Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung (BLE)
Deutsche Innovationspartnerschaft Agrar Programm (DIP)
28.04.2022 till 14.07.2025
Nadine Feuerbach
Project description
As part of the Carbon Tillage joint project, a reversible plow functional model for partial crumb deepening (pKV) is to be developed up to the pilot series. With the carbon farming plow to be used melioratively, additional C sequestration in soils is initiated by mixing mineral subsoil into the working horizon, thus achieving a CO2 sink effect. The plow thus has the potential to make a significant contribution to climate protection in the landscape.
In order to ensure a rapid dissemination of the developed pKV process in agricultural practice, agrathaer supports the project in setting up and consolidating an “innovation network for soil cultivation” and provides professional support for the project in knowledge transfer and public relations work.
Further material is available here:
TopAgrar article “Accumulating carbon with the plow?”
LUMBRICO “New ways to store humus”
Latest news
Great interest in the Carbon Farming plow at the DLG Field Days 2024
From 11.6. -13.6.2024 the CarbonTillage team presented the Carbon Farming plow at the DLG Field Days under the theme “Crop production out of the box” at Gut Brockhof near Erwitte. Farmers from all over Germany showed great interest in the melioration plow. In individual and group discussions, we explained the operating principle of “partial crumb deepening” and its technological implementation to practitioners. Young and experienced farmers alike were particularly impressed by the agronomic effect of a sustainable break-up of the crumb base compaction. The simultaneous increase in soil fertility and the CO2 reduction effect were discussed intensively. Several farmers offered their own land for site-specific practical trials with the CF plow.
Carbon Tillage presents itself at the Green Week in Berlin
The Carbon Farming plow was presented with LEMKEN at the “Innovative Agricultural Technology” stand at the IGW “ErlebnisBauernhof”. A well-attended hall and lively discussions characterized the days at the trade fair. Almost100,000 visitors flocked to the Berlin exhibition grounds on the first three days of the event. Many farmers expressed interest in using the CF plow on their land. Some prominent political figures also showed interest. Right at the beginning, Mr. Wüst (MP NRW) informed himself about the Carbon Farming plough. Olaf Scholz also stopped by the joint agricultural machinery stand.
CarbonTillage very successful at AGRITECHNICA 2023!
From 12.11.-18.11.2023, the CarbonTillage project presented the innovative carbon farming plow at the world’s leading trade fair for agricultural technology AGRITECHNICA in Hanover (Hall 11, Stand 43). Together with the project partner LEMKEN, the partial crumb deepening to increase soil fertility and yields as well as for sustainable climate protection was explained to visitors.
More than 300 visitors used the CF plough model and a soil profile to discuss the method and effectiveness of partial crumb deepening with Prof. Dr. Michael Sommer, Dr. Andreas Baur and Marisa Gerriets. Farmers, contractors, representatives of the authorities, scientists, students and climate activists from Germany and abroad were impressed by the method, in particular by the substantial contribution of the innovative CF plow, which can be used for meliorative purposes, to a sustainable increase in humus reserves – and thus CO2 reduction – in agricultural soils.
One highlight was certainly the visit to the stand by the Federal Minister of Agriculture, Cem Özdemir, who came to see the technological innovation for carbon farming for himself.
Many farmers signaled their interest in using the CF plough on their land. They will now become part of the “Soil Tillage Innovation Network”.
The CarbonTillage project is funded by the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) as part of the “German Innovation Partnership Agriculture (DIP)”.
Active Exchange at the Practice Day in Oder-Spree District, Brandenburg
On October 5, 2023, as part of the joint project Carbon Tillage, a field day took place in Beerfelde. It began with a project presentation by Nadine Feuerbach (agrathaer GmbH) and Dr. Michael Sommer (Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF)) at the premises of Fürstenwalder Agrarprodukte GmbH Beerfelde. Participants from agricultural practice were informed about the innovative plowing method of partial topsoil deepening (pKV) using the Carbon Farming Plow (CF Plow) and received detailed insights into data on yield effects. During a subsequent visit to the field with a demonstration of the technology, practitioners, technicians, and scientists exchanged views on the potential advantages and disadvantages of its application.
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| Co-developer Dr. Andreas Baur (third from the left) explains the functional technology of the CF Plow, Source: agrathaer GmbH |
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| Tractor with Carbon Farming Plow, Source: ZALF |
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