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Land Management Measures (LMM) refer to agricultural management practices that modify soil and crop management over time in order to influence hydrological and nutrient processes at field and catchment scales. Unlike structural interventions, these measures do not rely on permanent infrastructure but operate through adjustments in farming practices.
Within OPTAIN, Land Management Measures were explicitly parameterised in the modelling framework and assessed under different climatic and environmental conditions. In several case studies, these measures demonstrated high effectiveness in simulation results, particularly in improving soil moisture dynamics and reducing sediment and phosphorus losses.
Representative examples of Land Management Measures assessed in OPTAIN include:
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Reduced or No Tillage (including mulching)
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Cover Crops
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Crop Rotation Adjustments
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Drought-Tolerant Crop Varieties
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Conversion of arable land to grassland
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Adjusted sowing periods (e.g., early sowing scenarios)
Reduced or no tillage practices, often combined with cover crops, were shown in several modelling exercises to significantly reduce sediment transport and phosphorus losses, while also improving summer soil moisture conditions. These effects are particularly relevant under projected climate change scenarios where water availability becomes more variable.
Cover crops contribute to improved soil structure, enhanced infiltration, and reduced nutrient leaching. Drought-tolerant crop varieties increase resilience under water-stress conditions and can stabilise productivity in climate stress scenarios.
It is important to emphasise that all reported effects within OPTAIN are derived from process-based model simulations and optimisation analyses. The performance of Land Management Measures depends strongly on local soil characteristics, climate conditions, and spatial allocation within the catchment. Their effectiveness is therefore context-specific and evaluated within the modelling environment rather than through field implementation.
Due to their flexibility, relatively low infrastructure requirements, and strong performance in several optimisation analyses, Land Management Measures represent a central component of many modelled NSWRM portfolios within OPTAIN.