PRODUCTION LANDSCAPE NORDOOSTPOLDER RESEARCH

01-03.2023

Landscape design proposal project for municipality of Noordoostpolder, NL, focusing on restoration of biodiversity in agricultural land.


Agriculture is vital for the population, but traditional farming practices have progressively led to soil degradation, water pollution, and biodiversity loss. To address these challenges, many farmers and researchers are turning to agroforestry, an approach that involves integrating trees into agricultural scapes. Production Landscape offers an alternative way of land cultivation, intertwining modern agriculture and agroforestry practices.

INTRODUCTION 

The agricultural areas in Noordoostpolder, like many others across the world, are facing a decline in biodiversity which makes the land more vulnerable to the effects of climate change and overuse from agricultural practices. The soil is a critical component for maintaining a healthy agricultural ecosystem, and farmers have an important role to play in ensuring its health.

In order to encourage farmers to adopt more sustainable practices, the Common Agricultural Policy provides goals and subsidies for participation in programs that monitor and improve biodiversity in arable farming. The CAP 2023 goals and activities are explained in first section, followed by Biodiversity Monitor key indicators.

The implementation of agroforestry practices in agricultural areas like Noordoostpolder can have a significant impact on improving biodiversity and enhancing the health and productivity of the land.


By combining farming practices with trees and shrubs, farmers can create sustainable ecosystems that benefit both the environment and their own livelihoods. With the continued promotion and support of agroforestry through programs like the Common Agricultural Policy, we can work towards a future where agriculture and forestry coexist in harmony, creating a more resilient and sustainable world for generations to come.

Healthy soil:

• good soil structure, micro- and macroaggregates, high pore connectivity,
• efficient root penetration,
• efficient water infiltration and distribution,
• high oxygen premeability and diffusion,
• cycling: enriched biodiversity, efficient metabolic activity, high nutritient turnover, nitrification

Compacted, degraded soil:

• dispersed particles, disconnected pores,
• poor root penetration,
• poor water infiltration and rapid runoff,
• low oxygen penetration and diffusion,
• impoverished biodiversity, inefficient metabolic activity, methane and nitrous oxide emissions, high nutrient runoff and leaching

The BMA was developed by Wageningen University & Research (WUR) and is used by farmers to monitor the biodiversity in their fields over time. The tool consists of a set of field measurements and a scoring system that assesses the abundance and diversity of plant and animal species in the farmland. By using the BMA, farmers can identify which management practices are supporting biodiversity and which practices may be detrimental. The tool also helps farmers to implement measures that improve the biodiversity on their farms, such as planting flower strips or reducing pesticide use.

The BMA is part of a broader initiative in the Netherlands to promote sustainable agriculture and protect biodiversity. The tool is supported by the Dutch government and is used by many farmers and agricultural organizations in the country. (February 13, 2023)

BMA is also in line with Common Agricultural Policy (CAP 2023), which provides subsidies for farmers who introduce landscape elements on obligatory non-productive land.


read more: https://www.wur.nl/nl/show/akkerbouw-gaatgericht-
aan-de-slag-met-biodiversiteitsherstel.htm

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS TO MEASURE BIODIVERSITY:

.1 SOIL COVER

.2 DORMANT CROPS IN ROTATION

.3 ORGANIC MATTER BALANCE

.4 NITROGEN SURPLUS

.5 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF PLANT

PROTECTION PRODUCTS

.6 CARBON FOTPRINT

.7 NATURE AND LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT

.8 CROP DIVERSITY

A large, contiguous area of black soil is not a suitable habitat for most above-ground species and does not produce organic matter or root exudates for soil organisms to live on.

The percentage of land cover has a direct relationship with biodiversity, as it provides food, nesting and shelter for different groups of species.

                                

Dormant crops are primarily crops that are not susceptible to leaching, because they root deeper and can therefore absorb nutrients deeper into the soil.

Dormant crops also have a beneficial effect on soil quality because they often build up a lot of organic matter in the soil and root deeply into the soil.

Better soil quality ensures greater water storage capacity, better infiltration capacity, better root penetration and therefore better nutrient absorption and less leaching and run-off of nutrients.

Dormant crops also have a useful function for controlling soil-borne diseases and pests. Dormant crops are mainly grains and grasses.

                               

Organic matter is a collective name for different types of material that consists of about half carbon. Organic matter in the soil consists largely of dead material and an average of 15 percent of living organisms.

The organic matter balance is mainly important for the functional agrobiodiversity in the soil. Organic matter is essential for soil life, as it is the primary source of nutrition for soil organisms.

A higher organic matter content in the soil results in a higher microbial biomass, a larger amount of hyphae and a higher enzyme activity.

Also, the amount of fresh organic material present is the most important parameter for the amount of worms in the soil.

                       

In arable farming, nitrogen is largely supplied through fertilization (both organic fertilizer and artificial fertilizer) and removed through the production of products.

However, losses usually occur between the input and output of nitrogen on the plot in the form of leaching and run-off of nitrogen to water and emission of nitrogen to the air. Within arable farming, the share of emissions in the form of ammonia (NH3), nitrous oxide (N2O) or nitrogen oxides (NOx) to the air is much lower than the leaching and run-off of N (ammonium and nitrate) to the soil and surface water.

The extent to which these emissions take place depends on soil type and quality, the (weather) conditions during fertilization and the nitrogen efficiency of the crop. The effects of a nitrogen surplus on biodiversity start on the plot itself, but are mainly visible in the environment through nitrogen deposition from the air and eutrophication in the water.

                       

Plant protection products are used to kill diseases, pests and weeds or to prevent them from developing and thus have a direct effect on biodiversity.

The agents are usually not fully selective against only the target organism, disease, pest or weed. Non-target organisms are also killed, both inside and outside the field. In addition, the sublethal effects are relevant.These are the (biological) changes that often only become apparent in the longer term.

                           

Carbon farming collaborations between corporations and farmers typically involve a payment system where companies pay farmers for implementing farming practices that sequester carbon in the soil or reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture.

For example, a company may pay farmers to adopt practices such as reduced tillage, cover cropping, rotational grazing, and agroforestry, which can help to build soil organic matter and increase the amount of carbon stored in the soil. The farmers can then receive payments based on the amount of carbon they sequester or the amount
of emissions they reduce.

These collaborations can take different forms, such as contracts between companies and individual farmers, or partnerships between companies and farmer cooperatives.There are also carbon offset programs that enable companies to purchase carbon credits from farmers who have implemented carbon farming practices, which can help to offset the company's own carbon emissions.

Overall, these collaborations aim to provide financial incentives for farmers to adopt more sustainable and climate-friendly farming practices, while also helping companies to reduce their carbon footprint and meet their sustainability goals.

read more: https://northsearegion.eu/media/21559/2022-0709-final-rapport-carbon-farming-web.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_oDGxwMuTE&t=111s

                       

All (semi-)natural elements on arable land. An increased proportion of natural elements, i.e. green-blue elements, such as bush, field margins and thickets, provide food, shelter and nesting
facilities for a variety of species and therefore has a direct effect on biodiversity.


These elements are less disturbed compared to arable land, making them attractive to many species. For example, birds use arable land for
foraging, but they need (semi-)natural areas for nesting. In a landscape with alternating natural elements and arable land, the accessibility of elements is better and species spread more easily.


Networks of linear landscape elements can also contribute to connecting fragmented nature areas and scattered landscape elements.

                       

Increasing the diversity of crops has positive effects on both biodiversity and production.

Crop diversity can help mitigate the effects of environmental challenges like drought, floods, pests, and diseases. By planting different crops, farmers can help maintain soil health, reduce erosion, and protect against pests and diseases, making their farms more resilient to environmental challenges.

Different crops have different nutrient requirements and water needs, and by diversifying crops, farmers can make more efficient use of these resources. By planting diverse crops, farmers can also reduce the risk of nutrient depletion and soil erosion, which can occur when the same crop is planted repeatedly.This, in turn, can help maintain soil health and fertility.


In addition, crop diversity increases the availability and accessibility of food and shelter and nesting places, supporting a variety of wildlife. Diverse crop rotations can provide food and cover for a range of beneficial insects, birds, and mammals,which can help control pests and improve soil health.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y52oOb-k9t0

                                   

West-facing windbreaks should be chosen to hold their leaves late into autumn to give maximum protection for fruit crops.


East-facing windbreaks are most useful to protect from cold winds in spring and should be chosen to come into leaf early in spring.

During extreme weather events such as windstorms or heavy rainfall, windbreaks can play a critical role in reducing the impact of such events on agriculture. Windbreaks can help reduce soil erosion by blocking wind and slowing down the flow of runoff. This can help prevent soil loss and maintain soil moisture levels, which are essential for crop growth and productivity.

In addition to their protective functions, windbreaks can also provide other benefits for agriculture such as improving soil quality, enhancing biodiversity, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

To provide effective protection for crops or other vegetation, a windbreak should be situated perpendicular or at an angle to the prevailing wind direction.

Width of protected area equals 5-10 times the height of the windbreak. so: height=10m will protect 50-100m of area.

Both side windbreak maximize the protection, but one side is also possible for smaller area requiring protection.

The area of protection depends also on the density of the windbreak.

Fruit trees can also act as a widbreak, hovever the production will be lower due to exposure to wind.

DISTANCE BETWEEN TREES:

For alley cropping to be successful, the trees must be spaced far enough apart to allow sufficient light to reach the crops. A common rule of thumb is to space trees at least 3 to 5 meters apart.

MANAGEMENT PRACTICES:

The spacing of trees in alley cropping can also depend on management practices such as pruning and thinning. Regular pruning of trees can help to increase light penetration to crops, allowing them to grow more efficiently.

SOIL FERTILITY:

The spacing of trees in alley cropping depends on soil fertility. In low-fertility soils, wider spacing of trees may be required to avoid competition with crops for nutrients.

PROXIMITY TO CROPS:

The distance between the trees and the crops should be close enough to provide some shade and wind protection, but not so close that the trees compete with the crops for resources. A common spacing for crops is between 3 to 10 meters apart.

/HABITAT CREATION

Trees, shrubs, and groundcovers can provide habitat for a variety of wildlife, including birds, insects, and small mammals. By scattering these islands around agricultural fields, farmers can create pockets of habitat that can support diverse communities of wildlife.

/SOIL HEALTH

Trees, shrubs, and groundcovers can help improve soil health by adding organic matter, improving soil structure, and reducing erosion. This can improve crop yields and promote the growth of beneficial soil microorganisms.

/WATER QUALITY

Trees and shrubs can help absorb excess nutrients and pollutants from agricultural runoff, improving water quality and reducing the impact of agricultural activities on nearby waterways.

/POLLINATION SUPPORT

Many agricultural crops rely on pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, to produce fruit and seeds. By providing habitat for these pollinators in the form of trees, shrubs, and groundcovers, farmers can improve pollination rates and increase crop yields.

/PEST CONTROL

Some trees and shrubs produce compounds that can repel pests, while others provide habitat for predators, such as birds and insects, that can help control pest populations. By incorporating these plants into agricultural landscapes, farmers can reduce the need for pesticides and promote a more natural balance of pest and predator populations.

/ECONOMIC BENEFITS

Trees and shrubs can provide additional sources of income for farmers, such as timber or non-timber forest products like fruits, nuts, and medicinal plants. In addition, by improving soil health and increasing crop yields, tree/shrub/groundcover islands can improve the economic viability of agricultural systems over the long term.

/RESILIENCE TO EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS
Tree/shrub/groundcover islands can help protect agricultural fields from extreme weather events, such as high winds, heavy rains, and drought. By providing wind breaks, reducing soil erosion, and improving water retention, these islands can help make agricultural systems more resilient to climate variability.