Subsidiary crops: many benefits in fruit and vegetable production

Benefits of subsidiary crops in fruit and vegetable production are manifold. Four experimentation stations specialising in fruit and vegetables will report on the findings of trials conducted in several regions with different varieties in fruit and vegetable crops.

Speakers will also address the potential limitations of subsidiary crops.

Participants can interact with the speakers after each presentation.

Programme:

► 20 years of trials on green manures in vegetable crops, such as cabbage, artichoke and squash

Presentation by Thibault Nordey, director of Terre d’Essais (Brittany)

► Plant cover crops in arboriculture: benefits in terms of sustainability and soil fertility and, potentially, in controlling codling moth. Example in walnut orchards.

Presentation by Marine Barbedette and Delphine Sneedse, experimentation managers at Senura (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)

Tests performed on different species

► Subsidiary crops used to manage aphid populations in tomato and courgette crops

Presentation by Samuel Ménard, experimentation manager at Acpel (Nouvelle-Aquitaine)

► Benefits of orchards in market gardening: trees & vegetables, a quid pro quo situation.

Focus on functional biodiversity.

Crops under study: apple, pear, apricot, peach, and diversified market gardening.

Presentation by François Warlop, experimentation manager at Grab (PACA)