Case study farms

SoilValues worked with case study farms in six European countries, where a range of soil-health practices were considered or implemented. Drawing on these real-world cases, the following illustrations show how the toolbox can inform farmers about the effects of different practices on soil health and ecosystem services, and help identify incentives to support their implementation.

🇧🇪 Belgium case study farm 1

Belgium (farm located across the border in the Netherlands)

Mixed · Arable and beef farm

Plant compost

Composting

Cultivated plants · likely positive · ★★★Carbon sequestration · positive · ★★★Non-CO2 GHG regulation · likely positive · ★★Biodiversity · mixed · ★★

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Compost and N fertiliser

Composting

Cultivated plants · likely positive · ★★★Carbon sequestration · positive · ★★★Non-CO2 GHG regulation · likely positive · ★★Biodiversity · mixed · ★★

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Compost and digestate

Composting

Cultivated plants · likely positive · ★★★Carbon sequestration · positive · ★★★Non-CO2 GHG regulation · likely positive · ★★Biodiversity · mixed · ★★

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Compost (own manure)

Composting

Cultivated plants · likely positive · ★★★Carbon sequestration · positive · ★★★Non-CO2 GHG regulation · likely positive · ★★Biodiversity · mixed · ★★

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🇩🇰 Denmark case study farm 1

Mixed · Vegetables, herbs, arable and cattle farm

🇩🇪 Germany case study farm 1

Mixed · Arable, dairy, piglets and biogas farm

🇩🇪 Germany case study farm 2

Mixed · Mixed organic arable, dairy and biogas farm

Minimum tillage

No/minimum tillage

Cultivated plants · likely negative · ★★★Carbon sequestration · likely positive · ★★★Biodiversity · positive · ★★Water quality · mixed · ★★

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Agroforestry (alley cropping on grassland)

Agroforestry

Pest & disease control · likely positive · ★★Carbon sequestration · positive · ★★Biodiversity · positive · ★★Cultivated plants · positive · ★★

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🇳🇱 Netherlands case study farm 1

Mixed · Organic regenerative CSA farm

Leaves bokashi

Composting

Cultivated plants · likely positive · ★★★Carbon sequestration · positive · ★★★Non-CO2 GHG regulation · likely positive · ★★Biodiversity · mixed · ★★

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Grass bokashi

Composting

Cultivated plants · likely positive · ★★★Carbon sequestration · positive · ★★★Non-CO2 GHG regulation · likely positive · ★★Biodiversity · mixed · ★★

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Direct seeding

No/minimum tillage

Cultivated plants · likely negative · ★★★Carbon sequestration · likely positive · ★★★Biodiversity · positive · ★★Water quality · mixed · ★★

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🇵🇱 Poland case study farm 1

Mixed · Mixed arable and livestock farm

Increase beans

Legumes in rotation

Cultivated plants · positive · ★★Nutrient use efficiency · positive · ★Pollination · positive · Water quality · negative ·

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Minimum tillage with precision agriculture

No/minimum tillage

Cultivated plants · likely negative · ★★★Carbon sequestration · likely positive · ★★★Biodiversity · positive · ★★Water quality · mixed · ★★

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🇵🇹 Portugal

To be completed with the Portuguese testing ground

These cases are illustrations of the toolbox. Effects are general expectations drawn from the evidence matrices; actual effects depend on the farm context and the way a practice is implemented.