'Failed trial in onion cultivation is also a conclusion'

De Boerenbusiness This year, Crop Tour will follow 8 plots with yellow seed onions in the Netherlands. Every week we ask an onion grower about the plot, his choices and vision. This week it is Jaco Biesheuvel, cultivation supervisor of Aeres Hogeschool in Dronten, together with students Sophie Schieman and Willem van Tilburg.

Aeres University of Applied Sciences is participating in the Onion Crop Tour for the second year. Compared to the other participants, these are not arable farmers, but horticultural and arable farming students from Aeres University of Applied Sciences. They follow and monitor the onion field this season, with the help of Jaco Biesheuvel who carries out the operations on the field. 

This Friday the onion seed will go into your soil, how is the plot?
Jaco Biesheuvel: "I am very satisfied with the condition of the soil and the soil this year. Last year there were sugar beets. We managed to harvest them dry, then plowed them. That had to be done so early, because the plot is at 40% silt. I don't know if I will use the kopeg or the quick harrow for sowing. With the roller of the kopeg you will get a better distribution of the soil for the seedbed. I am happy that we have this season sow under normal conditions again. Friday (April 2) we will sow the Hyway variety on 1,5 meter beds."

The onion plot of the Gewastour is a kind of test field for the students of Aeres University of Applied Sciences, what kind of tests will there be?
Jaco Biesheuvel: "Part of the field is used for trials of Aeres. The rest is grown in the same way as Aeres Farms does, so we can also compare with the rest of the Netherlands. Trials will be carried out with different varieties, weed control, fertilization and the crop is monitored throughout the season. We do not expect the highest yield with all these trial fields. We do not necessarily aim for that. Some trials do not turn out well, there may be some failures in the cultivation, that is also conclusions. We are keen that students acquire as much knowledge as possible, so that they can apply it in the future." 

This growing season you will be following the onion plot for the Crop Tour 2021, what is your role on the plot and what can we expect?
Sophie Schieman: "We are not busy with all the trials, but monitor the plot in detail so that we can make a comparison with other plots in the Netherlands. We experience onion cultivation, as the grower does. We are 4 people and we also have a trial with mechanical weed control. This takes place at the beginning of the cultivation, in which hoes and harrows are used. The results are included in the Crop Tour." 

Why are you participating in the crop tour?
Willem van Tilburg: "I think we can gain a lot of knowledge. I am very interested in onion cultivation and in this way you are close to the participating growers in the Netherlands. We also share our knowledge with the growers. Growing in the province of Flevoland a lot of onions, it's great that our onion plot is representative of this area. In addition, we know this area well and we monitor the crop in detail. That way we can do our bit."

Jesse Torringa

Jesse is an editor at Boerenbusiness and focuses in particular on the arable farming sector, including grain and onions. He also closely follows the fertilizer market. In addition, Jesse works on an arable farm in Groningen with seed potatoes as the main branch.

j.torringa@boerenbusiness. Nl

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