Research - Teaching Integration in Agroecology and Organic Farming

Integration of research and teaching enhances the success of students in both areas, and contributes to preparation of graduates who are capable of handling the complexity of location-specific challenges in farming and food systems. A European Network of Organic Agriculture Teachers (ENOAT) convened a workshop in Italy in 2007 to explore the current state of integration and potentials for further developing this learning strategy in universities. We concluded that integration brings motivation to students and greater relevance to their learning environment, both key issues in providing success in the learning landscape

ENOAT – European Network of Organic Agriculture Teachers

Curriculum development for organic agriculture was the initial point of an Erasmus group of 7 universities from 1995 till 1998. The expansion of EU member states coincided with the growing interest of further member states to become part of this informal group of university teachers. Since some years the group of meanwhile 23 countries is named ENOAT and seeks to improve the inter university exchange of students and staff members, to encourage the dissemination and implementation of organic agriculture courses, to organize annual meeting including workshops on teaching methodology, and to organize summer courses on specific topics relevant for organic agriculture

Vegetabile Düngemittel: II. Auswirkung auf Ertrag und N-Aufnahme von Radieschen und Weißkohl

Plant based organic fertilisers were tested in plot trials on their effect as N supply for vegetable crops. Radishes (Raphanus sativus L.) and white cabbage (Brassica d-eracea var. capitata L.) were chosen as fest crops. Beside the unamended control four ({R}adish trial) and two ({C}abbage trial) fertilisers were investigated: Castor pomace (Ricinus communis L), pellets of crushed seeds of lupin (Lupinus luteus L), and faba bean (Vicia faba var. minor L.) and Phytoperls® (Zea mays L). They were applied in two N-levels {(R): 80 and 140 kg N ha-1; (C): 120 and 240 kg N ha1 with the two first mentioned fertilisers}. Castor pomace and lupin seed pellets were found to be more efficient N supplies than faba bean seed pellets and Phytoperls®; on the Iow level >30 % vs. 40 % for cabbage. In both cases lupin seed pellets were slightly more efficient than castor pomace. On the other hand lupin seed pellets caused distinctly Iower nitrate contents than castor pomace, in both species

LEAFSE – Lernen durch (Studenten-)Austausch – Landwirtschaft-Nahrungskette-Umwelt

The LEAFSE project is the first EU sponsored joint venture project between four European and four Australian universities. It is funded for three years (2003 to 2005) and enables the exchange of 36 students from each continent. The umbrella subject of the project covers agriculture-food systems-environment. Experiential learning is the special focus for all students that are linked together through video-conference tools

Vegetabile Düngemittel: I. N-Umsatz im Boden bei Inkubationsexperimenten und in Feldversuchen

Incubation and field experiments were carried out with a range of plant derived fertilisers. It could be shown that plant derived fertilisers, especially legume seed meals, have the potential to substitute common fast mineralising fertilisers such as horn meal

Umsatz und Wirkung vegetabiler Düngemittel im Ökologischen Gemüseanbau

In diesem Projekt sollten verschiedene vegetabile Düngemittel hinsichtlich ihrer Stickstoff-Düngewirkung im ökologischen Gemüseanbau als Alternative zu organischen Düngemitteln tierischer Herkunft untersucht werden. Folgende Düngemittel wurden untersucht: (1) In Inkubationsversuchen bei 5 und 15°C Ackerbohnenschrot (Vicia faba L., Körnerschrot), Körnerschrote der Gelben und der Weißen Lupine (Lupinus albus L. und Lupinus luteus L.), Bio-Vegetal®, Phytoperls®, Rizinusschrot (Ricinus communis L., Körnerschrot) als gebräuchlicher vegetabiler Importdünger und Hornmehl als Referenzdünger tierischer Herkunft; (2) in Gefäßversuchen Ackerbohnenschrot, Körnerschrot der Gelben Lupine, Phytoperls®, Rizinusschrot und Hornmehl; (3) in Feldversuchen Ackerbohnenschrot, Körnerschrot der Gelben Lupine, Phytoperl® und Rizinusschrot. Die untersuchten Kulturen im Gefäß- und Feldversuch waren Radieschen (Raphanus sativus L. var. sativus), Möhren (Daucus carota L. ssp. sativus) und Weißkohl (Brassica oleracea convar. Capitata) (nur Feldversuch). Bio-Vegetal® ist wegen seines extrem niedrigen Kohlenstoff/Stickstoff-Verhältnisses und seiner sehr schnellen Stickstoff-Mineralisation nicht als geeignetes organisches Düngemittel im Sinne der Richtlinien des ökologischen Landbaus einzustufen. Hornmehl erwies sich bei mittleren Temperaturen als Dünger mit höchster Wirksamkeit. Rizinusschrot wird in seiner Stickstoff-Düngewirkung vom Körnerschrot der Gelbe Lupine nahezu erreicht, mit unter sogar übertroffen. Insbesondere im zeitigen Frühjahr mit seinen niedrigen Temperaturen ist die Düngewirkung des Körnerschrots der Gelben Lupine gleich wie oder sogar höher als die Düngewirkung verglichen zu anderen vegetabilen Düngemittel. Selbst im Vergleich zu Hornmehl ist bei niedrigen Temperaturen mit einer ähnliche Netto-Stickstoff-Mineralisation zu rechnen. Ackerbohnenschrot und Phytoperls® schnitten hinsichtlich der N-Düngewirkung schlechter ab als die Körnerschrote der Lupinen und als Rizinuschrot. Leicht umsetzbare vegetabile Düngemittel können den Humusumsatz im Boden vorübergehend deutlich erhöhen (sog. Priming-Effekt). Bei häufiger Anwendung dieser Dünger sollte der Humusgehalt am Standort deshalb regelmäßig in Bodenuntersuchungen mit einbezogen werden. Bis über 50 % des Dünger-Stickstoffs können nach der Ernte als mineralischer Stickstoff oder in leicht mineralisierbarer organischer Form auf dem Acker zurückbleiben. Dieser Dünger-Stickstoff sollte durch eine Zweitkultur oder Zwischenfrucht genutzt werden. Anderenfalls besteht Auswaschungsgefahr, was ökologisch und ökonomisch bedenklich ist

Biodynamic carrot growing - an inventory

This shortpaper sums up some main results of a study on biodynamic carrot growing in 1996. These results based on data from a survey of 45 farmers growing carrots for continuous sale in winter. The questions concerned the general site conditions such as soil type, pre-crop and green manure and special aspects of growing like cultivar, date of sowing and harvest. Furthermore the farmers were asked about application of fertilizer and biodynamic preparations. Estimated yields, storage conditions and specific features were taken into account, too

Experiences with intercropping design – a survey about pulse cereal-combinations in Europe

A survey was carried out within five European countries with regard to the practice of cereal grain legume intercropping. The mostly given combination was spring barley-spring pea beside 27 other combinations between pulses and cereals. 72 % of all examples consisted of spring varieties, the rest of winter varieties, mainly a special case of the French South West with mild winter climate. Intercrops were mainly used for feeding purposes. Best experiences were named as better yield stability, effective weed suppression, and good quality of feed. Of the negative experiences complicated mechanical weed regulation, unequal maturation and additional costs for separation were mostly named. The interviewed farmers showed predominantly positive prospects for the development of intercropping on their farms, problems with sowing techniques were only of minor importance

Call to restrict neonicotinoids

On 28 April 2018 the European Parliament voted for a complete and permanent ban on all outdoor uses of the three most commonly used neonicotinoid pesticides. With the partial exception of the state of Ontario, Canada, governments elsewhere have failed to take action. Below is a letter, signed by 232 scientists from around the world, urgently calling for global action by policy makers to address this issue