University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) - Research portal
Gewählte Master / Diploma Thesis:
Lucas Helwig Kohl
(2019):
Kurzzeiteffekte von Zwischenfrucht und Düngung nach der Soil Balancing Method auf den Kartoffelanbau.
Master / Diploma Thesis - Institut für Ökologischer Landbau (IFÖL),
BOKU-Universität für Bodenkultur,
pp 75.
UB BOKU
obvsg
FullText
- Abstract:
- The common approach of providing fertilizer recommendations and fertilizing agricultural sites in Germany is based on the Sufficiency Level of Available Nutrients (SLAN). More and more experts believe that this approach is responsible for many negative environmental impacts. A contrary approach is therefore moving into the centre of interest among farmers and private consultants: the so-called Basic Cation Saturation Ratio (BCSR) approach. The BCSR approach postulates maintaining an ideal ratio of basic cation (Ca, Mg, K and Na) saturation on the soil exchange sites in order to maximize crop yields and health. Nevertheless, due to lacking and poor research this theory could not be validated so far. Many scientists therefore believe that the positive experience of farmers with the BCSR is only based on a more sustainable way of farming with cover crops. In order to test this hypothesis, an on-farm research experiment was conducted. The potato tuber yield and health have been investigated in four different variants: SLAN, SLAN with cover crops, BCSR, BCSR with cover crops. In addition, the BCSR approach in this experiment has been extended compared to other experiments. Instead of analysing only basic cations, all plant essential nutrients have been balanced. The experiment started in August 2017 with the seeding of the cover crop and ended in October 2018 with the potato tuber harvest. Results showed a significant effect on higher potato tuber yield with increasing yields in the following order of variants: SLAN – BCSR – SLAN with cover crop – BCSR with cover crop. However, there was no significant effect on potato tuber health, which might be caused by a disputable research conduction. More research must to be done in order to make scientifically founded statements.
- Beurteilende(r): Friedel Jürgen Kurt