Projects – Aprisco de Las Corchuelas

Experiment conducted at the Aprisco de Las Corchuelas, in collaboration with Rothamsted Research, with the aim of developing crop growth models to predict crop yield in mixtures

Crop growth modelling for intercropping

Ongoing projects

Scientists have a fairly good understanding of the factors influencing growth of crops in monocultures. This understanding can be used to model crop performance under a range of environmental conditions. … Continue reading

This experiment, forming part of a PhD at ETH Zurich, deals with the optimisation of spatial planting designs for intercropping

Spatial modelling of the effects of intercropping on productivity

Ongoing projects

While the optimal planting density and distances between plants in and between rows in monocultures is well known, in crop mixtures we lack information on the optimal planting pattern… Continue reading

In this experiment conducted by a PhD student from ETH Zurich (Switzerland), the temporal dynamics of resource use in crops is investigated

Temporal dynamics in resource uptake of crops in monocultures and mixtures

Ongoing projects

Increased crop diversity is supposed to increase productivity through more efficient use of resources. In other words, different species might use resources at different times… Continue reading

Mixture of different crop species that form part of the intercropping experiment conducted by ETH Zurich (Switzerland) at the common garden of the Aprisco de Las Corchuelas. This agroecological research assesses the effect of crop diversity on crop yield

Crop Diversity Experiment

Ongoing projects

Increased plant species richness in grasslands and forests goes along with improved ecosystem functioning, including increased productivity. These so-called positive biodiversity … Continue reading

In this Bachelor thesis at ETH Zurich (Switzerland), weed pressure was assessed along a crop diversity gradient

Impact of crop mixtures on weeds

Completed projects

Growing crops in mixtures can have multiple benefits for ecosystem functioning. One benefit might be a reduction in weeds in diverse crop communities due to more efficient use of the available resources… Continue reading

With this Master thesis by Elizabeth Norton from the University of Zurich (Switzerland) the impact of plant-plant facilitation by Retama sphaerocarpa on pollination was experimentally demonstrated

Nurse shrub facilitation of ecosystem services: How plant diversity in the understorey of Retama sphaerocarpa increases pollination

Completed projects

The leguminous shrub Retama is very abundant at the Palacio Viejo de Las Corchuelas estate. It is known to facilitate other plants beneath its canopy, thereby increasing plant diversity… Continue reading