5_2_strict

Soils need to be protected for degradation and erosion by appropriate soil tillage and soil cover strategies maintaining the longest possible soil protection by crop or non-crop cover, without detriment to yield with minimum inputs of fertilisers and irrigation water. Soil protection should be sustainable under the local conditions and optimised locally.

In regions with leaching and erosion risks, an appropriate soil cover, (with adequate N-uptake capacity), must be maintained.

Where erosion damages are visible, a plan needs to be developed and implemented, describing and scheduling the measures to minimise erosion risks.

For perennial crops: use of cover crops is required, see 4.2.