The experiment involved three farms participating in the Living Lab, each of which chose to adopt cover crops through a participatory approach.

This meant that each trial was tailored to the specific needs of the individual farm, both in terms of the cover crop species selected and the management practices applied. The main goal was to prioritize low-impact farming practices by minimizing the use of herbicides. To achieve this, sowing times were optimized and innovative mechanical termination techniques were introduced.

Throughout the different phases of the experiment—before sowing, during cover crop development, and after termination—various assessments were carried out. These included qualitative and quantitative surveys of weed presence, soil analyses to evaluate improvements in macronutrient content and soil structure, and yield assessments of the crops following the cover crop phase.

The second year of trials is currently underway across all participating farms. In one case, the same plots from the first year are being used, while in the other two, the trials have been moved to different areas of the farms to test the technology under new conditions. Additionally, soil temperature and moisture sensors have been installed to monitor the benefits of cover crops in terms of water retention and to provide farmers with practical guidance on irrigation management.

In February 2025, an open day was held at the Maritan Dolores farm in Vigonovo (VE), where participants discussed the use of cover crops and visited the field trial site. The event was attended by the other two farmers involved in the Living Lab, who shared their experiences, along with more than 40 participants including farmers, agronomists, and agricultural technicians.

Objectives

The main objective of this experiment is to test various sustainable weed management strategies in pilot farms, to implement innovative approaches for weed control that reduce the environmental impact of herbicides and the selection pressure on herbicide-resistant weeds, while preserving soil carbon content and minimizing both water use and contamination.

Involved Institutions

• CNR
• Agrin

Installation of soil temperature and moisture sensors, data logger collecting information via Wi-Fi, and close-up of one of the sensors placed across the different treatments at the three sites where cover crops were implemented