Action 3: On-farm cover-crops assessment

Action 3 will make it possible to check whether the expected characteristics of the plants (covering rate, effect on weeds, etc.) recorded in action 1 and 2 are found on the different production sites. Moreover, this action will make it possible to obtain new data essential for the transfer of the created routes: effects on the yield, on the populations of pests and auxiliaries on the cultivated plants, on their cost ...

3.1 Behavior of the ground covers

The characteristics of the different cover crops in real situation (soil covering rate, weed competition, entomofauna associated ...) will be compared to those determined in action 1 and 2. This will validate the robustness of the characteristics of cover-crops and to identify the situations to favor.

3.2 Effect of ground cover on crops

Here are the parameters relating to culture that will be studied. This will evaluate the effects of cover crops selected in Action 1 and 2 on crops. For example, we will study the effect of a ground cover on the vigor and yield of perennial crops. For effects concerning biodiversity, we will study the procession of pests and auxiliaries on crops.