1. The monitoring of the effectiveness on soil protection of different crop management strategies in the Sicilian Region MID-TERM MEETING OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE 16-17TH OF MAY 2012 CRA-ABP, Research Centre for Agrobiology and Pedology Piazza D’Azeglio 30, Firenze

2. Main Agri-Environmental Measures (AEM) applied in Sicily which have positive effects on soil quality Conservation of traditional farmed landscape Conservation of terraced areas Establishment and maintenance of buffer strips and fences along watercourses Conversion of arable land to permanent grassland Reforestation of landslide risk areas Low input farming

3. AEM AEM Low input farming Arable land – required compliance Contour plowing (respect to the lines of maximum slope) Realization of furrows (drainage channels) every 40 metres (cross-compliance requirement) Two-years crop rotation using leguminous cover crops or green manure of leguminous every 3 years Limitation of burning stubble

4. AEM AEM Low input farming Fruit orchards – required compliance Creation and maintenance of buffer strips Annual green manure of leguminous or mixed with graminaceous, in alternate rows Chopping pruning residues and moving them into the soil

5. Pilot Area

6. Most common crop system in Pilot Area – Vineyard – Arable land (Wheat) – Olive tree

7. Farmed landscape in pilot area