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Soil fertility

Soil

Soil fertility

What FiBL is doing on this theme
News on the theme
- 06/12/2024 : Video: Comparison of organic fertilisers: impact on climate, yield and soil life
- 11/01/2022 : Three new organic technical guides for Moldova
- 07/06/2022 : Updated guide on earthworms available
- 04/06/2022 : Updated fact sheet "Soil and Climate" on the climate impact of organic soil management
- 10/04/2021 : New EU project to explore the impacts of plastic debris on soil health and agricultural productivity
- 05/05/2021 : PhD student unveils soil secrets
- 02/24/2021 : New reference document on organic production principles and good practice
- 11/16/2020 : New Factsheet: Biofertilisers
- 01/08/2020 : Awards for FiBL projects on soil fertility and reduced tillage
- 02/06/2017 : Shaping the relationship to the soil
- 11/11/2016 : New fact sheet assessing the use of chars, ashes and slags as alternative phosphorus fertilizers in organic farming
- 10/11/2016 : Microorganisms, mixed crops and recycled fertilizer may help date palm cultivation
- 09/07/2015 : FiBL raises awareness on soil management by taking part in World Sustainability Forum Basel 2015
- 03/11/2015 : European research project on soil fertility launched
- 05/09/2014 : Promotion of earthworms for soil fertility – new technical guide available
- 10/23/2013 : Green fingers - Article on TILMAN-ORG in International Innovation
Relevant publications for practitioners
Publication Language

Year Of Publication

Projects on the theme

Status	FiBL	Title	Start	End
ongoing	FR DE CH	Transforming the Mediterranean region through agroforestry: large scale restoration of degraded lands by overcoming the socioeconomic and sociocultural barriers for agroforestry adoption (TransforMed)	01.09.2024	31.08.2027
ongoing	CH	Influence of cultivation on the functional diversity of the soil in the "Frick trial on preparations and soil" (FunDiv-Frick)	02.04.2024	15.11.2027
ongoing	CH	Mycorrhiza Implementation Network for Sustainable Agricultural Production	01.04.2024	31.03.2026
completed	CH	Decarbonization of coffee production residues by biochar-stimulated composting (DECARB-CO)	25.03.2024	30.06.2024
ongoing	CH	Development of local compost production to optimize coffee production (Biofabrica)	08.02.2024	31.12.2026
ongoing	CH EU	Improving yields in organic cropping systems (OrganicYieldsUP)	01.02.2024	31.01.2028
ongoing	EU	Startup of the SOILL support structure for SOIL Living Labs (SOILL-Startup)	01.01.2024	31.12.2025
ongoing	CH	Training programme "Soil practitioner"	01.01.2024	31.12.2026
ongoing	FR	Fruit production in agroforestry and development of water savings: multistate and syntropic mediterranean orchards (PARDESSYM)	01.01.2024	31.12.2027
ongoing	CH	Garden diversity	01.01.2024	31.12.2026
ongoing	CH	Support to Agroecological Transformation processes in India (SuATI India)	01.05.2023	31.12.2024
ongoing	CH	Predicting success of inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi	01.01.2023	31.12.2024
ongoing	CH	Vitiforestry – An adaptation strategy for viticulture to climate change and biodiversity loss (ArboViti)	01.01.2023	30.12.2025
ongoing	CH	Monetary valuation of soil ecosystem services and creation of initiatives to invest in soil health (InBestSoil)	01.01.2023	31.12.2026
ongoing	CH	Building a European Network for the Characterisation and Harmonisation of Monitoring Approaches for Research and Knowledge on Soils (BENCHMARKS)	01.01.2023	31.12.2027
ongoing	FR	Developing and improving on-farm composting for the resilience of agricultural systems in the Drôme Valley (Compost & Résilience)	01.01.2023	30.06.2026
ongoing	CH	Soil Practitioner pilot course (Bp2023)	01.01.2023	31.12.2024
ongoing	CH	Vitiforestry – a sustainable strategy for viticulture to cope with climate change?	01.01.2023	31.07.2027
completed	CH	Biodiversity boost through regenerative organic agroforestry in Central Ghana	20.11.2022	30.11.2024
ongoing	CH	A European-wide network of pilot farmers implementing and demonstrating climate smart solutions for a carbon neutral Europe (Climate Farm Demo)	01.10.2022	30.09.2029
ongoing	CH	Strategies for the adaptation of arable farming systems to climate change and their contribution to climate protection in the Upper Rhine region (KLIMACrops)	01.10.2022	31.12.2025
completed	FR	Agroecological leverages for low-input fruit tree nurseries (Pépinière bas intrant – Veauvy)	01.10.2022	01.10.2024
ongoing	CH	Climate friendly organic palm and coconut oil production in the tropics	01.09.2022	31.12.2025
ongoing	CH	Root2Res: Root phenotyping and genetic improvement for rotational crops resilient to environmental change (EU Root2Res)	01.09.2022	31.08.2027
ongoing	CH	Recycling palm oil production residues by composting (Côte d'Ivoire Compost huile de palme)	01.09.2022	28.02.2025
ongoing	CH	Optimisation of nutrient budget in agriculture (NUTRIBUDGET)	01.09.2022	31.08.2026
completed	CH	An innovative and replicable training strategy to strengthen expertise and entrepreneurial capacities for integrated solid waste management in Colombia (Colombia Don Bosco)	01.07.2022	30.06.2024
completed	CH	Quality assurance in Swiss organic chicory production (Bio-Chicorée)	01.04.2022	31.03.2024
ongoing	CH	Optimisation of nitrogen use efficiency and climate effect of recycled fertilisers in organic agriculture (Recycle4Bio-II)	01.04.2022	31.03.2026
ongoing	CH	Long-term monitoring of soil-optimized cultivation Plantahof	01.03.2022	31.12.2032
ongoing	CH	Climate protection through humus formation	01.02.2022	31.12.2027
ongoing	CH	Farm Adaptation to Climate Risk (RISC)	15.01.2022	31.12.2029
ongoing	AT	Market gardening - innovation to strengthen the Austrian supply of fresh vegetables	01.01.2022	31.12.2024
completed	CH	Predicting microbial communities	01.01.2022	31.12.2022
ongoing	CH	Climate Neutral Farms (ClieNFarms)	01.01.2022	31.12.2025
ongoing	CH	Organic conservation agriculture: weed management and soil quality (Adventisol)	01.01.2022	31.12.2025
completed	CH	Microbiome Lighthouse Project	01.01.2022	31.12.2023
ongoing	CH	Markets and Seeds Access Project for Small Grains and Legumes in Zambia and Zimbabwe (MASAP)	01.12.2021	30.11.2033
completed	CH	Microplastics from road traffic and biogas slurry in soil (BLW-Mikroplastik)	01.12.2021	31.01.2024
ongoing	CH	Black goes green: Influence of biochar on soil water balance and chemical soil quality	01.09.2021	31.08.2025
ongoing	CH	Developing biological soil quality indicators as affected by biochar amendment (BGG-BB)	01.09.2021	31.12.2025
ongoing	CH	Course Organic Gardening School Hünibach (Lehrgang Biogarten)	01.07.2021
completed	CH	Swiss spade test – Standardised working basics for agricultural practice and soil protection (Spatenprobe)	01.07.2021	01.07.2024
ongoing	CH	Network of farms committed to the non-use of phytosanitary treatments for seeds (Res0sem)	01.07.2021	31.12.2029
completed	CH	Sri Lanka: Conversion to organic farming and scientific support on organic fertilization (Sri Lanka Bio Conversion)	28.06.2021	31.12.2023
completed	CH	Optimizing the Integration of Organic Resources in Ghana's Local Agricultural Systems	01.06.2021	30.06.2023
completed	CH EU	BIOdiversity of soils and FArming Innovations for improved Resilience in European wheat agrosystems (BIOFAIR)	01.04.2021	31.03.2024
completed	AT	Wirkungsanalyse des Dünger- und Futtermittelsystems der BIO AUSTRIA Betriebe - Eine Analyse ökologischer Nachhaltigkeitsleistungen der BIO AUSTRIA Betriebe im Vergleich zur konventionellen Landwirtschaft in Österreich	05.03.2021	10.11.2021
completed	DE CH	Overcoming the physical and mental barriers for upscaling Conservation Agriculture in the Mediterranean (ConServeTerra)	01.07.2020	30.06.2024
completed	CH	Sammlung bodenbiologischer Studien mit einem Standort-Bezug in der Schweiz (BAFU GraueLiteratur)	01.05.2020	30.04.2022
completed	CH	Knowledge Centre for Organic Agriculture and Agroecology in Africa (KCOA)	01.04.2020	29.02.2024
completed	CH	Let’s Talk About BetterGardens	01.04.2020	30.04.2022
ongoing	CH	Black goes green - Long-term on-farm trial on the climate impact of biochar in agriculture (Black goes green)	01.02.2020	31.12.2027
completed	CH	Pilotprojekt 3V - Bodenindikatoren	01.01.2020	31.12.2022
ongoing	CH	Protection of natural resources (water, soil) and promotion of biodiversity and challenges for agriculture in the face of climate change and economic issues (BLW Agroforesterie)	01.01.2020	31.12.2027
completed	CH	Bodenqualitätsindikatoren BQI-CH Perspektivmethode Infrarot-Spektroskopie	01.11.2019	01.02.2021
completed	CH	Training materials and courses for best practices in organic and dynamic Cocoa Agroforestry systems	01.11.2019	30.09.2022
completed	CH	Konzeption und Umsetzung des Klimafolgen-Bodenmonitoring-Verbunds für die Themen Bodenbiologie und organische Bodensubstanz (Verbund20: Klimafolgen-Bodenmonitoring)	14.10.2019	31.12.2020
completed	CH	Food Systems Caravan	01.09.2019	31.12.2021
completed	CH	Sustainable management of organic municipal waste in the Municipality of Pérez Zeledón, Costa Rica	01.08.2019	31.08.2021
completed	CH	Farmer capacity development to improve organic sesame production in Ethiopia	01.07.2019	30.06.2022
completed	AT	Erosion protection and resource conservation in organic maize cultivation	01.05.2019	31.12.2023
ongoing	DE	Competence and Practice Research Network for the Further Development of Nutrient Management in Organic Agriculture (NutriNet)	01.03.2019	28.02.2027
completed	CH	Dynamics of carbon sequestration and stabilisation in a long-term agricultural trial (DynaCarb)	01.01.2019	31.12.2022
completed	CH	Legumes Translated (Translating knowledge for legume-based farming for feed and food systems) (Legumes Translated)	01.11.2018	30.04.2022
completed	CH	Dynamic Agroforestry Systems (DAFS) (DAFS)	01.04.2018	31.12.2021
completed	CH	Use of functional agro-biodiversity to improve ecosystem services in vineyards	01.01.2018	31.12.2021
completed	CH	Day of organic arable farming 2019	01.01.2018	31.12.2019
completed	CH	Soil fertility innovation hub: selfdiagnosis and advice (Progrès Sol)	01.09.2017	31.12.2022
completed	CH	Auswirkungen eines Hochfrequenz Strom Wandlers auf die Umwelt (Unkraut, Bodenbiologie und Fauna) (Zasso Elektroherb)	01.08.2017	31.12.2017
completed	CH	Solutions for improving Agroecosystem and Crop Efficiency for water and nutrient use (SolACE)	01.05.2017	30.09.2022
completed	FR CH	Compost - Soil fertility and plant health	01.03.2017	31.12.2019
completed	CH	Pyrophos: Further development of alkali pyrolysis for removal of heavy metals and production of a market-grade P-K fertilizer from sewage sludge (PyroPhos II)	01.01.2017	30.09.2020
completed	CH	Managing soil biodiversity and ecosystem services in agroecosystems across Europe under climate change (SOILCLIM)	01.01.2017	31.12.2019
completed	CH	Application of organic bio-fertilizer technology to improve the sustainability of date palm production and cultivation (fertiledatepalm)	01.08.2016	31.07.2019
completed	CH	Solutions for quality cereal production in low fertilty situations (CerQual)	01.07.2016	30.06.2020
completed	CH	Improving disease resistance of peas through selection at the plant-soil interface (resPEAct)	01.06.2016	31.12.2020
completed	AT	Development of yield and humus formation in the soil through reduced soil cultivation and organic fertilization (green manure and organic fertilizer) (AG-BIOBO)	14.03.2016	28.02.2019
completed	CH	Indicators and monitoring of agricultural soil biodiversity (BioDivSol)	01.02.2016	31.12.2022
completed	CH	Interactive Soil Quality Assessment in Europe and China for Agricultural Productivity and Environmental Resilience (iSQAPER)	01.05.2015	30.04.2020
completed	CH	Nutrition in Mountain Agro-ecosystems (NMA)	01.05.2015	31.05.2021
completed	CH	Organic Knowledge Network Arable (OK-Net Arable)	01.03.2015	28.02.2018
completed	CH	BetterGardens: Soil quality, biodiversity, and social value of urban gardens (Sinergia BetterGardens)	01.01.2015	31.12.2018
completed	CH	Farmer-driven organic resource management to build soil fertility (ORM4Soil)	01.01.2015	31.12.2020
completed	CH	Fertility Building Management Measures in Organic Cropping Systems (FertilCrop)	01.01.2015	31.12.2017
completed	CH	Pyrolysis of sewage sludge and heavy metal elimination for phosphorus recycling (PyroPhos)	01.11.2014	31.10.2016
completed	AT CH	CONNEctingknowledge, scales and actors; An integrated framework for adaptive organic resource management targeting soil aggradation and agroecosystems’ resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa (ConneSSA)	01.08.2014	31.12.2017
completed	CH	Insect-based feed and fertilizer production via waste transformation for small-holders in Ghana (IBFFP)	01.01.2014	31.12.2017
completed	CH	Zinc Biofortification of Wheat through Organic Matter Management in Sustainable Agriculture (ZOMM)	01.11.2013	31.10.2016
completed	CH	Legumes and biodiversity: nature compatible concepts for growing protein crops	01.04.2013	30.06.2014
completed	CH	Dissemination of reduced tillage in the organic farming sector	01.01.2013	31.12.2017
completed	CH	Biologischer Anbau von Pinot Noir Reben Vitis vinifera L im Wallis: Wirkung von Bewässerung sowie verschiedener Düngungs- und Bodenbearbeitungsverfahren auf physiologische Stressreduktion, Wuchs, Ertrag und Qualität	01.04.2012	31.12.2014
completed	CH	Essais avec silicuivre et autres substances non cupriques pour ré-duire l'utilisation du cuivre en viticulture bio	01.03.2012	31.12.2014
completed	CH	Soil and climate friendly crop production in organic farming (COOP BKBA)	01.01.2012	31.12.2016
ongoing	CH	Soil tillage experiment Schlatthof (Aesch trial)	01.01.2012
completed	CH	Effects of biochar amendments on plant growth, microbial communities and biochar decomposition in agricultural soils	01.11.2011	31.10.2015
completed	CH	Reduced tillage and Green Manures for Sustainable Organic Cropping Systems (TILMAN-ORG)	01.09.2011	31.08.2014
completed	CH	Influence of multi-year reduced tillage on soil micro-organisms. A study on two commercial farms in the canton of Bern	01.01.2011	31.12.2015
completed	CH	What does climate protection mean for my holding? Workshops for organic farm managers. (Climate Workshops) (Klima-Workshops)	01.01.2011	28.02.2015
completed	CH	Carbon Credits for Sustainable Landuse Systems (CaLas)	01.11.2009	31.10.2011
completed	CH	Improving nutrient efficiency in major European food, feed and biofuel crops to reduce the negative environmental impact of crop production: Genotype x Management Interaction (NUE-CROPS)	01.05.2009	30.04.2014
completed	CH	Improving soil fertility by reduced tillage on the Juchowo farm in Poland	01.01.2009	31.12.2015
completed	CH	Climate friendly arable and vegetable production (KLINE-AG)	01.01.2009	31.12.2011
completed	CH DE	Increasing profitability of stockless arable crops by optimization of soil fertility management (BoFru)	01.08.2008	31.12.2013
completed	CH	Inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and rhizobacteria (PGPR) for sustainable cropping systems in India (ISCB BFNet FiBL (Biofertilizer Network))	01.01.2008	31.12.2014
completed	CH	Impact of transgenic crops on fertility of soils with different management history (NFP 59 Boden)	01.06.2007	30.05.2010
completed	CH	Moderner biologischer Weinbau: Wirkung verschiedener Düngemittel (MOBODU)	01.01.2006	31.12.2015
completed	CH	Burden on the soil ecosystem of natural and genetically modified organisms – effects, methods and definition of damage as a contribution to risk assessment (BoBios)	01.01.2004	31.12.2008
ongoing	CH	Impacts of bio-dynamic preparations, reduced tillage and fertilization on yield and soil fertility (Frick trial)	01.10.2002
completed	CH	Bodenentwicklung in der Umstellung auf biologisch-dynamische Landwirtschaft, Rheinau	01.01.1999	01.12.2011
completed	CH	Elaboration of standards for site-specified fertilisation systems in organic farming in Europe based on long-term field experiments	01.01.1995	31.12.1997
ongoing	CH	DOK Experiment: Long-term study on bio-dynamic, bio-organic and conventional farming systems (DOK Experiment)	01.03.1978

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Soil fertility

What FiBL is doing on this theme

News on the theme

Relevant publications for practitioners

Projects on the theme

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