Vegetable crops require clearly defined amounts of fertilizers in order for the harvest products to exhibit optimum internal and external quality characteristics. Vegetable crop fertilizing is based on fertilizing guidelines set down in the "Düngungsrichtlinien für den Gemüsebau". Those guidelines are binding for vegetable producers, not least with respect to cross compliance (CC).
Both variety selection and production method are subject to continuous change for field vegetables crops. When cultivation methods for certain vegetables are modified, existing fertilizing standards may no longer be appropriate to ensure optimum nutrient supply.
ACW is conducting fertilizing studies for selected vegetables whose results are then used by the “coordination group for soil and fertilizing” - the expert committee of the Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture – to decide whether fertilizing standards need to be modified for field vegetable crops. Apart from field trials to check fertilizing standards, this project also comprises studies on new fertilizing methods and strategies, and their suitability to improve the efficiency of fertilizing measures.