In 1998 and 1999 the influence of azole and strobilurine fungicides on wheat head blight was investigated. Artificial infections with Fusarium culmorum applied in growth stage (GS) 63-65 on wheat, assured the head blight infections. In 1998 the fungicides were applied on three different cultivars in GS 57 and GS 67. Applications with azole fungicides…
Dynamics of botanical composition of four grass/white clover seed mixtures either grazed rotationally or continuously with steers were measured during four year The grazing system had little effect on the botanical composition of the swards. Perennial ryegrass was the main grass with 60 – 70 %. Arion, the first Swiss perennial ryegrass cultivar proved to…
In a national evaluation program, the effects of different field margins on the carabid fauna were investigated by using funnel pitfall traps. 109 cultivated and non-cultivated (51 field margins) sites were chosen for a biodiversity evaluation, in which carabids were used as indicators. The data of the first investigation year shows that the abundance and…
We investigated growth parameters from 28 varieties of potatoes, the seeds of which originated from different altitudes. It is known that different climatic conditions influence the physiological age of seed tubers. We hypothesised that seed originating from higher altitudes is physiologically younger due to a shorter growing period and lower temperatures. Therefore the number of…
In two balance trials with 15 and 16 lactating Saanen goats (model animal for cows), the effects of different sodium cloride (NaCl) supplies and roughage to concentrate ratios on performance and metabolism were investigated. The NaCl supply levels ranged from 100 to 200 and 300 % of Swiss recommendations (RAP, 1999). The tested roughage to…
In three case studies, the spectrum of plant species was evaluated in ecological compensatory areas (extensively and less intensively cultivated meadows, flower strips, hedgerows), in the dominant cultures (winter wheat, intensively cultivated meadows, meadows in orchards) and in the edges of the forests. Habitat specificity, calculated on the base of plant composition in different types…
The central thesis of this paper states that the new agricultural policy (since 1993)has initiated a structural change in Swiss agriculture that appears to be quite different from the past.This is due to the shift in income support from production quantity to factor input.It is characterised by the following structural change paradox:While the decrease in…
Proteolysis has a strong influence on the melting properties of Raclette cheese. In a multifactoriel cheesemaking trial the influences of the proteinase-activity of the lactococci-culture (proteinase-positive / proteinase-negative) and the type of ripening (smear ripening / foil ripening) on the melting properties of Raclette cheese were investigated. The trial showed that the proteinase-activity of the…
In the years 1996 to 1998 we investigated the influence of the dry matter content on fermentation and on aerobic stability in grass silage. Therefore, we ensiled forage of the same plots with two different dry matter contents in tower silos in 1996 and in square bales in 1997 and 1998. In some cases we…
Films made of Ecoflex copolyester (BASF AG) offer good mechanical properties as well as a sufficiently low oxygen permeability in order to satisfy the requirements of stretch films used for silage bales. Films which are stabilised by carbon black also fulfil practically all these criteria. These two types of film were used to wrap silage…
Transgenic insect-resistant crops have been commercially cultivated on a surface of around 9 mio. hectares worldwide in 1999. The main target of growing pest-resistant plants is to reduce crop losses due to insect pests and to reduce insecticide applications and thus to minimize negative impacts on the environment. Potentially negative effects are discussed for Bacillus…
Within the scope of an investigation, we examined the suitability of colour PE stretch films for wrapping silage bales. Four types of films (white, black, olive green and brown) of two different manufacturers (Silotite and Teno-Spin) were used. We investigated the temperature rise beneath the film at a depth of 10 cm, the films’ influence…
L’anno 1999 è stato caratterzzato da eventi meteorologici estremi. Accanto a quantitativi record di precipitazioni, valanghe e allagamenti, bisogna pure annoverare violente tempeste invernali. In generale, l’anno è nuovamente risultato troppo caldo e a intervalli sono cadute precipitazioni molto forti. Lo sviluppo della egetazione si è però perlopiù svolto con le scadenza normali, anche se…
In 1999, we investigated the efficacy of six silage additives, containing lactic acid bacteria, which should promote the main fermentation. The trials were carried out in small-scale silos with a mixture of lucerne and cocksfoot. Forage of the first and also second cut was ensiled at two different dry matter levels (about 20 and 30…
Biodiversity, the diversity of life at all scales, is a characteristic feature of our planet and a precondition for human life. However, only during the last two decades biodiversity has become an important research topic. Scientific projects deal with the measurement of biodiversity, the factors that affect biodiversity and with effects biodiversity itself has on…
The increase of the share of ecological compensation areas from 5 % to 7% of the agricultural area in 1998 had different effects in the Rafzerfeld and at Ruswil/Buttisholz. While in the Rafzerfeld the area of the extensively managed meadows increased by 30 % it doubled at Ruswil/Buttisholz and the area of the few intensively…
In the framework of the evaluation of ecological measures promoted by the Swiss Government, a botanical survey was undertaken in three regions in 1997 or 1998. Plant species per 100 m2 were investigated in 88 meadows under different cultivation regimes (from extensively to intensively cultivated).<br>With mean of 15 to 27 spexies per region and type…
To evaluate the impact of set aside land (ecological compensation areas) on biodiversity, spiders and butterflies were used as indicators in two regions in 1997 and 1998. The first results show that the impact of ecological compensation areas depend on the indicator and the type of area. In a typical region of arable crops, wildflower…