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Results from the SureVeg field trial in Denmark on crop, root growth, N uptake, soil mineral N and fertility indicators showing effects of intercropping and fertiliser strategies

Vegetable intercropping systems can improve the productivity of organic vegetables through complementary resource use, but interspecific competition may decrease yields. Nutrient availability and yield response to different fertilization strategies strongly depended on the fertilizer properties, and soil improvers influenced results of productivity, nitrogen use efficiency and soil microbial activity compared to the fast releasing fertilizers alone. Plant-based fertilization can be an efficient alternative to animal manures.

The Sureveg project is a international consortium funded by CORE Organic Cofund devoted to foster biodiversity (above and below ground) by using new agricultural practices related to crop association in a strip-crop scheme, and applitying digital technologies (robotics, sensorics)for a organic sustainable production.

The main objective of the GREENRESILIENT project is to demonstrate that an agroecological approach to greenhouse production is feasible and allows robust agroecosystems to be established in different European areas. The final report provides and overview of what happened in the project and what was achieved.

Agro-ecological service crops (ASCs) are used to improve organic vegetable production in terms of weed suppression, nitrogen (N) recycling, or addition of N through symbiotic N2 fixation by legumes. Full incorporation (FI) of ASCs is commonly conducted to terminate ASCs, but alternative termination can be obtained by roller-crimping (RC) in reduced tillage systems. Field experiments were conducted in Estonia, Denmark, and at three locations in Belgium during two growing seasons (autumn 2015-2017) to investigate the effect of ASC termination method (FI and RC) and ASC species (pea, pea/cereal mixtures and cereals), compared with a bare soil control, on soil mineral N content, cabbage yield and N accumulation. Cabbage yield and N accumulation were reduced under RC compared to BS and FI in a majority of cases mainly due to reduced soil mineral N availability, in some cases owing to a later ASC termination time. Furthermore, slower mineralisation of soil organic matter and ASCs at the soil surface contributed to the yield reduction under RC as compared with FI. Cabbage yield could be maintained under RC at standard fertilisation rate following pea ASC in Denmark. The RC system needs further investigation to improve N availability to the succeeding crop before it can be implemented in organic vegetable production.

At the Organic World COngress 2021 (Rennes, France) a Workshop about the SUREVEG project was held to rise awareness about strip croppping, biodiversity and smart machines

Organic agriculture has an increasing demand, driving conventional farmers to change their businesses [1]. In some cases, the lack of attention for biodiversity and soil fertility of current practices may damage the credibility of organic products [2]. The SUREVEG project focuses on the implementation of strip-cropping in organic production to improve soil fertility and biodiversity throughout Europe. The aim is to enhance resilience, system sustainability, local nutrient recycling, and soil carbon storage [3]. However, husbandry crops grown and mixed in a strip design pose new challenges regarding mechanisation, which in many cases can only be overcome by increasing human tasks [4]. To counteract the additional labour of a multi-crop system, one of the main objectives of this project is the development of automated machinery for the management of stripcropping systems. A robotic tool is proposed, which will be operating upside down, attached to a wide-span mobile carriage similarto gantry systems used in Controlled Traffic Farming. Within the project framework, a modular proof-of-concept version is being produced, combining sensing technologies with actuation in the form of a robotic arm. Despite many robotic developments recently presented, which are designed for weed removal, this proof-of-concept will focus on providing precise organic fertilization. Fertiliser needs will be identified in real-time and carried out on a single-plant scale. Design guidelines of the proposed prototype have been detailed. The planning and control of the manipulator are being developed in two ways: using conventional algorithms and applying machine learning techniques. First results have been also obtained with the sensorics onboard the robotic platform, by using a combination of LiDAR systems and multispectral cameras to localize single plants, and to detect their status, according to fertilisation demands

Intercropping can provide ecological and yield benefits when selecting crops and management practices that balance the competition for resources. A field experiment was carried out under temperate conditions to study the effect of intercropping faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and pointed cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. conica) on yield and plant nitrogen (N) uptake. Both crops were grown in mono cropping (MC) and intercropping systems (IC). The yield of pointed cabbage per meter row was 28% higher under IC compared to MC. The ratio between marketable yield and total yield of pointed cabbage was also higher in IC. However, faba bean yield per meter row was reduced by 15% under IC. There was an indication of higher total N accumulation under IC followed by cabbage-MC and faba bean-MC. Soil mineral N at harvest (0-2.5 m depth) was lower in cabbage-MC, followed by IC and faba bean-MC. The intercropping system had a positive land equivalent ratio (LER) of 1.06, which points to the potential of using faba bean as an intercrop in sustainable organic vegetable production systems with higher N use efficiency. Results will be discussed in the wider perspective of several European trials on intercropping from the SureVeg-project (Strip-cropping and recycling for biodiverse and resource-efficient intensive vegetable production) and point to new knowledge for farmers wanting to implement intercropping.

Organic agriculture has an increasing demand, driving conventional farmers to change their businesses 1. In some cases, the lack of attention for biodiversity and soil fertility of current practices may damage the credibility of organic products 2. The SUREVEG project focuses on the implementation of strip-cropping in organic production to improve soil fertility and biodiversity throughout Europe. The aim is to enhance resilience, system sustainability, local nutrient recycling, and soil carbon storage 3. However, husbandry crops grown and mixed in a strip design pose new challenges regarding mechanisation, which in many cases can only be overcome by increasing human tasks 4. To counteract the additional labour of a multi-crop system, one of the main objectives of this project is the development of automated machinery for the management of strip-cropping systems. A robotic tool is proposed, which will be operating upside down, attached to a wide-span mobile carriage similar to gantry systems used in Controlled Traffic Farming. Within the project framework, a modular proof-of-concept version is being produced, combining sensing technologies with actuation in the form of a robotic arm. Despite many robotic developments recently presented, which are designed for weed removal, this proof-of-concept will focus on providing precise organic fertilization. Fertiliser needs will be identified in real-time and carried out on a single-plant scale. Design guidelines of the proposed prototype have been detailed. The planning and control of the manipulator are being developed in two ways: using conventional algorithms and applying machine learning techniques. First results have been also obtained with the sensorics onboard the robotic platform, by using a combination of LiDAR systems and multispectral cameras to localize single plants, and to detect their status, according to fertilisation demands.

During the Greenresilient project, nematode communities will be characterized at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the field trials to identify shifts in their community. These shifts will be analysed to determine whether the chosen ‘innovative’ methods tested in the project are beneficial for soil health, causing an increased resilience to pests and diseases and a more balanced nutrient supply, for more sustainable and high-quality crop production. This leaflet explains why nematodes can be excellent indicators for soil health.

During the GreenResilient project, a business as usual system is compared with an innovative system in which more agro-ecological practices are tested.

Strokenteelt biedt mogelijkheden om de opbrengst en de weerbaarheid van gewassen te verbeteren. In 2018 legde Inagro samen met ILVO een eerste proef aan met biologische teelt van knolselder en prei. Ook het effect van alternatieve bemesting op basis van groene reststromen werd getest. De eerste bevindingen zijn positief. Er waren geen verschillen in gewasstand of ziekte- en plaagdruk. De opbrengst lag wel hoger in de strokenteelt.

Roboter werden mehr und mehr in verschiedenen chirurgischen Disziplinen eingesetzt. Im Bereich der ophthalmologischen Mikrochirurgie werden verschiedene Systeme mit ihren Vor- und Nachteilen (Tele-Manipulation versus Co-Manipulation) diskutiert. Die aktuelle Anwendung im Bereich der retinalen Venenkanülierung[zum vollständigen Text gelangen Sie über die oben angegebene URL], 181. Versammlung des Vereins Rheinisch-Westfälischer Augenärzte

The rise in demand for organically grown vegetables requires further optimization of the current organic cultivation systems, with even more attention for biodiversity and soil fertility. That is why this year the new, European partnership SUREVEG is starting. The focus is on strip-cropping and on the use of vegetable residual streams as soil improvers and as fertilizers.

Van 24 tot 26 september vond de tweede projectmeeting van het Core Organic project SUREVEG plaats. In dit project worden strokenteelt en gecomposteerde plantaardige reststromen onderzocht als nieuw teeltsysteem voor biologische volleveldsgroenten. Op 25 september bezocht de projectgroep de proef op het proefbedrijf van Inagro. Op 10 oktober werd een workshop georganiseerd op het biobedrijfsneterk.

The "Guidelines for indicators of functional biodiversity of belowground organism groups” (D3.1) set the mandatory indicators to be used in SUREVEG project - WP3 - Task 3.3.: microbial coefficient (Cmic/TOC), hot water-soluble C and P (HWC and HWP), microbial stoichiometry, crop root mycorrhization (M%), next generation sequencing (NGS). Other optional indicators may be considered to implement information on BFB. The cropping system (SC/MC) is considered the main factor. Only for HWC and HWP indicators, the fertilization strategy is also considered as second relevant factor. These BFB guidelines collects the common protocols for field sampling and lab methods to be applied by all the SUREVEG partners involved on SUREVEG Task 3.3.

The belowground functional biodiversity indicators to be considered in SUREVEG project to meet the Task 3.3. objective are described. They must be applied to verify if and how the strip-cropping (factor 1) and fertility strategies (factor 2) affect the functional biodiversity of belowground organisms groups, being the first factor mandatory and the second one optional. Some brief explanation on how to evaluate the results are reported.

Dit artikel is een aankondigingsartikel van twee nieuwe CORE organic projecten. Twee nieuwe Europese samenwerkingsprojecten gaan dit jaar van start: SUREVEG en GreenResilient. Beide projecten stellen een versterking van de agro-ecologische benadering binnen de biologische landbouw voorop, waarbij teelttechniek, bemesting en duurzaamheid onder de loep worden genomen.