Good chicory growth is extra important this year

A longer sowing season and slightly lower, but on average sufficient plant numbers. The yield of chicory this year will mainly be determined by the conditions during the growing season. Can growers meet the undiminished demand for inulin?

The last chicory was sown around May 10 this year. As a result, the season, which started at the beginning of April, lasted longer than in other years. In the southwestern part of the Netherlands in particular, growers on heavier soils had to put in a lot of effort to get a good seedbed. The fine-seeded chicory crop requires a shallow yet sufficiently fine seed bed. 

“Sometimes there is irrigation for this,” says René Schunselaar, agro manager at processing company Sensus. “Other growers have been waiting for rain, which fell around the end of April.” According to Schunselaar, sufficient rain has fallen in most places for sowing and germination of the crop. It concerns a few parcels or parcel parts that have failed or are in danger of failing.

Sow again
Nevertheless, in general the sowing period went well, says Schunselaar. “On sandy soils, it is always relevant to apply animal manure, plowing and sowing as close together as possible to prevent the soil from drying out. This has generally worked out well.” The regularly strong, drying wind from the northeast was an extra challenge. “This has particularly affected growers on the sandy soils in the northeast, but also in the south. This caused dust damage in a few places and then re-seeded.”

Although the sowing took place over a longer period, the average sowing date does not differ much from other years, according to Schunselaar. “But”, he emphasizes, “we have not yet received all cultivation registrations regarding sowing date.” According to Schunselaar, the number of plants per hectare is particularly relevant for a good chicory yield. “We think that there is generally sufficient plant numbers, although that will be somewhat lower than in other years. It is therefore all the more important that the chicory can continue to grow well during the summer and early autumn.” 

Increasing demand
He doesn't dare to make a prediction yet. All we know now is that it acreage is the same as last year and that the inulin market seems to be withdrawing from the corona crisis. Schunselaar: “At the moment we do not notice any lower sales. It's even rather the other way around. Inulin in human food contributes to health and that is something that is increasingly appreciated by consumers and customers. Naturally, we at Sensus had to take (and still do) the necessary measures to be able to continue to work properly, in accordance with government guidelines. But that does not alter the fact that we see an increasing worldwide demand for our products.”

Jeanette Pennings

Jeannet has her roots in the flower bulb sector and she grew up on an agricultural company in the northern part of North Holland. As a generalist she reports for Boerenbusiness across all sectors. She is also exploring the possibilities of sponsored advertising.

j.pennings@boerenbusiness. Nl

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