EIP Project Database

Find EIP-AGRI projects in Germany

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Development of viable and sustainable approaches to haulm reduction in potato cultivation

Authority

Hessisches Ministerium für Umwelt, Klimaschutz, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz

Federal State

Hesse

Contact

Mainzer Straße 80
65189 Wiesbaden

Website: External link to the authority

Project Title

Development of viable and sustainable approaches to haulm reduction in potato cultivation

Project description

In today's potato cultivation, pre-harvest haulm reduction is a standard measure for controlling ripening and thus ensures numerous quality characteristics in addition to storability. The discontinuation of the active ingredient deiquat, combined with the general endeavour to reduce the use of plant protection products in the long term, requires the development of new solutions for haulm reduction. This problem is addressed in the project in order to make potato cultivation in Hesse and beyond in Germany sustainable under the changed agronomic and political framework conditions. The planned project aims to demonstrate alternative methods to standard chemical weed control using deiquat by analysing several methods of weed control. Exact trials as well as field trials on practical farms will be carried out on alternative haulm reduction methods and thus the applicability as well as the influence of these methods on the efficacy and quality of the crop. A technically optimised cutter bar for pre-harvest weed control is also being tested.

Results focusing on practiceorientation

The new haulm reduction methods tested (chemical with dropleg, mechanical with double knife bar, as well as the combination with each other) showed differences in siccation performance, but were statistically comparable with the standard methods (chemical with flat jet nozzles and mechanical with haulm topper). In terms of tuber quality, no differences were found between the haulm control methods, demonstrating that the alternative approaches tested were not at a disadvantage compared to the standard methods. In addition, both nine alternative methods have an economic advantage over the standard mechanical/physical haulm reduction methods, which results from the larger working width. These results therefore give reason to continue to technically optimise the tested alternative methods for haulm reduction in potatoes.

Key words

Pest/disease control

Main funding source

Rural development 2014-2020

OG contact information

Institut für Pflanzenbau und Pflanzenzüchtung, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen
Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26
35392 Gießen

Phone: 0642/99-37443

Email: Benjamin.Wittkop@agrar.uni-giessen.de

Type of OG partners

  • Farmer
  • Advisor
  • Industry

Begin of project

2021

Project status

completed

Total budget applied for in EUR

344,684

Link 1

Project description (german)

Link 2

Practice Sheet

NUTS3 CODE

DE721 Gießen

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