Project

Resilient cultivation systems strawberry: renewable substrates and organic fertilizers

In this project we design and test a future proof resilient cultivation system for strawberry, based on renewable substrates and organic fertilization in order to become less dependent on the use of pesticides as well as non-renewable materials such as peat.

To arrive at a sound design, we will first determine the impact of using renewable substrates and organic fertilizers on plant growth and development in nursery and production. We will also measure the impact of these on plant- and substrate resilience (focus Phytophthora, powdery mildew and aphids). In order to understand observations and to be able to steer in a targeted manner, measurements will be made of plant metabolites (metabolome) and the root microbes (microbiome).  A resilient cultivation system benefits from a clean start. In addition to traditional propagation from cuttings, we will, therefore, also work with propagation of plants from tissue culture. In the resilient cultivation system, the design for the various cultivation phases (mother plants, nursery, production) will be adjusted to each other. The design will be in line with the ‘Backbone Resilient Cultivation’ based on 4 main elements: 1) robust varieties, 2) hygiene, 3) optimal environment conditions avoiding advantageous conditions for pests/diseases and promoting conditions for biologicals and 4) optimal growing conditions.  Results with the strawberry crop will provide starting points for research in other crops, both in the greenhouse and outdoors. After all, reduction of  peat and pesticide use present challenges in almost all crops.

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