Horticulture Research International (HRI) is leading a collaborative four-year project to develop a new Europe-wide N fertiliser decision support system for vegetable production in both conventional and organic systems.

With partners across Europe, including the Henry Doubleday Research Association in the UK, the new EU-ROTATE_N project is funded through the European Commission and builds on previous research at HRI on nitrogen use by UK crops, which led to the industry applauded WELL_N model.

Dr Clive Rahn, project leader based at HRI Wellesbourne said: 'Nitrogen is a key element for plant growth. Most fresh vegetables produced in Europe are grown using intensive rotation systems, which rely heavily on large inputs of nitrogen from fertiliser or organic sources. Most field vegetable crops use nitrogen inefficiently often leaving large residues of nitrogen in the soil after harvest, which can cause loss of nitrogen to soil, water and aerial environments.

'Recent research has shown that these environmental impacts can be reduced, without loss of yield or quality by improved design of rotations that more closely match nitrogen supply to the demands of individual crops. Growers will benefit through the optimal use of nitrogen and policy makers will be able to develop more effective environmental protection measures.' As a result of the project it will be possible to compare the effects of different crop sequences and fertilisers, and other cultural practices, on the cycling of nitrogen within rotations across the climatic conditions of Europe.