For its annual General Assembly on January 21-23, 2026, the STRATUS consortium met in Ghent, this time with partner EVILVO as the host. The event took place in the 90-meter-high tower of the Flemish Government’s VAC Building, next to Sint-Pieters Train Station. Upon...
Dialogue on sustainable fertilisation during the STRATUS workshop On 2 December, STRATUS organised an interactive workshop during the Knowledge Day Sustainable Soil Management in Practice. A healthy soil was central to the day, as it is essential for good yields and...
Introduction Soil quality directly affects vine vigor, grape composition, and the personality of the wine. In conventional vineyards, intensive tillage, chemical fertilizers, and frequent pesticide use tend to degrade the soil, cause erosion, especially in the...
In the ongoing effort across Europe to achieve more sustainable farming, ensuring our land is both productive and environmentally sound is a shared priority. The STRATUS project is at the forefront of this movement, bringing together agricultural advisors to advance...
The STRATUS project was recently presented at the General Assembly of the I3-4-Biofertilizers project, held in Rouen, France. This event brought together around 40 participants from across Europe, including representatives from SMEs, innovation clusters, regional...
How does one design a fact sheet that fits on one page, on the one hand, and contains sufficient information for a selection process, on the other hand? This was the challenge ILVO and co-WP leader WUR faced as they entered the second phase of WP3. Preceded by a...
STRATUS is excited to announce the launch of the AdvisoryAgriHub! The AdvisoryAgriHub is a central hub tailored to agriculture and forestry advisors, aiming to provide tools to improve their advisory competencies. The platform was developed through the collaborative...
When we talk about making farming more sustainable across Europe, sharing what we know is crucial. The old ways of using fertilizers can sometimes cause problems for our environment, affecting our soil, water, and even the air. So, farmers and advisors are always on...
Liming is one of the basic agrotechnical measures. Aims to improve soil pH by increasing its pH. Too acidic soil negatively affects the availability of nutrients, limits the development of soil microorganisms and reduces the yield of crops. An optimal soil pH is...
Today’s farming innovations go beyond equipment and techniques—they also depend on how well knowledge is shared. That’s why having clear information, strong networks, and training materials tailored to farmers and advisors is so important. Often useful insights come...
The Makarska highlands in southern Croatia are characterized by a specific microclimate and extremely rocky soils, distinguishing agricultural production in this region from other parts of Croatia. These two factors create unique conditions for sustainable and organic...
A new carbon credit standard developed through the project Kolsänksrätter med biokol is opening exciting opportunities for Swedish farmers: better soil quality and a new income stream. The first carbon credits under this standard are being verified and issued during...
Biochar is used as a soil amendment due to its properties of storing water and nutrients. It is also a carbon sink and can thereby be sold as a carbon credit, giving the farmer an additional revenue stream. Biochar is applied on or in the soil, can be applied together...
Changing the crop rotation towards more grass (single, multispecies, with legumes) in a fodder producing agricultural system for cattle production will positively benefit soil quality by breaking monoculture (or dominance) silage maize, a crop with very low...
The prevention of soil compaction by reducing the load per cm² of soil and by taking care of the soil’s carrying capacity is very important because the resolving of deep soil compaction (compaction just below the topsoil, 30-50 cm) is difficult. Resolving of deep soil...
Fertilizer trials will be set up on agricultural land OPGs on three crops in crop rotation/rotation: maize, winter wheat, and Italian ryegrass. Before setting up the experiment, soil samples will be taken in the planned areas in order to determine the initial state,...
The utilization of bioashes in Croatia presents a valuable opportunity for sustainable disposal and agroforestry applications. These alkaline byproducts, derived from forest biomass plants, can effectively address the challenge of acidic soil (pH < 6) by enhancing...
Crop rotation is an important factor in maintaining and improving soil health. Continuously growing the same crop over multiple years can lead to an increase in soilborne diseases, as pathogens specific to that crop are given the opportunity to multiply. When a...
Between two main crops is sown a mixture of grasses - oats, rye, buckwheat, Moha - and legumes - often forage species, instead of bare soil. The cover crop is destroyed during its vegetative step before the seed formation. DOWNLOAD THE PRACTICE FACTSHEET
Simplified cultivation techniques are practices to reduce soil tillage, without use of ploughing. Their use allows to prevent from erosion and to improve soil biological activity, particularly earthworm presence. Simplified cultivation techniques gather deep ploughing...
Development and adoption of a new agronomic approach for vegetable cultivation called “Ortobioattivo. This model focuses on the quality of the substrate/soil and the microbiological biodiversity contained therein as a fundamental element for the cultivation of healthy...
The general objective is to reduce the use of herbicides in Tuscan vineyards (glyphosate in particular) and improve the fertility of vineyard soils. The proposed innovation involves the use of cover crops under the vine rows in order to reduce the use of herbicides or...
A plant grown between two main crops for green fodder, hay, silage, ploughing as green manure or leaving in the form of mulch after they have been cut, dumped or destroyed by frost. DOWNLOAD THE PRACTICE FACTSHEET
Due to sandy soils (70%) and climate, Poland has problems with soil acidification. Over 4 million hectares have a pH in KCl below 5.0 - such soils can be considered degraded - they have a damaged structure, plants are not able to absorb nutrients, which leads to water...
This practice is quite common in our region, and it is indeed one of the easiest ways to ensure fertilizer efficiency. Our recommendation is to split N application when the dose is higher than 120 NFU. When using this practice, farmers usually split N fertilizer in...
Calculating an organic matter balance provides insights into the inputs and outputs of organic matter within an agricultural system. Organic matter plays an important role in maintaining soil health, contributing to improved water retention, soil aeration,...
Manure mediation represents a strategy whereby farms with an abundance of organic manure can sell this resource to other farms that has a deficit of organic carbon in their system. This approach facilitates the transfer of nutrients from an area with a higher...
Strip-till is a minimum tillage practice. This practice combines the advantages of conventional tillage and the soil-protecting benefits of no-till, as the soil is only disturbed on the seed row. In our region, direct seeding is a common practice for grain crops,...
Based on all the properties of the soil, you'll be able to advise on measurements to decrease the loss of nitrogen and phosphorus to the environment and how to manage water in the best way possible. DOWNLOAD THE PRACTICE FACTSHEET
Instead of 'brown' manure. The pathway over animals gives products but is accompanied by substantial losses of nitrogen. Using the grassclover directly, these losses are avoided. Technically seen there is no problem: no new machinery is needed or other challenges to...
Localized starter fertilizer applications are already applied to 75% of maize acreage in France to enhance nutrient efficiency and minimize environmental impacts. Localized fertiliser application involves applying fertilizer directly to the roots of plants at sowing,...
The practice involves integrating advanced precision farming technologies, including multispectral drone imaging, IoT soil and environmental sensors, and agronomical models, to optimize fertilization in organic open-field broccoli production. Unlike traditional...
The practice of Variable Rate Fertilizer Application (VRFA) based on historical average yield maps allows farmers to optimize fertilizer use by targeting specific zones within their fields. This practice relies on precision machinery equipped with yield monitors and...
Fertilizer management using drones is an advanced precision agriculture technique that optimizes nutrient application, enhances yields, and reduces environmental impact. This practice integrates drones equipped with multispectral cameras, specialized software for data...
Drones equipped with multispectral cameras fly over fields to capture images, which are analyzed using software programs like Pix4Dmapper. This software creates detailed maps that pinpoint areas needing different levels of fertilizers and water. This targeted approach...
SATIVUM is the free digital tool chosen by the Spanish Government as the reference farmer's digital book. It was designated as the reference tool in 2024, and it is being developed to have a wide range of functionalities. It allows farmers to register their plots,...
Polish arable farmers widely use computer programs that calculate the nutrient balance (N, P, K) on the field, and prepare fertilization plans in accordance with the principles of sustainable mineral management. Examples of fertiliser advisory applications software...
When reviewing the yield quantity for their potato crop, farmers usually calculate the average amount of yield per hectare of a certain field, in some cases even over multiple fields. However, the variation in crop yield within fields can be relatively large. Knowing...
When using animal manure, there is often a large variation in the amount of nutrients applied over the field. Manure is transported with trucks and when applying animal manure different trucks come from different locations. Although the manure comes from the same type...
3D point clouds (big data) generated by the Mobile App iAgro optimize variable-rate fertilizations in vineyards. Acting as a Decision Support System (DSS), the app leverages AI computer vision algorithms, that automatically analyze vineyards digital twin and assess...
Site-specific fertilization using vigor maps is a precision farming technique designed to optimize fertilizer use, enhance agricultural yields, and minimize nutrient losses and environmental impacts. These vigor maps are generated from data collected through sensors...
The theoretical calculation of crop nitrogen needs in France has been carried out since 1992. This calculation is used to comply with the Nitrates Directive (European directive). The necessary data are provided by technical institutes and aggregated through COMIFER...
CropSat is a free precision farming tool developed in Sweden that leverages satellite imagery to optimize nitrogen fertilization, particularly for crops like wheat and other cereals. The tool uses Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data from satellite...
WatchITgrow is an online platform to support farmers in monitoring arable crops and vegetables more efficiently in view of increasing yields, both qualitatively and quantitatively. It is a collaboration platform for everyone in the sector, from growers, contractors...
Optimizing fertilizer inputs in agricultural production systems is seen as an important strategy to reduce their large environmental impact while supplying the world’s increasing need for food, fibre and fuel. Centrifugal fertilizer spreaders are by far the most used...
Satellite images are particularly suited for crops such as cereals, maize, and other field crops, as their scale aligns with the spatial resolution of Sentinel-2 satellite imagery. These images, combined with drone technology, provide essential data for implementing...
This practice describes the use of available satellite images to monitor actual crop status and act quickly on it. This helps to use fertiliser inputs more efficiently and reduce costs. Variable rate fertiliser prescription maps are traditionally based on soil samples...
The zero spot fertilization method for wheat is based on the following principles: The nitrogen supply to the wheat during the growing season is done in three steps. 1) The first application in early spring at the time of the start of wheat growth (BBCH30 (middle of...
To optimise crop growth throughout the season, it is important to offer the right amount of fertiliser to the crop at the right time. In The Netherlands several institutes offer a method that combines soil samples and crop growth modelling to optimize crop...
Soil moisture sensors can measure soil moisture content. Growers use that information, for example, to prioritize irrigation of fields: which ones should be irrigated first, which can wait? This is especially important in situations where the fields of a farmer are...
Compost is a powerful natural fertilizer that improves soil structure, boosts plant health, and supports sustainable agriculture. But using too much can backfire. Learn how to apply compost correctly, understand the phases of composting, and discover the benefits of advanced types like vermicompost.
Biochar is a carbon-rich material produced by pyrolysis, which is the thermal decomposition in the absence of oxygen. This usually occurs in organic biomass, such as wood, agricultural residues, or other plant materials. It is primarily used as a soil amendment to...
The biofertilizer contains primarily of beneficial microorganisms, including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), bacteria, and other fungi. These microorganisms are produced in vitro, in axenic cultures, and in vivo, resulting in effective inoculants. The AMF included...
Growing media include any materials other than soil used as a horticultural substrate for plant rooting and cultivation in a confined volume, as part of controlled environment agriculture. These growing media are used for growing vegetables, fruits and ornamentals in...
Biostimulants aim to improve the effectiveness of fertilization, the efficiency of plant nutrition. Their use is rather preventive. A plant biostimulant is a product that stimulates plant nutrition processes independently of the nutrients it contains, with the sole...
Small-scale anaerobic digestion of residual flows (mainly at dairy farms) can help the farmer to fulfil the electricity needs of the farm and partly the heat demand through combustion of biogas in a combined heat and power unit. It has a local character and limited...
Digestates are the majority by-product of methanization. They are rich in organic and mineral elements, giving them a high organic fertilizer potential. The spreading of digestates, particularly of agricultural origin, is the most commonly carried out practice in...
This good practice is inspired by a collaboration between farmers with a partnership with governments, and nature organizations called Agricycling. However, the initiative can be applied in many other places. It focuses on reusing available residual streams...
To ensure optimal nutrient use, it is important to guarantee the nutrient levels in animal manure before application. This approach is especially relevant for slurry and other processed forms of biobased fertilizers. By precisely determining the nutrient composition,...
Stripping-scrubbing of the liquid fraction of pig manure allows for on farm production of biobased fertilizer. It starts with the liquid fraction of pig manure followed by scrubbing for ammonium salt recuperation. The operating principle of stripping-scrubbing is that...
Emissions of NH3 from livestock housing and slurry storage represent a large part of the total NH3 emissions from agricultural activities. Therefore chemical air scrubbing is used to reduce the ammonia and odor components in stable air. Water with added sulfuric acid...
Municipal sludge is a large source of nutrients. Unlike other organic fertilizers, municipal sludge has a stable composition, enabling precise adjustments to mineral fertilization. Nitrogen in organic fertilizer is available in different ways, and depending on which...
Since 2022, it is mandatory in Spain to have a recent product analysis when applying organic fertilizers. However, this is not yet a common practice among farmers. Pig slurry, as a widely used organic fertilizer, play an important role in the fertilization strategy of...
Cut and carry fertilizers are organic fertilizers produced from plants. Those plants are often leguminous species. The plants are grown in one place and, after being harvested, transported to another location and applied as fertilizers. In between they might be dried...
Depending on the crop, crop residues can contain considerable amounts of nutrients. The nutrients are for instance stored in leaves, which are after being harvested left on the field. When degrading, those nutrients become available for soil organisms and the...
On January 29th, STRATUS, OrganicAdviceNetwork, and AdvisoryNetPEST co-hosted an interactive online workshop focusing on the essential soft skills required for farm advisors. This event brought together agricultural advisors from across Europe to discuss the...
More than 100 people logged in last Wednesday to participate in the first dissemination event of the STRATUS project. STRATUS, the EU project aiming to connect advisors across Europe to accelerate knowledge creation and sharing on Integrated Fertilization Management,...
At the end of January, an important step for the project was taken. VEGEPOLYS VALLEY (French cluster on plant) delivered its first deliverable: the first round of Good Practices & Research Innovations collected throughout the consortium. . During several months at...
One year after the beginning of the project, STRATUS partners have a lot of news to offer to the public in general, and to a more target audience such as farmers, advisors, researchers, students, agronomists, or policymakers interested in integral fertilizers...
It has been one year since the launch of STRATUS in Pamplona, Spain, and the partners are meeting again for the project´s first Annual Consortium Meeting and General Assembly. Members from all 14 partner institutions, as well as associate partners met in Athens,...
Creating sustainable agricultural systems is a global challenge that demands robust networks of knowledge sharing and innovation. A recent example of such collaboration took place at the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA), a STRATUS partner, during a study visit...
The STRATUS project is based on creating a network of advisors specializing in efficient fertilization. This network consists of various entities specialized in precision agriculture, organic fertilizers, soil quality, and advisory services for farmers and ranchers....
One of the challenges of practicing integrated fertilization management to increase production and input efficiency in agriculture is designing better systems for fertilizer use. This was the focus of the event hosted by STRATUS partner ILVO (Flanders Research...
The main goal of the STRATUS network is to identify at least 48 Best Practices in Integrated Fertilization Management (IFM) throughout the European Union. This ambitious goal requires a rigorous selection process to ensure the chosen practices are not only effective...
STRATUS project coordinator INTIA hosted their first Community of Practice (CoP) on Integrated Fertilization management. Participants shared their knowledge, experience, and good practices on precision farming, organic fertilizers, and soil quality. This is the first...
The agricultural sector has seen significant advancements with the integration of technology and digitalisation, particularly in the efficient and optimal use of fertilizers. This article explores various technologies and digital tools that are revolutionizing...
Manuresource is a 2-year international conference on manure management and valorisation organised by the Flemisch Coordination Centre for Manure Processing, Ghent University and Inagro. At Manuresource 2024 celebrated during the 20th and 21st of March 2024, the...
The region of Navarra, in northern Spain, has recently hosted the launch of the STRATUS project, whose main objective is the creation of a technical advisory network on the optimal use of fertilisers. This project, coordinated by the public company INTIA, reunites 18...