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Plant production 18.07.23

Calanca P., Holzkämper A., Isotta F. A.

With increasing global and regional temperatures, even in Switzerland the growing season has lengthened considerably. Using data from the Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology, Agroscope has traced the development of the growing season since the start of the previous century.

Plant production 12.07.23

Schwitter P., Herforth-Rahmé J.

Tomato is a special case among vegetables, as its seeds can only be extracted from the pulp after a fermentation step. In order to optimise this working process, various harvesting frequencies and extraction timepoints were tested at the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL.

Plant production 07.07.23

Fontana M., Elfouki S., Bragazza L., Guillaume T., Carlen C., Sinaj S.

The phosphate mineral reserves required for fertiliser production could be exhausted on a global scale in just a few decades. This study presents a method for recycling a Swiss industrial by-product into a phosphate fertiliser.

Plant production 05.07.23

Suter D., Frick R., Hirschi H.U

Perennial ryegrass is one of the most important forage grasses in Swiss agriculture. Agroscope can now recommend three new cultivars based on the results of variety tests conducted from 2020 to 2022. Three further varieties also showed promise but are yet to be approved.

Plant production 24.04.23

Perich G., Turkoglu M. O., Graf L. V., Wegner J. D., Aasen H., Walter A., Liebisch F.

With the help of satellite data, yields can be estimated both over a wide area and at individual field level. This is also possible in small-scale Swiss agriculture, as shown by a team consisting of ETH Zürich, the University of Zurich and Agroscope.

Agroscope, ETH Zurich, University of Zurich

Plant production 19.04.23

Bütikofer N., Vonlanthen T., Hiltbrunner J., Holzkämper A. und Calanca P.

Suitable both as food for humans and as livestock feed, sorghum thrives even in an increasingly dry climate. Agroscope has developed maps showing the potential growing areas for silage- and grain sorghum.

Plant production 12.04.23

Camp C., Tran D., Farinet R.

The energy expenditure for staggered greenhouse tomato production would be twice as high as that of the current means of production with no appreciable increase in yield. Even so, the current means of production might benefit from LED lighting.

Plant production 03.04.23

Bänziger I., Hebeisen H., Amrein D., Vogelgsang S., Sullam K.

Previously, grain diseases transmitted by seed were controlled with synthetic-chemical seed dressings. However, if seed is healthy, no treatment is necessary. As the demand for pesticide-free grain increases, professional seed inspection is gaining importance.

Environment 30.03.23

Wang Y., Finger R.

Pest prevention plays an important role in reducing pesticide use. Nevertheless, the use of such measures is below the social optimum. A generally cautious attitude towards risk and adoption of other risk management measures hinder farmers' prevention efforts.

Agroscope, ETH Zurich

Plant production 22.02.23

Frick R., Suter D., Hirschi H, Dereuder E., Coudry C.

In temporary grassland, alfalfa is used mainly in three-year mixtures for dry locations. Following recent variety trials, Agroscope has added the new varieties Nutrix and Andantino to the list of recommended forage plants for 2023–2024.

Plant production 13.02.23

Clémence S., Zorn A.

Oats, triticale, hull-less barley, lupin, faba beans and buckwheat are rarely cultivated. The EU project CROPDIVA intends to change that. Agroscope analyses the value chains of four of these crops in order to promote their cultivation and processing.

Plant production 14.12.22

Spring J.-L-, Zufferey V., Verdenal T., Reynard J.-S., Lorenzini F., Bourdin G., Blouin A., Carlen C., Jermini M., Morisoli R., Ferretti M.

Five Merlot clones bred in Switzerland are currently being distributed by the certification sector. A multiyear trial conducted by Agroscope in Gudo (Canton of Ticino) has made it possible to compare them with French and Italian reference clones and to highlight their very good performances.

Environment 06.12.22

van der Heijden M. G. A., Edlinger A., Riedo J., Walder F., Bucheli T. D. et al.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are important for healthy soils and crops. A pan-European study shows that plant-protection products adversely affect these fungi, reducing their ability to supply plants with phosphorus via their roots.

Plant production 02.12.22

Suter D., Frick R. und Hirschi H.U.

Birdsfoot trefoil and sainfoin are used in mixtures for perennial hay meadows and for tannin-containing fodder. Agroscope is adding two new cultivars of birdsfoot trefoil to the ‘List of Recommended Varieties of Forage Plants’, whilst there is no change in the case of sainfoin.

Plant production 31.10.22

Suter D., Frick R., Hirschi H.U.

Tall oat grass and golden oat grass are typical hay-meadow grasses that are also suitable for forage mixtures. Of the four tall and three golden oat grass varieties tested, only one new variety of tall oat grass is likely to make it onto the List of Recommended Varieties.

Plant production 19.10.22

Stevenel P., Wendling M., Brabant C., Suss H., Savoyat C., Dierauer H., Mascher F., Charles R.

FiBL and Agroscope investigated bread wheat varieties to determine their yield and quality stability. The results show that the choice of variety must be adapted to the site and that high yield potential does not go hand-in-hand with a high protein content.

Agroscope, FiBL

Plant production 06.10.22

Nay M., Tanner P. und Grieder C.

Adapted and high-yielding varieties of forage plants are important for Switzerland as a grassland country. Hybrid ryegrass is a versatile forage grass that, thanks to breeding advances, has become even more persistent, disease-resistant and high-yielding over the past 30 years.

Plant production 22.08.22

Fesselet M., Tschuy F. und Wirth J.

Herbicide-resistant weeds are a growing problem throughout the world. Monitoring herbicide resistance in Switzerland allows us to understand the mechanisms behind it and to better manage the use of herbicides.

Plant production 16.08.22

Mathis M., Blom J.F., Nemecek T., Bravin E., Jeanneret P., Daniel O., de Baan L.

Agroscope compared crop protection strategies in apple production. Reducing the use of plant-protection products lowered the local ecotoxological risks, but resulted in trade-offs between environmental and economic performance.

Plant production 01.07.22

Meissle M., Naranjo S. E., Romeis J.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) bacterium proteins protect Bt maize from being fed on by specific insects. A new, systematic analysis of international field data confirms that non-target organisms in Bt maize are largely spared.

Agroscope, USDA-ARS, Arid-Land Agricultural Research Center, USA

Plant production 15.06.22

Zufferey V., Verdenal T., Reynard J.-S., Dienes-Nagy A., Belcher S., Lorenzini F., Rösti J., Gindro K., Spangenberg J. E., Viret O., Carlen C., Spring J.-L.

Tests carried out by Agroscope in the Valais region reveal that the Humagne Rouge grape variety yields better wines and is less susceptible to bunch shrivel when grapevines are not irrigated.

Agroscope, Auvernier Office of Viticulture and Agroecology, University of Lausanne, Morges Agriculture and Viticulture Service (SAVI)

Plant production 01.06.22

Seehausen M. L., Valenti R., Fontes J., Meier M., Marazzi C., Mazzi D. and Kenis M.

A natural antagonist of Drosophila suzukii, a parasitic wasp from its native range, is harmless to the native non-target species Drosophila melanogaster. This has been proven in trials in secured field cages in Switzerland.

Agroscope, CABI, ETH Zurich, canton of Ticino

Plant production 13.05.22

Kaiser A., Burger P.

To reduce plant-protection product use, we need to know what behavioural patterns farmers follow when using plant-protection products in their crops. This was the subject of a study conducted by Agroscope in Switzerland.

Agroscope, University of Basel

Plant production 27.04.22

Rainer Frick, Daniel Suter, Hansueli Hirschi, Edwige Dereuder, Cédric Coudry

Crimson clover is essentially used as a catch crop in association with ryegrass. The comparative trial conducted in 2019-21 has led to the addition of two new acquisitions to the List of Recommended Varieties of Forage Plants.

Plant production 31.03.22

Ammann J., Umstätter C. und El Benni N.

Digital technologies for vegetable production are available, but are seldom used at present. What factors inhibit or promote their use? A survey of experts conducted by Agroscope provides answers.

Agroscope, Thünen Institute for Agricultural Technology

Plant production 24.03.22

Argento F., Liebisch F., Simmler M., Ringger C., Hatt M., Walter A. und Anken T.

To ensure a good harvest while protecting the environment, a nitrogen surplus must be avoided. Agroscope is investigating how the application of nitrogen fertiliser can be better adapted to soil replenishment and the needs of the plants.

Agroscope, ETH Zurich, Swiss Future Farm

Plant production 02.03.22

Salomon M. J., van der Heijden M. G. A.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are like a “life-insurance policy for plants”. They improve soil structure and make nutrients and water available. This increases the stress tolerance of crops and leads to better yields.

Agroscope, University of Zurich, University of Adelaide, North Carolina State University, South Dakota State University

Plant production 07.12.21

Schröder A., Heyer J., Hochstrasser M., Brugger D., Wirth J.

The invasive weed yellow nutsedge creates considerable problems for Swiss producers in arable and vegetable crops. In a four-year project, stakeholders from research and practice evaluated various control strategies on-farm.

Agroscope, Fachstelle Pflanzenschutz des Kantons Bern, Grangeneuve, Strickhof, Swiss Farmer’s Union SFU

Plant production 27.10.21

Reinbacher L., Bacher S., Knecht F., Schweizer C., Sostizzo T. and Grabenweger G..

Wireworms cause significant crop losses in potatoes. This study investigated the efficacy of a fungus in decimating wireworm populations in the winter cover crop. The strategy was partially successful, but must be further optimised for use in practice.

Agroscope, University of Fribourg

Plant production 29.09.21

Debonneville C., Kellenberger I. und Schumpp O.

Bacterial diseases can have a huge impact on potato production yields. The method for detecting these diseases used in Switzerland to date does not allow the growing demand for tests to be met. Agroscope is implementing new solutions.