National Node - Slovenia

Scope of the National Node (NN): The Slovenian NN connects Operational Groups, research, advisory services, and municipalities working on sustainable soil management, nutrient efficiency, water protection, and climate-resilient agriculture. It focuses on practice-based innovation and on-farm testing, sharing ready-to-use solutions such as optimised manure management, cover crops, precision fertilisation and irrigation, biochar-based soil amendments, and conservation agriculture in alignment with the Slovenian AKIS and CAP Strategic Plan.

Members

  1. Innovative Practice of Fertilisation with Livestock Manure - This project develops and tests innovative slurry application practices on farms to reduce ammonia emissions and nitrogen losses, improving nutrient efficiency and lowering reliance on mineral fertilisers.
  2. Use of Zeolite in Arable Crop Rotations to Enhance Sustainability of Crop Production in Water Protection Areas - The project applies zeolite and diversified crop rotations in water protection zones to improve nutrient retention, reduce nitrogen leaching, and maintain high crop productivity under environmental constraints.
  3. HuMUs: Healthy Municipal Soils - An EU Mission Soil project engaging municipalities and regions to raise awareness, build capacity, and co-create local solutions for soil protection and restoration.
  4. Waste4Soil: Turning Food Waste into Sustainable Soil Improvers - The project develops circular solutions by valorising food-processing residues into locally adapted, eco-friendly soil improvers that enhance soil health and support sustainable food systems.
  5. Adaptation of Crop Production to Climate Change and Soil Protection - This project focuses on improving irrigation efficiency, soil water retention, and climate resilience through remote sensing, monitoring of nitrate leaching, and assessment of agronomic and economic impacts.
  6. Optimisation of Livestock Manure Use - The project improves nutrient management from liquid manure by optimising application timing and methods, reducing nitrate leaching, enhancing soil organic matter, and increasing resilience to climate stress.
  7. Integration of Cover Crops for Soil Greening in Arable Crop Rotations - A comparative project introducing overwintering cover crops—especially legumes—on farms without livestock to improve soil cover, nitrogen balance, and reduce mineral fertiliser use while maintaining yields.
  8. Precision Agriculture and Digitalisation for More Sustainable Crop and Vegetable Production- This project demonstrates how precision farming and digital tools reduce input use, emissions, and costs while improving productivity and supporting informed investment decisions at farm level.
  9. Precision Fertilisation and Spraying - The project tests variable-rate fertilisation and spraying technologies using soil scanning, remote sensing, GNSS machinery, and decision-support tools, alongside advisory guidelines and service-based business models.
  10. From Inter-Row Cover Crops to Healthy Plants and Sustainable Soil Use - The project promotes inter-row cover crops to enhance soil fertility, plant health, and climate resilience, reducing dependence on chemical inputs and improving resource-use efficiency.
  11. Sustainable Practice of Reclamation of Abandoned Agricultural Land Based on Precision Agriculture - This project restores degraded and abandoned farmland using precision agriculture techniques to improve soil fertility, reduce erosion, control invasive species, and expand productive land.
  12. Innovative Irrigation for Climate Change Adaptation of Agriculture with Sustainable Protection of Soil and Water Resources - The project develops water-efficient irrigation strategies, drought-resilient cropping solutions, and measures to reduce pollution and nitrate leaching into groundwater.
  13. Production and Use of Biochar on Farms and Establishment of Sustainably Fertile Soil through Vermicompost - The project produces and applies biochar and on-farm vermicompost to improve soil quality, increase carbon sequestration, and demonstrate climate mitigation benefits under practical farming conditions.
  14. Improvement of Slurry through the Use of Biochar - This project combines biochar and livestock manure to create an improved fertiliser with reduced odour, enhanced nutrient retention, and lower environmental impact.
  15. Development of Innovative Biochar-Based Fertilisers for Organic Vegetable Production - The project develops biochar-based fertilisers and composting approaches to improve soil structure, water retention, and climate resilience in organic horticultural systems.
  16. STRATUS: Connecting Advisors Across Europe on Integrated Fertilisation Management - An EU-wide project linking advisors to accelerate knowledge exchange on integrated fertilisation strategies that reduce nutrient losses while maintaining soil fertility.
  17. A Conservation Agriculture System in Organic Production without the Use of Herbicides - The project develops herbicide-free conservation agriculture practices addressing weed control, soil degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change in organic farming systems.