Experimental Site in Belgium

Tomatoes in the business as usual (BAU) area just after transplanting in May 2019. To reduce weed pressure, the soil is covered by plastic mulch. Photo: Stefanie De Groote, 2019.

100% winter purslane growing in the business as usual (BAU) area in autumn/winter 2018. Photo: Louis Lippens, 2018

Agroecological service crop (mixture of Japanese oat and Phacelia) growing in the innovative (INN) area. Photo: Louis Lippens, 2018

Mixture of winter purslane, swiss chard and mizuna growing in the innovative (INN) area in autumn/winter 2018. Photo: Louis Lippens, 2018

Tomatoes and cucumbers mixed in the innovative (INN) area just after transplanting in May 2019. To reduce weed pressure, the soil is covered by straw as natural mulch. Photo: Stefanie De Groote, 2019.

Context and objectives

The year‐round production of high-quality and tasty vegetables in unheated polytunnels in Belgium, using resilient, sustainable and local inputs, is a challenge. It is therefore important to investigate the agro-ecological approach, focusing on the sustainability of inputs and trying to minimize the amount of external inputs.

The objective at the Belgian experimental site is to increase environmental sustainability and biodiversity in unheated polytunnels by introducing agroecological service crops, greater crop diversity and flower strips. Moreover, the dependency on external inputs is reduced, aiming for greater autonomy for the farmers.

Experimental factors

The project is carried out in two unheated polytunnels of 300 m² at the PCG research center (Kruishoutem, Belgium). A classic system (business as usual - BAU) is compared to an innovative system (INN) during three growing seasons:

Business as usual

Bare soil in between the crop rotation
One species of leafy vegetables in autumn/winter
One species in summer (tomato)
Use of standard green compost
Plastic mulch to reduce weed pressure

Innovative

Use of agroecological service crops in between the crop rotation
Mixture of three species of leafy vegetables in autumn/winter
Mixture of two species in summer (tomato + cucumber)
Use of high-quality on-farm compost
Straw as natural mulch to reduce weed pressure
Flower strips along the tunnel borders

Expected outputs

We expect that the cultivation of agro-ecological service crops will provide nitrogen and organic matter to the soil, thereby positively influencing soil structure and soil fertility. Application of qualitative on-farm compost is expected to promote soil microbial diversity and to suppress soil disease. This improved soil fertility management is expected to reduce nutrient leaching and to better provide nutrients to the plants. The use of more species from different botanical families might reduce pest and disease pressure, both aboveground and belowground. Flower strips are expected to promote functional biodiversity and to attract natural enemies, thereby limiting the need for phytosanitary treatments and the introduction of exogenous beneficial insects.

Further Information

Contact

Stefanie De Groote, PCG