Joris de Nies' talk at the FERTINNOWA conference: Sharing fertigation best practices across Europe

1. R e d u c t i o n o f h o r t i c u l t u r a l i m p a c t
F l e m i s c h A p p r o a c h
Joris De Nies,
Research station for vegetable production, Belgium
Almeria 4 october 2018

2. 2
1. Legislation
 Legislation for soil
application rates: N and P2O5
thresholdvalues: Nitrate-residu in soil
 Legislation for water quality
 Monitoring network surface & groundwater
H o w t o a c h i e v e ?

3. W a t e r Q u a l i t y : A p p r o a c h
Surface water
• 737 measuring points agricultural area (MAPpoints)
• monthly measured
Ground water
• (2100 monitoring wells, 1 well per 347ha on average

4. 4
1. Legislation
2. Raise awareness of environemental impact
HOW?
• Dialogue with farmers: local meetings
• Convincing farmers: field visits
• Offer guidance/insights /technologies /methods
Practical : CVBB-organisation
H o w t o a c h i e v e ?
Presentation Els Pauwels

5. C V B B : s t r u c t u r e
Organisation: 1 coordinator
11 partners (research stations) are linked
Strength:
Expertise in all domains of agriculture &
horticulture
Since 2012 active
Budget 2,2 mio/year from government
Existence related to action Program Nitrate directive

6. C V B B : H o w d o w e s t a r t ?
measuring … walking…
measuring … walking…
measuring … walking…
•Upstream from official
MAPpoints
•Quick indicative
measurements (strips
reflectometer)
•Every month

7. C V B B : R e s u l t s w a t e r q u a l i t y
Sharing on the
field/ local pub
Convincing
method
Confidential
 certainly
drainpipes
BUT… difuse pollution
Which fields are responsible?
AND not everybody interested

8. C V B B : I n t e n s i v e A p p r o a c h
Evaluating nitrate in soil in autumn (soil samples)
Taking a 90cm depth (see legislation)
CVBB team select parcels in function of local
exceedings of nitrate in the ditch
Free of charge for farmer.

9. C V B B : I n t e n s i v e A p p r o a c h

10. C V B B : I n t e n s i v e A p p r o a c h
• Show outcome to group
 Social pressure ??
• Discussion results with farmer individually
• Offering fertilisation advice
So… the problem should been solved by now…

11. U n f o r t u n a t e l y…
Goal 2018: max 5% exceedings

12. B o t l e n e c k s
Farmer side
• Voluntary approach
• High presssure of manure
production (economics)
• Reduction of yield and
quality
• Long way to change old
habbits
12
System side
• Vegetables  low nitrate
residus
• Climate conditions vs.
Raised mineralisation

13. F u t u r e & S o l u t i o n s
Reactieve / Seeking / Indifferent farmer
13
Yes we can still
help them
They say Yes but
they don’t want to
be helped
Obliged to take CVBB guidance after control
by government. Not voluntary program
Action Program 2019-2022: Activities prolonged??
New methods??

14. Q u e s t i o n s ?
Joris.de.nies@proefstation.be