Archive

97 posts

Filter options
Reset filters
Environment

Schrade S., Keck M., Zeyer K., Emmenegger L.

Housing systems and a concept to measure ammonia emissions in case of natural ventilation

The relevant housing systems and a suitable measuring concept have to be defined in order to improve the data base for ammonia emissions (NH3) from cattle farming. Statistics and an expert survey show that the proportion of loose housing facilities and outdoor exercise areas in Switzerland increased from 5 % in 1990 to around 40…
Environment

Frey M., Konz N., Stamm C., Prasuhn V.

Identification of critical source areas for diffuse water pollution

Input into streams due to erosion and runoff of pesticides and nutrients from agricultural fields pose a threat to our water bodies. Field studies indicate that these losses originate from limited parts of a given catchment. This holds especially for fine sediments, pesticides and phosphorus, which are mainly transported by fast flow processes that are…
Other

Bolliger E.

Advanced training for caring services at the farm

For more than ten years some regional agricultural training and extension centers in cooperation with a college of social studies offer an advanced training on «green care» (caring services at the farm). The regional trainings differ in their duration and in the orientation to one or several focus groups of people to be taken care…
Plant production

Calanca P., Smith P., Holzkämper A., Ammann C.

Reference evaporation and its application in agrometeorology

Climate change places the agriculture in front of new challenges. An assessment of the water requirement of grassland, pasture and arable land on the basis of the evapotranspiration potential plays a central role in the planning of adaptation measures. The reference evaporation, a concept introduced in the 1990’s by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)…
Environment

Gisler S., Liniger H. P., Prasuhn V.

Erosion risk map in a 2×2-meter grid (ERM2)

The high-resolution erosion risk map (ERM2) of Switzerland’s utilised agricultural area shows potential erosion risk based on the locational factors of relief, soil and precipitation – irrespective of particular land use (arable land, permanent grassland or vines) or crop management. Areas at high risk of erosion within a plot or on a hillside, such as…
Plant production

Maltas A., Charles R., Sinaj S.

Soil fertility and crop productivity: medium-term effect of organic inputs and simplified cultivation techniques

The combined effects of the nature of fertilizers (NPK, manure + NPK and liquid manure + NPK), fractionation of the manure inputs (every year or every three years) and tillage (plowing and reduced-tillage) associated with two nitrogen rates (100 or 60 % of the optimal dose) on soil fertility and dry matter production of different…
Environment

Keck M., Schmidlin A., Zeyer K., Emmenegger L., Schrade S.

Odour concentration and emission from dairy cattle housing with an exercise yard

Local authorities, government agencies and courts are increasingly faced with complaints and lawsuits relating to odour annoyance from livestock housing systems. Odour concentration and emission from five naturally ventilated dairy cattle sheds were compared in two seasons and at two times of day. A newly developed tracer ratio method was used for these cowsheds with…
Animal production

Flury Ch., Rieder S.

Genetic diversity of the Eringer breed

The Eringer cattle breed is a local breed of Swiss origin. The goal objective of this study was to analyse the development of genetic diversity from 1993 to 2007 using pedigree information. In addition, 128 Eringer cows were genotyped for through the Illumina 50k Illumina beadchip method and, using this genome-wide marker information, the genetic…
Plant production

Kaeser A., Sereke F., Dux D., Herzog F.

Agroforestry in Switzerland

Trees in agricultural landscapes provide important benefits for the environment. Nevertheless, they are disappearing from cultivated land due to economic and operational reasons. In modern agroforestry systems, trees are planted in rows on agricultural land in order to facilitate the mechanical processing.The economic and ecological potential of modern agroforestry systems in Switzerland were examined. Productivity…
Environment

Bohren C.

Invasive plants – what else?

The migration of plants around the globe is essential for our life. Globalization of human activities disturb normal plant migration. Plants and other live forms from other continents do adapt to their new environments. If they do not find enemies there, they might become invasive and disturb the balance of the biodiversity. Plant invasions often…
Plant production

Decurtins F., Good C., Brugger C., Franck L., Kellerhals M.

Consumer acceptance of new apple varieties in the German-speaking and in the French-speaking part of Switzerland

For a long time, the research station Agroscope Changins-Wädenswil ACW has been breeding new apple varieties. High quality varieties are developed which are resistant and tolerant to diseases and which need a minimum of plant protection. Two new selections, ACW 6375 and ACW 11907, are candidates for being introduced on the market. Therefore, two consumer…
Plant production

Bigler F., Aubert U., Dubuis P.-H., Hayer F., Hernandes-Rivera J., Mack G., Meissle M., Mouron P., Naef A., Strassemeyer J.

ENDURE – a European Network for the Durable Exploitation of Crop Protection Strategies

The EU ENDURE Project (European Network for the Durable Exploitation of Crop Protection Strategies) was concluded at the end of 2010. The four-year project saw the development of a centre of excellence, the long-term aim of which was to serve as a point of contact and platform for issues of sustainable plant protection in the…
Plant production

Krebs H., Bänziger I., Legro R.J., Vogelsang S.

Alternative control of snow mold (Microdochium nivale) in organic wheat

In the certification of organic wheat seed, the required germination capacity is often not achieved. This is frequently due to excessively high infestation with the snow mould pathogen Microdochium nivale. A warm-water treatment effectively controlled infestation on the seed. Owing to the high expenditure of energy for redrying, however, this method has not caught on…
Environment

Birrer S., Jenny M., Zbinden N.

Population trends of Swiss breeding birds in farmland 1990-2009

With the publication of the „environmental objectives in the agricultural sector “(EOAS), mandatory target values for biodiversity on agricultural land have been set for the first time. We present a novel index which indicates population trends of the designated EOAS breeding birds and hence represents one part of the EOAS target attainments. The situation for…
Animal production

Nydegger F., Gygax L., Egli W.

Automatic Measurement of Jaw Movements in Ruminants by Means of a Pressure Sensor

Ruminant activity is considered an important non-invasive measurable parameter for the early identification of metabolic problems in ruminants. Traditional rumination sensors have drawbacks, particularly when used in the cowshed area. The newly developed ART rumination sensor incorporates a noseband sensor comprising a fluid-filled tube and pressure sensor, a data logger, and the evaluation software. The…

Wissenschaft und Hortikultur füe alle? Rückblick auf den Hortikultur-Kongess in Lissabon

An der 28. internationalen Konferenz der Hortikulturwissenschaften (www.ihc2010.org) haben sich Ende August in Lissabon 3�500 Forschende und Vertreterinnen und Vertreter der Vor- und nachgelagerten Bereiche der Hortikultur aus Europa, Amerika, Afrika, Asien und Ozeanien getroffen. Die Konferenz wird alle vier Jahre durch die International Society of Horticultural Science (ISHS; siehe www.ishs.org) organisiert. Wissenschaftler der Forschungsbereiche…
Animal production

Roth N., Schmied R., Kunz P.

Rindfleischproduktion auf Fruchtfolgeflächen

Der Strukturwandel in der Schweizer Landwirtschaft, unter anderem der sinkende Milchpreis, veranlasst viele kombinierte Milchvieh-Ackerbaubetriebe zur Aufgabe der Milchproduktion. Dadurch werden die Kunstwiesenjahre innerhalb der Fruchtfolge nicht mehr benötigt, was negative Konsequenzen auf die biologische Stickstofffixierung (Weissklee), die Bodenstruktur und die Erosion haben kann. Die Fleischproduktion auf Kunstwiesenflächen während der Vegetationsperiode könnte ein möglicher Betriebszweig…