Farming methods for increased soil quality and higher yield stability

To study these relationships, we gather farmers in Västergötland and Östergötland and conduct surveys and interviews to identify risks, measures and knowledge gaps to ensure stable crop production in a changing climate, as well as measure the quality of the land on a "good" and a "bad" field on the respective farm. Several years of data on farming methods, yield and weather are collected from the fields to quantify relationships between farming methods, soil quality and yield (yield level and yield stability). Our hypothesis is that good soil quality improves crop stability and that a more diversified (e.g. varied crop rotation) and less intensive (e.g. less tillage) farming system promotes the soil quality.

The project consists of three parts:
Part 1 aims to create networks of farmers in western and eastern Sweden, respectively.

Part two aims to, with interviews, focus group interviews and a survey among farmers, describe and identify farmers' perceived risks and awareness of climate change as well as their current and future adaptation measures to a changed climate.

Part three consists of an on-farm study to quantify the impact of soil management on soil quality, crop yield, productivity and yield stability.

SLU RådNu mainly participates in part two and will conduct individual as well as focus group interviews as well as a survey that touches on these issues and reaches out to a larger group of farmers.