Living Soil Horticulture
Demonstration of the HSV practice in inland Catalonia
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Total project budget: 49.998,40€
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Start Date: 01/09/2022
End Date: 17/06/2024
The “Horticulture Living Soil” or “HSV”, the name given to the practice to be applied in this project, aims to regenerate soils degraded by intensive horticulture by reducing the work of the soil. The HSV practice consists of providing high quantities of lignified plant remains to increase, over a short period of time, the organic matter content of the soil.
This increase would improve soil fertility (increased microbiological activity and diversity, increased soil porosity, etc.) and, in turn, improve crop yields by improving soil structure and water retention, among other advantages.
This practice is implemented in 3 horticultural farms and its effects are evaluated with the analysis of different physico-chemical and biological parameters of the soil. The C footprint and the economic and energetic cost of its implementation will also be calculated, and dissemination material will be prepared based on the results obtained and the experiences of the horticulturists themselves.
The main objective of this activity is to promote the regeneration of soils degraded by intensive agriculture based on the transition towards agroecological practices based on the minimisation or suppression of soil work.
Activity financed through Operation 01.02.01 Technology Transfer of the Rural Development Programme of Catalonia 2014-2020.
