Wheat-pea trial, the Netherlands
Spring wheat-pea trial in the Netherlands

First observations spring wheat – pea trial on research station Lelystad

Spring wheat-pea trial sown on research station Lelystad, the Netherlands

In spring 2017 a strip cropping trial in three repetitions has been sown on research station Lelystad (WUR)with spring wheat (Lennox) and yellow dry pea (Rebel) grown in different strip widths. The strip dimensions vary from 0.25, 0.5, 1.5, 3 and 6 meter and their performances on yield, pest pressure, biodiversity and root density are compared with neighbouring monocultures of separately grown pea and wheat. The first observations look promising, as it seems there is a significant reduced aphid infestation in the pea crop in the strips, compared to the monoculture pea crop. Both the incidence (proportion of plants with aphids) as the severity (degree of infestation) is lower in the strips, compared to the monoculture pea crop. This observation accounts for all strip widths. We look forward to the observations in autumn and will keep you updated via this website.

 

For more information on strip cropping in the Netherlands, please send an email to: arjan.dekking@wur.nl.