Educational lot to experiment with onions

The Aeres University of Applied Sciences in Dronten is participating this year in the Boerenbusiness Crop tour with a so-called educational Learning Lot. A plot for experiments and trials focused on cultivation, soil, water and technology.

On the 15 hectare plot, 2 hectares of Hyway onions grow. "We had wanted to have our own plot for some time where our students can carry out all kinds of experiments and trials within the cultivation of various crops," says Bettie Tijsseling, study leader Horticulture and Arable Farming & Agricultural Entrepreneurship at the university of applied sciences. 

The first onions on the field emerge carefully. The onions were sown on King's Day. Irrigation was carried out before processing to make the soil finer. After sowing, some precipitation has fallen on the plot. The onions are coming up variable with the expectation that almost all onions will be above the top by the end of the week.

Trials and experiments 
Students of the Horticulture and Arable Farming and Agricultural Entrepreneurship Horticulture and Arable Farming studies frequently visit the plot. Unfortunately, that is not going entirely according to plan this year due to the corona outbreak.

The first-year students are introduced to the development of the various crops on the plot. At various times during the growing season, they follow a crop round in which they learn more about the crop and about identifying weeds. The second-year students conduct experiments there. In advance they have decided for themselves which experiments they find interesting and valuable. Subsequently, a choice is made which tests will be carried out this year. Some of these will be carried out for several years.

For example, between the onions are strips of cucumber herb and Phacelia. These crops attract natural enemies, which the students hope to reduce the pressure of thrips in onions. There is also a strip where only mechanical weed control is carried out. A total of 7 student groups are involved in experiments in seed onions.

Strip cultivation
"We also have trials that come back every year, such as the nitrogen traps that we have now installed, but strip cultivation will also return next year. Which other experiments will be done then, is up to the students," says Tijsseling.

Lecturers guide the students with the experiments from the module 'Cultivation optimization and advice'. Students collect a lot of data, for example by making visual crop observations, but also by using sensors and drones. The data collected during all academic years is included in a large database that both students and teachers can use. Tijsseling: "The Education Learning Lot is a wonderful learning lot for students where students and teachers can learn with and from each other."

One of the students on the lot is Bart Niemansverdriet. "Together with 3 other students, we are participating in the Onion Crop Tour from the 'Cultivation Optimization and Advice' module. We are in the second year of the Agricultural Entrepreneurship Horticulture and Arable Farming study and monitor the growth and development of the onion crop. We also make a crop photo every week. We find participating in the crop tour very interesting as a group, we also hope to learn a lot from the other growers. Unfortunately, the corona measures do not make it any easier, because we would like to take a look at other growers."