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Nitrogen (N) pollution of groundwater bodies is often a result of high livestock densities combined with use of mineral N fertilisers in Northwest Germany, specifically in combination with sandy soils and high amounts of precipitation. Organic agriculture is discussed as an alternative management practice reducing nitrogen losses due to area-based livestock densities and waiving of mineral N fertilisers. A field trial with integrated ceramic suction cups over three years showed potential for reduced N loads under conventional management specifically with organic fertilisation. Now, the field trial is under transition into organic farming with promising additional benefits for drinking water quality and the great potential to develop optimised N management strategies.
To assess the effect of intercropping on malting quality a field trial with spring barley (Hordeum vulgare) and legume (pea) as well as non-legume (camelina and linseed) intercrops in two additive seeding ratios as well as sole cops was established in 2017 at the organic experimental station of University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück in North-Western Germany. Two tested malting barley cultivars (cv. Marthe and cv. Odilia) showed different performance, but all variants achieved brewing quality. Results after two years indicate that linseed and camelina were able to limit protein content. For best land-use efficiency of malting barley production intercropping with linseed showed best results. Mixed intercropping can help to promote internal efficiency loops and is therefore a promising sustainable intensification strategy for more resilient future crop production under changing climate conditions.