Articles
Onion, a rising crop in Belgium
Article number
1398_3
Pages
13 – 18
Language
English
Abstract
Onion (Allium cepa) is a crop with a steadily increasing acreage in Belgium.
The crop grows well on our sandy loam soils and has a high yield potential.
Because of changing legislation on fertilization and crop protection, it is becoming difficult to bring out its full potential.
Climate change is also having a major impact on yields in our region.
Changing weather conditions create more extreme droughts, while onion is a drought-sensitive crop.
One of the main bottlenecks of onion cultivation is thrips (Thrips tabaci) which causes damage mainly in dry, hot years.
Severe infestation leads to loss of quality and yield.
Due to strict legislation on crop protection, control of this pest is becoming increasingly difficult.
In more humid years downy mildew (Peronospora destructor) causes yield and quality loss due to its destructive infestation.
To protect human health and the environment, more and more pesticides are banned which makes control of insects and diseases complex.
Besides these bottlenecks, policy makers put great pressure on growers to minimize nutrient leaching by optimizing, read minimizing, fertilization strategies.
The changing climate also has a major impact on cultivation and is forcing us to use water more efficiently.
All the above-mentioned factors ask for sustainable, future-oriented research on onion cultivation.
PCG participates in several projects and trials of which results will be presented to assist Belgian onion growers to cope with these challenges.
The crop grows well on our sandy loam soils and has a high yield potential.
Because of changing legislation on fertilization and crop protection, it is becoming difficult to bring out its full potential.
Climate change is also having a major impact on yields in our region.
Changing weather conditions create more extreme droughts, while onion is a drought-sensitive crop.
One of the main bottlenecks of onion cultivation is thrips (Thrips tabaci) which causes damage mainly in dry, hot years.
Severe infestation leads to loss of quality and yield.
Due to strict legislation on crop protection, control of this pest is becoming increasingly difficult.
In more humid years downy mildew (Peronospora destructor) causes yield and quality loss due to its destructive infestation.
To protect human health and the environment, more and more pesticides are banned which makes control of insects and diseases complex.
Besides these bottlenecks, policy makers put great pressure on growers to minimize nutrient leaching by optimizing, read minimizing, fertilization strategies.
The changing climate also has a major impact on cultivation and is forcing us to use water more efficiently.
All the above-mentioned factors ask for sustainable, future-oriented research on onion cultivation.
PCG participates in several projects and trials of which results will be presented to assist Belgian onion growers to cope with these challenges.
Publication
Authors
J. Bodyn, L. Lippens, L. Lauwers, A. Waverijn, L. De Reycke, S. Buysens
Keywords
onion, cultivation, fertilization, crop protection, climate change
Groups involved
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