The SAFE (SITES Agroecological Field Experiment) is an entirely new and innovative resource to Swedish field research and has been established in response to a budding interest within international agricultural, environmental, and ecological research. It is made possible through Lönnstorp's participation in SITES. The Agroecological Intensification system, which is a temperate silvoarable system, and the Perennial cereal system, are particularly novel.
SAFE is a piece in an international puzzle. The wheatgrass variety Kernza® Thinopyrum intermedium is being developed internationally as a cornerstone of sustainable future cereal crops. Its presence in the Perennial cereal system holds an important role in this development by permitting critical field evaluations of both the crop and system in varied climates and soils.
SAFE consists of four cropping systems, each replicated in four blocks.
Perennial (0.48ha divided into 2 plots): perennial plantings of wheatgrass Kernza® Thinopyrum intermedium; Kernza® and lucerne.
Agroecological intensification (0.60 ha divided into 16 plots): permanent plantings of four rows of apple and three hedge rows, inter-sown with a rotation of; spring barley intercropped with lupin, winter rye (grass/legume ley), grass/legume ley, sugar beet, faba bean intercropped wirt spring wheat, winter oilseed rape, winter wheat (grass/legume ley), grass/legume ley.
Organic (0.48 ha divided into 4 plots): a rotation of spring barley intercropped with lupin, winter rye (grass/legume ley), grass/legume ley, sugar beet, faba bean intercropped with spring wheat, winter oilseed rape, winter wheat (grass/legume ley), grass/legume ley.
Reference (0.48 ha divided into 4 plots): a rotation of spring barley, winter oilseed rape, winter wheat (grass/legume ley), sugar beet.
Station manager: