KAZALCI OKOLJA

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Key message
Neutral

The indicator mainly shows the unidentifiable direction of development. The majority of data were available only for a limited period and therefore, reliable estimation of trends is not possible. Cereals are the predominant group of crops in Slovenia. Areas for growing green fodder crops and industrial plants are increasing, while the production of root and tuber crops has stabilized on two percent of arable land. A slow diversification of crop species is observed; particularly favorable is the increase in the share of legumes. The share of arable land covered over the winter is above the EU average; however, still not at the level of some of the more agriculturally developed countries. The share of cover and intermediate crops in Slovenia is also above the average of the EU. However, almost a quarter of all fields are still without winter cover. Slovenia belongs to a group of EU Member State countries where conventional soil tillage dominates. Alternative methods of tillage are increasing very slowly. Slovenia is lagging behind agriculturally more developed countries, which have significantly reduced the share of fields tilled with the plow in a relatively short period. To achieve the goals of reducing erosion, improving soil management, and mitigating the effects of climate change, decrease of the share of land cultivated by plowing would be desirable.


Farm management practices directly impact maintaining soil fertility and the ability to adapt to changing climatic factors, as well as, among other things, the economics of production. Changes in farming practices can reduce the risk of erosion and loss of organic matter in the soil, reducing the risk of water pollution, and improving the soil's physical, chemical, and biological properties. The types of farms and agricultural land use (fields, permanent grassland, permanent crops) determine the basic management methods. Further insight into the management practices of farms can be found through the implementation of crop rotation, the predominant crops in the crop rotation, the use of soil cover over the winter, and in the methods of soil cultivation.


Charts

Figure KM11-1: Share of different groups of crops on arrable land in Slovenia in the period 1992–2017
Sources: 

Eurostat, 2013, 2016; SORS, 1992-2021; calculations by AIS

Show data

Arable land and gardens in use[ha]

Fallow land[ha]

Cereals[ha]

Dried pulses (grains)[ha]

Root crops[ha]

Industrial crops[ha]

Vegetables and strawberies[ha]

Flowers and ornamental plants[ha]

Fooder from arrable land[ha]

Other crops on arrable land[ha]

Share of cereals[%]

Share of industrial crops[%]

Share of root crops[%]

Share od fooder from arrable land[%]

Share of other crops[%]

1992

190984

1983

110958

613

21588

5784

3765

144

45678

471

58.10

3.03

11.30

23.92

3.65

1993

191351

1975

110690

602

21322

5650

3901

153

46533

525

57.85

2.95

11.14

24.32

3.74

1994

187024

1975

103338

595

21106

6735

3422

153

49157

544

55.25

3.60

11.29

26.28

3.58

1995

184874

1812

100765

699

21337

4535

2842

139

52231

514

54.50

2.45

11.54

28.25

3.25

1996

181404

2171

99276

668

20367

5157

3042

124

50166

433

54.73

2.84

11.23

27.65

3.55

1997

173518

2082

95480

579

18329

4588

2851

132

49026

452

55.03

2.64

10.56

28.25

3.51

1998

172721

1993

95119

445

19663

4482

2743

140

47635

501

55.07

2.59

11.38

27.58

3.37

1999

172082

1904

91122

312

23198

4252

2666

149

48061

418

52.95

2.47

13.48

27.93

3.17

2000

170849

1038

101865

322

18872

4126

2614

157

41423

432

59.62

2.41

11.05

24.25

2.67

2001

172672

816

103871

362

13831

4313

2828

124

45857

670

60.16

2.50

8.01

26.56

2.78

2002

168414

464

98277

512

12675

7633

2575

105

44855

1318

58.35

4.53

7.53

26.63

2.95

2003

172753

320

98286

723

13422

8234

3162

169

47922

515

56.89

4.77

7.77

27.74

2.83

2004

175080

1288

99345

770

12422

7310

2979

169

50219

580

56.74

4.18

7.10

28.68

3.30

2005

176314

2108

94637

2009

12317

8050

2995

169

53665

364

53.68

4.57

6.99

30.44

4.34

2006

177780

872

95951

3905

12941

9034

3273

139

51361

304

53.97

5.08

7.28

28.89

4.78

2007

175035

1887

98586

2337

6263

11255

2861

154

51467

225

56.32

6.43

3.58

29.40

4.26

2008

180303

584

105016

1578

4986

9816

3545

154

54404

220

58.24

5.44

2.77

30.17

3.37

2009

175189

714

100173

1030

4644

10731

3516

154

54007

220

57.18

6.13

2.65

30.83

3.22

2010

170144

349

93941

886

4477

13321

2378

76

54374

342

55.21

7.83

2.63

31.96

2.37

2011

168744

479

94125

1134

3870

12425

3387

78

52992

254

55.78

7.36

2.29

31.40

3.16

2012

171668

487

98378

748

3647

11450

3923

72

52709

254

57.31

6.67

2.12

30.70

3.19

2013

174110

448

97830

686

3555

11547

3987

96

55761

200

56.19

6.63

2.04

32.03

3.11

2014

175069

338

98293

691

3821

11867

4138

73

55649

200

56.15

6.78

2.18

31.79

3.11

2015

171167

1170

96976

847

3494

10419

4115

53

53894

200

56.66

6.09

2.04

31.49

3.73

2016

173787

1109

95508

1258

3311

13272

4630

85

54212

402

54.96

7.64

1.91

31.19

4.31

2017

174363

1313

95193

1306

3389

13180

4559

48

54973

402

54.59

7.56

1.94

31.53

4.37

2017

172341

1254

95003

1077

3133

11222

4416

53

55780

402

55.13

6.51

1.82

32.37

4.18

2017

174202

1501

95723

1029

3060

10445

5319

32

56691

402

54.95

6.00

1.76

32.54

4.75

2017

175563

1194

97634

737

3160

11369

5780

53

55419

219

55.61

6.48

1.80

31.57

4.55

2017

175265

1560

97860

749

2930

11599

5161

35

55150

219

55.84

6.62

1.67

31.47

4.41

EU–28 (2013)

58.90

14.10

3.40

21.40

2.10

EU–28 (2016)

58.70

15.30

3.30

20.30

2.40

Hungary (2013)

66.40

22.20

0.90

8.40

2.10

Hungary (2016)

62

25.20

0.70

9

2.70

Germany (2013)

56

13.80

5.20

23.60

1.40

Germany (2016)

55.20

13.80

5.10

24.40

1.50

Austria (2013)

62

12.70

5.40

18.30

1.60

Austria (2016)

60.70

14.30

4.90

18.50

1.70

Italy (2013)

55.10

8.60

1.30

30.50

4.50

Italy (2016)

52.20

9.70

1

31.80

5.20

Croatia (2013)

67.70

14.10

3.60

13.60

1

Croatia (2016)

61.70

20.50

3

13.50

1.30

Figure KM11-2: Trends in share of most important crops on arable land in Slovenia in the period 1992–2017
Sources: 

SORS, 2021; calculations by AIS

Show data

Arable land and gardens in use[ha]

Vegetables[ha]

Strawberies[ha]

Other beries[ha]

Fallow land[ha]

CEREALS[ha]

Wheat and spelt[ha]

Rye[ha]

Barley[ha]

Oats[ha]

Triticale[ha]

Maize for grains[ha]

OTHER CEREALS (TOTAL)[ha]

Other cereals - millet[ha]

- as the main crop[ha]

- as the successive crop[ha]

Other cereals - buckwheat[ha]

- as the main crop[ha]

- as the successive crop[ha]

Other[ha]

DRIED PULSES (GRAINS)[ha]

Fodder peas and broad beans[ha]

- Fodder peas[ha]

- Broad beans[ha]

Dry beans[ha]

Dried pulses, other[ha]

ROOT CROPS[ha]

Potato[ha]

Sugar beet[ha]

Fodder roots[ha]

Other fodder roots[ha]

INDUSTRIAL CROPS[ha]

Oil plants[ha]

- Oil turniprape[ha]

- Sunflowers[ha]

- Soya[ha]

- Pumpkins for oil[ha]

Hops[ha]

Other industrial crops[ha]

FODDER FROM ARABLE LAND[ha]

Annual crops[ha]

- Silage maize[ha]

- Other[ha]

- Fodder dried pulses[ha]

Clover and lucerne[ha]

- Clover[ha]

- Lucerne[ha]

Grasses and grass-clover mixtures[ha]

- Grass-clover mixtures[ha]

Other fodder from arable land[ha]

Proportion of legume[%]

Share of winter wheat[%]

Share of maize[%]

Share of crops for oil (without soybean)[%]

Share of grain legumes[%]

1992

190984

3495

270

368

1983

110958

36413

2639

8146

2376

0

61220

713

179

35

144

483

25

458

51

613

39

0

574

0

12928

3153

10789

5784

1978

93

0

1232

2398

44

45678

24571

1892

0

4048

19532

11132

473

8.27

19.07

44.92

1.73

0.32

1993

191351

3626

275

322

1975

110690

37173

2635

9093

2388

0

59253

630

119

48

71

455

44

411

56

602

43

0

559

0

12434

3499

11431

5650

1654

125

42

1295

2466

27

46533

25900

1685

0

3985

19228

10959

485

8.15

19.43

44.50

1.61

0.34

1994

187024

3139

283

248

1975

103338

35876

2101

12652

2590

0

49359

1371

423

212

211

720

320

400

228

595

114

0

481

0

10147

4910

11311

6735

2278

134

10

1961

2292

38

49157

30311

1514

0

3658

17652

10061

492

7.66

19.18

42.60

2.34

0.32

1995

184874

2730

112

54

1812

100765

36779

1925

12719

1866

368

46750

1004

255

96

159

652

165

487

97

699

105

0

594

0

10070

6132

9928

4535

296

123

14

1815

2205

69

52231

30321

1906

0

4237

20442

11651

321

8.98

19.89

41.69

1.21

0.39

1996

181404

2952

90

49

2171

99276

35159

1938

12543

1888

343

47123

822

199

88

111

542

113

429

81

668

73

0

595

0

9382

6341

8647

5157

149

109

4

2596

2233

55

50166

30953

1735

0

3713

17917

10212

307

8.05

19.38

43.04

1.57

0.37

1997

173518

2807

44

46

2082

95480

33431

1345

10828

1817

437

47491

658

160

38

122

445

40

405

53

579

9

0

570

0

9186

6370

6753

4588

54

9

4

2249

2163

97

49026

29953

1482

0

3885

17172

10297

264

8.51

19.27

44.63

1.33

0.34

1998

172721

2707

36

46

1993

95119

35025

1227

10871

1793

478

45592

639

163

41

122

424

40

384

52

445

9

0

436

0

9200

7670

6753

4482

77

24

4

2311

2010

44

47635

29285

1447

0

3584

16785

10063

260

8.16

20.28

43.35

1.40

0.26

1999

172082

2607

59

46

1904

91122

31615

911

10935

2405

634

44401

835

183

80

103

601

90

511

51

312

9

0

303

0

9845

10837

4921

4252

173

24

28

2176

1803

35

48061

30204

1276

0

2997

17860

10407

286

7.99

18.37

43.35

1.38

0.20

2000

170849

2507

107

46

1038

101865

38256

674

11570

2251

835

48009

915

226

105

121

632

108

524

57

322

39

39

0

309

0

8952

8116

4264

4126

122

24

28

2147

1766

39

41423

26851

1243

0

2863

13899

3918

338

4.21

22.39

43.82

1.34

0.20

2001

172672

2731

97

46

816

103871

39335

745

12664

1917

1227

47571

1057

157

36

121

742

218

524

158

362

39

39

0

323

0

7785

4700

3778

4313

398

24

38

2122

1682

53

45857

24491

1168

0

1892

21739

5583

470

4.58

22.78

41.73

1.47

0.23

2002

168414

3228

78

29

464

98277

35729

620

12392

2014

1661

45525

1473

276

67

209

1169

241

928

28

512

204

204

0

308

0

7113

4450

3722

7633

2433

20

67

3232

1817

59

44855

23933

1028

0

2021

22013

6903

1038

5.76

21.21

41.24

3.38

0.34

2003

172753

3982

75

29

320

99305

35585

630

13789

1964

1820

44137

1380

611

115

495

689

166

523

80

723

367

364

3

351

5

6832

5359

4048

8234

6559

2705

107

40

3707

1662

13

55716

31525

30200

1325

0

2168

1214

954

22023

9387

149

7.34

20.60

43.03

3.77

0.44

2004

175080

3631

75

29

1288

99775

32385

1109

15324

1854

2124

45996

983

339

277

62

578

210

368

66

770

419

418

1

351

0

6832

4658

3401

7363

5826

1945

56

78

3693

1524

13

56985

29334

27045

2289

67

2357

1000

1357

25294

12087

160

8.97

18.50

41.72

3.25

0.48

2005

176314

2891

104

29

2108

94637

30059

1320

15451

2731

1986

42369

1631

627

306

321

811

222

589

193

2009

1521

1513

8

451

37

6306

5057

3472

8050

6580

2260

40

172

4108

1453

17

61585

33882

31525

2357

184

3070

1445

1625

24633

12059

222

10.68

17.05

41.91

3.63

1.24

2006

177780

3169

104

29

872

95951

32083

766

17044

2471

2869

39839

1114

168

120

48

547

360

187

399

3905

3434

3342

92

448

23

5900

6684

1834

9034

7500

2809

156

226

4302

1507

27

57869

28359

27008

1351

57

2481

1010

1471

26725

14652

303

13.89

18.05

37.60

4.09

2.32

2007

175035

2752

109

31

1887

98586

32040

820

18532

2332

3091

40906

1554

344

113

231

809

351

458

401

2337

1971

1970

1

355

11

5736

0

1977

11255

9666

5358

246

126

3936

1572

17

59207

28474

26802

1672

0

3090

1312

1778

27133

15841

510

13.35

18.30

38.68

5.45

1.41

2008

180303

3421

124

31

584

105564

35413

714

19229

1887

3241

43698

1382

247

137

110

761

323

438

374

1578

1212

1211

1

355

11

5991

4427

0

1564

9816

8161

4442

256

49

3414

1638

17

61454

27068

26543

525

0

4351

2109

2272

29574

17964

161

13.95

19.64

38.96

4.50

0.90

2009

175189

3406

110

33

714

100173

34534

892

20089

1773

3399

38611

1568

136

84

52

1044

403

641

388

1030

648

355

27

4644

4175

972

939

10731

9041

4424

227

66

4324

1660

13

54007

27252

26125

1127

5860

3415

2445

30624

19239

183

14.95

19.71

36.95

5.12

0.63

2010

170144

2276

102

36

349

93941

31946

796

18730

1773

3477

36433

1605

199

95

104

1198

482

716

208

886

513

289

84

4477

4125

587

727

13321

11756

5303

203

109

6141

1488

31

54374

26851

25868

983

5548

2566

2982

29956

19368

230

15.23

18.78

36.62

6.85

0.58

2011

168744

3288

99

42

479

94125

29665

808

17477

1842

3347

40185

1655

203

58

145

1180

471

709

272

1134

621

289

224

3870

3640

654

726

12425

10969

4770

374

107

5718

1376

52

52992

26885

25970

915

5451

2504

2948

28848

20539

230

16.14

17.58

39.20

6.44

0.74

2012

171668

3843

80

51

487

98378

34586

902

17967

1369

3640

39166

2103

199

62

137

1676

457

1219

228

748

370

289

89

3647

3386

553

797

11450

10160

5141

367

140

4512

1159

82

52709

28499

27437

1062

5337

2183

3154

27626

19123

230

14.77

20.15

38.80

5.84

0.52

2013

174110

3881

106

66

448

97830

31758

1489

17314

1203

3490

41857

1860

169

67

102

1401

362

1039

290

686

224

396

66

3555

3307

476

790

11547

10115

6131

273

278

3433

1166

194

55761

30866

30011

855

5722

2339

3382

28699

20034

187

15.35

18.24

41.28

5.65

0.55

2014

175069

4051

87

103

338

98293

33124

1640

18482

1364

4229

38331

2713

229

105

124

1979

512

1467

506

691

221

396

74

3821

3600

434

761

11867

10162

5563

252

404

3943

1296

364

55649

30147

29485

662

5549

2128

3421

27015

19496

187

14.93

18.92

38.74

5.57

0.63

2015

171167

4008

107

141

1170

96976

30734

1236

20110

1506

4491

37743

3136

491

264

227

2435

682

1753

209

847

447

396

4

3494

3318

325

597

10419

8503

1629

230

1705

4939

1405

436

53894

29395

28734

661

8507

4074

4432

21864

15454

187

15.49

17.96

38.84

3.97

1.49

2016

173787

4519

111

174

1109

95508

31461

970

19184

1332

5288

36388

3731

399

78

321

3127

601

2526

206

1258

611

634

13

3311

3164

266

626

13272

11273

3156

241

2466

5410

1485

425

54212

29513

28690

823

10498

4863

5635

21286

14137

375

16.32

18.10

37.45

5.07

2.14

2017

174363

4451

108

231

1313

95193

28016

1081

20369

1448

5032

38290

4224

347

83

264

3647

643

3004

230

1306

658

634

14

3389

3165

294

678

13180

11142

3435

299

2908

4500

1591

305

54973

29964

29194

770

10158

4795

5364

22324

14403

375

16.50

16.07

38.70

4.72

2.42

2018

172341

4416

117

258

1254

95003

27822

1301

20994

1245

5668

37079

4136

454

155

299

3475

532

2943

207

1077

434

634

9

3133

2812

0

315

601

11222

9091

3397

288

1756

3650

1667

55782

29820

780

9630

4367

5264

24533

15451

402

16.20

16.14

38.82

4.26

1.64

2019

174202

5319

112

277

1501

95723

26727

1178

21139

1207

5804

38883

3686

277

99

178

3187

464

2723

222

1029

386

634

9

3060

2796

184

362

558

10445

8296

3245

334

1433

3284

1616

56692

30150

694

8520

3838

4682

23852

15222

402

15.04

15.34

39.63

3.94

1.41

2020

175563

5780

121

330

1194

97632

27286

839

22207

950

5590

39829

4798

356

122

234

4279

648

3631

163

738

341

387

9

3159

2969

113

464

757

11370

9466

3306

354

1637

4169

1489

55418

30628

826

7706

3421

4285

26542

15848

219

14.77

15.54

40.13

4.46

1.35

2021

175265

5161

119

341

1560

97861

26785

640

21863

1195

5152

41402

5015

418

114

304

4318

430

3888

279

749

346

387

16

2929

2734

127

178

628

11600

9610

2806

420

1893

4491

1535

55150

29663

1019

8035

4086

3949

27928

16234

219

15.35

15.28

40.55

4.40

1.51

Figure KM11-3: Share of arable land with winter cover in 2010 and 2016
Sources: 

Eurostat, 2016; SORS, 2010 and 2016; calculations by AIS

Show data

Arable land and gardens in use [ha]

Fallow land [ha]

Field included in calculation [ha]

Arable land with normal winter crops [ha]

Arable land with cover and intermediate crops [ha]

Arable land with plant residues [ha]

Arable land with multi-annual plants [ha]

Bare soil [ha]

Share of arrable land with normal winter crops [%]

Share of arrable land with cover or intermediate crops [%]

Share of arable land with plant residues [%]

Share of arable land with multi-annual plants [%]

Share of bare soil in arable land [%]

Share of arable land with winter cover [%]

Share of arable land with no data recorded [%]

Share of normal winter crops in arable land with know data [%]

Share of cover or intermediate crops in arable land with know data [%]

Share of plant residues in arable land with know data [%]

Share of multi-annual plants in arable land with know data

Share of bare soil in arable land [%]

Slovenia (2010)

170144

349

170595

77239

28532

4987

35116

45.28

16.72

2.92

0

20.58

79.42

14.49

52.95

19.56

3.42

0

24.07

Slovenia (2016)

173787

1109

175118

80787

21352

11023

21070

40667

46.13

12.19

6.29

12.03

23.22

76.78

0.13

46.19

12.21

6.30

12.05

23.25

EU–27 (2010)

103404290

45302160

5648220

9165260

26244110

43.81

5.46

8.86

0

25.38

74.62

16.48

52.46

6.54

10.61

0

30.39

EU–27 (2016)

97078750

44876620

7451790

7041980

7553540

22328980

46.23

7.68

7.25

7.78

23.00

77.00

8.06

50.28

8.35

7.89

8.46

25.02

Hungary (2010)

3837230

1506710

44970

217300

1817950

39.27

1.17

5.66

0

47.38

52.62

6.52

42.01

1.25

6.06

0

50.68

Hungary (2010)

3821830

1716950

95220

283480

114730

1608920

44.92

2.49

7.42

3.00

42.10

57.90

0.07

44.95

2.49

7.42

3.00

42.13

Germany (2010)

11896790

7054160

821160

1140750

2201660

59.29

6.90

9.59

0

18.51

81.49

5.71

62.88

7.32

10.17

0

19.63

Germany (2016)

11819330

6739810

1466760

923260

545430

1656630

57.02

12.41

7.81

4.61

14.02

85.98

4.12

59.48

12.94

8.15

4.81

14.62

Austria (2010)

1371290

480590

368210

25130

150510

35.05

26.85

1.83

0

10.98

89.02

25.29

46.91

35.94

2.45

0

14.69

Austria (2016)

1344380

534810

286900

51870

209990

260120

39.78

21.34

3.86

15.62

19.35

80.65

0.05

39.80

21.35

3.86

15.63

19.36

Italy (2010)

7009310

2225390

132890

635800

1451560

31.75

1.90

9.07

0

20.71

79.29

36.58

50.06

2.99

14.30

0

32.65

Italy (2016)

7145040

3020560

113990

666770

583450

1107740

42.27

1.60

9.33

8.17

15.50

84.50

23.13

54.99

2.08

12.14

10.62

20.17

France (2010)

18386080

8573370

1992730

1537160

6272960

46.63

10.84

8.36

0

34.12

65.88

0.05

46.65

10.84

8.36

0

34.14

France (2016)

18249970

9715010

2851640

1095540

3361330

1196540

53.23

15.63

6.00

18.42

6.56

93.44

0.16

53.32

15.65

6.01

18.45

6.57

Croatia (2010)

895220

289000

14660

37160

449820

32.28

1.64

4.15

0

50.25

49.75

11.68

36.55

1.85

4.70

0

56.89

Croatia (2016)

881620

300450

0

40

93340

487170

34.08

0

0.00

10.59

55.26

44.74

0.07

34.10

0

0.00

10.59

55.30

Figure KM11-4: Share of arable land according to tillage practices in 2010 and 2016
Sources: 

Eurostat, 2016; SORS, 2010-2016; calculations by AIS

Show data

ARABLE LAND AND KITCHEN GARDENS[ha]

Fallow land[ha]

Arable land for calculations[ha]

Conventional tillage[ha]

Conservational tillage[ha]

Zero tillage[ha]

Fallow land and arable land with no data[ha]

Share of arable land with conventional tillage[%]

Share of arable land with conservational tillage[%]

Share of arable land with zero tillage[%]

Share of fallow land[%]

Slovenia (2010)

170144

349

170595

128894

14692

2480

24529

75.56

8.61

1.45

14.38

Slovenia (2016)

173787

1109

175118

142814

19274

918

12112

81.55

11.01

0.52

6.92

EU–28 (2010)

102535310

65458370

19176980

3530940

14369020

63.84

18.70

3.44

14.01

EU–27 (2016)

97078750

64876510

18957550

3591660

9653030

66.83

19.53

3.70

9.94

Hungary (2010)

3837230

3205710

409670

44170

177680

83.54

10.68

1.15

4.63

Hungary (2016)

3821830

3256560

356770

37940

170560

85.21

9.34

0.99

4.46

Germany (2010)

11896790

6610510

4470300

146610

669370

55.57

37.58

1.23

5.63

Germany (2016)

11819330

6316900

4719290

94210

688930

53.45

39.93

0.80

5.83

Austria (2010)

1370290

972960

326720

28330

42280

71.00

23.84

2.07

3.09

Austria (2016)

1344380

732610

395290

23250

193230

54.49

29.40

1.73

14.37

Italy (2010)

7009310

5183060

300970

283920

1241360

73.95

4.29

4.05

17.71

Italy (2016)

7145040

5742750

263410

231420

907460

80.37

3.69

3.24

12.70

France (2010)

18386080

8991900

4619950

530270

4243960

48.91

25.13

2.88

23.08

France (2016)

18249970

8757990

5948190

960120

2583670

47.99

32.59

5.26

14.16

Croatia (2010)

895220

808340

25660

18540

39680

90.30

2.87

2.07

4.43

Croatia (2016)

881620

789640

44320

4880

42780

89.57

5.03

0.55

4.85


Goals

  • Ensure the optimal value of agricultural production, which enables stable food security.
  • Ensuring the implementation of sustainable agricultural practices that will maintain soil fertility, biodiversity, and water safety, and sensible use of resources
  • Implementation of agricultural practices to mitigate and adapt to climate change
  • Reducing costs and increasing the value of agricultural production.

Slovenian crop production is oriented toward feed and fodder production for livestock. In 2021, cereals dominated arable land (56%), followed by the cultivation of green fodder crops (31%) and industrial crops (7%). The share of cereals in crop rotation remains relatively stable over time, despite seasonal fluctuations. The trend of increase is noticeable in the cultivation of fodder crops and industrial plants, while the cultivation of roots and tubers stabilized in the last years on two percent of arable land. Notable differences in the structure of crops between the EU countries are observed, reflecting the variable environmental conditions, demand, and other measures for the cultivation of crops. According to data for the EU-28 in 2016, the share of cereals on arable land in Slovenia is slightly below the EU average of 59% and comparable to the shares in Germany and Austria. Of the neighbouring countries, Hungary (62%), Croatia (62%), and Austria (61 %) have a higher share of cereals on arable land. The share of fodder crops in arable land in Slovenia is above the EU average of 20%. Among neighbouring countries, the share of fodder crops is comparable to Italy (32%) and notably higher than in Austria (19%), Croatia (14%), and Hungary (9%). The share of industrial plants in Slovenia (7%) is significantly below the EU average of 15% and below the shares of comparative countries. Observed is a reflection of adaptation to the environmental conditions and production-economic specifics of Slovenia. From this point of view, the sowing structure of crops in Slovenia has both positive and negative impacts on the environment and the wider community.

Changes in the representation of individual crop species within groups of crops over time are noticeable. Among cereals, maize remains a dominant crop on arable land, despite decreasing from 45% share in 1992 to 39% in 2017 and then increasing again to 41% in 2021. The shares of winter wheat and millet decreased from 19% to 15% in the same period. Contrary to winter wheat, cultivation of triticale, barley, and buckwheat increased in the same period. Among other crops, areas with soybeans, oilseed pumpkins, clovers, and alfalfa also increased in the same period. Compared to the 1992–2008 period, the ratio between maize and grain legumes improved in favour of grain legumes. The increase in the share of grain legumes in the rotation is attributed to agricultural policy measures that support their cultivation.

Winter cowering of arable land reduces the soil degradation processes, leaching of nitrates, and increases the biodiversity of soil fauna and flora. Data on the percentage of arable land with winter cower plants is not collected regularly and is available for the years 2010 and 2016 for Slovenia and EU countries. In Slovenia, data for winter cower plants on arable land were collected for 86% of arable land in 2010 and 99.9% of arable land in 2016. In 2010, conventional winter crops cowered the most arable land (53%), followed by dedicated greening for improved soil fertility (20%) and arable land covered with crop residues (3%). A fifth of the fields (24%) were bare over the winter in 2010. In 2016, the total share of covered land decreased by 2% compared to 2010. In 2016, the share of arable land covered with standard winter crops (46%) and with crops for improved fertility (12%) decreased, while the shares of fields covered with harvest residues (6%) increased. A new category of perennial crops (12%) (introduced in 2016), and an increase in the available data on most of the arable land partly explain the decrease in soil cover of other categories. Also, the transition to a new program period of the Rural Development Program reduced the share of agricultural land included in the greening measures. Differences in the types of soil winter cover and proportions of covered arable land between EU countries reflect the specifics of EU member states. According to the EU-28 average for the year 2016 (69%), the soil cover of arable land over the winter in Slovenia was above average. Germany (86%), Austria (81%), Italy (84%) and France (93%) have more land cover than Slovenia, while Hungary (58%) and Croatia (45%) have less. In the EU 28 and comparison countries, the largest share of coverage over the winter represents conventional winter crops. Germany has the largest share of arable land covered by this category of crops (57%), while Croatia has the smallest (34%). Differences occur due to specifics in the crop rotation of the EU countries. For example, Germany dedicates a significantly larger share of fields to rapeseed cultivation than Slovenia, while the share of winter wheat is similar between the countries. The share of arable land with cover and intermediate crops in Slovenia is higher than the EU-28 average of 8%, higher than in Hungary (2%), Italy (2%), and Croatia (0%), comparable to the share in Germany (12%) and lower from shares in Austria (21%) and France (16%). The share of bare surface in Slovenia in 2016 is comparable to the EU-28 average of 23%. Among the comparison countries, France has the smallest share of bare land (7%), while Croatia (55%) and Hungary (42%) have the largest shares. The share of arable land without data in Slovenia decreased between 2010 and 2016 and is below the EU-28 average of 8% in 2016. Among the comparative countries, France, Hungary, Austria, and Croatia have similar shares of arable land without data as Slovenia, while Italy has the most areas without data (23%). In Slovenia, more than 75% of arable land is covered over the winter. Nevertheless, it is recommended to encourage the increase of this share and the reduction of bare land below 10%.

Soil cultivation methods have an important role in maintaining soil fertility and in the economics of crop production. Data on cultivation methods are not collected regularly; data for Slovenia and the EU are available for the years 2010 and 2016. The majority of arable land in Slovenia is plowed, followed by conservation tillage. The share of fields with direct seeding (no tillage) is negligible. In Slovenia, the share of arable land cultivated with plowing increased from 77% to 82% between 2010 and 2016. The share of fields under conservation tillage increased from 9% to 11% in the same period. The share of arable land under no-till cultivation decreased during this period from 1.5% to 0.5%. The share of uncultivated arable land and fields without data on cultivation decreased from 14% to 7% in the same period. The increase in the percentage of arable land cultivated with the plow is partly related to the higher reliability of the data obtained in 2016. Data collected in 2016 is therefore considered a more reliable indicator of the situation in Slovenia. According to the EU-27 average of 67% of plowed fields in 2016, the share in Slovenia is above average. Among the comparative countries, Germany (53%), Austria (54%), and France (48%) have smaller shares of plowed fields than Slovenia, while Hungary (85%) and Croatia (90%) have larger shares than Slovenia. The share of arable land under conservation tillage in Slovenia is similar to Hungary (9%) and higher than in Italy (4%) and Croatia (5%) but significantly lower than in Germany (40%), France (33%) and Austria (29%). The share of fields under no-till is generally minor in all EU countries. France has the largest share among comparative countries (5%). Significant differences in soil cultivation between EU countries reflect the differences in soil and climate conditions, average sizes of agricultural holdings, and socio-economic dimensions of farming systems. Additionally, each method has advantages and disadvantages, making general statements and recommendations difficult. Nevertheless, the share of fields cultivated with plowing should decrease in Slovenia.