Development and installation of innovative technologies for in situ soil remediation of saline coastal soils (in situ soil remediation in rice cultivation), while reducing irrigation water inputs, in areas that demonstrate resilience to desertification and adaptation to climate change, to increase and improve cultivated soils with parallel reduction of water, seed, fertilizer, plant protection and weed control inputs – Pilot application in rice cultivation – Sperechio Delta area of Anthili, Fthiotida

The project aims to develop in pilot form a mild, ecological and innovative technology for the rehabilitation of saline soils in coastal areas with simultaneous reduction of irrigation water inputs, genetic material (seeds), plant protection and fertilizer inputs, with the aim of extending it to all areas with similar problems

The agricultural production systems applied to rice cultivation have increased production to a certain extent, but are not sufficient to further increase the productivity of the crop. For this reason, there is an urgent need to introduce new technologies into agricultural production so that the crop can be further developed.

One of the most serious problems in Mediterranean rice growing is salinity, i.e. the concentration of high salt levels in rice fields, which can cause a significant reduction in yields.

In the delta of the Spiraeus, there is a high level of salt contamination of the soil.

The existing methodologies are that of leaching and/or flooding of soils.

The proposal concerns a combined innovative system of the two methods, with the introduction of a controlled flow and water level within a network of parallel linear channels, provided that the fields have been crop rotated.

The steps to be followed are:

Soil treatment: Tillage (15-20 cm deep) during autumn-winter and surface treatment with two harrowing operations.

Shaping of the paddy field: Channels are formed (53 channels per hectare of 50 cm depth, 40 cm width and 32 m length) along the field by first constructing embankments along the level curves and then by constructing the transverse embankments. The dykes are constructed by convergent ploughing and have a trapezoidal cross-section and a height of 15-50 cm, depending on the desired water level. The appropriate size is 4 acres. Within the canals, structures for water supply will be constructed and PE Φ75 10Atm total pipes will be installed.

Seeding : is done in lines within the channels of controlled level and flow with water of 5 cm height when the plants reach 15-20 cm height or earlier. After germination, maintain the water level at 7,5-10 cm

Weed control: Pre-sowing, pre-emergence and post-emergence without the need to drain the field every 2-3 days anymore, minimizing the water used

Maturation – Harvesting It takes place when the moisture content of the fruit is 18-25%, i.e. 25-35 days later

The innovative elements that will be implemented through the implementation of the pilot project are:

Introduction of precision farming techniques in rice cultivation
Development of a new standard methodology for rice cultivation, while reducing the necessary inputs of seeds, fertilizers, plant protection and weed control
Flushing soils of salt without massive flooding, provided it is done through the pipes in the canals with level and flow control.
Purification and enrichment of soils with nitrogen, balancing the PH of the soils and the possibility of using the soils with more productive crops within two years of the application of the method (e.g. stevia).
Purification and enrichment of soils with additional organic matter
Linear rice cultivation in a naturally protected way according to Asian methods
Constant control of water level and water flow throughout the growing cycle to achieve optimum plant growth conditions without any unnecessary use of water

– Development of a standard methodology for testing and monitoring of saline soils and benchmarking for their timely and accurate remediation

RESEARCH ON INNOVATIVE FARMING METHODOLOGIES & NEW TECHNOLOGIES

New technologies in rice cultivation Dr Dimitrios Katsantonis, Agronomist, Institute of Genetic Improvement & Plant Genetic Resources
Project “ERMES: An Earth observation Model based RicE information Service” (2014- 2017)
Research project entitled “Smart on-line water salinity measurement network to manage and protect rice fields”, SMART-PADDY or “The Smart Rice Field” (2011- 2013) ELGO DIMITRA
RICE-GUARD project “RICE-GUARD: In-field wireless sensor network to predict rice blast”, “The Guardian of Rice” (2013-2016).
Elesion practical research 2008-2017

RESEARCH ON WATERLOGGING AND PROBLEMATIC SOILS

AREAS WITH WATERLOGGING PROBLEMS WITHIN THE NATIONAL PARK OF EASTERN MACEDONIA AND THRACE EVANGELOS H. GALAZOULAS: GEOLOGIST, MSc PhD Candidate – Department of Environmental Engineering CHRISTOS P. PETALAS: GEOLOGIST, MSc, PhDAssociate Professor – Department of Environmental Engineering
GUIDELINES FOR INTEGRATED PLANT PROTECTION IN RICE CULTIVATION MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND FOOD MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND FOOD GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF PLANT PRODUCTION DIRECTORATE OF PLANT PRODUCTION PROTECTION
PROBLEMATIC SOILS AND WAYS OF IMPROVING THEM KALAMATA TECHNOLOGICAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY SCHOOL OF AGRONOMY TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF FLORICULTURE AND GREENHOUSE CROPS

INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH AND LITERATURE ADOPTED IN THIS FIELD

Shelley, I. J.; Takahashi-Nosaka, M.; Kano-Nakata, M.; Haque, M. S. and Inukai, Y. 2016.

With the project we estimate that it will be possible to reuse all the most arid and degraded soils (40% of Delta soils and 5% of other soils) while reducing irrigation water to 25%.

Specifically the total area is 47,547hr of which 35,000hr can potentially be cultivated.

Today, due to the phenomenon of waterlogging, about 25,000hr are cultivated, of which less than half are productive.

With the implementation of the project, about 10,000hr will be returned to farming and the yield will be improved to the total potential production of 25,000hr.

In terms of improving the economic performance of the project we have an increase in economic output which is 40% from the additional land and about 15% from improving the efficiency of the existing land.

Correspondingly the reduction in water consumption in these areas will be reduced by 25%. That is currently about 30 million cubic meters of water is required and a 25% reduction leads to a reduction in consumption of 7.5 million cubic meters.

The implementation of the project therefore contributes to increasing the efficiency and improving the competitiveness of farms.

Finally, as regards the improvement of the economic efficiency of agricultural crops, we estimate that we will reduce the amount of seeds required by about 15%.

Similarly, the reduction of fertilizers can potentially be estimated at over 40% from the first year onwards, with the aim of reaching up to 60% depending on the progress of soil improvement.

While at the level of crop protection, the use of plant protection products