SPATIAL VARIABILITY OF AGRO-ENVIRONMENTAL FUNCTIONS FULFILMENT A case study in a Mediterranean agricultural landscape Elisa Marraccini In collaboration with: M. Galli, H. Rapey, S. Lardon, E. Bonari
Spatial variability of farming systems and environmental functions in EU Complex implementation of agro-environmental policies for local authorities How we can identify and map areas relevant for several AEF at the same time at a landscape level? AIM OF THE STUDY Characterize the spatial variability of farming and biophysical conditions contributing to multiple AEF fulfilment. 1. Spatial variability of conditions spatial organisation of landscapes 2. Fulfilment of AEF favourable interactions between agricultural practices and bio-physical conditions responding to policy objectives
A Mediterranean case study in Southern Tuscany High diversity of bio-physical and farming conditions: -Agricultural landscape of 1500 ha (13% woods, 3% artificial) -Hilly area (15% average slope) -5 soil units, mainly clay, o.m. 1,5% -Polycultural farming system -Long and diversified crop rotations Multiple AEF from policy objectives: -Protection of superficial water quality -Protection of soil fertility -Conservation of the landscape mosaic
Step 1 Definition of the conditions contributing to AEF fulfilment Step 2 Construction of a spatial database Spatial databases Elaborated spatial data On-farm surveys Step 3 Assessment of a conditions typology Cluster analysis of the descriptors of conditions Contribution of descriptors to AEF fulfilment DEM Land Use map Farm fields Step 4 Spatial analysis of conditions contribution to AEF Mapping of conditions descriptors and AEF fulfilment Relationships with other spatial factors
Conditions descriptors contributing to AEF fulfilment A different meaning: -Farm functioning (3) -Connectivity (7) -Bio-physical (3) A different contribution to AEF fulfilment: -Same contribution (3) -Opposite contribution (4) -One prevailing contribution (6) Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4
Examples of the spatial variability of conditions descriptors N balance Arable crops: +49 kg/ha (cv 0.5) Permanent crops: -5 kg/ha (cv 9.0) Channel density 13 m/ha (cv 3.1) Average slope 15% (cv 0.4) Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4
Condition for AEF fulfilment typology T1 Favourable conditions to water, soil and landscape functions T2 Favourable conditions to water, and landscape functions T3 T4 Favourable conditions to water function/landscape function T5 General unfavourable conditions Favourable condition to AEF fulfilment Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4
Spatial analysis of conditions contribution to AEF fulfilment Farm 5 Widespread types (T1, T2, T5) Concentrated types (T3, T4) T1 Small field size (1.4 ha) p<0.0001 Polycultural farms p<0.01 Farm 1 Farm 2 T2 T3 T4 T5 Big field size (3.6 ha) p<0.001 Short crop rotations Mixed farms p<0.01 Rented fields p<0.001 Permanent crops p<0.001 Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4
- A spatial variability of conditions for AEF fulfilment in a small landscape Typical Mediterranean landscape case study - Geomorphology and land use are not the exhaustive factors influencing AEF fulfilment - Field size - Farm management (rented fields, crop rotations) Importance of identifying local landscape factors - Generalisation of the results Test of the method: - In a similar Mediterranean area (Debolini et al., poster 313) - In a more continental area (Puy-de-Dome, Central France)