Phacelia trial in frost
Catch crop trial on the Wiesengut campus
Ladybirds on the hunt for aphids
in the Wide Synergies trial on campus Wiesengut
Phacelia trial in frost
Ladybirds on the hunt for aphids

Overview of current research projects

The AOL researches production technology as well as animal and plant ecological problems, primarily in organic farming. An important research approach is the diversification of production systems with the aim of increasing their efficiency and resilience. Research is mainly carried out under field conditions.

Ongoing research projects

Echinacea field at the Wiesengut campus
Echinacea field at the Wiesengut campus © Volker Lahnert

AMOBILA - Research on medicinal plants

Research into increasing yields and promoting biodiversity in medicinal plant cultivation. AMOBILA project optimizes cultivation methods, promotes flower visitors and focuses on knowledge transfer. For modern, high-yield and biodiverse agriculture.

Differently diverse fine legume mixtures in the plot trial at the Weeze site in July 2022.
Differently diverse fine legume mixtures in the plot trial at the Weeze site in July 2022. © Lauren Schmitz

D3INST - Optimize grass-clover mixtures

The research project D3INST (Decentralized Diagnostic Diversification Tool) deals with strategies for the selection and optimization of multifunctional mixtures of fine-grained legumes.

Prepared specimen of a long-horned bee caught with a landing net at the Wiesengut in July 2023
Prepared specimen of a long-horned bee caught with a landing net at the Wiesengut in July 2023 © Chantal Polkowski

FINDIG - Encourage flower visitors in the green fallow

FINDIG stands for the promotion of flower-visiting insects through diversification in grassland management and aims to promote flower-visiting insects by increasing the diversity of species in the clover-grass mixture and reducing the use of cuttings to increase the food supply.

Catch crops before winter.
Catch crops before winter. © Christoph Stumm

Pilot farms Organic farming in North Rhine-Westphalia

Practice, consulting and science are closely interlinked in this interdisciplinary project through the cooperation of 30 organic farms, the organic farming associations and the Chamber of Agriculture of North Rhine-Westphalia as well as the University of Bonn.

A mixed cropping trial with a split-plot design. The main factor is the cropping system (mixed cropping / pure seeding) and the wheat variety is the second factor nested within the main factor.
A mixed cropping trial with a split-plot design. The main factor is the cropping system (mixed cropping / pure seeding) and the wheat variety is the second factor nested within the main factor. © Gabriel Dry

PHENET - Tools and methods for extended plant PHENotyping and EnviroTyping services of European Research Infrastructures

As part of the EU-funded PHENET project, research into mixed cultures is to be strategically raised to a new level.

Swallowtail caterpillar on angelica
Swallowtail caterpillar on angelica © Sofie Gawronski

BASIL - Importance of medicinal plant cultivation for the protection and promotion of insect diversity

The importance of medicinal plant cultivation for the protection and promotion of the diversity of insect fauna in agricultural areas. The project will focus on the importance of medicinal plant cultivation for the conservation and promotion of insect diversity in the cultivated landscape

Finished projects

Berlese' - extractions of soil samples
Berlese' - extractions of soil samples © Isabel Kilian

DUENAMED-Fertilisation for sustainable management of edaphic diversity

The diversity of soil organisms in the agricultural landscape is of great importance, as they provide important ecosystem services in the soil.

Maize trial on the Wiesengut campus
Maize trial on the Wiesengut campus © Johannes Siebigteroth

SIMBA - „Sustainable Innovation of Microbiome Application in the Food System”

The project focusses on the targeted use of beneficial, i.e. non-pathogenic microorganisms along the entire food production value chain.

Phenorob field trial at the Wiesengut campus
Phenorob field trial at the Wiesengut campus © Madhuri Paul

Phenorob CP 5

The cultivation of mixed crops is seen as a possible route to more sustainable agriculture, as it has the potential to increase yields and product diversity, stabilise yields and reduce the use of pesticides and fertilisers.

Profile wall for removing soil monoliths.
Profile wall for removing soil monoliths. © Roman Kemper

BONARES - Soil³: Sustainable Subsoil Management

The aim of the overall project is to better utilise the volume of the subsoil for plant growth in order to increase or at least secure crop yields.

Effects of drip irrigation on the growth of faba beans, Weeze 2029
Effects of drip irrigation on the growth of faba beans, Weeze 2029 © Daniel Neuhoff

BÖLN - Targeted irrigation in organic farming to increase productivity and nutrient efficiency

The overall objective of the project is to increase productivity in organic arable farming at crop and system level (crop rotation) by investigating the relationships between water supply and nutrient dynamics for the legume-cereal crop rotation link and providing information on irrigation suitability.

Soil attenuation of individual test plotsSoil attenuation of individual test plots
Soil attenuation of individual test plotsSoil attenuation of individual test plots © J. Siebigteroth

OPTIMEC - Optimisation of weed control in the cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants

With the aim of substituting the use of herbicides, innovative methods for weed control in herb cultivation are to be developed as part of the project "Optimisation of weed control in the cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants" (Optimech) using the example of low-competition, weed-sensitive model plants.

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