Project group: Arable farming
Farms conducting research
Research partners
CONSULTING
Project duration
July 2026 to
June 2027
Project information
KOMPASS Hessen: Keeping Nitrogen in the System More Effectively
Legume-grass mixtures, such as clover-grass or alfalfa-grass, are valuable components of sustainable crop rotations. They supply the soil with nitrogen, promote soil fertility, and help control weeds. However, some of the fixed nitrogen can be lost during plowing, primarily through leaching.
This is exactly where KOMPASS Hessen comes in.
This project investigates how nitrogen losses following the plowing of legume-grass mixtures can be measured in a simple, reliable, and cost-effective manner. To this end, established measurement systems are being compared with homemade seepage water bags. The goal is to develop a method that is not only scientifically sound but also applicable on actual farms.
At the same time, seven farms in Hesse and the Frankenhausen Estate are testing a species-rich mixture of clover, alfalfa, grasses, and herbs. This mixture is being compared with the mixtures typically used on each farm. The study is examining stand development, yield, and nitrogen fixation under various site conditions.
The goal is to make it clear that:
- which mixtures work best at which locations,
- how nitrogen losses can be better tracked and prevented,
- and how legume-grass mixtures can be integrated more effectively into organic and conventional crop rotations.
KOMPASS Hessen combines research, consulting, and agricultural practice. The findings are intended to be directly incorporated into farms and into agricultural extension services throughout Hesse.
In this way, the project contributes to better soil and water protection, more stable crop rotations, and reduced dependence on inorganic nitrogen.
