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Environment

Herrmann B., Neftel A.

Ammonia exchange with grasslands

As it is generally known, plants can exchange ammonia (NH3) with the atmosphere. Yet, the actual NH3 exchange potential of crops, especially of grassland, has hardly been studied so far. The European project GRAMINAE focused on the influence of climate and management on NH3 exchange between grassland and the atmosphere on different sites throughout Europe.…
Plant production

Boller B., Schubiger F.X., Tanner P.

Oryx and Rangifer: two new cultivars of Italian ryegrass

Our new cultivars Oryx and Rangifer increase the range of diploid Italian ryegrass cultivars suitable for cultivation in Switzerland. These cultivars were bred using new germplasm which is not represented in our older cultivars. As compared to the well-known Swiss cultivar Axis, annual dry matter yield of the new cultivars was increased by 4 to…
Animal production

Dufey P.-A., Chambaz A., Morel I., Chassot A.

Fattening performance of steers of six beef breeds

The fattening performance of 138 steers of the beef breeds Angus (AN), Simmental (SI), Charolais (CH), Limousin (LI), Blonde d’Aquitaine (BL) and Piemontese (PI) was investigated over two series. The basic ration fed ad libitum consisted of grass and maize silage in a proportion of 1:2 in the dry matter, which was supplemented with concentrate.…
Plant production

Zanetti S., Herrmann D.

Identification of cereal varieties by means of electrophoresis

The identification of varieties on a seed-material basis is impossible. In addition the differentiation between the cereal Triticale and wheat is often difficult. Due to the high variability of the gliadins the electrophoretic separation of these storage proteins results in variety- and/or species-specific banding pattern. In this study we investigated the gliadin-banding pattern of the…
Food

Sieber R., Fröhlich-Wyder M.-T.

Exopolysaccharide-producing microorganisms and cheese fabrication

Several microorganisms are able to produce exopolysaccharides. Such slime-producing lactic acid bacteria strains are used for the fabrication of Scandinavian sour milk products. In cheese fabrication, particularly in fat-reduced mozzarella cheese, their use leads to a higher moisture content and therefore to an increased meltability
Food

Collomb M., Eyer H., Sieber R.

Chemical structure and composition of fatty acids in milk fat

Milk fat contains approximately 400 different fatty acids. They can originate directly from the fat of the foodstuffs or the animal tissue, formed either by biohydrogenation in the rumen of the cow or synthesised in the mammary gland. At the present time, the official methods for the determination of fatty acid composition in milk fat…
Plant production

Theiler R.

Development of fennel and bolting

“Fennel is recognised as a long-day plant which develops inflorescence (bolting) at day lengths greater than 14 hours. From the day of planting until bolting the development of the swollen leaf base, “”bulb””, lasts approximately 50 to 65 days, dependent on the variety. The development of the bulb until bolting of different varieties and planting…
Plant production

Steenblock T., Forrer H.-R.

PhytoPRE+2000: a plot specific decision support system on the Internet

Since May 2001, Swiss potato growers are supported by the new internet-based decision support system (DSS) PhytoPRE+2000 to control potato late blight (www.phytopre.ch). Core parameters of this DSS are 1st the actual occurrence of the late blight on national and regional level and 2nd historical (recent) and forecasted weather data to recognise main infection- and…
Environment

Külling D. R., Stadelmann F. X., Candinas T.

Nutrients and pollutants in sewage sludge from 1975 to 1999

The composition of sewage sludge is intensively monitored since 25 years in Switzerland. The nutrient contents have undergone only minor changes. Simultaneously to an increasing production of sewage sludge the nutrient loads have increased during the first 15 years and since remained stable. Except for copper, the load of most heavy metals continuously decreased after…
Environment

Häni F., Stämpfli A., Keller Th., Barth L.

RISE – A tool for a holistic sustainability assessment at the farm level

Whereas the liberalisation of the world markets seems to exert today the greatest pressure on development, sustainable production is the most important leading principle. Numerous studies have been conducted to evaluate the degree of sustainability on a national and local level and broadly accepted indicators have also been recommended. However, only little information for the…
Environment

Dubois D.

Reflection on research for a sustainable agriculture

The concept of a sustainable development of agriculture tends to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It consists of a model for the balanced management of a system with five capital assets: financial capital, human capital, physical man-made capital, social capital and…
Animal production

Wyss U.

DOC-trial: farming system and silage quality

Between 1996 and 1998 we investigated the influence of a bio-dynamic, a bio-organic and a conventional farming system on grass silage quality. For all treatments the same grass-clover-mixture was sown at the same place, the plots were fertilized differently depending on the farming system. Two different fertilizer levels per system were applied. The plots were…
Environment

Spiess M., Marfurt Ch., Birrer S.

Ecological compensation measures and breeding birds

From 1997 to 1999, we studied the effects of small plots for ecological compensation on breeding birds in 23 areas of 5 to 10 km² in the Swiss lowlands (total area 169 km²). The territories of 39 indicator bird species were recorded by territory mapping. 29 of them occurred in at least one study area…
Environment

Hofer G., Herzog F., Spiess M., Birrer S.

Ecological measures: Vegetation and breeding birds

In 1993, an agro-environmental programme was incorporated into the Swiss Agricultural legislation. One of the goals of this legislation was to conserve the natural biodiversity of Switzerland as well as to promote and encourage the spread of endangered species. Within the project «Evaluation of the Ecological Measures – Section Biodiversity» we check whether these goals…
Environment

Jacot K., Eggenschwiler L., Studer S.

Wild flower strips and rotational fallow: experiences from the practice

Farmers from different cantons in Switzerland have been interviewed to obtain insight into their experiences made with wild flower strips and rotational fallow fields. Additionally, their fallow fields have been surveyed with respect to selected spontaneous and sown species. The interviews showed that most of the farmers estimate the management effort for fallow to be…
Environment

Dreier S., Hofer G., Herzog F.

Botanical quality of extensively managed meadows

The plant composition of extensively managed hay meadows was investigated in a sample which is representative for the Swiss plateau. In 1401 relevés 511 species were recorded. 17 species figure in the national red list and 70 species have regional red list status. 25 % of meadows contain a minimum set of characteristic plants of…
Environment

Schwab A., Dubois D.

Methods for the rapid assessment of ecological compensation areas

The quality of ecological compensation areas is decisive for the success of the measures of ecological compensation. Currently, there is no method that allows the rapid assessment of the biodiversity of a large number of ecological areas. Therefore, the FAL carried out methodical investigations in order to determine the suitability of various animal and plant…

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