Organic arable farming is very demanding. That is why we continue to develop it together with practitioners and incorporate innovative approaches into research as quickly as possible. We maintain eleven national practice networks on various arable farming topics, in which we conduct trials in collaboration with farmers. We also provide advisory services for organic farmers on all aspects of organic farming.
Our main areas of work:
- In tillage, we look for alternatives to ploughing. These alternatives range from reduced tillage to direct seeding and rotary band seeding. A particular focus is on weed control.
- In the field of weed control, we test state-of-the-art hoeing equipment and weeding robots with automatic control systems.
- Winter wheat is the most important crop. In addition to yield, the high quality requirements of the baking industry also play a major role here. These requirements are only met with the best varieties. This is why we conduct variety trials every year in cooperation with Agroscope Changins.
- Domestic production of grain legumes reduces dependence on imported soy. We are currently testing new soya and lupine varieties for cultivation under Swiss conditions. Over the past ten years, we have developed mixed cultivation of protein peas and field beans. Thanks to mixed crops, their cultivation has increased many times over.
- The biggest challenges in organic farming are pests in oilseed rape, weeds in sugar beet and late blight in potatoes. We are working to solve these problems with suitable cropping techniques and variety selection.
- We are further developing direct marketing and niche production for various arable crops.
Contact
Further information
Experimental research networks for arable crops
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Projects
Team
| Group Cultivation Technique Arable Crops | ||
| Biderbost Stephanie | Research in arable farming, field experiments in the Eastern part of Switzerland | +41 (0)62 865-0429 |
| Böhler Daniel | Research and advisory services arable farming, reduced tillage | +41 (0)56 243-1837 |
| Carrel Katrin | Research and advisory services in arable farming, cereal varieties, strip cropping | +41 (0)62 865-6381 |
| Christen Mathias | Research and advisory services arable farming, cereals, oilseeds | +41 (0)62 865-6363 |
| Dallo Aline | Research and advisory services nutrient management | +41 (0)62 865-0440 |
| Dierauer Hansueli | Research and advisory services arable farming, conversion, weed management, crop rotations, cereals, precision farming | +41 (0)62 865-7265 |
| Gelencsér Tobias | Co-leader of the Group Cultivation Technique Arable CropsResearch and advisory services arable farming, potatoes | +41 (0)62 865-7251 |
| Grosse Meike | Reduced tillage, long-term experiments, arable farming, cover crops | +41 (0)62 865-6397 |
| Klaiss Matthias | Staff commiteeresearch and advisory services arable farming, grain legumes, cereals, sourcing projects, organic seed service | +41 (0)62 865-7208 |
| Krauss Maike | Deputy Head of the Department of Soil SciencesCo-leader of the Group Cultivation Technique Arable Cropsconservation tillage, climate, arable crops, field experiments | +41 (0)62 865-0435 |
| Niggli Jeremias | Research and advisory services arable farming, soil tillage | +41 (0)62 865-6389 |
| Schmid Tim | Research and advisory services soil fertility | +41 (0)62 865-6382 |