Landes

France

GAEC Ferme de Libat

Pâturage de couverts végétaux d’intercultures (PCVI)

The project aims to improve soil life through multi-species cover crops and to study how these improve the soil (structure, increase in organic matter, increase in fauna and flora) through two types of destruction: mechanical or animal. For the grazing part, Rémi will use his herd for animal destruction. Two types of plant cover will be established (1: Oats-Vetch-Triticale; 2: More diverse cover with several Fabaceae, Poaceae, Brassicaceae) on different soil types (sandy, sandy-humic, sandy-loamy, clay-loamy, clay) and on which different types of destruction will be compared, in particular the application of grazing in three ways: full grazing, rotational grazing or dynamic rotational grazing. On each plot, another part will be destroyed by mechanical means (rolling, mowing, shredding) as a control area. Based on these elements, the impacts will be analysed for each method. This study will demonstrate whether or not it is important to create plant/soil/animal symbiosis in order to develop models towards agricultural systems that maintain soil quality, or even improve it, while maintaining acceptable levels of productivity.

Duration of the pilot 24 Months

Type of Farm

Livestock, Arboriculture, Market Gardening

Type of Soil

Sandy Loam, Clay, silt and sandy soil

Crops Involved

Mixed crops

Practices

  • Minimal or no tillage

  • Implement diversified crop rotation

  • Implement cover crops

  • Intercropping

  • Diversification of species in grasslands

  • Application of microbial biostimulants

  • Control of water erosion and runoff, e.g. by digging contour lines

  • Use deep-rooted crops

  • Use permanent plant cover

  • Use a system of minimal pesticide use, e.g. through mechanical weed control, biological pest control, etc.

  • Reintroduce herbivores to destroy crops

  • Implement rotational grazing to stimulate leaf production.