New measurements of the microclimate on potato fields in 2022
On March 26, 2022, CurieuzeNeuzen in de Tuin gave the starting signal for the new measurment campaign in the Flemish gardens. A lawn dagger was re-installed in 3000 gardens and playgrounds.
In the meantime, 200 sensors will measure the microclimate on potato fields throughout Flanders.
Last year, 500 sensors were placed in almost 300 potato fields, resulting in a unique data set.
Unfortunately, the summer of 2021 went down in the books as the wettest summer ever in Belgium. As a result, the research took a different turn. Within the agricultural experiment we went in search of the microclimate between the potato plants under moist and often cool conditions. This provided interesting insights (read more in Citizen Science in potato fields: what did it teach us?), but we were still eager to learn more about the effect of heat and drought on potato cultivation.
That's why the agricultural experiment was also extended and we are once again placing 200 sensors on a hundred potato fields throughout Flanders.
The sensors measure the soil temperature and moisture, as well as the air temperature between the plants. In this way we gather knowledge about the microclimate in which the plants thrive and we analyze the effect of extreme weather on the evolution of the crops and the harvest.
The measurements from the 200 sensors are again integrated into WatchITgrow, so we can closely follow all results and analyze them over both seasons.
Unlike last year, we now install the sensors shortly after planting and we only place them with one variety, namely Fontane, as the dominant variety in Flanders. In this way we reduce the variability in the data set.
The sensors are distributed as well as possible in fields with a different soil type and a different water balance. They remain in the same place until just before the harvest moment.
CurieuzeNeuzen in de Tuin 2022 is an initiative of the University of Antwerp and De Standaard, in close collaboration with Orange, Vito, VMM, Department of Economy, Science and Innovation, Department Environment, Bio-Planet, DPD and Aquafin.
The measurements in agricultural areas are made in collaboration with various potato and carrot growers under the supervision of Agristo, Inagro, PCA, ILVO, Clarebouten de Hooibeekhoeve. The measurements are collected and visualised in WatchITgrow, the platform for digital crop monitoring.
