A passion for field research - a visit to the Kirschgartshausen experimental farm

At last the time had come! The CropEnergies employees enjoyed an agricultural training course at Südzucker's Kirschgartshausen experimental farm. We were accompanied by the head of the experimental estate @Dr. Peter Risser, who shared his passion for science and agriculture with us. The Kirschgartshausen experimental estate is part of the agriculture division of @Südzucker AG and aims to develop sustainable concepts for future questions in the field of production technology for sugar beet cultivation and to research innovative and efficient solutions for conventional and alternative crop cultivation.

But first to the theory...

As the visit to the estate was a first for most of the CropEnergies employees, we first got a quick overview of the framework, data and facts of the company. We learned that Südzucker has been cultivating the state domain leased from the state of Baden-Württemberg since 1862 and that extensive field trials are being carried out in all regions of the Südzucker Group to research cultivation methods, plant protection, new sugar beet varieties and much more. The Kirschgartshausen experimental estate covers an area of about 300 hectares.

The farmers in particular, with whom Südzucker has been cooperating for a long time, are to benefit from the latest technical achievements and the latest research results. The focus is on promoting sustainability and optimising work processes. To this end, an agricultural research department was set up 25 years ago, which works together with universities, R & D institutes and sugar beet farmers.

The emerging versatility in cultivation in Kirschgartshausen is striking (multi-unit crop rotation, e.g. rape, rye, sugar beet, winter barley, flowering strips, biotope). Biodiversity has been practised since the 1980s, with recent cooperation with the IFAB (Institute for Agroecology and Biodiversity) playing a special role. The focus here is on the promotion of insects and on the species composition in the flower strips.

Forward-looking research

On the experimental farm there are a number of different trials to research improvements in agriculture. For example, machines for weed control are tested or practical comparisons are made. Whether mechanical, autonomous, area spraying, GPS-based or camera-based weed control, the research areas are very diverse and require meticulous fine-tuning. Different methods are also constantly being contrasted, as in the case of weed control or biological vs. conventional methods.

One of the key questions is whether autonomous, mechanical or perhaps both farming methods will be sustainable in agriculture in the future.

In addition to soil cultivation, research is also being conducted on various arable crops. Protein plants, e.g. for the production of meat alternatives such as fava beans, peas or soya, are being compared in terms of cultivation and yield. More on this later. So much for the theory ?? After this informative lecture, we could hardly wait to finally explore the countryside and enjoy nature's flowering splendour.

Theory is good but practice is better!

So we were able to see the beautiful flowering strips and fields with our own eyes. Our farm manager kindly provided a small sugar beet snack so that the group could inspect the rest of his fields, invigorated and full of energy for the rest of the walk. For some, it was the first time they had seen the base of our parent company in the flesh and were even able to test it ?? .

Beforehand, we were given an expert explanation of why plant protection and weed control make sense and, above all, which methods are used nowadays, such as mechanical hoeing, autonomous hoeing robots or combinations of both. The experimental farm places particular emphasis on alternatives to chemical weed control. For example, spot spraying can also minimise the amount of pesticides applied and thus achieve a significant reduction in the use of chemicals.

Dr. Risser showed us his experimental set-up and explained in detail a sugar beet comparison. Yield with and without crop protection.

After a walk, arriving at the field of fava beans, we learned about the characteristics of fava beans and soybeans and what advantages and disadvantages they have to offer. Here are a few interesting facts about both legumes in brief: Both beans belong to the legume family. The fava bean improves soil quality through nitrogen uptake and is considered more environmentally friendly in livestock feed use. Furthermore, the cultivation of the fava bean is ideally suited as a crop rotation for rape or cereals, as these have a high nitrogen requirement.

Favabeans and soybeans contain a lot of protein, vitamins, magnesium, calcium and iron. Soybeans contain more fat and are therefore also used for the production of edible oil, among other things. Both beans are a good food source for bees and other insects. One of the most relevant differences is reflected in the use of animal feed. The soy grown for human consumption comes mainly from Europe. The soy used for animal feed is mostly imported from South America - the domestic soybean is thus a regional alternative to imported soy. However, the place of cultivation and the cultivation conditions also play an important role for the fava bean. Just like soy, it needs water for flowering and for the formation of the grains, which is increasingly lacking in the south. That is why cultivation is more widespread in northern Germany.

Many of us were surprised by the black pods of the fava bean. They are ripening and are harvested in Kirschgartshausen as early as July/August, when the majority of the pods are dark brown to black in colour and the grains rustle. Regionally grown fava beans are to be used to produce proteins for processors in the food and animal feed industries. Südzucker is already planning a production plant for protein concentrate in Offstein (Palatinate) for this purpose.

There was an "aha" experience when walking through the sugar beet fields. The soil was very different in texture due to the course of the original Rhine.

Bean counters?- No thanks! Our technical enthusiasts also got their money's worth. As luck would have it, the pea harvest was in full swing.

We were also shown the Farmdroid FD20, a field robot from Denmark. It showed us its skills with the finest precision. The environmentally friendly Farmdroid is powered by solar cells and is one of the latest technical achievements.?It aims to carry out precise sowing with the help of GPS data. By storing the position of the plants, it enables precise weed control and subsequent mechanical hoeing of the beets.

The event drew to a close with a cosy get-together and delicious food. It was an extraordinary and interesting experience, especially contributing to a better understanding of the connections between research, agriculture and the love of nature. A big thank you to the head of the experimental farm, Dr. Risser, who put his heart and soul into his work and took the time to explain his important work to us. We will gladly visit again.