The monitoring of the effectiveness on soil protection of

different crop management strategies in the Sicilian Region

SOILPROSOILPRO

MID-TERM MEETING OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE 16-17TH OF MAY 2012

CRA-ABP, Research Centre for Agrobiology and Pedology Piazza D’Azeglio 30, Firenze

Main Agri-Environmental Measures Main Agri-Environmental Measures (AEM) applied in Sicily which have (AEM) applied in Sicily which have

positive effects on soil qualitypositive effects on soil quality

• Conservation of traditional farmed landscape

• Conservation of terraced areas

• Establishment and maintenance of buffer strips and fences along watercourses

• Conversion of arable land to permanent grassland

•Reforestation of landslide risk areas

•Low input farming

AEM AEM Low input farming

• Arable land – required compliance• Contour plowing (respect to the lines of

maximum slope)• Realization of furrows (drainage channels)

every 40 metres (cross-compliance requirement)• Two-years crop rotation using leguminous

cover crops or green manure of leguminous every 3 years • Limitation of burning stubble

AEM AEM Low input farming

• Fruit orchards – required compliance• Creation and maintenance of buffer strips• Annual green manure of leguminous or

mixed with graminaceous, in alternate rows• Chopping pruning residues and moving them

into the soil

Pilot Area

Most common crop system in Pilot Area

–Vineyard–Arable land (Wheat)–Olive tree

Farmed landscape in pilot area