Synthèse de résultats d'essais de cultures intermédiaires pièges à nitrate à l'Université catholique de Louvain

Abstract

Summary of catch crops experiments conducted at UCL. Since 2001, many catch crops trials were set up by the Department of applied Biology and agricultural Productions of the Catholic University of Louvain. They aim at improving the management of interculture and its environmental impact. Catch crops interest is mainly to cover the ground to trap the residual fertilizing elements and those mineralized after the harvest and so to reduce the quantity of potentially leachable nitrogen (PLN) during the period of refill of groundwater. The first trials have for objectives a better knowledge of species likely to meet the desired objectives: nitrogen absorption and agronomic characteristics. Afterward, other parameters were studied such as organic fertilization, crop management and mixtures of species. The results allowed to identify the species and to optimize the taking of nitrogen and provide Walloon farmers (Belgium) with necessary technical references.

Keywords

• Catch crops
• manure