Common research facilities

During the first years of DARCOF's existence several unique research facilities were set up to provide an opportunity for conducting different projects simultaneously, using the same research fields, herds, etc. This allows close cooperation between different research environments, with a high degree of interdisciplinary collaboration, synergy, and complementary research. The main facilities are described below.


Crop rotation trials
Long-term organic crop rotation trials have been performed since 1996 on four locations: Jyndevad, Foulum, Flakkebjerg and Holeby. The crop rotations have different proportions of legumes, cereals, and catch crops. They are carried out on different soil types and with different levels of manure. The aim of these trials is to investigate how the type of rotation affects yields, nutrient balances, weed and disease problems, and soil fertility.


Organic workshop sites
Organic workshop sites for research, which cover a total of 55 hectares, have been set up at Flakkebjerg, Aarslev and Foulum research centres, and at Jyndevad and Askov research stations. These sites have all been managed according to organic principles since 1996 and some were converted as early as 1987, They are principally dedicated to plant production investigations. At these sites it is possible to conduct analytical studies which require different soil types and climatic conditions. Furthermore, a part of the long-term fertiliser trials on Askov, which have been running since 1893, have been converted to organic farming in 1998.