De Boerenbusiness This year, the crop tour follows 9 plots with potatoes, destined for the French fries market. What are the current developments, what are the growing conditions like and what will the yield ultimately be? We will keep you informed via the Crop Tour.
The variety that is planted on the 9 different plots is the same everywhere, namely Innovator. This makes it possible to make a good comparison. Among other things, we look at the influence of the different soil types on the growth and yield of the potatoes. An overview of where the plots are located.
North Netherlands
This year, the northernmost plot is located in Friesland instead Oldeholtwolde. The plot is 13,3 hectares in size. The soil type is sand. The fore crop was grass and the field was plowed. On Friday, March 27, 2020, slurry was injected on the plot. The grower will plant the potatoes with planter belts and cage rollers.
In the province of North Holland, a plot of 9 hectares will be built this year Middenmeer followed. This concerns clay soil on which tulips were planted in 2019. No main tillage has taken place, because the soil is not turned.
The third plot to be followed is located in Ens in the province of Flevoland. On the sandy soil, potatoes are planted on a field of 7 hectares. The pre-crop was tulips and the soil was plowed around December 15, 2019. The potatoes (size 35/55) go into the soil at a distance of 30 centimeters using a cup planter.
The fourth lot is in Dronten, also in the province of Flevoland. Students of Aeres University of Applied Sciences will take care of the measurements and updates here. The plot is not owned by the university but by a grower from Dronten.
South of the Netherlands
There are 5 plots in the south of the Netherlands. One of them is located in Zeeland Scharendijke. This plot is 10,5 hectares and consists of variegated clay. This means that there are differences in soil type within the plot. In some places there is heavy clay and other parts of the plot are lighter clay. Peas and wheat were the precursors. After the harvest in 2019, the grower sowed fodder radish, which was flailed and plowed in October 2019. The potatoes are planted with a cup planter and the soil will be worked with a multivator. The size of the potato will be 35/45.
In the province of North Brabant in the place Fijnaart we follow a plot of potatoes of 4 hectares. The soil type is clay and the pre-crop was winter wheat. The soil has been plowed and will be processed with a front cultivator, after which the potatoes (size 35/45) will go into the ground using a cup planter. The soil varies from 55% to 25% silty, which means that there is a variation in heavy and light clay on the plot.
The next plot is also located in the province of North Brabant. Instead Hank. On the sea clay in Hank, potatoes will be planted on 4,75 hectares. The pre-crop was perennial ryegrass and plowing took place around December 2, 2019. Planting is done with a cup planter with a ridging hood. The size of the potatoes is 45/50.
The third plot in the province of North Brabant is located in Cuijk. The surface of the plot is 14 hectares and it concerns sandy soil. Sugar beets formed the fore crop and the sandy soil was plowed. During planting, a ridge will be made at the same time.
The last lot is located in Someren in the province of North Brabant and is 6 hectares in size. The soil consists of sand and loam. The fore crop was grass and the field was plowed. The potatoes (size 35/50) are planted with a cup planter at a distance of 31 centimeters from each other. Potassium water will be injected as basic fertilizer.
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