Nature-inclusive agriculture Oldambt

Development and integration of a mixed crop in the cropping plan, with a focus on grass-clover as a possible soil-building, biodiversity-stimulating, and black-grass-suppressing measure

Farmers in the Oldambt have a lot of trouble with black-grass and other weeds. Grass clover can be a solution to the black-grass problem. A perennial, ground cover crop such as grass clover (and possibly other crops as well) can have an important and weed-suppressing role. For this reason, a two-year field trial with grass clover is being set up on this farm to investigate the effects of grass clover as a weed suppressant. It is possible that the cultivation of such a weed-suppressing crop can increase the effectiveness of non-inversion tillage.

Embedding a legume in the crop plan (winter field bean) as an alternative to winter wheat and as a protein source for animal husbandry

De opbrengstniveau's van winterveldbonen blijken sterk te schommelen. Het vermoeden bestaat dat hierin de aanwezigheid en diversiteit van bestuivers een The yield levels of winter field beans appear to fluctuate widely. It is suspected that the presence and diversity of pollinators plays an important role in this. Little knowledge has been developed about how fluctuations in these pollinator populations affect pollination and yield. By taking targeted measures, arable farmers could increase their harvest security and at the same time work on a more nature-inclusive agricultural system. Sowing flowers in the spray track, or between, can potentially attract additional pollinators as well as natural pest control agents. The question is: to what extent it is possible to combine the cultivation of a protein crop with crops that attract pest-suppressing insects? The two-year field trial should provide a definitive answer on this.

Use of organic manure

So far there is little insight into the effectiveness of a nature-inclusive measure such as the application of more organic manure (beef, chicken, pig) in terms of yield, structural soil structure, costs, and benefits. For that reason, a two-year field trial is being set up at the Oldambt farm, to gain more insight into the effectiveness of additional organic manure (beef, chicken, pig) on the organic matter content, the diversity in the soil, the feasibility, and the practicality.

Presentations and publications

• Presentation Kennisbijeenkomst De Bodem als Basis - 12 okt 2021
• Download the flyer Promising nature-inclusive measures in the Oldambt
• Newsletter June 2020
• Factsheet 'Winterveldboon in het Oldambt'
• Factsheet 'Toepassing van (vaste) organische mest'
• Factsheet 'Onkruidonderdrukking door grasklaver in Oldambt'
• Factsheet 'De kosten en baten van Natuurinclusieve maatregelen in Oldambt'

Financing

This project is financed from the Rural Development Program 2014-2020 for the Netherlands (POP3). This program is partly financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).
European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe invests in its countryside.