Sensing the future: novel agronomy for resilient farming systems

Project Information

SenseFuture

Grant agreement ID: 884364

DOI

10.3030/884364

Project closed

EC signature date 9 April 2020

Start date 1 January 2021

End date 1 September 2024

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 293 129,28

EU contribution

€ 293 129,28

Coordinated by

KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET
Denmark

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - SenseFuture (Sensing the future: novel agronomy for resilient farming systems)

Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Modern society is demanding a more efficient food production system while maintaining productivity in the face of climate change. Water is one of the most important resources, and improving water use efficiency (WUE) is required not only in dry environments such as Australia but also in wetter environments such as Denmark due to the aggravating weather variability year by year. Therefore, SenseFuture project aims at optimizing the utilization of deep stored water in novel emerging agronomic systems in both semi-arid and temperate systems that incorporate three emerging agronomic inventions that lead to increased systems resilience;(RO1) altered crop phenology (earlier sowing of slower maturing crops); (RO2) dual-purpose crops (used for grazing and grain); and (RO3) summer cover crops (to be replaced with herbicide application).

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

• O1: To quantify the effects of manipulating crop phenology on deep water dynamics under two contrasting farming systems
To meet O1, we conducted a two-season field trial with early sown crops in Australia. The effects were determined using a range of approaches such as drones, biomass cuts and soil water content determination.
• O2: To compare deep water dynamics and farming efficiency of dual-purpose crop to develop grazing management guidelines
To meet O2, we have grazed dual-purpose crops such as wheat and canola. The main intensive investigation was done on wheat. As a result, we were able to collect 2-season data on shoot recovery, root growth dynamics and water use by the dual-purpose crops. Also we have carried out an extra experiment in Denmark to investigate the same effect – which is being prepared as a manuscript.
• O3: To compare summer cover cropping with the conventional fallow
I have participated in conceptualizing summer cover cropping in Australian condition by publishing a review paper.
• O4: To use a simulation model with validated datasets acquired from a wide range of management and environmental conditions to extrapolate experimental observations beyond the soils and seasons involved in the experiments
We are collecting datasets in Australia to be ready for the model simulation upon the return phase. One manuscript on process-model simulation is being prepared based on the data collected in Australia.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

We captured the dynamics of root growth of dual-purpose wheat crops in Australia. Previously it was only reported that there was the minimum effect of defoliation on root penetration, however, we unveiled that there was a short-term effect immediately following defoliation. We also observed some yield penalties after dual-purpose cropping during the wet seasons last two years. However, the decreased yield should be further analyzed for the gross margin as dual-purpose cropping (1) gained income from grazing (2) grain harvest.

We will input these validated crop data into APSIM model, which will reveal the value of our management on the early-grazed dual-purpose wheat, which will be a helpful agronomic practice in this water-limited environment.

Sheep grazing on dual-purpose wheat and canola in Spring