Wageningen, The Netherlands
September 25, 2008
Source: Wageningen UR
- Newsletter of the Plant Sciences Group September 2008
The 'Bodemgezondheidsdag' (National Healthy Soil Day) attracted
twice as many breeders, scientists, policymakers and other
interested professionals compared to last year. Initiator
Gerard Korthals sees
this as confirmation that soil research is ‘hot’ and found the
motivation he needed to continue. The second National Healthy
Soil Day was held on the experimental fields of Applied Plant
Research (PPO) in Vredepeel on Wednesday 10 September. After an
opening speech by Piet Boonekamp of Plant Research
International, visitors had the opportunity to view three
experiments: One soil health test, a test with biofumigation and
one with green manure.
“The most important results are yet to come, but the tests with
African marigolds as green manure and with biological soil
disinfestation are promising,” says Korthals. In biological soil
disinfestation, green manure is dug in and the soil is covered
with air-tight plastic. When the organic material decomposes,
biologically active substances are released and oxygen is
extracted from the soil causing many pathogens to die.
“We also demonstrated these corrosive methods at the Healthy
Soil Day,” Korthals continues. “A new line of green manure
consists of cabbage varieties with high concentrations of
certain substances that can even be toxic. Cabbage that is used
for food consumption has few of these substances, but for green
manure we are currently using plants with high concentrations.
This type of research is still developing and we have yet to
achieve the desired results.”
On the experimental fields in Vredepeel, 160 patches were filled
with lilies as testing plant. Korthals: “We don’t have any data
on the lilies yet as they still need to be dug up. But last year
we tested on potatoes and achieved great results.” Korthals, a
scientist specialised in arable farming and outdoor cultivated
vegetables, feels these days are important: “Everything that is
proven in practice can immediately be used by breeders. It is
also a great opportunity to come into contact with other
scientists and to show co-workers from the Ministry developments
that are at an early stage.”
Companies are also very interested in these types of event and
some 20 companies took the opportunity to present themselves.
Another feature of the day was the launch of a new website
www.aaltjesschema.nl,
showing which nematodes are harmful to plants and how to control
them. |
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