Journal Article

Transition to legume-supported farming in Europe through redesigning cropping systems

Kay, Sonja, Vasiljević, Marjana, Haase, Thorsten, Alves, Sheila, Watson, Christine A., Hennessy, Michael, Topp, Cairistiona F. E., Iantcheva, Anelia, Rittler, Leopold, Recknagel, Jürgen, Schuler, Johannes, Dauber, Jens, Gallardo, Leonardo Amthauer, Jeanneret, Philippe, Hargreaves, Paul R., Notz, Inka, Reckling, Moritz

2023

Overview

Legume-supported cropping systems affect environmental, production, and economic impacts. In Europe, legume production is still marginal with grain legumes covering less than 3% of arable land. A transition towards legume-supported systems could contribute to a higher level of protein self-sufficiency and lower environmental impacts of agriculture. Suitable approaches for designing legume-supported cropping systems are required that go beyond the production of prescriptive solutions. We applied the DEED framework with scientists and advisors in 17 study areas in nine European countries, enabling us to describe, explain, explore, and redesign cropping systems. The results of 31 rotation comparisons showed that legume integration decreased N fertilizer use and nitrous oxide emissions (N 2 O) in more than 90% of the comparisons with reductions ranging from 6 to 142 kg N ha −1 and from 1 to 6 kg N 2 O ha −1 , respectively. In over 75% of the 24 arable cropping system comparisons, rotations with legumes had lower nitrate leaching and higher protein yield per hectare. The assessment of above-ground biodiversity showed no considerable difference between crop rotations with and without legumes in most comparisons. Energy yields were lower in legume-supported systems in more than 90% of all comparisons. Feasibility and adaptation needs of legume systems were discussed in joint workshops and economic criteria were highlighted as particularly important, reflecting findings from the rotation comparisons in which 63% of the arable systems with legumes had lower standard gross margins. The DEED framework enabled us to keep close contact with the engaged research-farmer networks. Here, we demonstrate that redesigning legume-supported cropping systems through a process of close stakeholder interactions provides benefits compared to traditional methods and that a large-scale application in diverse study areas is feasible and needed to support the transition to legume-supported farming in Europe.

• Publisher: Springer Paris,Springer Nature B.V,Springer Verlag/EDP Sciences/INRA
• Subject: Advisors / Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences / Agricultural land / Agricultural practices / Agricultural Science / Agriculture / Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries / Agronomy / Arable land / arable soils / Biodiversity / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Crop production systems / Crop rotation / Cropping systems / Crops / Design / Economic impact / Economics / Emissions / energy / Environmental impact / Europe / Farmers / Farming / Feasibility / Feasibility studies / fertilizer application / Jordbruk, skogsbruk och fiske / Jordbruksvetenskap / Knowledge / Lantbruksvetenskap och veterinärmedicin / Leaching / Legumes / Life Sciences / nitrates / nitrogen fertilizers / Nitrous oxide / Pesticides / Proteins / Redesign / Regions / Research Article / Rotation / Soil Science & Conservation / Soybeans / stakeholders / Sustainable Development / Value chain