Achieving sustainable agriculture requires field experiments to understand complex agroecological processes and inform policies that integrate into farmer decision-making. Participatory research, involving both farmers and scientists, is critical for co-designing solutions to challenges in farming systems (Busse et al., 2023).
Landscape experiments study processes at a larger scale and are vital for integrating ecological and agronomic components, especially with legumes. Incorporating legumes into landscapes can diversify farming systems, sustain yields, and reduce the impact of climate change, particularly in areas like Eastern Germany with low soil fertility and drought.
The Landscape laboratory patchCROP, a collaborative initiative running until 2030, investigates legume productivity in a landscape context. This pilot study focuses on narrow-leafed lupin and soybean to complement ongoing experiments.
Objectives:
- Co-design spatially diverse agricultural landscapes with farmers and scientists.
- Gather agronomic data and ecosystem service indicators from landscape experiments.
- Test the productivity of soybean and narrow-leafed lupin in various spatial arrangements.
- Analyze the impact of flower strips on yield productivity and arthropod biodiversity.
This study aims to understand how landscape diversification can enhance sustainability, biodiversity, and crop performance with legumes.