Nutrient Management in Agroecosystems
Our research into more sustainable farming systems of the future is based on long-term field trials at 10 sites. In fertilisation experiments and cropping system trials, we study the long-term sustainability and resilience of organic and mineral fertilisation as well as organic and conventional cropping systems.
The ‘Earth Observation of Agroecosystems’ team at Agroscope contributes to the improved sustainability of our land-management practices by providing essential information for targeted decision-making.
Fertiliser application in plant production is of vital importance for agricultural practitioners and advisers. With the new ‘Principles of Agricultural Crop Fertilisation in Switzerland’ (GRUD/PRIF 2017), Agroscope has for the first time combined fertilisation recommendations for all crops grown in Switzerland in a single interpretative document.
Improved nutrient efficiency in agroecosystems is a key challenge in agricultural research. Our research focuses on plant nutrition in different cropping systems, organic and recycled fertilisers, yield responses to nutrient availability and site characteristics, mineralisation processes in the soil and site-specific fertilisation.
An in-depth understanding of root distribution in the soil, below-ground nitrogen and carbon inputs, and their residual effects is the basis for targeted nutrient management, efficient resource use and sustainability assessment in agroecosystems.
