Adapting management practices to the different soils in Europe: a tool for farmers and advisors

Abstract

Farming practices that reduce the amount of carbon in the soil can disrupt soil microbial activity, soil structure and water and nutrient supply to crops. They can also make soil less capable of regulating greenhouse gas emissions. The EU-funded CATCH-C (Compatibility of agricultural management practices and types of farming in the EU to enhance climate change mitigation and soil health) initiative focused on best management practices to reduce and prevent these problems. The effects of soil management options were identified from a meta- analysis of 300 long-term experiments in Europe and presented, along with contrasts and synergies, in a web-based decision tool that summarises the costs and benefits of sustainable practices for farmers, the public and the environment. The tool is available in seven languages and provides scientifically validated guidelines for better soil management, around which EU soil policies can be shaped.