Demonstration Areas

Based on knowledge from the validation areas, the entire MapField concept will be tested in selected demonstration areas. Relevant local stakeholders will be included in the process. Stakeholder engagement is important, as the goal of the MapField concept is to select and place measures (such as catch crops, mini-wetlands, etc.) in the landscape optimally, in order to efficiently reduce the losses of nutrients to the aquatic environment.

In the demonstration areas, the underground is mapped to a depth of approx. 70 meters below the fields to obtain detailed knowledge of the location of sand, clay etc. (See picture 1). This is important knowledge in order to understand the transport of water. Furthermore, subsurface redox zones (i.e. whether oxic or anoxic conditions are present) are delineated and reduction rates of nitrate is measured (See picture 2). This knowledge is important in order to determine the transport of nitrate to rivers, lakes and fjords.

Based on the data from the geophysical mapping, redox zonation etc. complex, site specific models are setup and detailed retention maps for the demonstration areas are produced. The maps are presented to farmers and other stakeholders to discuss practical application in relation to agricultural production.

In the MapField project, two demonstration areas consisting of ID15 catchments have been selected. The demonstration areas are located side by side north of Skive which is illustrated on picture 3. Read more about the two demonstration areas below.

^{Picture 1: Geophysical mapping of the soil}

^{Picture 2: Redox conditions are investigated using a drilling rig}

Two demonstration areas

Demonstration area 1: Hulebro Bæk

With an area of 1129 ha Demo site 1 (Hulebro Bæk) is the smaller of the two Demo sites in the MapField-project, where Demo site 2 (Hagens Møllebæk) has an area of 2762 ha.

Download the description and the figures and tables associated with the Demonstration area 1- Hulebro Bæk (pdf).

The land use in general
Demo site 1 is dominated by agriculture (88.82%, table 1) followed by urban settlement (9.86%) and some nature (i.e. forest, grassland and wetlands) (Figure 2). The share of agriculture is above the national average of approximately 63%.

^{Figure 2: Land use in Hulebro Bæk in 2018}

Soil types
Four out of the 11 soil types are present in the area. The north and the south are characterized by sandy soils, whereas the central part is clay soil (Figure 3). The dominating soil types are ”Fine clayly sand soil” and ”Fine sandy clay soil” which constitutes 52.39% and 46.26% of the area respectively (table 2).
(See table 2 in the area description)

^{Figure 3: Soil types of Hulebro Bæk}

Carbon content of the soil
The carbon content of soils is of great importance, as soils with high carbon content has a tendency to emit more carbon dioxide than soils with low carbon content when cultivated. Why, it has been suggested that soils with high soil organic carbon (SOC) content should be taken out of production.
Mineral soils with under 6% SOC are dominating the area (99.70%, table 3) where only a low share of the area has between 6 and 12% SOC (0.28%, table 3) or above 12% SOC (0.02%, table 3).
See table 3 in the description of demonstration area 1.

^{Figure 4:Organic carbon content of soils – Soil Organic Crabon (SOC) in Hulebro Bæk}

Agriculture
In both 2018 and 2019 83% of the area in Hulebro Bæk was registered in the Internet Markkort Database. The five crops most widely farmed besides grass is shown in table 4 which you can see in the description of the demonstration area. Cereals were the primary choice of crops in both 2018 and 2019 - 65.3% and 48.9% of the area respectively. Winter crops (incl. winter rape) made up 40.6% and 61.6% of the area in 2018 and 2019 respectively. The share of non-productive areas (MFO) decreased from 0.3% to 0.2% from 2018-19.

Demonstration area 2: Hagens Møllebæk

With an area of 2762 ha Demo site 2 (Hagens Møllebæk) is the larger of the two demo sites in the MapField-project, where Demo site 1 (Hulebro Bæk) has an area of 1129 ha.

Read the Site description and the figures and tables accociated with the description of Demonstration area 2 - Hagens Møllebæk.

The land use in general
Demo site 2 is dominated by agriculture (87.2%, table 1) followed by urban settlement (10.7%) and some nature (i.e. forest, grassland and wetlands) (Figure 2). The share of agriculture is above the national average of approximately 63%.

^{Figure 2: General Land use in Hagens Møllebæk from 2018}

Soil types

Seven out of the 11 soil types are present in the area. The northern and the southwestern parts are characterized by clay soils, whereas the southeastern part is sandy soils (Figure 3). The dominating soil types are ”Fine sandy clay soil” and ”Fine clayly sand soil” which constitutes 50.32% and 46.48% of the area respectively (table 2). (See table 2 in the site description)

^{Figure 3: Soil types of Hagens Møllebæk}

Carbon content of the soil
The carbon content of soils is of great importance, as soils with high carbon content has a tendency to emit more carbon dioxide than soils with low carbon content when cultivated. Why, it has been suggested that soils with high soil organic carbon (SOC) content should be taken out of production.
Mineral soils with under 6% SOC are dominating the area (97.62%, table 3) where only a low share of the area has between 6 and 12% SOC (1.64%, table 3) or above 12 % SOC (0.74%, table 3). See table 3 i the site description.

^{Figure 4: Organic carbon content of soils – Soil Organic Crabon (SOC) in Hagens Møllebæk}

Agriculture
In both 2018 and 2019 82% of the area in Hagens Møllebæk was registered in the Internet Markkort Database. The five crops most widely farmed besides grass is shown in table 4 which you can see in the Site description. Cereals were the primary choice of crops in both 2018 and 2019 - 63.3% and 59.0% of the area respectively. Winter crops (incl. winter rape) made up 42.3% and 54.9% of the area in 2018 and 2019 respectively. The share of non-productive areas (MFO, forestry, nature areas and recreational areas) increased from 0.5% to 1.0% from 2018-19.