Abstract
In this program, some challenges of future agriculture will be addressed through new management of our soils. This will involve the following work packages: (1) Improvement of the subsoil (layer below the topsoil) of arable fields by application of organic materials not traditionally used in agriculture such as paper mill wastes, biochar, and composted wood bark. The aim is to increase the volume of soil from which crops can extract water and nutrients and thereby enhance yields; (2) Better placement of fertilizer in soil in relation to root growth will be tested to achieve a higher utilization of nutrients, reduce nitrous emissions and leaching. For this purpose, new fertilizer applicators will be developed by Väderstad-Verken (partner of the program). Fertilizers that will be used will be based on recycled nutrients from wastes according to the CleanMAP technology by EasyMining Sweden (partner of the program); (3) Biochar traps will be developed for adsorption of phosphorus and pesticides. These coated materials will be placed at strategic places where water is leaving agricultural fields; (4) The efficiency of the different measures mentioned above will be evaluated by life-cycle analysis using models developed and tested within the program. We believe that this program will lead to higher yields, less impact of agriculture on the environment, a shift towards more bio-based production and thereby increase long-term sustainability.
Sweden