Modeling Soil Health Indicators to Assess the Effectiveness of Sustainable Soil Management on Mediterranean Arable Land

Chiara Piccini (), Roberta Farina, Claudia Di Bene, Silvia Vanino and Rosario Napoli
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Chiara Piccini: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Via della Navicella 2–4, 00184 Rome, Italy
Roberta Farina: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Via della Navicella 2–4, 00184 Rome, Italy
Claudia Di Bene: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Via della Navicella 2–4, 00184 Rome, Italy
Silvia Vanino: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Via della Navicella 2–4, 00184 Rome, Italy
Rosario Napoli: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Via della Navicella 2–4, 00184 Rome, Italy

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 11, 1-17

Abstract: Considering future tasks in soil health, resource management, and environmental protection, farmers are challenged to develop sustainable strategies for managing soil and land resources. In this study, the long-term sustainability of two fertilization strategies—current, with synthetic fertilizers (SYN) vs. conservative, with organic sources of nitrogen (organic amendments plus green manure with a legume, CONS)—was assessed in a processing tomato/durum wheat rotation. The EPIC model was used, validated with field data, and then run to simulate the management for 30 years under three current and future climates. Yield, soil organic carbon (SOC) stock change, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), water use efficiency (WUE), and nitrate leaching were considered sustainability indicators. Under all of the future climate scenarios, tomato yield increased with CONS, remaining almost stable with SYN. Wheat yield increased both with CONS and SYN; however, the average yield with CONS was considerably lower than with SYN. NUE and nitrate leaching followed the same trend, both decreasing with CONS, while WUE was higher with CONS compared to SYN. The effect of CONS on SOC was always positive. Thus, the alternative N fertilization strategy proposed can be a favorable option for maintaining soil health and sustainable crop production.

Keywords: long-term sustainability; soil health indicators; fertilization strategies; EPIC model; Central Italy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2023:i:11:p:2001-:d:1271933

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