WP 4. Pilot fields cultivation of energy crops.

Fields of 1-2 ha will be cultivated to assess the energy and economic balance of the proposed system in conditions of farm cultivation. Three tillage methods (conventional, reduced with heavy cultivator and no tillage) and two crop rotations will be carried out. The field will be divided in strips for thee tillage and rotation treatments and in normal to them strips for three fertilizer levels. Precision agriculture technology will be used to perform field experiments. The crops will be cultivated in strips and yield mapping will permit the assessment input effects and the yields. One field will be in the TEI of Larissa farm and one will be in a farmer field. Additional measurements will be carried out on the effect on soil properties (organic matter, compaction, worm populations), energy consumption, costs. The farmer will be compensated for his work.

The groups of TEI of Larissa and UTH will participate.

Leading scientist Dr Sp. Fountas, of the University of Thessaly.