The Experimental Station of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU) in Groß-Enzersdorf is conducting since 1997 the “Soil Tillage Experiment” in Raasdorf. The experiment is located north-east of Vienna in the western part of the “Marchfeld” which is among the most productive farming regions in Austria. The experiment comprises an area of 4.32 hectars (excluding pathways). The two factorial experiment is set up in split-plot design with tillage system as main-plot factor and crop rotation as sub-plot factor (two different rotations). The plots in the first replication have a size of 1440 m2 (24 × 60 m), the plots in the second, third and fourth replications have a size of 960 m2 (24 × 40m). Fertilization and plant protection regime are adapted to the particular crop requirements. The tillage variants include:

1. Conventional tillage: Ploughing in autumn or spring to a depth of 25–30 cm, followed by seedbed preparation and sowing. Residues are fully incorporated into the soil.
2. No-till: Direct drilling in un-tilled soil with a disc drill without previous removal of residues. A total herbicide is sprayed before sowing for weed control.
3. Conservation tillage with deep cultivation using a rigid tine cultivator. A high share of the plant residues remains on the soil surface.
4. Conservation tillage with shallow cultivation using a wing share cultivator. A high share of the plant residues remains on the soil surface.

A deep understanding of several aspects of the factors in this experiment is already available (see Chapter 1). What is missing is an assessment of environmental loads associated with tillage operations. This can be done by a life cycle assessment (LCA). This approach shall be followed in this project. The objective of this project are, therefore: 

• To assess the environmental load of different tillage treatments with LCA.
• To assess the environmental load of crop rotation with LCA.

LCA; Tillage; Soil; Crop production

Ing. Jaromír Bernas, Ph.D.