That's how to make grass drought-resistant
Due to the ongoing drought, there is a need for drought-resistant grass as feed for the livestock sector. ILVO is developing grass that is drought-resistant through breeding.
VIB field trial with maize variety to investigate drought tolerance in practice
VIB researchers led by Dr Hilde Nelissen and Prof Dirk Inzé are starting a field trial today with a maize variety that is better adapted to drought conditions.
First state-of-the-art field lab 'HYDRAS' accelerates development of drought-tolerant crops
First in the world, ILVO in Melle, Belgium, has opened a large state-of-the-art field lab that allows scientists to monitor the drought response of the entire plant from leaf to root
Climate change means that we are increasingly faced with drought during the growing season, including in Flanders. This requires a systematic approach to water in agriculture, in which the use of drought-tolerant crops plays an important role.
Less drought-resistant grass In nature, drought resistance in nature is often linked to lower productivity There are countless possibilities for a plant to adapt to drought, but very often drought tolerance is linked to lower productivity.
Drought tolerant crops
Main research questionWith climate change, we are experiencing more and more periods of drought, a water shortage increasingly earlier in the summer, and heavier precipitation in the fall and winter. These longer periods of drought will result in significant yield losses.
Development of novel breeding technology for improved root system, drought tolerance and sustainable plant productions
By applying mulch to your soil, can you reduce or prevent drought stress in your crops?
Main research questionPersistent droughts from 2017 to 2021 have made it clear that Flanders is insufficiently prepared for water scarcity and droughts. The TURQUOISE project aims at a proactive approach, based on ecosystem functioning, to increase water availability.
CurieuzeNeuzen in de Tuin, the largest ever citizen study in Flanders on heat and drought, is installing 500 smart sensors or "field daggers" in various potato fields across Flanders to gather information on the microclimate in our potato fields.
Can you make plants more drought-resistant by exposing their tissues to specific soil bacteria in the lab? Plant scientists have long known that they can use this "bacterial breeding" to alter a plant's root characteristics.
Main research questionIn drought periods irrigation is economically justified for some high value crops like vegetables and (early) potato. Because these occurrences of drought typically coincide with restrictions on the availability of water sources, irrigation needs to be applied thoughtfully.