Page 18 - Green knowledge 2023

Norwegian carrot – a success story at risk
Carrot production has nearly doubled in the last 15–20 years. Today, Norwegian carrots are available in grocery stores throughout the year. However, a nematode pest could potentially ruin the entire crop if new measures are not found.
Carrot cultivation in Norway has become more specialised and efficient over the past decades. The production currently covers 90 percent of the Norwegian market. However, specialisation has led to monoculture, which has caused an increase in crop pests and diseases such as plant-parasitic nematodes.
Farmer Øystein Fredriksen in Arendal specialises in early carrot production. His fields look green and healthy, ready for harvesting, but when the roots emerge, nearly half are damaged by nematodes, preventing them from reaching grocery stores. In the worst parts of the fields, the loss is above 50 percent, deteriorating each year. He is now a key partner in a new research project led by NIBIO.
“We lack knowledge about the extent and signifi- cance of harmful nematodes in carrots. The intensive production with increasing monoculture needs to be further investigated,” says Dr Solveig Haukeland at NIBIO.
The main nematode species (Meloidogyne spp.) that causes damage to carrots have many host plants and are difficult to manage. There are no available pesticides, and the effectiveness of other measures is not well documented in Norway.
Some products, such as biochar, chicken manure, and chitin-rich substances that have shown promis- ing results abroad will now be tested under Norwe- gian conditions. Additionally, limited research has been done on the mechanisms behind nematode infection.
“We will examine the interaction between plants, nematodes, and other organisms in the soil, aiming to understand what happens in the root zone of plants with and without nematode attacks.”
The farmer in Arendal is not the only one struggling with nematodes. Therefore, the project will assess the extent of nematode damage to carrots accross the country.
Photo: Erling Fløistad
Purpose: Collaboration:
Funding: Contact:
Mapping and gathering new knowledge to manage nematode pests in carrots.
Gartnerhallen Sa, Norwegian Agricultural Advisory Service, Soil Steam International AS, Grønn gjødsel AS, Borregaard AS, Scanship AS, Aarhus University (DK), Norgro, and Grofondet
The Research Council of Norway
Research Scientist Solveig Haukeland. Email: solveig.haukeland@nibio.no, phone: (+47) 922 59 431. Division of Biotechnology and Plant Health
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