News Arable
Growing soy in the future profitable in Northern Europe
Climate change will make it economically profitable in the future to grow soy in Northern Europe. Researchers from Rothamsted Research in England have come to this conclusion after a three-year study.
"Our research results indicate that from 2050 soybean is a promising crop in England, southern Wales and other northern European areas at the same latitude," said Kevin Coleman, lead author of the report. "The yields should then be high enough to make it an economically interesting option. In addition, the soy has a low nitrogen requirement and it has few diseases and pests in Northern Europe."
Longer growing season
The researchers conducted 3 years of trials with 14 soy varieties at 2 locations in the United Kingdom. Subsequently, climate models were used to predict how the crops would develop in the near future (2041-2060) and far future (2081-2100). In the current climate there are some varieties that ripen sufficiently early, but the yield is lower. Climate change makes it possible to grow varieties that ripen later and have a higher potential yield. "With the higher CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere, the yields could increase by as much as half a ton per hectare in the distant future, according to the models. Unfortunately, that effect is largely negated by other consequences of climate change. no significant increase in yield," Coleman said.
According to the researchers, there is a lack of diversity in the construction plan of large arable farms. A 'cash crop' such as soy, which is nitrogen-fixing and not susceptible to pests and diseases, is for many companies a nice addition to the crop plan, which is now mainly dominated by grain in the UK. “Whether the crop becomes attractive in the end depends in part on how the growers assess the benefits in terms of labor spreading, weed control options and benefits in the crop plan,” Coleman said.
Jurphaas Lugtenburg
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