Climate-smart Management of Agricultural Soils

Climate-smart Management of Agricultural Soils

Thank you for taking your time! By completing the following 22-question formulary, you contribute personally to preserving innovative climate-smart management practices across the globe for future generations. Google Forms link→https://forms.gle/orPHyLkq98NV9R2YA
This questionnaire aims to compare the different challenges concerning carbon sequestration in agricultural soils and the techniques used to overcome these challenges. The main focus concerns soil carbon and fertility, but any other soil management practices are also welcome.

In the case you have expertise with more than one region or country which share conditions (e.g. management, climate, or challenges), please, pick the most unique among them for the questions with the word "region". You are also welcome to fill the formulary more than one time if you want to describe different areas.

In the case you feel some of the questions do not fit with the region, you can leave the ranking empty (that would mean a 0) and write a comment if needed.

The results of this survey will contribute to the research project EJP SOIL "Towards climate-smart sustainable agricultural management practices" at BOKU Vienna.

If you have any questions or problems, please feel free to contact the author of this survey anytime at ulises.esparza-robles@students.boku.ac.at

PS Your responses will be confidential and anonymous. No personal data will be stored or displayed anywhere
Let's get started!

The first fields are mainly to identify who answered the formulary and have the possibility to follow up the survey. A section of pedoclimatic condition will follow and at the end management practices will be ranked.
Name*

First NameLast Name
Contact details*
(e.g., email)
Field of expertise (e.g., Soil Science, sustainable Intensification)*
It can also be the field in which you are doing research currently. You can also mention your experience/interest in crops.
Country or region*
Please, select the country or region within a country where you are doing research, or where you have more soil management expertise.
Country or region
University or institute*
Position at the institute/University*

ResearcherProfessorOther
I am familiar with soil management practices in the selected region (s):

AfricaAsiaEuropeNorth AmericaSouth West PacificSouth AmericaOther
1. Which research field of agricultural soil management are you more familiar with?*

Soil and climate change mitigationSoil and climate change adaptationSoils, sustainable agricultural production and food securitySoils, environment and ecosystems servicesLand and soil restoration, soil fertility, and soil erosion prevention
2. What major climatic zone (World Köppen classification) fits best with your expertise? A: Tropical; B: Dry; C: Temperate; D: Continental.

Af Permanent wetAm MonsoonalAs Dry summerAw Dry WinterBSh Warm semi-aridBSk Cold semi-aridBWh Warm fully aridBWk Cold fully aridCf Permanent wetCs Dry summerCw Dry winterDf Permanent wetDs Dry summerDw Dry winterOther
3. If known, what are the main soils orders (Soil Taxonomy) with which you have had contact?

Unclassified soilsAlfisolsAndisolsAridisolsEntisolsGelisolsHistosolsInceptisolsMollisolsOxisolsSpodosolsUltisolsVertisolsOther

4. How do you rate soil monitoring programs in the selected country?

	0	1	2	3	4	5

0 is 0-completely lacking, 1-very poor, 2-poor,, 5 is 3- good, 4-very good, 5-excellent

5. How often do farmers monitor of soil properties in selected country?

	0	1	2	3	4	5

0 is 0-never, 1-properties rarely monitored, 2-once every two years, , 5 is 3-once per year, 4-twice per year 5-more than twice per year

Further details for questions 4 and 5 about monitoring of soil properties (when necessary)

6. How do you rate the importance of soil properties information in your research?

	0	1	2	3	4	5

0 is 0- possible to do research without them, 1-as extra information, 2-to find possible trends,, 5 is 3- useful, 4- essential, 5-central focus of the research

7. What are the major land resource stresses which you are familiar with?

High shrink/swell potentialLow organic matterHigh temperaturesSeasonally excess of waterMinor root restricting layerSeasonal/continuous low temperaturesLow structural stabilityHigh anion exchange capacityImpeded drainageSeasonal/continuous moisture stressHigh aluminiumCalcareous, gypseus conditionExcessive nutrient leachingLow nutrient holding capacityHigh retention (nutrients)Acid sulfate conditionLow moisture and nutrient statusHigh organic matterSalinity/alkalinityShallow soilsSteep lands
8. What would you consider the most important challenge for in the selected country?
You can be as specific as you prefer.

9. What is the importance of the following soil threats in the selected country?*

	1: low relevance	2	3	4	5: high relevance
Organic matter decline
Soil erosion
Salinization
Soil pollution
Land slides
Soil sealing
Biodiversity loss
Soil compaction

10. In your opinion, how detrimental are the following practices to SOC sequestration in arable lands for the selected country? *

	1: low severity	2	3	4	5: high severity
Intensive mineral fertilization
Lack of organic matter input
Intensive tillage practices
Monoculture cropping systems
Heavy machinery use

Other detrimental soil management practices
You can use this space for other detrimental practices or for more details about your region.

11. What is the performance of the following groupings of soil management practices in mitigating the threat(s) in the selected country?*

	1: low effectiveness	2	3	4	5: high effectiveness
Crop diversification
Tillage (no-till/non-inversion...)
Organic amendments (possible to specify)
Nutrient Management
Rotational grazing
Agroforestry
Innovative farming systems

Unique/traditional outstanding soil management practices in the area:
Please, use this space to explain the practice(s).

12. Please, rate the following crop diversification practices for the selected region.*

	1: seldom used	2	3	4	5: widely used
Crop rotation
Cover/catch cropping
Strip cropping
Mixed cropping
Inter cropping
Green manures

Unique/traditional crop diversification or vegetative practices
Please, use this space to explain the practice(s) (e.g., species used).

13. To what extent are the following tillage practices used in the selected region?*

	1: seldom used	2	3	4	5: widely used
No tillage
Reduced/minimum tillage
Moldboard plow
Inversion tillage

Unique/traditional tillage practices
Please, use this space to explain the practice(s).

14. What is the popularity of the following organic amendment practices for the selected region?*

	1: seldom used	2	3	4	5: widely used
Farmyard manure
Compost
Vermicompost
Animal dung slurry
Green mulching
Crop residues
Biochar
Biofertilizers
Mineral fertilizers
Integrated fertilizer management

Details (e.g. amount per ha) or explanation of unique/traditional amendment practices
Please, use this space to explain the practice(s).

15. When applicable, how popular are the following agroforestry practices in the selected region?

	1: seldom used	2	3	4	5: widely used
Alley cropping
Wind breaks/Hedge tree rows
Shade trees
Shelter belts

Unique/traditional agroforestry practices or comments (e.g., species used)
Please, use this space to explain the practice(s).

16. How used are the following innovative farming practices are for the selected country or region?*

	1: seldom used	2	3	4	5: widely used
Integrated farming systems (crop-animal model)
Biodynamic farming
Vrikshayurvedic farming
Zero-budget natural farming
Precision farming
Permaculture
Regenerative farming

IMPORTANT! -> 16a. Is there a specific set of unique (or innovative) farming practices for soil management (e.g., enhancing carbon sequestration, control erosion, optimize water management) in the selected country or region (even as isolated examples)?*
Please, take a minute to answer this question. Is there any practices which are not very common in other countries or regions? Write the name and/or a brief description of the practice(s). Examples that avoid C loss, increase fertility or organic matter.

17. When selecting soil management practices in the selected country or region, to what extent do you seek to improve the following properties?*

	1: not crucial to improve	2	3	4	5: crucial focus of improvement
Aggregate stability
Porosity
Water holding capacity
Soil carbon stock
Soil nutrients
pH
Soil faunal diversity
Soil microbial diversity

Would you select other aims or motivations when implementing practices?
Which ones?

18. Determinants of the chosen soil management practices in the selected country or region: *

	1: low relevance	2	3	4	5: high relevance
Soil Texture
Topography
Climate
Crop
Long tradition
Socioeconomical factors

Is there any reason why new practices cannot be incorporated in the country or region?
Please, write here the reasons if any.

19. What would you consider as knowledge gaps or main neglected points important for the selected country (farmer/policy view)? Lack of...*

	1: no lack/not neglected	2	3	4	5: relevant lack/highly neglected
Climate and region-specific policies
Tailor-made policies for specific soil types
Up-to-date fertilizer/manure guidelines
Coordination between policy makers and researchers
Knowledge sharing between researchers and farmers
Cost-effectiveness and applicability of soil-improving practices
Economic incentives to farmers

What kind of knowledge is needed?
What else is missing?

20. What are the possible causes of the existing knowledge gap in the selected country? Lack of...*

	1: no lack/not a reason	2	3	4	5: significant absence
Scientific papers
Policy advice/briefs
Long-term field sites for reserch
Advisory services
International cooperation
Stakeholder participation
Soil data acquisition and harmonization
Open soil databases
Standard protocols for soil analyses

Is there something else hampering the development of knowledge?

21. What are the most relevant needs for stakeholders (farmers) in the selected region?*

	1: low relevance	2	3	4	5: high relevance
Knowledge
Training
Soil data
Field demonstrations
Incentives

Other relevant needs for farmers:
22. In your opinion, what would be the current and future policy needs for the selected country/region?*
Thank you very much for your contribution!

Please, feel free to share the link with your colleagues! Some final requests if you want to contribute a little more with the survey.
Any feedback or comments?
Websites, projects or organizations you know dealing with climate-smart soil management in countries outside Europe
Please, write here the possible literature that can give a good idea of the situation in the selected region/country or any authors you recommend to contact.
Have you visited or do you have contact with farmers applying climate-smart management for agricultural soils in your region?

Yes, I can provide the contact if neededUnfortunately notOther
Would you have time for a video call in case of any follow up?

A video call is fineI would prefer emailNo, thank youOther
Would your be interested to collaborate with EJP SOIL global consortium in future projects?

YesNoOther
If "yes", which of the following areas would you be interested in or need to addressed in your country or region?

Soil organic carbon processes (C stabilisation, role of soil biota, GHG emissions)Sustainable management (crop diversity, tillage, fertilization, monitoring)Barriers (data harmonization, technological, scaling up, economic, socio-cultural)Other
Explanation of the pivotal research need(s) and objective(s) in the selected country, and the reason why collaboration with EJP SOIL is useful?
Should be Empty:

Climate-smart Management of Agricultural Soils

Let's get started!

Thank you very much for your contribution!