Project description
In modern agriculture, nitrous oxide emissions and nitrate pollution from the use of fertilizers are a significant problem. These emissions contribute to climate change and nitrate pollution endangers water quality. In addition, these environmental problems also pose financial challenges for farmers, especially in vegetable production, where fertilizer use is intensive.
The project aims to overcome these challenges through the targeted cultivation of ribwort plantain as an undersow in cabbage cultivation. Ribwort plantain is a plant that is particularly suitable for stabilizing the soil and reducing nitrogen losses due to its deep roots and its ability to use nutrients efficiently. In addition, ribwort plantain produces special substances that inhibit nitrification (conversion of ammonium to nitrate) in the soil. The combination of ribwort plantain and cabbage plants is expected to improve soil structure and significantly reduce nitrous oxide emissions.
In this project, ribwort plantain is being tested and scientifically investigated in different cultivation systems. Both the effects on soil quality and the direct reduction of nitrous oxide emissions will be measured. In addition, the influence on nutrient efficiency and the general health of the cabbage plants will be observed.
The expected results include a significant reduction in nitrous oxide emissions and an improvement in soil structure through increased humus formation. This not only leads to positive environmental effects, but also to long-term financial relief for farmers through more efficient nutrient use and less need for fertilizers. It is also expected that the joint cultivation of ribwort plantain and cabbage can be implemented quickly and cost-effectively in agricultural practice. If the results are positive, this method could represent a sustainable and economically advantageous solution for vegetable cultivation, which can also be easily transferred to other crops.