News release from the Danish trials of SoilVe

Rystedt, Lotte

Organic Eprints

Promising no-tillage organic systems for vegetable cropshttp://dca.au.dk/en/current-news/news/show/artikel/dyrkning-i-planterester-giver-mindre-ukrudt/[22-07-2018 10:58:29]DCA - Danish Centre For Food And Agriculture DCA - Danish Centre for Food and Agriculture ≥  Current news ≥  News ≥  showAbout DCAResearchDCA PublicationsPolicy SupportSector CollaborationInternational collaborationMaster's degree programmesCurrent newsNewsSubscribe tonewsletter from DCAEventsVacanciesContactPromising no-tillageorganic systems forvegetable cropsFindFor students ≥For PhDs ≥For employees ≥≥≥≥≥≥≥≥≥≥≥≥≥≥7Danish fPromising no-tillage organic systems for vegetable cropshttp://dca.au.dk/en/current-news/news/show/artikel/dyrkning-i-planterester-giver-mindre-ukrudt/[22-07-2018 10:58:29]Researchers from Aarhus University plant white cabbagedirectly into legume residues without cultivating the soil. Thistechnique allows them to stunt weed growth and improvenitrogen cycling in the system. Within the framework of theresearch project SoilVeg, researchers examine newmethods for organic vegetable production, and the resultsnow start to appear.2017.11.24 | LOTTE RYSTEDTThe roller crimper rolls and crimps legumes at Aarhus University’s experimental felds inAarslev. After two weeks, the felds are crimped again, and after three weeks cabbage isplanted directly into the dead plant residues. Photo: Hanne L. Kristensen AU-FOODEmail Facebook LinkedInNo-tillage systems are subject to increased attention, and researchers fromthe Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, participate in the trans-European project SoilVeg to further investigate aspects of this method. Theystudy how agro-ecological service crops such as winter faba beans and winterpeas may be applied when growing main crops such as white cabbage.Specifcally, this means that the main crop is planted directly into the deadplant residues of the service crops. -          To vegetable growers, it may seem thought-provoking to plant high-value crops, such as cabbage, directly into plant residues without tillage, butwe have noticed that it has a positive impact in more ways than one. One ofthe primary reasons is that weed occurrence is stunted because the plantresidues cover the soil, says Science Leader Hanne Lakkenborg Kristensen,Department of Food Science, Aarhus University. She is in charge of theDanish project activities.The roller crimper is an important toolThe researchers recently harvested white cabbage from the experimentalfelds in Aarslev, and the results are promising. Prior to planting whitecabbage, they used a roller crimper, which has demonstrated excellent resultsin the US. The use of the roller crimper is not yet common practice in Europe,but the project examines the impact of the method on European soils.-          Three to four weeks prior to planting the main crop, the service cropsPromising no-tillage organic systems for vegetable cropshttp://dca.au.dk/en/current-news/news/show/artikel/dyrkning-i-planterester-giver-mindre-ukrudt/[22-07-2018 10:58:29]are fattened by means of the roller crimper. It breaks the stems instead ofcutting or chopping them, which terminates their growth. When planting, wefrst prepared a furrow with a harrow tooth and then we used the plantingmachine, explains Hanne Lakkenborg Kristensen.Service crops ensure nitrogen fxation and biodiversityTogether with her European colleagues, she has accomplished several tasks inthe project, and they have noticed certain trends.-          It is very important to pick out the proper species of legumes to act asservice crops; in Denmark we have good experiences with winter faba beansand winter peas. It is equally important to use the roller crimper at the righttime, thus not allowing the service crops to start re-growing or setting seed,which may cause weed problems later in the season. The right time is aroundblooming, says Hanne Lakkenborg Kristensen.Legume service crops have the additional positive impact of fxing nitrogen;the plant cover and the reduced tillage are expected to improve thebiodiversity of insects, and have a positive impact on the soil in a long-termperspective. When this method was applied in the Danish trial, a reducedyield was found. But, in return, this technique requires less labour-consuming weeding, and also helps reduce fuel consumption due to less feldmanagement.European perspectivesSoilVeg is a trans-European project comprising nine countries and 35participants. They carry out experiments in 13 diferent experimental feldsthroughout Europe headed by CREA (The Italian Council for AgriculturalResearch and Policy).-          The European approach provides signifcant research perspectives, aswe – to a higher extent – are able to generalize our understanding of themechanisms at work, rather than if based solely on Danish results. The factthat we are able to examine the topic at a European level and applyinterdisciplinary research expertise, gives us signifcant new knowledge andstrength, says Hanne Lakkenborg Kristensen.SoilVeg is a trans-European project initiated by the ERA-Net CORE OrganicPlus. The Danish participation is funded by the Green Development andDemonstration Fond, the Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark.ICROFS coordinates CORE Organic Plus.Further informationScience Leader Hanne Lakkenborg KristensenDepartment of Food Science, Aarhus UniversityE-mail: hanne.kristensen@food.au.dkTel.: +45 87 15 83 54Promising no-tillage organic systems for vegetable cropshttp://dca.au.dk/en/current-news/news/show/artikel/dyrkning-i-planterester-giver-mindre-ukrudt/[22-07-2018 10:58:29]Food, DCA, Crops, Organic farming Subscribe to the newsletter from DCADo you want to know more about research in food andagriculture? Sign up for the monthly newsletter from DCASign up   COMMENTS ON CONTENT:  LOTTE RYSTEDT REVISED 20.07.2018DCA - DANISH CENTREFOR FOOD ANDAGRICULTUREDCA - Danish Centre ForFood and AgricultureAarhus UniversityBlichers Allé 20DK-8830 TjelePhone: +45 8715 6000Promising no-tillage organic systems for vegetable cropshttp://dca.au.dk/en/current-news/news/show/artikel/dyrkning-i-planterester-giver-mindre-ukrudt/[22-07-2018 10:58:29]E-mail: dca@au.dkCVR no.: 31119103P no.: 1015079041EAN no.: 5798000877412"Stedkode" (Id number):3622BACKGROUND ANDMANAGEMENTDCA - Danish Centre forFood and Agriculture wasestablished July 1, 2011 asa result of a neworganization structure atAarhus University.DCA is the specialistapproach at AarhusUniversity for authorities,companies andorganizations who wantadvice and cooperationwithin the felds of foodand agriculture.Centre director NielsHalbergPhone: +45 2963 0093E-mail:Niels.Halberg@icrofs.orgEmployees at DCADEGREE PROGRAMMESBachelorMasterEngineeringPhDPromising no-tillage organic systems for vegetable cropshttp://dca.au.dk/en/current-news/news/show/artikel/dyrkning-i-planterester-giver-mindre-ukrudt/[22-07-2018 10:58:29]© —Cookies at au.dkPrivacy policypage id: 113184 / i31

Promising no-tillage organic systems for vegetable crops

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Promising no-tillage organic systems for vegetable crops

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