Soil organic matter content in Mediterranean regions

How can we improve soil organic matter content in the Mediterranean region in a cost-effective way? What new solutions for securing soil functionality and soil fertility can be proposed in this regard?

The final report of this Focus Group has been published.

Tasks:

• Comparing cost effective methods to build up soils naturally (chipped wood, bio char, mulching, direct sowing under cover crops, etc.) / compare different farming sources of carbon that improve soil organic matter content and identify practical factors (e.g. frequency, period and amount of application or the nature of organic matter);
• Identifying and exploring cost effective factors that improve the benefits of applying exogenous sources of organic matter (e.g. frequency, period and amount of application or the nature of organic matter).
• Assessing different cost effective crop rotation systems that lead to build up Soil Organic Matter content;
• Comparing different methods to enhance Soil Organic Matter in arable crops and in permanent crops;
• Listing factors or bottlenecks that may limit the use of the identified techniques / systems by farmers and summarise how to address these limiting factors.
• Carrying out a gap analysis indicating where new solutions need to be found
• Selecting priorities for further research actions.
• Suggesting potential projects of practical operational groups and other project formats to test new methods for improving soil organic matter content.

Results:

• Starting paper
• Final report
• Factsheet (EN, ES, FR, PT)
• Brochure

Other information:

• Minipaper: Data collection
• Minipaper: Conservation agriculture
• Minipaper: Composting in Mediterranean soils
• Minipaper: Animal residues
• Minipaper: Irrigation aspects
• Minipaper: Microbial communities
• Minipaper: Green mulching
• Minipaper: Organic matter efficiency
• Minipaper: Organic matter decision tree

Focus Group members: