Heavy precipitation causes very few problems

This Whitsun weekend we were treated to considerable rain showers of up to 110 millimeters. Locally, the precipitation caused nuisance, but most growers who participate Boerenbusiness Dutch Crop tour have no damage in the crops.

June is starting to make up for the missed precipitation from previous months. Growers were not surprised, because the rain had been announced quite some time ago. The precipitation in some cases fell in large proportions, but the soil could take a lot. Growers look back positively on the precipitation, but the majority think it is enough now.

little nuisance
It has rained 48 mm in 72 hours at onion grower Reinder Hogenhout in Kimswerd (Fr). Hogenhout says it did not cause puddles or damage on the land, because it gradually fell over both days. "Draining and caulking also quickly pays off in such showers. In two days it has sometimes only remained dry for half an hour." It is certainly not bad for the crop, but Hogenhout would not have mind less. "The onions are in the third or fourth pipe and are growing well, partly because of this weather. But I wouldn't have minded 20 millimeters less either."

Potato grower Herman Schlepers from Dronten says that he had to make do with almost 60 millimeters of precipitation this weekend. He had watered his chicory and roots earlier and had only been on top for a short time and was afraid of hail damage with these spicy showers. Fortunately, this did not happen and water damage was not an issue either. Schlepers reports that precipitation in the region is fairly distributed. In the region of Elburg, where he also has to spray plots, it has rained 30 millimeters - spread over a long period - which Schlepers considers perfect. He is also not dissatisfied with the 60 millimeters that fell on him. "It is already approaching the drier season and 60 millimeters was not necessary then, but the moisture supply in the soil has been replenished and no damage has occurred."

outlier of 110 millimeters
Potato grower Daan Janssen from Escharen (NB) has had quite a bit of rainfall and has had as much as 110 millimeters of rainfall on one plot. It also varied considerably in terms of precipitation and he included plots where 70 millimeters fell, but also pieces where 'only' 26 millimeters fell. On average, he is around 40 millimeters and he is very satisfied with that. He has prepared for it with the trencher and has no fields that are empty. There is hardly any water to be found in the spray tracks and the fight against phytophthora is resumed.

In some cases, the heavy precipitation did cause blank areas in the plot. A high precipitation intensity was often the cause. However, the water did not last long and in most cases subsided quickly. 

Robin Winter

Intern at the Boerenbusiness Dutch Crop tour

r.dewinter@boerenbusiness. Nl

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