Water management in a reclaimed area like Eastern Veneto is of crucial importance—not only because water is a vital resource, but also because it can become a challenge when present in excess. The idea behind the experimental project involving the “Podere Fiorentina” farm is that soil should not be seen merely as a passive element suffering the effects of climate change. On the contrary, it can actively interact with the environment and, if properly managed, enhance the resilience of agroecosystems to extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall and drought.

Soil can function as a buffer, mitigating the impact of excess water from intense precipitation. Its effectiveness increases with its ability to act as a reservoir. Therefore, the pressure on hydraulic safety systems can be reduced if the soil is capable of absorbing and retaining water—essentially acting as a “diffuse dam.”

Moreover, the soil’s buffering capacity directly influences its fertility, as greater water availability for crops can help mitigate the negative effects of drought. Improving the soil’s water retention capacity can be achieved in several ways, one of which is by increasing its organic carbon content. This is precisely the focus of the Living Lab’s activities, which integrate various agronomic techniques such as organic fertilization, cover cropping, and more.

Objectives

• Implement agronomic practices that increase soil organic matter;
• Assess the improvement in the soil’s water retention capacity in response to higher organic matter content;
• Develop an app to enhance irrigation efficiency in soybean and maize cultivation;
• Promote innovation in sustainable soil management practices.

Participating Entities

• Eastern Veneto Land Reclamation Consortium
• DAFNAE Department – University of Padua
• Netafim 
• Pioneer-Corteva
• Bioman S.p.A. 
• Seminart S.r.l.