Tillage in Transition: Three Decades of Research in Raasdorf By Pia Euteneuer The tillage experiment in Raasdorf has been ongoing since 1997 resulting in numerous theses and publications The Experimental Farm Groß-Enzersdorf provides a brief insight into the experimental setup and an overview of the current results The experiment includes 5 tillage systems with 2 crop rotations and 4 replications The 40 plots (20 × 40 m) can be worked with conventional tillage equipment The tillage treatments are: conventional tillage with plow (25-30 cm) Crop rotation A consists of winter wheat (WW) - maize - WW - sugar beet and crop rotation B consists of WW - soybean - WW - winter rapeseed with a significant increase in silt content in the subsoil significant differences between the systems are evident in several physical no-till increased soil aggregate stability and earthworm density compared to plowing [1-3] and influenced additional soil chemical properties [4] and in wet years it is lower than that of the plowed variant [5] You are warmly invited to include the tillage experiment in your research projects Further details can be found in the publications of recent years: Long-term agricultural experiments enable the study of cropping and soil management systems as well as their complex interactions on plants and microbial biodiversity with a view to sustainable crop production (Frye and Thomas The “eternal rye” experiment was initiated in 1906 It is located on the fields of the Experimental Farm Groß-Enzersdorf (48°11’N The Experimental Farm is situated on the western edge of the Marchfeld The soil is a silty loam and classified as Chernozem of alluvial origin and the average annual precipitation is 538 mm (1980–2009).  Two factors are tested: (1) Cropping system (continuous rye cultivation compared to a three-field rotation of black fallow – winter rye – spring barley; (2) Fertilization: 1 nutrient contents in soil depths of 0-30 cm The pHCaCl2 decreased in the topsoil layer as follows:  Control > Mineral fertilizer > Organic fertilizer.  No differences were observed between the fertilization treatments in the following two soil layers (Figure 1a) The soil organic carbon (SOC) content increased in the topsoil layer as follows: Control < Mineral fertilizer < Organic fertilizer and was higher in the control treatment at a depth of 30-60 cm than with mineral fertilizer and organic fertilizer at a depth of 60-90 cm (Figure 1b).  The plant-available contents of phosphorus (P Figure 1d) in the 0-30 cm depth were as follows: Control < Mineral fertilizer < Organic fertilizer P and K were higher with organic fertilizer than in the control and mineral fertilizer treatments they were higher with organic fertilizer than with mineral fertilizer there are thus significant differences in pH Soil water is a vital component of the environmental water cycle and a crucial ecological factor for plant growth and soil health The components of the soil water regime significantly influence the supply of water and nutrients to plants a long-term three-factor experiment was established in Raasdorf to investigate the effects of irrigation The experiment covers 84 plots and an experimental area of 2.3 hectares The experimental design is a split-split-plot setup with three replications: • Main plot factor: Irrigation: Three irrigations of 40 ml each versus non-irrigated control. • Sub-plot factor: Soil tillage: Plowing (24 cm depth) versus cultivation (15 cm depth). • Sub-sub-plot factor: Crop rotation: There are three crop rotations: (1) Maize – Wheat (2) Maize – Wheat – Mustard as a cover crop (3) Maize – Wheat – Mustard as a cover crop – Peas – Mustard as a      cover crop Agricultural Sciences Biotechnology and Food Science Economics and Social Sciences Ecosystem Management, Climate and Biodiversity Landscape, Water and Infrastructure Natural Sciences and Sustainable Resources BOKU UniversityUniversität für Bodenkultur WienGregor-Mendel-Straße 33 The project “Biodiversity cropping” at the BOKU Research Farm aims to develop a sustainable farming system by introducing companion crops which are grown alongside main crops to increase plant diversity the intensification of agriculture has led to simplified crop rotations primarily focusing on three main crops (wheat The enhanced resilience of production systems by using companion crops provide benefits like soil cover and reduced reliance on nitrogen fertilizers The main goals include improving soil health stabilizing crop yields and addressing environmental concerns such as water use efficiency can contribute to nitrogen supply for main crops while preventing nitrate leaching into groundwater The project will evaluate the impact of different companion crop systems on the growth and yield of main crops nitrogen levels in the soil and crops and soil water content these companion crops can enhance biodiversity and the abundance of earthworms which play a crucial role in maintaining soil quality The objectives of the project align with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including ensuring the sustainability of food production systems efficient water use through sustainable water management and preserving land ecosystems to prevent soil degradation and maintain biodiversity the project will be conducted over three years starting in Oct 2023 monitoring various parameters in a crop rotation system such as soil moisture The project will assess the effects of companion crops and different fertilizer strategies on both the main crops and the overall ecosystem The aim is to create an alternative field management that enhances agricultural sustainability while considering the impacts of climate change in the specific region Project lead: Pia Euteneuer University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Thomas Weninger, Alexander Eder Institute for Land and Water Management Research Petzenkirchen Vaclav Brant, Martin Kulhanek Department of Agroecology and Biometeorology; Department of Agroenvironmental Chemistry and Plant Nutrition Kevin Butt Funded by BIOS Science Austria Our planet's health depends on the often-overlooked world beneath our feet – the rich tapestry of soil and its inhabitants a project aiming to shed light on soil biodiversity specifically focusing on the humble yet crucial earthworm Earthworms play a vital role in maintaining soil quality and the balance of ecosystems shaping the underground world and connecting it to life above ground soil organisms are often neglected in conservation efforts SoilRise recognizes the urgent need to monitor and protect soil biodiversity The project leverages Citizen Science and an innovative mentor-based approach to involve students and the public in the mission to understand and conserve earthworm communities across Europe will contribute to a large-scale effort to monitor earthworms will guide these citizen scientists in collecting data through a standardized tutorial system This mentor-based Citizen Science approach aims to not only gather extensive and high-quality data but also to empower individuals and communities to actively participate in environmental monitoring Boosting Data Availability: SoilRise will significantly increase the available data on earthworm biodiversity across Europe creating a comprehensive picture of their distribution and communities Raising Awareness: Engaging diverse communities in soil biodiversity monitoring programs will not only contribute to data collection but also raise awareness for the hidden life in the soil Understanding Earthworm Diversity: By comparing rural and urban environments considering land use types and management practices SoilRise seeks to understand the diversity patterns and threats to earthworms Identifying Species at Risk: SoilRise will contribute to red list assessments helping identify species at risk and developing tools for their protection Exploring Intraspecific Variability: Covering a vast West-East gradient in Europe SoilRise will explore variability within species and general diversity patterns Harmonizing Taxonomy: The project aims to harmonize the taxonomy of earthworms across Europe clarifying species identification using both traditional and cutting-edge DNA barcoding methods Social-Ecological Impact: Engaging students as mentors will create a ripple effect multiplying the socio-ecological impact of SoilRise It will evaluate scientific outputs and societal outcomes to understand the project's broader influence In a time of biodiversity depletion and climate change SoilRise provides a close monitoring of soil biodiversity and decision-makers in the scientific process SoilRise aims not only to contribute to ecological research but also to inspire a new generation of soil stewards This project paves the way for informed conservation decisions Martin Potthoff (Project lead Centre of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use Pia Euteneuer (SoilRise Austria) University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Kevin Hoeffner (SoilRise France) Morgane Hervé (Living Lab CLEF Olaf Schmidt (SoilRise Ireland) Agnieszka Józefowska (SoilRise Poland) Department of Soil Science and Agrophysics SoilRise Austria is funded by Austrian Science Fund (FWF) (No 6836-B) and Biodiversa+ (European Union under the Grant Agreement no Meinl-Reisinger nannte die knapp einstündige Unterredung vertraulich und sah ein gutes Gespräch Davor hatte sie neuerlich Regierungschef Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) attackiert habe dieser doch wieder einmal eine Krise im Land verursacht Am Zug sieht Meinl-Reisinger daher die ÖVP.