Cultivation on ridges, in combination with T-tape and covering with black / white plastic (biodegradable or not) has environmental advantages (less use of herbicides, better use of nutrients) and gives higher yields. This means developing an entirely new cultivation system.
The best results can be expected on soils that are by nature not very suitable for the production of strawberries, e.g. due to low content of loam, easily water-logged soils and areas prone to flooding due to high rainfall.
Covering the soil with black plastic is now particularly common in early crops, but the interest in using this method for later crops is increasing.
In 2006, the Applied Plant Research station in the southern Netherlands (Vredepeel) carried out a trial on nutrient use efficiency in a production fields with a flat surface and one with ridges. The field with ridges gave 20% more yield. The trial was carried out on the farm of a local farmer, who switched to production on ridges in 2007.
Control of Botrytis
In this trial, a decision support system to control Botrytis (BOWAS) was tested. Cultivation on ridges decreased the risk of fruit rot due to Botrytis because of the drier conditions on top of the ridges.
However, the risk of false mildew increased. Further testing of BOWAS is needed, since a good decision support system is required to decrease the need for fungicides.
Approximately 6 tonnes of straw per hectare are sufficient to prevent fruit rot and sand splash, instead of 10 tonnes per ha in flat field production.
Weed control
On the covered ridges, weed control can be omitted. This has the advantage that herbicides do not come in contact with roots and there is no risk of damage. Weeds between the ridges are controlled using S-metolachlor (Dual Gold). The contact herbicide phenmedipham is not necessary. For any re-growth of weeds a desiccant can be applied. The risk of weed growth is highest in planting holes in a normal crop, since plants are small at the start. In chilled cultivation this plays little role.
This Dutch farmers’ weekly shows experiences and perspectives on cultivation of strawberries on covered ridges. It presents data from a farm that switched over from flat field production to production on ridges. The farmer is a participant in the project ‘Telen met toekomst’ (Growing with Future). In this project farmers can share experiences and research and advisory services generate experimental data. This article was written by an independent researcher at Wageningen University and an advisory officer. Also a research report is added.
