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Soil nitrogen dynamics in different potato cropping systems
The dynamic of soil nitrogen in potato cropping systems was compared between traditional planting after moldboard plough (TP) and direct mulch planting (DMP) in cover crop stands on two loamy soils in the Swiss midlands. Differences between cropping systems were most pronounced before planting and after planting up to a plant height of 10 cm.…
Phenological growth stages of raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.)
“An exact description of the developmental stages of agricultural crops is of major importance for both science and practice. It simplifies the communication and the definition of time periods for crop management, monitoring and pest control measures.<br>The phenological growth stages of raspberry were described and coded within the frame of the EU-project “”RACER”” (Reduced Application…
Effects of vaccination against coccidiosis in comparison to the use of dietary coccidiostats on the development and the performance of growing pullets and laying hens
2000 one-day old and non beak-trimmed chicks of H&N hybrid (white) were kept in an aviary system (Natura 400 AZ-187) which was divided into four groups of 500 animals each. Two groups were vaccinated with Paracox-8® on day 8 whereas the others were given a coccidiostat in the diet up to week 12. At the…
Phenological retrospective for the year 2000
L’anno 2000 è risultato da caldo a molto caldo. Temperature simili si verificarono solo nel 1947 e nel 1990, mentre che nel 1994 furono persino superiori. In Engadina, a sud delle Alpi e nel Goms fu decisamente troppo bagnato. Nel resto della Svizzera le quantità di precipitazione furono normali. Un soleggiamento nettamente sopra la media…
Weed control and tuber quality of potatoes after direct mulch planting
Intensive soil tillage in conventional potato cropping increases the risk of erosion and leaching of nitrate. Direct mulch planting of potatoes was developed to reduce this risk. Ridges and covercrops are established in August after harvest of the preceding cereal crop. In the following spring potatoes are plated without any soil tillage. The results of…
Cultures for reducing the stickiness of smeared cheese surfaces
“Numerous traditional Swiss cheese varieties are smear-ripened e.g. Gruyère, Raclette, Appenzeller and Tilsiter. The smear is a very complex ecosystem composed of moulds, yeasts and bacteria. It contributes to the typical flavour of these cheese varieties. In recent years, the occurence of a defect, the so-called stickiness of the smear, has increased. The smear became…
Quality of pressed pulp silage in big bales
Recently, pressed pulps are also baled for silage. From March to August 2000 we investigated at four different dates the quality of eight bales, which were made in 1999. As soon as the bales were opened we took samples and subsequently every day a part of about 7 cm was fed to cows. 7 and…
Production parameters in a suckler cow system with Simmental and Angus cows on alpine pastures
In Switzerland +Natura Beef® + is the brand name for suckler cow calves which will be slaughtered at weaning at the age of 10 months. The goal of this investigation was to compare production efficiency of medium sized dual purpose Simmental cows and small sized and strong by muscled Angus cows. The whole herd was…
Ecology at Swiss vegetables farms
The ecological compensatory areas were investigated at 14 Swiss farms with field grown vegetables in the frame work of the EU-project VEGINECO. From 1997 to 2000 the percentage of these areas were ca. 17% at organic farms and ca. 7% at integrated farms. According to the opinion of organic farmers the main advantage of ecological…
Effects of irrigation on the vegetation of permanent grassland in a mountain region of Switzerland
In a dry region of Oberwallis (Martisberg) changes in the vegetation of permanent grassland were observed during eight years following the introduction of spray irrigation. Botanical records on eleven plots of 25 m2 show that no fundamental changes occurred from 1988 to 1996. On the most fertile and freshest meadows the number of species slightly…
Nutritive value of grassland plants: contents of cell wall constituents
“The main constituents of the cell wall, e.g. crude fiber, ADF, NDF and lignin, were analysed in 10 important varieties of grassland plants. The results of 555 analysed samples give a better knowledge of the changes with regard to the content of cell wall constituents during the growing season. Within the same plant variety and…
Testing silage additives 2000
In 2000, we tested the efficacy of the two silage additives Naturasil (concentrate) and Topsilage. Both products are containing lactic acid bacteria meant to promote the main fermentation in silages. The trials were carried out in small-scale silos with a mixture of lucerne and cocksfoot. Forage of the first and also of the second cut…
Skim milk powder and yellow mustard-meal treatment: Alternatives to the chemical seed-dressing for the control of common bunt in wheat
In 5-year field trials, the incidence of common bunt (Tilletia caries) in winter wheat was strongly reduced by a seed treatment with skim milk powder: on the average untreated seeds had 52 and treated seeds 3 diseased ears per m2. In 2-year field trials Tillecur (84.8 % yellow mustard-powder) was a very effectiv means of…
71 varieties of perennial ryegrass tested
In the years 1998 until 2000 the two research stations Zürich-Reckenholz and Nyon-Changins tested 71 varieties of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) under our growth conditions. Considerable progress was observed in agronomically relevant properties like competing ability, persistence and resistance to bacterial cancor and rust.<br><br>-Early to intermediate varieties: Aruga, Aberkite, Arvella, Lipresso, Marmota and Salamandra<br><br>-Intermediate…
Field screening of copper free fungicides against potato late blight
In 2002 copper fungicides will be banned in countries of the European Union. In organic production copper is actually the only efficient fungicide to control late blight in potatoes. In a field screening we tested the efficacy of 26 different products, that could substitute copper. In field trials with micro-plots of 4m2 the two cultivars…
Caution on wet soils: trafficking can cause persistent subsidences!
The revised Federal Act on Environment Protection prescribes soil protection from physical damage, such as compaction. However, practical implementation of physical soil protection provokes conflicts, particularly for agriculture where efficient, but heavy, machinery is used for the sake of economic management. Soil compaction is caused by irreversible compression and shearing, i.e. plastic deformation. This contribution…
New reference values regarding the intake of nutritive substances represent a chance for the agriculture and dairy industry
In the year 2000, new reference values for the intake of nutritive substances were published in the German speaking countries. These values differ from previous recommendations, for the German population, for example, in a higher intake of folic acid, vitamin C and calcium. In order to comply with these recommendations, the consumers should attach more…
