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Plant production

Hebeisen Th., Gutapfel N., Ballmer Th., Reust W., Torche J.M.

Adequate varieties diminish acrylamide formation

Variety specific acrylamide contents were examined in crisps, French fries and hash browns. Tubers from several ware and processing varieties, originated from two locations and two harvest seasons 2002 and 2003, were stored at 8 °C. Standardized processing tests were performed at two times early and late within the storage period respectively. Acrylamide contents were…
Agricultural economics

Bosshard A., Schläpfer F.

Ways towards a target oriented Swiss agricultural policy

The obvious need, in the context trade liberalisation, for further reforming public support for agriculture in Switzerland currently generates lively political debates among affected interest groups. However, a basic understanding of the important public-good issues involved is frequently lacking in these discussions. Currently, only a small fraction of the subsidies are tightly linked to explicit…
Environment

Heinrich A., Kaufmann R.

agricultural building and landscape

Agricultural buildings form and influence our environment, in particular in open country, away from built-up areas. Here agricultural buildings have a major impact on the landscape. The general trend to cut costs has brought about a change in the construction technique of agricultural buildings. Atypical materials and colours are used, in some cases a qualified…
Environment

Diserens E., Spiess E., Steinmann G.

TASC: an Excel tool to prevent severe soil compaction damage

TASC (TYRES/TRACKS AND SOIL COMPACTION) est une application excel tenant lieu de guide pour le praticien des grandes cultures. Une appréciation des sollicitations du sol induites par le train de roulement des machines est rendue possible, en tenant compte des propriétés du sol et des machines. Lorsqu’il y a lieu, le risque de compactage sévère…
Plant production

Müller M.D., Poiger T., Müller M.D.

Pesticide Registration in Switzerland: The Role of Pesticide Quality and Market Control

The product chemistry of plant protection products is a key issue in the benefit-risk evaluation process in registration of pesticides. In our article we present some aspects of pesticide formulation chemistry and testing. The data requirements for registration refer to an internationally harmonized approach under the auspices of FAO and WHO, called FAO and/or WHO…
Plant production

Jacot K., Eggenschwiler L., Bosshard A.

Botanical development of restored species rich field margins

Starting in 2007 species rich field margins shall be introduced as a new, enduring ecological compensation area type in Swiss agriculture. The results of large on farm-experiments with different seed mixtures and cutting regimes showed the highest plant species diversity under fresh and dry soil conditions while on clay soils and under more humid or…
Plant production

Frick C., Hebeisen Th.

Poppy, an alternative plant

Poppy (Papaver somniferum) is an ancient crop plant. The pressed seeds provide valuable edible oil. Field trials in the last three years showed, that poppy needs an accurate cultivation. Seed yield ranged between 2 and 17 dt/ha depending on variety and location. Yield of 10 dt/ha should be possible if cultivation occurs under good conditions.…
Plant production

Theiler R., Buser H.P., Vidalli O.

Onion (Allium cepa L.), cultivars, production, storage

The production of onions, worldwide and in Switzerland ranks at the forth position of all vegetable produced. In Europe cultivars are mainly available from breeders from France, Netherlands, Germany and Japan. Onions are of high nutrional value. The development of onion leaves is highly correlated to the sum of daily maxima Temperatures, independent of the…
Agricultural economics

Sanders J., Schmid O., Richter T.

Organic initiatives in Switzerland

This paper examines the relevance, environment, key-characteristics and success factors of organic marketing initiatives in Switzerland. Although most initiatives have a similar principal business idea (bundling, processing and/or collective marketing of organic primary products), they can be highly diverse with regard to their objectives, their business strategies and philosophy, as well as their size and…
Agricultural economics

Zgraggen K., Flury Ch., Gotsch N., Rieder P.

Design of land use in the Greifensee region

This present article investigates the importance of the role played by ecological direct payments in ensuring ecologically compatible land use, taking anticipated developments in agriculture in the Greifensee region as a point of departure. Calculations carried out using an economic land use optimisation model for the year 2011 show that today’s ecological contributions are both…
Environment

Szerencsits E., Schüpbach B, Buholzer S., Walter Th., Zgraggen K., Flury Ch.

Landscape types and accessibility of near nature habitats

The aim of the interdisciplinary research project «Greifensee» was the development of agri-environmental measures for the sustainable development of the agriculture. Therefore landscape development was simulated for the year 2011 and for different scenarios.The delineation and classification of landscape types by means of geomorphologic units, soil characteristics and land use was done to characterise the…
Environment

Stamm Ch., Singer H., Szerencsits E., Zgraggen K., Flury Ch.

Site-specific conditions and application of herbicides from the view of the water protection

This article investigates from the perspectives of water protection and economy whether arable cropping is adapted to site conditions in the catchment of Lake Greifensee. Field studies demonstrate that herbicide losses to surface waters can vary very strongly for different areas. Large losses can be expected from poorly drained fields with a direct hydrological connection…
Environment

Prasuhn V., Herzog F., Schärer M., Frossard E., Flühler H., Flury Ch., Zgraggen K.

Inputs from diffuse sources in the Greifensee area: phosphorus and nitrogen

The phosphorus concentration in the Greifensee continues to exceed the target value, due to excessive phosphorus inputs. No relevant water pollution by nitrogen is currently evident. Phosphorus and nitrogen inputs from diffuse sources have been estimated with the aid of the Modiffus model. High phosphorus inputs are principally due to leaching of drained arable land,…
Agricultural economics

Zgraggen K., Flury Ch., Gotsch N., Rieder P.

Development of agriculture in the Greifensee region

An agricultural sector model was developed as an integral element of the Greifensee project. It was designed to assess medium and long-term developments in agriculture and land use and to evaluate policy measures. The model exhibits a high degree of spatial detail which aids the assessment of ecological effects. This article presents the optimisation model…
Agricultural economics

Flury Ch., Gotsch N., Rieder P., Szerencsits E., Schüpbach B., Gantner U.

Greifensee project: interdisciplinary research for agriculture

The interdisciplinary Greifensee research project deals with the utilisation of land and landscapes in the densely settled Swiss midlands (see http://www.ito.umnw.eth.ch/SoilPhys/greifensee/). Using the Greifensee region as an example, fundamental scientific principles for the organisation and management of sustainable agriculture and forestry are developed, together with the policy measures required for their implementation. Various aspects of…
Environment

Keller F., Fuhrer J.

Agriculture and the heatwave of summer 2003

During August 2003, the highest temperatures were recorded since the beginning of the measurement period in Switzerland in 1753. Together with the hot July they made up an extremely rare summer heatwave. Already in February, precipitation amounts were very low and remained low during the rest of the summer. As a result, soils were drying…

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