Code
A09
Sector
Agriculture
The complete description of the NWRM
Summary

Early sowing refers to sowing up to six weeks before the normal sowing season.  This allows for an earlier and quicker establishment of winter crops that can provide cover over winter and of a root network that leads to soil protection.  The period in which the soil lies bare is shorter and, therefore, erosion and run-off are less significant and water infiltration is improved.  Early sowing can also help to mitigate summer drought impacts on spring sown crops, in particular the extreme evapotranspiration rates of Mediterranean regions.  However, early sown plants are frost sensitive; therefore farmers run the risk of losing the crops because of the low temperatures.  In northern countries, temperature in spring (March) can be adequate but the risk of frost is still serious until May. The low temperatures in northern countries may also delay crop establishment in spring crops resulting in an increased risk of soil erosion, avoiding cultivation and retaining residues from preceding crops may be preferable.  Therefore, early sowing may require specific tools (plastic tunnel covers, onsite green house, etc.) and cannot be applied by all farmers for all crops. Early sowing of spring crops may also require different cultivation techniques (reduced tillage, controlled traffic farming) as soils are likely to be saturated before usual sowing times increasing the risk of soil compaction.

 

Restrictions on early sowing of winter crops include the harvest date of the preceding crop (particularly root crops) which may be later in northern Europe. For both spring and winter crops, early sowing involves a number of trade-offs. For example, different pest and disease risks arise that might require changes in management.

Illustration(s)

 

Early sowed barley (India)

Source: http://sowasia.org/sowing-seeds-early/

Possible benefits with level
Benefits Level
BP2 - Slow runoff
High
BP5 - Increase evapotranspiration
Medium
BP6 - Increase infiltration and/or groundwater recharge
Low
BP7 - Increase soil water retention
High
BP10 - Reduce erosion and/or sediment delivery
High
BP11 - Improve soils
Medium
BP17 - Absorb and/or retain CO2
Medium
ES6 - Groundwater/aquifer recharge
Medium
ES7 - Flood risk reduction
High
ES8 - Erosion/sediment control
High
ES9 - Filtration of pollutants
Medium
ES10 - Recreational opportunities
Medium
PO3 - Improving status of hydromorphology quality elements
Medium
PO5 - Improving quantitative status
Low
PO7 - Prevent surface water status deterioration
Medium
PO8 - Prevent groundwater status deterioration
Low
PO9 - Take adequate and co-ordinated measures to reduce flood risks
High
PO11 - Better protection for ecosystems and more use of Green Infrastructure
High
PO12 - More sustainable agriculture and forestry
Medium
PO14 - Prevention of biodiversity loss
Medium

Case studies per NWRM