Project funded
by theEU–DGEnvironment
L
and
surfacerelevant
forapplication
Artificial surface
Agriculture land
Forest and semi-natural areas
Wetlands
F
inancialcosts
(C
apital
,
operation
&
maintenance
)
Strip cropping is one of the
least costly
conservation practices. The investment
cost includes labour and/or fuel, and possibly a change in cropping sequences,
particularly if grasses and legumes have to be included in a long-term crop rota-
tion. Subsidies accorded for supporting such practices are estimated to be around
€110/ha/year in Europe.
D
esign
Strip crops have to provide cover in periods when erosion occurs. Strips should be
designed to facilitate operation of machinery,
parallel
to each other and close to
the contour. Strips width depends on the erosion prediction technology. Sediments
accumulation should be removed and distributed around the field to maintain the
effectiveness of the practice. Strip cropping should finally be combined with other
soil
management practices
: reduced tillage, crop rotation...
S
cale
Strip cropping is applicable at field scale.
Strip cropping is used to maintain the soil fertility and prevent
erosion
when a slope is steep or long, or when one does not have an alternative method. It
alternates strips
of closely sown crops such as hay, wheat, or other small grains with strips of row crops, such as corn, soybeans, cotton, or sugar beets. Strip
cropping creates natural
barriers
for water, helping to preserve the strength of the soil, and includes layers of plants which absorb minerals and water more
effectively than others.
AGRICULTURE
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