Development and demonstration of a reduced tillage system aiming regenerative agriculture optimised for organic farming using cover and catch crops in an on-farm experiment
Regenerative agriculture aims to increase the humus content of the soil, improve its structure and the functioning of soil ecosystem, and consequently improve its water management properties, by reducing soil disturbance, by providing permanent soil cover, by maintaining a living root system in the soil, by creating appropriate agro-biodiversity and by integrating livestock production. In this respect, the regenerative agriculture and organic farming movements agree on the central role of soil fertility and soil life.
Soil has been at the heart of organic farming from the beginning, that is why it is strait forward that regenerative farming practices compatible with organic principles should be incorporated into organic farming as widely as possible.
The truly committed organic farmers are increasingly using regenerative practices, such as using cover crops, soil loosening instead of ploughing, or the conscious use of soil-building plants, thus moving even further towards sustainable agriculture. However, when introducing regenerative organic farming, farmers face a number of challenges. These include the cultivation of cover crops, especially in drought years, and their mechanical termination without ploughing. It is also a challenge to manage weed control and nutrient management in addition to reduced tillage.
The aim of our research is to develop and demonstrate a reduced tillage system aiming regenerative agriculture optimised for organic farming using cover and catch crops in an on-farm experiment. The expected overall outcome is an even wider adoption of regenerative agriculture in organic farms.
Activities
Setting up on-farm experiments under real organic farming conditions on the application of regenerative agriculture practices, with particular emphasis on the optimisation of agrotechnology (tillage, cover crops, intercropping, weed control, nutrient replenishment).
Investigating the effects of regenerative organic farming on soil moisture, soil texture, nutrient management and biology, the presence of pests, and crop quantity and quality.
The experiment will be carried out under field conditions, mainly in the experimental fieldnear Szár, on pairs of plots from our former tillage experiments, with a view to observing long-term changes, and will also be set up on farms in other regions.
Expected results
- Understanding the effects of conversion to reduced tillage on soil conditions in organic farming, regarding changes in soil physical, chemical and biological parameters.
- Research summary and technology guide on the challenges faced during the transition, with possible solutions based on practical experience and literature review.
Contact person
Dr. Judit Berényi Üveges
Lead researcher
Graduate in environmental and landscape agricultural engineering, English translator, Ph.D
A projekt Magyarország Kormánya és az Európai Unió társfinanszírozásával valósul meg.
A kedvezményezett neve: ÖMKi Közhasznú Nonprofit Kft
A pályázati felhívás neve, kódszáma: VfKF/497-1/2025.
A projekt címe, azonosító száma: “Az ökológiai gazdálkodás kutatása, fejlesztése és szakpolitikai támogatása a fenntartható és versenyképes hazai mezőgazdaságért.”
A projekt tartalmának rövid bemutatása: A kutatási súlypontokat a 2019-2025-ös MNVH projekt eredményeire építve, az Agrárminisztérium gondozásában megjelent Nemzeti Cselekvési Terv az Ökológiai gazdálkodás Fejlesztéséért (2022-2027) c. stratégiai anyag intézkedéseit figyelembe véve határoztuk meg, ügyelve arra, hogy gyakorlatias, a hazai kihívásokhoz igazodó, ugyanakkor nemzetközi mércével mérve is előremutató és versenyképes koncepciót alkossunk. Kiemelt figyelmet fordítottunk a termékpálya fejlesztésekre, valamint az érintett szereplők széleskörű és aktív bevonására a Living Lab kutatási módszertan szerint, melyet az ÖMKi On-farm hálózatában kezdetektől fogva alkalmazunk.
A projekt kiemelten szolgálja a 2027 utáni Közös Agrárpolitika előkészítését, hiszen szakpolitikai ajánlásaival hozzájárul a fenntartható és versenyképes hazai mezőgazdaság előmozdításához, az érintettek széles körének bevonásához, valamint az ÖMKi által koordinált országos kutatás-fejlesztési hálózatok működésének folytatásához és további széleskörű együttműködések létrehozásához.
A projekt tervezett befejezési dátuma: 2027. június 30.
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