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Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU) testing under organic conditions
Project
Project code: 2803OE671
Contract period: 15.03.2004
- 12.02.2009
Budget: 186,775 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
Over the last years the importance of organic production in Germany has slightly increased. In this context the question arose whether it is necessary to test varieties which might be interesting for organic production in course of the procedure for listing in the national list under organic conditions. In order to find this out the Bundessortenamt carried out a research project on winter wheat, spring barley and potato in the years 2005 and 2006. Description of the Research Project. The technical protocol of the research project was set up together with a council representing the associations for organic production, plant breeders and the federal states. The trial series consisted of standard varieties and varieties of some importance in organic production. The varieties represented different baking qualities in wheat, in barley brewing and feeding types and ware potato varieties of the early and mid-early maturity group. All varieties in the project were tested under conventional and under organic conditions. The conventional value test in wheat and barley is a two-factorial trial with an intensity level without fungicides and growth regulator (for the characteristics of cultivation, resistance and yield) and an intensity level with chemical treatment (for the baking and brewing quality and yield). In potato the trial was one-factorial with fungicides and insecticides. The trials under organic conditions were carried out on organic fields. The seed was not treated before sowing. No chemical treatment or mineral fertilization was allowed. Only in potato Neem could be used against the Colorado beetle, fungicides (even on copper basis) were not allowed. In the organic trials additionally to the usual observations the following measures were taken: In wheat and barley the mass in the beginning, ground cover, plant height and inclination of the flag leaf as indication for weed competitiveness were observed. In wheat in addition to the usual characteristics for baking quality the gluten content and gluten index were assessed. In potato differences in the time of tuber formation were observed. Results and Conclusions:
The comparison of the results from the conventional and organic value trial series show that the relation of the varieties in their characteristics for cultivation, susceptibility to diseases, yield and quality remains the same in both production systems. This confirms older results which were won in the 1980s on wheat, rye and potato. Of course the importance of the characteristics of a variety can be different in organic production. For example characters like weed competitiveness or in potato the time of tuber formation are important. Nevertheless these characteristics can also be assessed in the conventional value trials. On basis of these results there is no necessity to test varieties for organic production in extra value trials in course of variety listing. Only the results from the quality examinations in winter wheat show that the baking quality expresses differently under conventional and organic conditions. Depending on the gluten quality and the ability to produce either yield or protein from limited nitrogen the varieties are more or less suitable for utilization in organic production. This means that baking quality of winter wheat varieties for organic production should be assessed on the basis of harvested material from organic production. The Bundessortenamt will continue to test all varieties for national listing in conventional value trial series. If necessary the technical protocol can be extended to additional observations which are of importance in organic production. An extra value trial under organic conditions can also be carried out on demand, but this will not be part of the regular testing frame. Testing under organic conditions in other EU member states. Within the European network of COST ACTION 860 SUSVAR information concerning the variety testing for national listing in the European member states was collected. According to this some of the member states have gained experience with variety testing under organic conditions. Austria is the only country where a special trial series under organic conditions has been installed regularly. In winter wheat and spring barley the applicant may choose whether the variety shall be tested under conventional and/or organic conditions in course of the test of the agricultural value. In all other agricultural species one organic location is included in the regular (conventional) trial series. In Switzerland a research project on winter wheat (similar to the German project) was carried out. The results from the conventional and organic value trial series showed that the relation of the varieties in their characteristics remains the same in both systems. Thus Switzerland did not install an own trial series under organic conditions. Instead one organic location was included in the regular trial series of ten locations. After the listing of a variety in the national list special trials under organic conditions are carried out for the recommended list. In the Netherlands a research project on spring wheat led to the conclusion that special trials under organic conditions should be carried out but no application for listing was made. In Denmark in case of an application for the national list and organic production the variety would be tested in the regular trial series and additionally in an extra series under organic conditions. In Belgium, France and Poland the regular value tests are carried out with a reduced intensity level. Up to now value tests under organic conditions were not installed since it is expected that the results from the regular tests are a basis also for organic production.
Section overview
Subjects
- Plant Breeding
- Organic Farming
Framework programme
Federal Organic Farming Scheme and other forms of sustainable agriculture (BÖLN)
