EFELE is a long-term field experiment dedicated to quantifying effects of organic residue application in agriculture. EFELE is one the experimental site of the SOERE PRO network (https://www6.versailles-grignon.inra.fr/ecosys_eng/Research/Disciplinary-groups/Soil-Science/PRO/Observatoire-SOERE-PRO).
The experimental site allow for measuring long-term evolution of agrosystems after repeated applications of organic residues derived from animal wastes (slurries, composts, manures) and undergoing various treatments (none, composting, anaerobic digestion). EFELE provides data to (1) better estimate effects of regular applications of organic products on organic matter dynamics and potential C storage in soils, biogeochemical cycles of nutrients (C, N, P), the fate of potentially present chemical and biological contaminants, and soil biological activity and (2) simulate long-term consequences of regular applications and integrate them into environmental analyses, which will (3) allow a variety of alternative scenarios of application to be tested. EFELE is equipped to monitor the hydrodynamic functioning of soil (TDR probes, tensiometers, temperature sensors, lysimeters) and emissions of N2O and CO2 gas (measurement chambers).
The experimental site was established in 2012 and is located in Le Rheu. The soil is loamy (neoluvisol to luvisol/redoxisol). The field is cultivated with a maize/wheat crop rotation, and white mustard is sown after the wheat to cover the soil during the intercropping period.
Two trials are underway at the EFELE site:
- PROs is designed as a complete randomized block design with 4 replicates. The effects of 5 typical animal wastes are compared to control treatments: i) cattle farmyard manure and composted pig manure are applied every 2 years before maize sowing; and ii) chicken manure, pig slurry and a digestate obtained after pig slurry digestion are applied in spring. The animal wastes are applied to wheat in early spring or after wheat and just before maize sowing.
- TS/MO is designed as a band trial with 3 replicates. Its objectives are to study effects of applications of cattle farmyard manure on soil properties under conventional tillage and reduced tillage.