04 /TEAGASC ezine SUPPORTING DECISION MAKING ON AGRICULTURAL INPUT REDUCTION
The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation has declared 2021 as the International Year of Fruit and Vegetables. The aim is to raise awareness and share good practices on the contribution of fruit and vegetables to healthy diets and sustainable lifestyles, while also drawing attention to the importance of reducing loss and waste of fruit and vegetables. In support of the International Year of Fruit and Vegetables( IYFV), we have developed an infographic to depict the interconnections between human health and the food we consume, specifically in this case, horticulture fresh produce. We are changing the frame of reference in terms of why horticulture production is important and why we might need to consider re-orienting the arguments for building more resilience into Irish production and consumption patterns of fresh produce. A re-imagining of our food system and a re-valuing of horticulture fresh produce in terms of the role that it plays in human health will hopefully lead to a viable and sustainable Irish horticulture sector which promotes consumer health. ✽
NEW STRAWBERRY VARIETY TRIAL SHOWS PROMISING SIGNS A new strawberry variety trial has been developed by Teagasc. It has begun on several soft fruit farms across Ireland this year and is beginning to show interesting results. The trial is being run in association with the Italian soft fruit plant propagators Mazzoni and Salvi-Vivai (also known as CIV). One of the most promising varieties is CIV 725 (see image). The variety has a large yield, excellent flavour and the fruits look fantastic. They have an elongated shape with a lovely glossy colour. Other varieties being tested include ‘Joly’, ‘Sibilla’, ‘Lycia’ and ‘Annely’. ‘Annely’ is the earliest of the varieties. It has been observed that ‘Annely’ is struggling to yield and the fruit is prone to splitting. The other varieties ‘Joly’, ‘Lycia’, and ‘Sibilla’ all show good yield potential. The fruit shape and quality is also excellent. So far, ‘CIV 725 and ‘Lycia’ are performing best in terms of yield potential and quality. Further assessment on all the varieties being trialled through tasting and shelf-life tests will be completed this summer to assess if the varieties have a place in the market. Larger scale testing of successful varieties plus new introductions will continue in 2022. ✽ PROMISING NEW VARIETY CIV 725 ON TRIAL IN IRELAND
SPENT MUSHROOM SUBSTRATE
TOTAL NUTRIENT CONTENT OF FRESH SMS
Spent Mushroom NUTRIENT NITROGEN PHOSPHORUS POTASSIUM ORD MATTER Substrate kg/tonne kg/tonne kg/tonne %DM (SMS) (or spent Content 8 1.5 8 67 mushroom compost) is a micronutrients such as Sulphur, Magnesium, Manganese, useful source Copper and Boron. The fibre from the straw improves of organic matter, soil structure, which can improve soil fertility. There is which can supplement significant environmental pressure to reduce the use of garden compost. Mushroom substrate is composed of peat in gardening and it can be difficult to find another chopped wheat straw, poultry manure, horse manure source of organic matter, however, SMS is readily and gypsum, which are mixed and composted under available as an excellent replacement. controlled conditions, and then used as a growth If you are interested in accessing spent mushroom substrate for mushroom production. SMS is an excellent substrate, contact your nearest mushroom grower soil conditioner, a source of organic matter and a valuable or mushroom producer organisation (Commercial source of major and minor nutrients (see table above): Mushroom Producers (CMP), Northway or Farm Fresh SMS contains around 8.0 kg N/tonne on average, Produce). Spent mushroom compost has valuable levels with the majority of N in an organic form, which is of nutrients and organic matter. ✽ slowly released over time. SMS also contains essential For more information on any element of this e-zine, please contact: Dermot Callaghan, Head of Horticulture Development Department, Teagasc, Ashtown, Dublin 15, D15KN3K Phone: +353 (0)1-805 9973; e-mail: dermot.callaghan@teagasc.ie
Summer 2021 / www.horticultureconnected.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED
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