What does the latest crop tour test show?

Last week (in week 36) the last test harvests were carried out on the potato plots of the Gewastour. This showed that the average yield was 51,2 tons per hectare. The difference between the highest and lowest yield is almost 35 tons.

Since the previous trial harvesting, which was held in week 31, added about 13,5 tons per hectare. The average underwater weight has decreased by 42,3 grams to 379,7 grams in the same period. Not many more tons are expected.

The trial harvesting figures show in any case that the yields are considerably lower than in other years. Certainly if it is taken into account that the plots that participate in the Crop Tour are generally located on heavier soils and soils where the water supply is often better.

The yields are highest on the plot in Marknesse, where approximately 65 tons per hectare will probably be harvested. However, the figures are lowest on the plot in Scharendijke. The yield on that plot amounts to a meager 30 tons per hectare.

(Text continues below the image)The proportion of the Innovators that is 50 millimeters upwards in the grading varies greatly.

Not only the amount of water is decisive
The amount of precipitation and the number of times that it could be irrigated has caused the large yield differences. For example, the plot in Scharendijke also had the least amount of water. From 1 June to mid-September, less than 70 millimeters of water fell there and in addition, irrigation was not possible on this plot.

However, there is not always a correlation between the amount of water and the yields, because the plot with the highest yields did not have the most water. In addition, this also becomes clear when we look at Escharen, where the potatoes have had 335 millimeters of water (it has been irrigated 7 times). According to the trial harvesting, the yields amount to 44,6 tons per hectare, although it should be noted that the plot is on sandy soil.

Difference whether or not to irrigate
The yields in Groningen show the difference between irrigating or not. For example, the plot in Spijk was irrigated 6 times, while the plot in the Johannes Kerkhovenpolder was only irrigated once. The difference in yields is significant: almost 1 tons were harvested in Spijk, while in the Johannes Kerkhovenpolder it was 60 tons.

* 15% has been deducted from the gross proceeds, for spray traces et cetera

Anne-Jan Doorn

Anne Jan Doorn is an arable expert at Boerenbusiness. He writes about the various arable farming markets and also focuses on the land and energy market.

aj.doorn@boerenbusiness. Nl

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