KAZALCI OKOLJA

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.


Methodology

Date of data source summarization