AUSTRIA
Fuchsenbigl
Assessment of the effects of different tillage intensities/practices.
Location
Lower Austria (48,197695; 16,746314)
Land use
Agriculture - Arable
Soil type
Calcaric Chernozem
Partners
AGES – Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety
AUSTRIA
Grand Farm
Assessment of tillage methods and a diverse range of soil conservation practices.
Location
Lower Austria (48,39289; 15,97015)
Land use
Agriculture
Soil type
Czernosem
Partners
AGES – Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety
AUSTRIA
Zöbelboden
Assessment of effects of air pollution and climate change on mountain forest ecosystems.
Location
Upper Austria (47,84167; 14,44167)
Land use
Forestry
Soil type
Lithic and Rendzic Leptosols
Partners
AGES – Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety
CZECH REPUBLIC
Brno City Gardens
Survey of private and community gardens to determine the condition of soils and their pollution content.
Location
Brno (49,19506; 16,60684)
Land use
Urban
Soil type
Technosol/chernozem/fluvisol – loamy soils
Partners
Masarykova Univerzita - RECETOX & CzechGlobe
FINLAND
JOK
Assessment of the impacts of diversifying cereal crop rotations on yield (biomass and quality) and soil health.
Location
Southwest Finland (60,80672; 23,46927)
Land use
Agriculture
Soil type
Stagnosol
Partners
LUKE (Natural Resources Institute Finland)
FINLAND
NorPeat
Study of various environmental effects of cultivated peatlands.
Location
Northern Finland (64,68402; 25,10645)
Land use
Agriculture
Soil type
Histosol/Umbrisol
Partners
LUKE (Natural Resources Institute Finland)
FINLAND
Ränskälänkorpi
Evaluation of harvesting systems on boreal drained peatland forests.
Location
Southern Finland (61,18; 25,26)
Land use
Forestry
Soil type
Peatland
Partners
LUKE (Natural Resources Institute Finland)
FRANCE
Nancy Forest: Darney
Assessing the impact of soil compaction on forest growth and health, and on biogeochemical cycles and soil and vegetation biodiversity.
Location
Grand Est (48,0744226; 6,1767022)
Land use
Forestry
Soil type
Dystric Cambisol
Partners
INRAE
FRANCE
Nancy Forest: Champenoux
Assessment of the long-term effects of intense biomass exports on soil fertility and biodiversity, tree growth and health.
Location
Grand Est (48,7215359; 6,3408042)
Land use
Forestry
Soil type
Dystric Cambisol
Partners
INRAE
FRANCE
Nancy Urban
Comparing the results of 4 soil desealing methods to test the ability of desealed soils to revert to a multifunctional state.
Location
Grand Est (48,67962; 6,16994)
Land use
Urban
Soil type
Ekranic Technosol
Partners
INRAE & Université de Lorraine
FRANCE
Qualiagro Feucherolles
Studying the effects of repeated application of organic soil amendments and fertilisers.
Location
Ile de France (Paris Area) (48,89646581; 1,972104779)
Land use
Agriculture
Soil type
Luvisol
Partners
INRAE
FRANCE
Parc Suzanne Lenglen
Tracking soil biodiversity by observing changes in the roofs and the park, and in the management practices implemented.
Location
Ile de France (Paris Area) (48,830355; 2,271274)
Land use
Urban
Soil type
Technosol
Partners
INRAE & AgroParisTech
GERMANY
Lietzen
Comparison of soil charactersitics between soils with conventional tillage (depth 25 cm) and soils with reduced tillage (depth 15-18 cm).
Location
Brandenburg (52,48333; 14,35)
Land use
Agriculture
Soil type
Luvisol
Partners
ZALF
GERMANY
PatchCROP
Comparison of adapted crop rotation and pesticide reduction with smaller field sizes.
Location
Brandenburg (52,44774; 14,14405)
Land use
Agriculture
Soil type
Albic, Eutric Retisol, Arenosol
Partners
ZALF
ITALY
Castel Volturno
Evaluation of the performance of different hybrids of maize in relation to three different managements: monoculture, green manure use, composting.
Location
Campania (41,06501; 13,99326)
Land use
Agriculture
Soil type
Vertic Cambisol and Chromic Vertisol
Partners
CNR & Uniniversità di Napoli
ITALY
Parete School
Assessing the state of soils in different areas and testing different management strategies for the recovery of degraded urban soils.
Location
Caserta, Napoli (40,957338; 14,164283)
Land use
Urban
Soil type
Vitric Andosols
Partners
CNR & Uniniversità di Napoli Federico II
NETHERLANDS
Flevoland
Testing soil health indicators by comparing a strip cropping system with a monocultural system.
Location
Flevoland (52,39495; 5,31691)
Land use
Agriculture
Soil type
Clay soil
Partners
Wageningen University & Research / ERF BV
NETHERLANDS
Peat Meadow
Increasing the adoption of regenerative grassland management activities to promote soil quality.
Location
West-Netherlands (52,17613; 4,81618)
Land use
Agriculture
Soil type
Peat
Partners
WUR / Commonland / Wij.Land
NORWAY
Nordmarka
Assessment of impacts of climate change and management impacts on soil biodiversity, carbon and soil properties.
Location
Østlandet (59,99934; 10,67753)
Land use
Forestry
Soil type
Different types
Partners
Norwegian Institute for Nature Research
NORWAY
Oslo
Assessing key properties of soils in green areas and features, especially those related to carbon uptake and storage and other regulating functions of urban soils.
Location
Oslo (59,9146562354323; 10,7462269545509)
Land use
Urban
Soil type
Different types
Partners
Norwegian Institute for Nature Research
PORTUGAL
Idanha-a-Nova
Assessing different management practices and the impact of irrigated versus non-irrigated agriculture.
Location
Beira Baixa (39,86112; -7,16837)
Land use
Agriculture
Soil type
Dystric Cambisols
Partners
Universidade de Coimbra
PORTUGAL
Lynx
Evaluating the fire management regime in two different types of forests, using a control area with “no management”.
Location
Serra da Estrela e Beira Baixa (40.293530; -7,075376)
Land use
Agrosilvopastoral mosaic
Soil type
Humic Cambisols
Partners
Universidade de Coimbra
SPAIN
La Junquera
Comparing the impact of different management practices (green covers and tillage) on soil health, water stress, and productivity in almond production.
Location
Murcia (37,95664; -2,17336)
Land use
Agriculture
Soil type
Haplic Calcisol, Petric Calcisol and Calcaric Regosol
Partners
CSIC / Regeneration Academy / Commonland
SPAIN
La Rogativa
Evaluating soil health under different forest types and assessing the relevance of soil health for climate change adaptation and mitigation objectives.
Location
Murcia (38,10186; -2,24608)
Land use
Forestry
Soil type
Calcaric Cambisol; Calcaric Regosol; Calcaric Leptosol
Partners
CSIC / La Junquera / Commonland
SWITZERLAND
Aesch
Comparison of conventional ploughing with reduced tillage and slurry with mineral fertilisation at two fertilisation intensities.
Location
Basel (47,481854; 7,57959)
Land use
Agriculture
Soil type
Luvisol
Partners
FIBL
SWITZERLAND
Frick
Comparison of reduced vs. conventional tillage, manure vs. slurry fertilisation and biodynamic preparations vs. no preparations.
Location
Basel (47,511983; 8,023667)
Land use
Agriculture
Soil type
Cambisoil
Partners
FIBL
SWITZERLAND
Northwestern Switzerland
Monitoring forest health in plots with different climatic conditions in precipitation, temperature, and differences in soil and presence of air pollutants.
Location
Rodersdorf, Solothurn (47,4943; 7,43092)
Land use
Forestry
Soil type
Different types
Partners
IAP & FIBL
-
AUSTRIA
Fuchsenbigl
Assessment of the effects of different tillage intensities/practices.
Location
Lower Austria (48,197695; 16,746314)
Land use
Agriculture - Arable
Soil type
Calcaric Chernozem
Partners
AGES – Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety
-
AUSTRIA
Grand Farm
Assessment of tillage methods and a diverse range of soil conservation practices.
Location
Lower Austria (48,39289; 15,97015)
Land use
Agriculture
Soil type
Czernosem
Partners
AGES – Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety
-
AUSTRIA
Zöbelboden
Assessment of effects of air pollution and climate change on mountain forest ecosystems.
Location
Upper Austria (47,84167; 14,44167)
Land use
Forestry
Soil type
Lithic and Rendzic Leptosols
Partners
AGES – Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety
-
CZECH REPUBLIC
Brno City Gardens
Survey of private and community gardens to determine the condition of soils and their pollution content.
Location
Brno (49,19506; 16,60684)
Land use
Urban
Soil type
Technosol/chernozem/fluvisol – loamy soils
Partners
Masarykova Univerzita - RECETOX & CzechGlobe
-
FINLAND
JOK
Assessment of the impacts of diversifying cereal crop rotations on yield (biomass and quality) and soil health.
Location
Southwest Finland (60,80672; 23,46927)
Land use
Agriculture
Soil type
Stagnosol
Partners
LUKE (Natural Resources Institute Finland)
-
FINLAND
NorPeat
Study of various environmental effects of cultivated peatlands.
Location
Northern Finland (64,68402; 25,10645)
Land use
Agriculture
Soil type
Histosol/Umbrisol
Partners
LUKE (Natural Resources Institute Finland)
-
FINLAND
Ränskälänkorpi
Evaluation of harvesting systems on boreal drained peatland forests.
Location
Southern Finland (61,18; 25,26)
Land use
Forestry
Soil type
Peatland
Partners
LUKE (Natural Resources Institute Finland)
-
FRANCE
Nancy Forest: Darney
Assessing the impact of soil compaction on forest growth and health, and on biogeochemical cycles and soil and vegetation biodiversity.
Location
Grand Est (48,0744226; 6,1767022)
Land use
Forestry
Soil type
Dystric Cambisol
Partners
INRAE
-
FRANCE
Nancy Forest: Champenoux
Assessment of the long-term effects of intense biomass exports on soil fertility and biodiversity, tree growth and health.
Location
Grand Est (48,7215359; 6,3408042)
Land use
Forestry
Soil type
Dystric Cambisol
Partners
INRAE
-
FRANCE
Nancy Urban
Comparing the results of 4 soil desealing methods to test the ability of desealed soils to revert to a multifunctional state.
Location
Grand Est (48,67962; 6,16994)
Land use
Urban
Soil type
Ekranic Technosol
Partners
INRAE & Université de Lorraine
-
FRANCE
Qualiagro Feucherolles
Studying the effects of repeated application of organic soil amendments and fertilisers.
Location
Ile de France (Paris Area) (48,89646581; 1,972104779)
Land use
Agriculture
Soil type
Luvisol
Partners
INRAE
-
FRANCE
Parc Suzanne Lenglen
Tracking soil biodiversity by observing changes in the roofs and the park, and in the management practices implemented.
Location
Ile de France (Paris Area) (48,830355; 2,271274)
Land use
Urban
Soil type
Technosol
Partners
INRAE & AgroParisTech
-
GERMANY
Lietzen
Comparison of soil charactersitics between soils with conventional tillage (depth 25 cm) and soils with reduced tillage (depth 15-18 cm).
Location
Brandenburg (52,48333; 14,35)
Land use
Agriculture
Soil type
Luvisol
Partners
ZALF
-
GERMANY
PatchCROP
Comparison of adapted crop rotation and pesticide reduction with smaller field sizes.
Location
Brandenburg (52,44774; 14,14405)
Land use
Agriculture
Soil type
Albic, Eutric Retisol, Arenosol
Partners
ZALF
-
ITALY
Castel Volturno
Evaluation of the performance of different hybrids of maize in relation to three different managements: monoculture, green manure use, composting.
Location
Campania (41,06501; 13,99326)
Land use
Agriculture
Soil type
Vertic Cambisol and Chromic Vertisol
Partners
CNR & Uniniversità di Napoli
-
ITALY
Parete School
Assessing the state of soils in different areas and testing different management strategies for the recovery of degraded urban soils.
Location
Caserta, Napoli (40,957338; 14,164283)
Land use
Urban
Soil type
Vitric Andosols
Partners
CNR & Uniniversità di Napoli Federico II
-
NETHERLANDS
Flevoland
Testing soil health indicators by comparing a strip cropping system with a monocultural system.
Location
Flevoland (52,39495; 5,31691)
Land use
Agriculture
Soil type
Clay soil
Partners
Wageningen University & Research / ERF BV
-
NETHERLANDS
Peat Meadow
Increasing the adoption of regenerative grassland management activities to promote soil quality.
Location
West-Netherlands (52,17613; 4,81618)
Land use
Agriculture
Soil type
Peat
Partners
WUR / Commonland / Wij.Land
-
NORWAY
Nordmarka
Assessment of impacts of climate change and management impacts on soil biodiversity, carbon and soil properties.
Location
Østlandet (59,99934; 10,67753)
Land use
Forestry
Soil type
Different types
Partners
Norwegian Institute for Nature Research
-
NORWAY
Oslo
Assessing key properties of soils in green areas and features, especially those related to carbon uptake and storage and other regulating functions of urban soils.
Location
Oslo (59,9146562354323; 10,7462269545509)
Land use
Urban
Soil type
Different types
Partners
Norwegian Institute for Nature Research
-
PORTUGAL
Idanha-a-Nova
Assessing different management practices and the impact of irrigated versus non-irrigated agriculture.
Location
Beira Baixa (39,86112; -7,16837)
Land use
Agriculture
Soil type
Dystric Cambisols
Partners
Universidade de Coimbra
-
PORTUGAL
Lynx
Evaluating the fire management regime in two different types of forests, using a control area with “no management”.
Location
Serra da Estrela e Beira Baixa (40.293530; -7,075376)
Land use
Agrosilvopastoral mosaic
Soil type
Humic Cambisols
Partners
Universidade de Coimbra
-
SPAIN
La Junquera
Comparing the impact of different management practices (green covers and tillage) on soil health, water stress, and productivity in almond production.
Location
Murcia (37,95664; -2,17336)
Land use
Agriculture
Soil type
Haplic Calcisol, Petric Calcisol and Calcaric Regosol
Partners
CSIC / Regeneration Academy / Commonland
-
SPAIN
La Rogativa
Evaluating soil health under different forest types and assessing the relevance of soil health for climate change adaptation and mitigation objectives.
Location
Murcia (38,10186; -2,24608)
Land use
Forestry
Soil type
Calcaric Cambisol; Calcaric Regosol; Calcaric Leptosol
Partners
CSIC / La Junquera / Commonland
-
SWITZERLAND
Aesch
Comparison of conventional ploughing with reduced tillage and slurry with mineral fertilisation at two fertilisation intensities.
Location
Basel (47,481854; 7,57959)
Land use
Agriculture
Soil type
Luvisol
Partners
FIBL
-
SWITZERLAND
Frick
Comparison of reduced vs. conventional tillage, manure vs. slurry fertilisation and biodynamic preparations vs. no preparations.
Location
Basel (47,511983; 8,023667)
Land use
Agriculture
Soil type
Cambisoil
Partners
FIBL
-
SWITZERLAND
Northwestern Switzerland
Monitoring forest health in plots with different climatic conditions in precipitation, temperature, and differences in soil and presence of air pollutants.
Location
Rodersdorf, Solothurn (47,4943; 7,43092)
Land use
Forestry
Soil type
Different types
Partners
IAP & FIBL
A stakeholder-centred approach
From July 2023 to February 2024, BENCHMARKS hosted 21 soil health workshops across Europe with local partners, engaging over 600 participants — including 150+ land stewards to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and strengthen sustainable soil practices. With the results of the workshops, we designed the Soil Insights Explorer: an interactive tool that allows you to navigate stakeholder perspectives on soil health, compare regional priorities and visualise soil health challenges and functions across landscapes.
