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Plant production

Sauer-Kesper C., Lucia N., Buser H., Vogler U.

The new biotype Nr:1 of the currant lettuce aphid: its distribution and impact on Swiss lettuce production

The currant lettuce aphid, Nasonovia ribisnigri (Mosley) is the most common aphid species on field-grown lettuce in Europe. Cultivation of lettuce varieties, resistant to the currant lettuce aphid (possessing the resistance Nr:0), was an important tool to control Nasonovia in the crop, until the plant resistance was broken down. In 2007, the currant lettuce aphid…
Plant production

Kuske S., Schweizer C., Kölliker U.

Microbial pollen beetle control: initial experience gained in Switzerland

Pollen beetle control without insecticides presents a major challenge to organic farming. There are currently no effective options available for controlling infestations in bioproduction or cultivation conforming to IP-SUISSE guidelines. An insecticidal fungusbased method was tested to assess the potential of microbial pest control strategies. Domestic isolates of Beauveria bassiana, found as natural pathogens on…
Plant production

Foetzki A., Winzeler M., Boller T., Felber F., Gruissem W., Keel C., Keller B., Mascher F., Maurhofer M., Nentwig W., Romeis J.

Field trials with genetically modified powdery mildew-resistant wheat

The benefits and environmental risks of genetically modified (GM) spring wheat with improved powdery mildew resistance were investigated on two field sites by a consortium of Swiss research groups from 2008 to 2010. GM wheat lines with specific powdery mildew resistance and general fungal resistance were compared with control lines, commercial wheat varieties, and with…
Environment

Jossi W., Zihlmann U., Anken T., Dorn B., Van der Heijden M.

Reduced tillage protects earthworms

Earthworm activity improves soil fertility. In arable crop rotations highest earthworm populations are usually found in leys. The impact of tillage system and tillage intensity on earthworm populations was studied in the two long term trials at urgrain (Albertswil LU) and at Hausweid (Aadorf TG). At Burgrain having a crop rotation lasting six years and…
Plant production

Breitenmoser S., Dubuis N., Grillot L., Brodard J., Balmelli C.

Viral diseases of oilseed rape in Switzerland

In Switzerland, the rape is grown mainly on the Plateau, from Geneva to Thurgovie. With 15 000 ha cultivated, it is one of the predominant crops in our rotation-culture system. The majority is cultivated as autumn rape, sown at the end of August. In some of our neighboring countries, such as Germany and France, viruses…
Animal production

Gazzarin Ch., Frey H., Petermann R., Höltschi M.

Pasture feeding or cowshed feeding – which is more economical?

In a «System comparison of milk production in Hohenrain » two dairy cattle herds on an identical land area were compared over three years in different production systems. Higher individual livestock yield and intensive cowshed feeding characterised the «cowshed herd» system, while the «pasture herd» was managed with permanent access to pasture and seasonal calving…
Animal production

Wyss U., Mauer J., Frey H., Reinhard T., Bernet A., Hofstetter P.

System comparison milk production Hohenrain: milk quality and seasonal milk production

In the years 2008 to 2010, in the project «System comparison milk production Hohenrain», two different milk production systems were compared: a pasture based system versus an indoor feeding system with a mix ration of grass and maize silage. In the present paper the results of milk quality and seasonal milk production were investigated. The…
Environment

Sanvido O., Romeis J., Bigler F.

Facilitating the evaluation of possible environmental harm from genetic engineering

The debate on the possible impact of genetically modified (GM) crops on biodiversity shows that so far there is no consensus on generally accepted assessment criteria for environmental harm. This debate stems primarily not from a shortage of data, but rather from the absence of criteria for assessing the effects of GM plants on biodiversity.…
Animal production

Hofstetter P., Frey H., Petermann R., Gut W., Herzog L., Kunz P.

Comparison of dairy farming systems: barn-keeping v pasture-based keeping – Feed, performance and efficiency

The aim of this study was to compare barn-keeping (BK) to pasture-based-keeping (PK) systems in dairy farming. We established two herds which were kept under the same conditions and with an equal agricultural area (AA) on the same experimental farm from 2008 to 2010. The BK herd consisted of 12 Swiss Holstein-Friesian and 12 Brown…
Plant production

Frick R., Mosimann E., Suter D., Hirschi H.

Sainfoin and birdsfoot trefoil variety trials (2008 – 2010)

From 2008 through 2010, Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon ART and Agroscope Changins-Wädenswil ACW research stations tested three varieties of sainfoin and five varieties of birdsfoot trefoil. The parameters assessed were forage yield, juvenile development, vigour, competitive ability, persistence, resistance to leaf diseases and winter conditions and the ability for cultivation at higher altitudes. For each variety, an…
Environment

Spiess E., Prasuhn V., Stauffer W.

Influence of organic and mineral fertilizers on nutrient leaching

Between 2002 and 2009 the influence of fertilizer type on drainage water formation and nutrient leaching was investigated in one crop rotation at the Bern- Liebefeld lysimeter station. Slightly higher crop yields were obtained with purely organic fertilizer than with pure mineral or organic-mineral fertilizers. One of the reasons for this may be that optimum…
Agricultural economics

Gazzarin Ch., Piccand V.

Which cow for pasture-based production systems?: Economic evaluation

Which cow for pasture-based production systems?: Economic evaluation The objective of the study was to compare, within pasture-based seasonal-calving systems, the economic performance of different types of cows. A herd simulation based on the results of the project «Which cow for pasture-based production systems?» was undertaken. There were no clear advantages of one cow type…
Other

Widmer S., Wydler H., Christ Y.

Development potential in the Care Farming sector

In order to gain a better understanding of Care Farming (the provision of social services in farming) and to make better use of existing potential, Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon ART Research Station and the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) conducted three workshops with experts from a wide variety of professional fields in 2010. The workshop participants…
Plant production

Naef A., Mouron P., Höhn H.

Sustainability rating of crop protection strategies in apple production

Future plant protection strategies should be efficacious, economic and environmentally acceptable. TheSustainOS methodology has been developed to assess the sustainability of crop protection strategies in apple orchards. The methodology consists of a system description structure, an assessment step for subcriteria of sustainability and an aggregation of these subcriteria to an overall sustainability. The method has…
Plant production

Bravin E., Blunschi M., Leumann M., Straub U., Hirrle T., Hanhart J., Hollenstein R., Steinemann B.

Action research: Fruit growers search for solutions

The objective of the Interreg project «Fruit management» is to improve the management competences of fruit growers in the lake Constance region. 90 Swiss and German fruit growers identified their future challenges. By using the action research, fruit growers identified theses challenges and searched for solutions in working groups. These informations will be collected and…
Plant production

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

Results of red fescue and crested dogstail variety trials

From 2008 to 2010, the Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon ART and Agroscope Changins-Wädenswil ACW research stations tested new breeds and recommended varieties of red fescue and crested dogstail. The evaluation of the varieties was based on systematic observations of yield, vigour, juvenile development, competitive ability, winter hardiness, resistance to leaf diseases and the ability for cultivation at…
Plant production

Zanetti S., Hebeisen T.

Seed certification in Switzerland (2005-2010)

An annual average of over 50,000 tons of seed and propagation material was produced in Switzerland between 2005 and 2010. Seed certification and the seed testing laboratory at Agroscope Reckenholz- Tänikon ART Research Station help ensure that the quality of the seed produced in Switzerland is flawless and that variety-specific characteristics are retained throughout the…
Plant production

Oehl F., Jansa J., Ineichen K., Mäder P., van der Heijden M.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi as bio-indicators in Swiss agricultural soils

The majority of agricultural crops as well as wild plants form a symbiotic relationship with a special group of soil fungi, the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM fungi). AM fungi perform important functions in all ecological systems colonised by plants. They form a dense network of fungal hyphal mycelia in the soil and transmit vital nutrients…
Other

Steffen P.

Problemorientierte Systemforschung – ein Blick auf Agroscope

Hinter abstrakten Namen von Forschungsprojekten wie AgriMontana, AlpFUTUR, Fusaprog, ProfiLait, Agrar- Umwelt-Monitoring stehen ganz konkrete Beispiele der aktuellen landwirtschaftlichen Forschung von Agroscope. Sie zeigen im Einzelnen, dass der Ansatz der problemorientierten Systemforschung von Agroscope einen Mehrwert für Forschung, Gesellschaft, Politik, Verwaltung und die landwirtschaftliche Praxis schafft.
Other

Rossier R., Helfenberger R.

Forschung und Beratung für Frauen in der Landwirtschaft

Frauen in der Landwirtschaft – Aktuelle Debatten aus Wissenschaft und Praxis: Zu diesem Thema fand vom 27. bis 29. Januar 2011 eine internationale Tagung am Geografischen Institut der Universität Bern statt. 150 Frauen aus dem deutschsprachigen Raum (CH, D, A und Südtirol) nahmen daran teil. Interessante Beiträge zu geschlechtsspezifischen, arbeitswirtschaftlichen, gesundheitlichen und wirtschaftlichen Aspekten wurden…

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