodiversity (enhance Habitats for birds; enhance soil fauna; increase fauna over the soil and edaphic fauna; enhance landscape diversity; provide ecosystem services such as pollination of crops, opportunities for recreation, …)

2.- Positive impact on soil structure

4.- Improvement of water infiltration (micro- and macroporosity) and avoidance of floods and landslides

9.- Enhancement of soil fertility (soil productivity)

10.- Avoidance of soil compaction

12.- Reduction of GHG levels

INDIRECT:

3.- Reduction of runoff and erosion

6.- Enhancement of biomass production

8.- Increase of soil organic matter

10.- Avoidance of contamination (local and diffuse)

11.- Impact on the nitrogen cycle (mineral nitrogen is trapped and returned to the following crop; pulses contribute to improvement of organic matter level in soil)

1.- EBITDA

A different soil management will have a clear influence on the economy of the farm.

2.- EBITDA/labour unit

A different soil management will have a clear influence on the economy of the farm.

3.- Production costs

A different soil management will have a clear influence on the economy of the farm.

4.- Yield/ha UAA

Yields can change by implementing different soil management techniques.

5.- Yield/ ha main fodder area

Yields can change by implementing different soil management techniques.

7.- Effectiveness working time

A different soil management implies less working hours.

8.- SI – Satisfaction Index

The implementation of this BMP could have a positive influence on the farmer’s perception.

9.- Soil Tillage index

Minimum soil disturbance practices will have a lower grade of aggressiveness on soil.

11.- Organic matter level

The more intensive the tillage is, the more exposed to oxidation the soil is and, therefore, to the decrease of the organic matter level.

14.- Energy balance

The energy consumed (mainly) and produced in the farm will change when implementing this BMP.

16.- Water consumption

Due to the reduction of soil disturbance, soil structure is improved and its capacity to retain water, too.

21.- Biodiversity structures (nests, hives, spider webs, etc.) – habitats

The more intensive the tillage is, the more damaged the living organisms are.

23.- NO₃ level – rivers

The risk of contamination in water streams by NO₃ is linked to the soil management practices (also depending on the intensity of rainfall or irrigation).

24.- Use of PPPs in some farms close to water streams

The risk of contamination in water streams by PPPs is linked to the soil management techniques (also depending on the intensity of rainfall or irrigation).

25.- GHG level

The more intensive the tillage is the more exposed to oxidation the soil is and, therefore, to the increase of CO₂ emissions. Furthermore, soil tillage implies fuel consumption, which increases the production of GHG.