TECNOVA (TEC, Spain) and Landwirtschaftskammer Nordrhein-Westfalen (LNW, Germany) work together in the task “Optimization of eradication methods after tobamovirus outbreaks” of VIRTIGATION project. Both institutes are working on the validation of solarization and steaming methods to eradicate tobamoviruses in contaminated cocopeat bags by TMV (Tobacco mosaic virus). For solarization, TEC has used a transparent 37.5 µm think polyethylene plastic during 60 days (from September to November to try simulate the summer in other countries in Europe) with reordered temperatures between 15.2 to 46.2°C. LNW is testing two steaming protocols: (1) 90 °C during 20 min and (2) at 90 °C during 40 min. In order to test the success of both methods, the disinfected bags were used to growth new plants. In addition, it has tried to discern if the substrate must necessarily be free of crop residues or not. The results of the solarization have been very promising. All tomato plants grew up symptomless in solarized bags. Only in one of the six lines (temperature > 40°C during 10-13 days) TMV were detected by PCR. Moreover, in bags with infected material (roots and leaves), the maximum temperature was until 4°C higher than in bags with just substrate. Incorporate vegetal material helped to increase the number of days with high temperature (> 40°C), from 7-13 to 14-34 days in substrate bags without and with infected material, respectively. The steaming results are coming soon in the following moths. After steaming it has been detected: (i) plants in the non-steamed bags showed better fitness than the steamed variants; (ii) growth of mold fungi could be observed on the substrate and (iii) substrate bags must be used immediately and cannot be stored for a while.
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Agricultural run-off and subsurface drainage tiles transport a significant amount of nitrogen and phosphorus leached after fertilization. alchemia-nova GmbH in collaboration with University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna developed two multi-layer vertical filter systems to address the agricultural run-off issue, which has been installed on the slope of an agricultural field in Mistelbach, Austria. While another multi-layer addressing subsurface drainage water is implemented in Gleisdorf, Austria. The goal is to develop a drainage filter system to retain water and nutrients. Both multi-layer filter systems contain biochar and other substrates with adsorption properties of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus). The filter system can be of practical use if an excess of nutrients being washed out is of concern in the fields of the practitioner by keeping the surrounding waters clean. This approach may result in economic value by re-using the saturated biochar as fertilizer and improving the soil structure, thus increasing long-term soil fertility. Link: https://wateragri.eu/a-bio-inspired-multilayer-drainage-system/
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Grant Agreement No 858735This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Grant Agreement No 858735. FACTSHEET NANOCELLULOSE MEMBRANES FOR NUTRIENT RECOVERY Key information Functionalized nanocellulose membranes can take up nitrate and phosphate. These membranes can be put in a water treatment unit. As the membranes are biobased, degradable materials, they can after use be added to the soil, thus returning the leached nutrients back for their original purpose providing fertilizers (nutrient recycling).
Because variables such as temperature and humidity have a profound effect on the activity of crop pests, diseases and natural enemies, the ability to monitor environmental conditions within a crop has always been important for crop protection.