Landes

France

Ferme Solidaire de l’Ecolieu Lacoste

Improving soil quality: A case study of three organic market gardens

The project aims to experimentally implement agricultural practices that improve soil health, with three objectives:
– Improve soil fertilisation and structure by adding organic matter (compost) to open fields and greenhouses;
– Improve soil fertilisation and structure, and reduce inputs, through the natural addition of nitrogen and microbial life (cover crops + biological biostimulants in open fields and greenhouses).
– Experiment the use of human urine as a nitrogen fertiliser (+ determination of micropollutants).

Duration of the pilot 24 Months

Type of Farm

Market gardening

Type of Soil

Silty clay, Clay loam, Sandy Loam

Crops Involved

Vegetables

Practices

  • Minimal or no tillage

  • Apply diversified crop rotation

  • Apply strip cropping

  • Apply cover crops (various options)

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

  • Apply microbial biostimulants

  • Apply a system of minimal pesticide use, for example through monitoring