Landes

France

Earl Lahuque

Travail Extra-réduit / Régénération / Agronomie – 3D Décompacter / Désherber / Diversifier (TERA-3D)

The project focuses on the sustainable management of a family farm through innovative agricultural practices aimed at regenerating soils while addressing soil compaction and herbicide-resistant weeds. Formerly a vineyard, the farm now grows maize on sandy-loam soils and has prioritized direct seeding with multi-species cover crops since 2018. By reducing ploughing and chemical fertilizers, the farm has improved soil structure, biodiversity, and reduced soil pollution, while permanent soil cover helps limit erosion on slopes. However, new challenges have emerged: winter cover crops have introduced herbicide-resistant ryegrass, and recent heavy winter rains have slowed cover crop growth and increased soil compaction. To continue developing this regenerative system, periodic soil restructuring and mechanical control of ryegrass are required. The main objective of the project is therefore to obtain equipment capable of performing these two tasks and, ideally, also sowing a new cover crop after the maize harvest.

Duration of the pilot 24 Months

Type of Farm

Arable

Type of Soil

Sandy Loam

Crops Involved

Corn

Practices

  • Minimal or no tillage

  • Implement diversified crop rotation

  • Implement cover crops

  • Apply green manure, vermicompost, thermophilic compost, compost tea

  • Apply slurry

  • Use low-pressure tyres on the tractor

  • Apply permanent plant cover

  • Apply a system of minimal pesticide use, for example through mechanical weed control, biological pest control, etc.