Better crop control starts at the roots
Added on 18 December 2021
The research examines whether controlling the root environment of a crop can be applied in an integrated manner by feeding specific microbial food to the plant. That food can come from the type of growing medium, organic fertilizer or from non-microbial biostimulants.
The research consists of a number of parts. For example, WUR tries to monitor all relevant factors in the root environment simultaneously. This is done by measuring the elements T, WC, pH and Cx supply (where the x stands for the measured supply of a type of organic matter specifically to stimulate one group of microbials) and by using those measurements to calculate the degradation and predicted accumulation in the substrate slab. The researchers compare the predicted accumulation with the measured accumulation of C, N and, if necessary, more elements. In addition, the researchers are waiting for so-called NGS measurements, which show how the types and numbers of the micro-organisms react.
The research into the root environment will be completed by mid-2022. The research is a public-private partnership and is financed by the Club van 100, Stichting Kijk In Je Kas (KIJK) and Greenhouse Horticulture Netherlands.?
Source and Photo Courtesy of Wageningen University & Research
Source: Wageningen University & Research
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