1st International Conference of Soil and Agriculture:
TOWARDS SOIL SUSTAINABILITY
11–13 June 2024 • Lublin–Nałęczów, Poland

https://doi.org/10.24326/ICSA1.0.02
Published online: 4 October 2024

Towards a better understanding of the influence of ecology-based farming practices on soil biological properties along a rural-urban transect
Caroline De Clerck*

Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech (ULiege), AgricultureIsLife, Passage des Déportés 2, 5030 Gembloux, Belgium
* Corresponding author:

Abstract

In this keynote presentation, I will talk about the long term experiments held in Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech (in Belgium), that can be placed along an urban to rural transect but that are also involving a gradient of agroecological practices. In particular, I will focus on the effect of all these practices on soil microbiology. Starting with the terra-terre gardens in urban areas, I will talk about the experiments and the results obtained so far in the raised bed experiment and in the SPIN farming plots. I will then switch to experiments in rural areas, talking about the EcoFoodSystem experiment, a system experiment that is looking at food systems and the way we can and have to (re-)connect our diets with sustainable agricultural systems. I will particularly focus on the ICLS rotation of this experiment and on the trial looking at the effect of sheep dung and urine on soil parameters and crop productivity. I will end my presentation talking about SOLRESIDUS, a factorial assay looking at the effect of soil tillage and residue management on plant and soil parameters.

Keywords: soil microbiota, long term experiments, permacultural raised beds, organic matter

How to cite
De Clerck C., 2024. Towards a better understanding of the influence of ecology-based farming practices on soil biological properties along a rural-urban transect. 1st International Conference of Soil and Agriculture: Towards Soil Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICSA1.0.02