Archive

Groher T., Heitkämper K. and Umstätter C.

Digital technologies are fixed features of modern agriculture – but to what extent are they already being used in Switzerland? A survey conducted by Agroscope provides answers to this question. Digital technologies reduce the physical workload of farming and contribute to sustainable field management. They also enable optimised management decisions based on plant- or soil-related…

An article by Agroscope

Animal production 04.06.20

T. Groher, K. Heitkämper, C. Umstätter

Digital technologies represent an opportunity for the modern management of farms. For this, already available technologies must also be utilised in practice. An Agroscope survey illustrates the status quo of technology use.

An article by Agroscope

Plant production 18.05.20

Christian Linder, Johannes Rösti, Fabrice Lorenzini, Pascale Deneulin, René Badertscher and Patrik Kehrli

Kaolin was tested in viticulture to control the dreaded pest Drosophila suzukii. The trials showed that this natural product has a comparable efficacy to conventional insecticides without any adverse effect on wine quality.

An article by Agroscope

Environment 11.05.20

Zemek O., Neuweiler R., Richner W., Liebisch F. and Spiess E.

The risk of nitrate leaching is higher in field vegetable production than in arable crops or grassland. Different species of vegetables have different leaching potentials, which can be reduced through appropriate management.

An article by Agroscope

Plant production 30.01.20

Breitenmoser S., Steinger Th., Hiltpold I., Grosjean Y., Nussbaum V., Bussereau F., Klötzli F., Widmer N. and Baux A.

Sowing oilseed rape with other plants reduces damage caused by adult flea beetle, according to a study conducted at Agroscope. This intercropping approach could limit reliance on insecticides and the emergence of resistant pests.

An article by Agroscope

Plant production 21.01.20

Kempf K., Schubiger F.X., Tanner P. and Grieder Ch.

Adapted, productive grass cultivars are crucial for Swiss forage production. Over the past 30 years, the most important grass species – perennial ryegrass – has been substantially improved by breeding.

An article by Agroscope

Plant production 2019

Suter D., Hirschi H., Frick R.

From 2016 to 2018 inclusive, Agroscope tested 54 varieties of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) at six locations. Of these, 25 were new varieties and 29 were already-recommended varieties that were being retested. Yield, vigour, juvenile development, resistance to leaf diseases and anthracnose, winter-hardiness and persistence were all evaluated. For the persistent “mattenklee” type, the…

Plant production 2019

Gugerli F., Moretti M., Graf R., Maier M., Corrado C., Collatz J., Trivellone V.

Drosophila suzukii is an invasive species recently introduced in Europe and causing damages to fruit production. Trichopria drosophilae is considered one of the most suitable indigenous parasitoid to be used in biocontrol programs against D. suzukii. To characterize genetic variability and the spatial genetic structure of populations of T. drosophilae, we developed 21 species-specific molecular…

Plant production 2019

Kay S., Jäger M., Herzog F.

The Swiss Federal Government’s agricultural policy aims inter alia to provide agricultural ecosystem services, reduce environmental impacts, and increase the resilience of the agricultural sector. Combining the cultivation of trees with crops or grass – termed «agroforestry » – can contribute to achieving these goals without substantially limiting agricultural production. We identified the regions where…

Plant production 2019

Frick R., Suter D., Hirschi H.

From 2016 to 2018, Agroscope tested a total of 23 varieties of meadow fescue, including 16 new varieties, in comparative variety trials at six locations. The varieties were assessed on the basis of systematic examinations and observations of forage yield, vigour, juvenile development, competitive ability, persistence, tolerance to winter influences, resistance to leaf diseases, digestibility…

Plant production 2019

Strahm S., Füglistaller D., Lädrach Ch., Enggist A., Thuet, A., Luginbühl C., Ramseier H., Hiltbrunner J.

Interest in buckwheat production has been growing for several years now in Switzerland. Previously, this field crop had almost completely been forgotten. Since it is not related to other arable crops, buckwheat is ideal for breaking up crop rotations. It is also interesting from a nutritional point of view, as it contains zinc and selenium,…

Plant production 2019

Wyss U., Enggist A., Brugger D.

Growing a mixture of silage maize and runner beans could be an alternative to conventional silage-maize cultivation. The beans use the maize plants as a support, and are expected to increase the protein content of the maize silage. The question, though, is how yield and content of other substances change when the two crops are…

Plant production 2019

Baux A., Schumacher P.

The practice of sowing companion crops (or «service plants») in among oilseed rape began to get off the ground in Switzerland several years ago. Certain farmers see companion cropping as an innovative technique allowing them to cut back on the use of plant-protection products, and in particular enabling them to forgo the use of herbicides,…

Plant production 2019

Aubry S., Eigenmann Ch.

A comprehensive stewardship of genetic resources is necessary to insure a resilient and sustainable agriculture. Most of our food comes from a handful of domesticated species which diversity is constantly shrinking. On the contrary, modern genomics keep discovering the marvels of diversity contained in genetic resources for food and agriculture. High-throughput sequencing and related techniques…

Plant production 2019

Sinaj S., Jeangros B.

Preserving soil fertility is a major challenge for farms without livestock specialised in field crops. Several decades ago, several trials were set up at the Agroscope experimental station in Changins to study the long-term effects of different cultural practices on soil fertility and crop yields. This article summarises the main results obtained in these trials.…

Plant production 2019

Wyss U., Pradervand N.

Today, in addition to maize silages with a standard chop length of 5 to 10 mm, shredlage with a longer chop length (26 to 30 mm) and power maize with a higher proportion of cobs are also produced. At Agroscope, digestion experiments with sheep as well as fattening bull experiments were conducted comparing the use…

Plant production 2018

Frick R., Suter D., Hirschi H.

Between 2015 and 2017, Agroscope tested seven new varieties of xFestulolium braunii (K. Richter) A. Camus and four varieties of brome grass (Bromus spp.) for their agronomic properties in comparative trials at six locations. The characteristics studied were yield, juvenile development, general impression, competitive ability, persistence, resistance to leaf diseases and bacterial wilt, winter hardiness,…

Plant production 2018

Jeangros B., Sinaj S.

Grazing differs from mowing in its generally less homogeneous use of forage, and above all in its return of nutrients in the excreta of herbivores. The impact of the type of use (four grazings vs four cuts per year) on the phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) requirements of a grassland in the Swiss Jura was…

Plant production 2018

Suter D., Frick R., Hirschi H.

From 2015 to 2017, a total of 23 varieties of cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.), 11 of which were new varieties, were tested on seven Agroscope sites as to their suitability for use under Swiss growing conditions. The varieties were evaluated according to yield, feed digestibility, vigour, juvenile development, competitive ability, resistance to leaf diseases, winter-hardiness…

Plant production 2018

Jeangros B., Sinaj S.

Phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) inputs on grassland aim to maintain an appropriate botanical composition and to produce sufficient quantities of forage without harming the environment. Over a 13-year period, eight different levels of P and K fertilisation were applied on a low-intensive permanent grassland in the Swiss Jura. Rising inputs of P (between 0…

Plant production 2018

Bittar A., Meisser M., Mosimann E., Calanca P.

Predicting grass growth could be very useful for the management of pastures, or deciding the best time to harvest hay meadows. The ModVege model was tested and improved using a set of 125 situations (meadow × year × management) collected from grassland areas in Switzerland. Comparisons between simulated and measured data show relatively reliable outputs…

Plant production 2018

Meisser M., Vitra A., Stévenin L., Mosimann E., Mariotte P., Buttler A.

A rainfall manipulation experiment was conducted over a two-year period on two semi-natural grassland sites, in order to determine the effects of drought on both forage production (dry matter and nutritive value) and plant-soil relationships. Water stress simulations were performed with the aid of rainout shelters. Among the nutritional parameters, lignocellulose content (ADF) and water-soluble…

Plant production 2018

Bossuyt N., Wirthner J., Dussoulier C., Frund D., Meisser M., Ampuero Kragten S., Eric Mosimann M.

The optimum harvest date in spring is a problem that divides producers. Is it better to focus on forage quality with an early cut, or quantity with a later harvest? Trials were carried out on mown grasslands from 2014 to 2016 as part of the «Progrès-herbe» [= «Progress Grass»] and «Preparing Forage Production for Climate…

Plant production 2017

Vuffray Z., Deléglise C., Schori F., Glauser W., Calanca P., Meisser M., Frund D., Stévenin L., Bittar A., Mosimann E.

When planning stocking density on pasture, the preliminary calculation of the surface-area requirement is based on an estimate of the forage production potential. Since the year 2000, grass growth has been measured in various intensively-to-semi-intensively-managed grasslands in the southwest of Switzerland. The dynamism and amplitude over the course of the year of 226 growth curves…

Plant production 2017

Frick R., Sutter D., Hirschi H.

From 2014 through 2016, the Agroscope research stations tested three varieties of meadow foxtail in comparative variety trials at six locations. The parameters assessed were forage yield, competitive ability, vigour, juvenile development, resistance to diseases, digestibility, adaptation to higher altitudes and persistence. For each variety, an index value based on measurements and observations of yield…

Plant production 2017

Zellweger H., Feichtinger G., Pérez E., Walter A., Hund A.

Buckwheat is an orphan crop in Switzerland which has lately been gaining attention due to its gluten-free flour and the high biological value of its protein. In order to establish the conditions for conventional production of buckwheat, two pre-emergence and three post-emergence herbicides were tested as to their suitability for controlling weeds in this crop.…

Plant production 2017

Levy L., Courvoisier N., Rechsteiner S., Herrera J., Brabant C., Hund A., Weissflog Th., Dierauer H., Pellet D.

For a new variety of wheat to be marketable in Switzerland or abroad, it must go through a series of tests to ensure its superiority to already-cultivated varieties in terms of grain yield, quality, and resistance to disease. In this process, which is termed a «variety testing», the «best of the best» is chosen. That…

Plant production 2017

Suter D., Hirschi H., Frick R.

From 2014 to 2016, Agroscope carried out variety trials with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne). Yield, vigour, juvenile development, competitive ability, persistence, resistance to leaf diseases and bacterial wilt, winter-hardiness, feed digestibility and suitability for cultivation at higher altitudes were all evaluated. For the first time, ploidy was taken into account for the assessment. Six new…

Plant production 2017

Schaub L., Breitenmoser St.

A phenological model for the European corn borer Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner race with one generation per year was developed and validated by Agroscope. This model replaces the previous time-consuming method for predicting the optimal time for implementing measures to control the corn borer (Derron and Goy 2006). The conventional method consists in predicting the flight…

Plant production 2017

Brunner S., Vetterli Ch., Krebs H., Hebeisen Th., Romeis J., Winzeler M.

Late blight of potato, caused by the pathogen Phytophthora infestans, is the most significant disease in potato cultivation. Large quantities of fungicides are used to control this disease. New, resistant varieties of potato have heretofore not caught on, owing to deficiencies in agronomic traits or tuber characteristics compared to the established breeds. Agroscope studied genetically…

How Digitised are Swiss Plant Production Farms?

Digital Technologies in Swiss Livestock Production

Kaolin – Effective against Drosophila Suzukii in Vineyards without Any Impact on Wines

Nitrate Leaching in Vegetable Production

Companion Planting in Oilseed Rape to Control Adult Flea Beetle

Higher Yielding, More Resistant Cultivars of Main Swiss Forage Grass

A closer look at red clover: results of the 2016–2018 variety testing

Genetic diversity of Trichopria drosophilae, a natural enemy of spotted wing drosophila

Protecting resources with agroforestry systems: regionally adapted solutions

Trials with meadow fescue: two new varieties recommended

Growing buckwheat in Switzerland: new varieties for an old niche crop

Mixed cultures for animal feed: maize/ runner bean mixture and phasin content

The growth of companion cropping in oilseed rape: feedback on the opinions of Swiss producers

New challenges to digitization of genetic resources for food and agriculture

Preserving the sustainability of field crop systems: overview of 50 years of trials in Changins

Maize silage quality produced by different harvest techniques

2015–2017 variety trials with xFestulolium braunii and brome grass

Impact of type of use on the phosphorus and potassium requirements of grassland in the Swiss Jura

New cocksfoot variety recommendation: «RGT Lovely» instead of «Lazuly»

Phosphorus and potassium requirements of a hay meadow of the Swiss Jura dominated by red fescue

Simulation of grass growth and pasture yields with ModVege

Impact of drought on the functioning of grassland systems

When must intensive grassland be mown?

Typology of pasture production

Meadow foxtail: a new recommended variety for Swiss forage production

Weed control in buckwheat: comparison of five selected herbicides

Winter wheat: a review of 15 years of variety research on extensively managed land

Perennial ryegrass: new varieties recommended for Swiss ley farming

Development and validation of a phenological model for the european corn borer

GM potato plants are resistant to late blight