GIRASOIL Operational Group: Improving the sustainability of sunflowers through conservation agriculture
- Type Operational group
- Status In progress
- Execution 2022 -2024
- Assigned Budget 228.922,00 €
- Scope Autonómico
- Autonomous community Andalucía
- Main source of financing PEPAC 2023-2027
- Project website GO GIRASOIL
Abstract
- Improved germination of sunflowers during direct sowing (a critical period for the crop), which, combined with lower management costs, will increase the farmer's economic benefits.
- Improvements in the use of machinery used for sunflower seed management. This improved use results in greater control over planting (efficiency) and optimization of inputs. The solutions found could benefit machinery manufacturers (possible technological improvements or improvements in machinery use).
- Regarding climate change, lower CO2 emissions and a better energy balance from crop management are due to lower emissions from the soil due to the degradation of organic matter and less use of machinery.
- Improving arthropod biodiversity and increasing soil carbon sequestration by improving soil structure and increasing the amount of organic matter in the soil.
- Increased training for farmers and technicians, providing them with more tools and knowledge to address the consequences of climate change. This also increases the system's resilience.
Description of activities
They are developed in phases
- Documentation phase. Current status of sunflower management to design improvement protocols.
- Field phase. Machinery adaptations are developed and tested on the pilot farm and subsequently, along with other management adaptations, are also implemented on the demonstration farms. Agronomic and environmental indicators (soil cover, germination, yield, arthropod biodiversity, carbon sequestration) are monitored.
- Report preparation.
- Dissemination, with transfer actions to farmers and technicians and the development of educational materials.
Objectives
The overall objective is to gain a deeper understanding of no-till sunflower cultivation and provide solutions to improve its implementation under this system and enhance the competitiveness of the Andalusian agricultural sector in a climate change scenario, where increased resilience is essential. The goal is to provide solutions to improve germination, economic performance, and biodiversity through conservation agriculture.
Contact information
- Coordinator/entity name: Spanish Association for Conservation Agriculture. Living Soils
- Postal address: IFAPA Centro Alameda del Obispo. Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n. 14004 - Cordoba
- Coordinator/entity email: overoz@agriculturadeconservacion.org
- Telephone: 957422099
Coordinators
- Asociación Española Agricultura de Conservación. Suelos Vivos
Collaborators
- Universidad de Córdoba (otri@uco.es)
- Asociación Agraria Jóvenes Agricultores de Sevilla (ASAJA Sevilla) (josefernando.robles@asajasevilla.es)
- Instituto de Investigación y Formación Agraria y Pesquera (IFAPA) (rafaelam.ordonez@juntadeandalucia.es)
- ASAJA-Andalucía (info@asaja-andalucia.es)
- Syngenta España S.A.U. (francisco.garcia_verde@syngenta.com)
- Antonio Tarazona, S.L.U. (rsalvador@antoniotarazona.com)
Beneficiaries
- Asociación Española Agricultura de Conservación. Suelos Vivos
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