The Hungarian site is now recovering from a very rainy summer (206 mm in August). Six runoff events were recorded between 21 June and 25 August. With five runoffs measured on the conventional plots, the SOWAP plots were able to ‘drink' the quantity of rainfall at all times!

The most important event was on 21st-22nd August. This was the biggest rainfall and runoff of the year and of the century, measuring 100 mm/h intensity! [VIEW]

The meteorological data indicates that, the runoff started first on the conventional plots, and later on the SOWAP plots. When the small channel could not cope with the quantity of runoff, water flowed into the big channel. At the 100 mm/h intensity the 1 m 3 tank filled up in approx. 5 minutes!! At the conventional plots the sediment and runoff were at least twice as much.

There were all together 14 visits to Dióskál 1 during the spring-summer field season, and 17 to Dióskál 2 (exactly the same as last year, but inversely, because of the crop rotation). At Dióskál 1 the transect census was finished at the end of August, as the maize height prevented any further recording on the plots in September. Little change in the species composition compared to the first summer period was recorded. The newly observed species at migration were: Meadow Pipit, Tree Pipit, Kestrel , Blue Tit , Great Tit, Corn Bunting, Yellow Wagtail , Robin . The two species nesting in the plots are: Skylark , Quail.

Pitfall traps for invertebrate sampling were put in place in mid June for the second time and the third sampling was done in mid July. János Farkas has started the identification.

At Szentgyörgyvár, earthworm sampling using the mustard extraction method was carried out. On the conventional plots ponding and soaking started earlier, because the infiltration rate was quite low. On the conventional plot the first earthworm appeared between the 30-40 th minutes, on the conservation plot the first one appeared between the 10-20 th minutes, showing the better water management properties of the latter plot's soil. However the compacted layer at the depth of 20-25 cm caused soaking problems in case of both types of plots.

Wheat was harvested at Dióskál 2 in late July but stubble stripping was postponed to mid September, because of the wet condition of the soil. Maize at Dióskál 2 will be harvested in mid October.

Hydrobiological samplings were carried out at both locations in May, July and September and the water analyses from all samplings are now complete. From the first sampling set 90 % of the invertebrates have been identified, though some difficulties with the Trichoptera species arose. Diatoma qualitative samples have been stored and the analysis will be done from November onwards.

Crop management has continued in Hungary with the rape being sprayed and disked at Dióskál 1 in mid April and maize being drilled in early May.

Bird recording and weed/crop development recording have been carried out continuously by Szabolcs. Earthworm samples taken in late March have been identified by Prof. Zicsi and seed samples taken in early May, have now been processed. Pitfall traps for invertebrate sampling were put in place in early May for the first time and the second sampling is expected in mid June.

The interview with the Plótár family was published at the end of May in the weekly magazine, Hungarian Agriculture.

In the first half of 2005 only two runoff events were recorded (from snow melting) on the erosion plots at Szentgyörgyvár (25/02/05, 17/03/05). Results show that there was no significant difference between the two tillage types.

Sunflower drilling was finished on both minimum and conventional plots during the last week of April.

Trace element investigation of the erosion plots has started according to the new protocol and the treatment of the samples collected before and after drilling is under way.

In May 2005, the rainfall simulation experiment was carried out after the sunflowers have developed a few leaves. The soil loss and runoff was much less on the conservation plots (1/4 and 2/3).

Finally rill measurements were carried out in late May at Dióskál 1.

During the second winter recording period (October 2004 – March 2005) the majority of the first winter period's species reappeared, nevertheless the number of individuals within the different species had changed. This was partly due to the presence of rape sown as a soil protector on the conservation plots, while the conventional plots were ploughed relatively late (early December), and partly due to the long and severe cold. During the first winter recording period the distribution of Skylarks (Alauda arvensis) demonstrated the difference between the two types of plots perfectly. During the second winter period there was no such species, Skylarks were not present for 2.5 months, possibly because of several influencing factors (weather, agronomy).

The identification of insects was undertaken by Dr. János Farkas from the Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University .

On the 10th of February an integral meeting for the Hungarian project participants was held in Dióskál, where the agronomy for the next year was discussed.

A journalist has interviewed the Plótár Family and the article is planned to be published in the Hungarian Agriculture.

The winter was quite long with a lot of snow this year, melting only began in the middle of March. The first tank emptying at Szentgyörgyvár took place on the 25th of February after a couple of warmer days. The biggest melting and runoff was during the second week of March and tank emptying took place on the 17th of March.

In early March a WebCam was installed at Szentgyörgyvár.

The average wheat yield was 4.5 t/ha at Dióskál 1 in 2004 and as this was only 1.1 % more on the conventional plot, it is within the limit of error. Average maize yield was 10.4 t/ha at Dióskál 2 and with a difference of only 3.7 %, this was insignificant too.

At Dióskál 1 rape was sown in August on the M plots, which in the given period prevented the small songbirds in search of food. They were present on the C plots though, where stubble stripping (19-20 September) and ploughing ( 6-10 December) were carried out quite late. After ploughing these species preferred territories of sparse cover and more food resources, like the weedy land between C2-M5 and M7-M8 blocks. The presence of rape was favorable for the Anseriformes and for some predators as well (Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus), Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)).

The C8 plot at Dióskál 1 was repositioned to its original position east from M8 due to property rights issues. However bird recording will not be carried out during 2004/05 on this plot.

At Dióskál 2 wheat was drilled between 22-30 November.

Earthworms were sampled in late October and during November. They were identified by the Hungarian expert Professor András Zicsi from the Systematic Zoology Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Seed samples were taken during November and December.

The site selection process for the aquatic ecology survey is complete except for finding one remaining conventional location near the Timárpuszta conservation tillage site. Instead of the Rakacaszend semi-natural control site another site is needed to be found, due to disturbance by road construction.

During the grassing of the plot surrounding at Szentgyörgyvár the tractor broke the M1 plot's pipe Repairs were finsihed in October, when clearing of tanks were also carried out following the appearance of many zabrus (Zabrus tenebrioides) during the summer.

In mid November fertilisation and ploughing of the conventional plots were carried out. After taking out the bunding sheets the plots were ploughed in 25 cm depths across slope. The topsoil was rather dry, roughly lumpy with large furrows. After ploughing the sheets were placed back using the special tool developed for this work.