[Balkan Ecology Project]

We've completed the second year of our Market Garden Polyculture Study with some interesting results. This year we added a new polyculture to the trials and included a comparison between growing vegetables in a polyculture and growing them in more traditional blocks.

Below you will find an overview of the trial garden and the polycultures we are growing, a description of what we record and the results from this year's study.

To view this post with tables and images from our blog click on the link below
http://balkanecologyproject.blogspot.bg/2016/12/the-polyculture-market-garden-study.html


Garden Overview

Climate: Continental Temperate
Latitude: 42°
Elevation: 565 m
Average Annual Rainfall: 588.5 mm
Co-ordinates: 42.71259, 25.32575


The six longer beds in the left hand corner (the Aceaes) of the photo are the trial beds and the focus of the study.
Photos by www.georgipavlov.net

Click here for the Polyculture Market Garden location (labelled as Paulownia Garden on our Project map)


Garden area: 256.8 m2
Cultivated beds area: 165.6 m2
Paths: 50 cm wide - 91.2 m2
Six beds: Dimensions - 23 m x 1.2 m  Area - 27.6 m2 per bed   



Study Area Path and Bed Layout


The beds are named after common vegetable families in order to familiarize participants with the use of Latin and introduce them to some major plants families. They do not correspond to what was planted in the beds.

The Polycultures

We are experimenting with many polycultures and have developed a categorization system for ease of reference.  They are categorized by life cycle i.e annual, perennial or combi  (annuals and perennials) and further categorized by function. i.e support, infrastructure or production. Often a polyculture will provide multiple functions, but the primary function is what sets them to each category.  I give all the polycultures nicknames. For example, all polycultures in the annual and production category are named after Stoic Philosophers.

The study is based on polycultures Zeno and Epictetus - both are annual and production polycultures. As we are looking to see how polycultures compare to conventional growing, this year we included a control for the Zeno polyculture  i.e, the same crops from Zeno but planted in a more conventional block pattern.  In the below illustration you can see the planting plan of the trial beds.




Polyculture Zeno

We've been growing Zeno in the garden for around 9 years now. It's been very successful in our home gardens and in 2015 we scaled it up for the market garden. You can see last year's market garden results here and three years of records from the home garden here.


Photos from Zeno Polyculture
For more info on plant spacing, management and maintenance of this polyculture see our previous post here.

Zeno Plant List  - The following plants and cultivars were used in this polyculture;

Tomato - Solanum lycopersicum 'Black Krim'
Tomato - Solanum lycopersicum 'Ukranian Purple'
Tomato - Solanum lycopersicum 'Tigerealla'
Tomato - Solanum lycopersicum 'Green Zebra'
Tomato - Solanum lycopersicum 'Mirabel Yellow Cherry'
Tomato - Solanum lycopersicum 'Anna Russian'
Tomato - Solanum lycopersicum 'Citrina'
Tomato - Solanum lycopersicum 'Marglobe'
Tomato - Solanum lycopersicum 'Rozava Magia'
Basil - Ocimum basilcium 'Sweet Genovese'
French Beans - Phaseolus vulgaris 'Cobra'
French Beans - Phaseolus vulgaris - Local
Courgette - Cucurbita pepo 'Black Beauty'
Bush Scallop - Cucurbita pepo
Butternut Squash - Cucurbita pepo 'Waltham Butternut'
African Marigold - Tagetes erecta
French Marigold - Tagetes patula
Pot Marigold - Calendula officinalis



Zeno Planting Scheme 


Zeno - Vegetable and herb polyculture/guild 6.5 m section of  planting scheme

Zeno Control

We also included a control this year. The control included all of the above plants but planted in blocks along the bed (see below). We wanted to see how the two planting schemes compared i.e. whether the polyculture would produce more and the difference in the amount of time needed to cultivate them. The fertility inputs for both beds were the same.




Polyculture Epictetus

This is the first year we have tried this polyculture. It's basically a strip pattern of various vegetables from different plant families arranged to reduce pests and diseases, optimize space and nutrient share whilst respecting the individual plant needs for space and light.


Epictetus Polyculture

Epictetus Plant List  - The following plants and cultivars were used in this polyculture;

Beetroot - Beta vulgaris ' Bolthardy'
Beetroot - Beta vulgaris ' Detroit'
Dwarf Bean - Phaseolus vulgaris 'Lingua Fuoco Nano'
Dwarf Bean - Phaseolus vulgaris 'Rocquencourt'
Kale -  Brassica napus 'Siberian'
Kale -  Brassica napus 'Scarlett'
Swiss Chard - Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla ' Rainbow'
Parsnip - Pastinaca sativa ' White Gem'
Carrot - Daucus carota 'Autumn King'
French Marigold - Tagetes patula
Pot Marigold - Calendula officinalis

Epictetus Planting Scheme


Epictetus - Vegetable polyculture/guild - 6 m section of  planting scheme

The table below shows the floral species composition of each of the beds including the different cultivars and the dates that the plants were sown or planted.

We have not included a list of native wild plants that are encouraged to grow around the perimeter of each bed that we mow and apply as mulch to the beds during the growing season.



What we Record - Inputs

Time Input - We record how long it takes to develop, maintain and manage the garden. The time is recorded for each task starting from sowing the seeds, preparing the beds, planting and caring for the plants, harvesting, preparing for market and packing away. The time taken for each task is rounded up or down to nearest minute. Nearly all of the records are based on 2 people carrying out each task unless otherwise stated in the record sheet.   

Fertility Inputs  -  All fertility additives are recorded including; seed sowing mediums, composts, mulch, liquid fertilizers (comfert) and ash.


Alex and Kata loading up compost for the beds


Financial Inputs - Costs  - The costs associated with the garden are recorded.  We do not cost the time spent on the garden but do provide the precise time the activities take. Set up and tool costs were included in the first year records. This year we only recorded operating costs.

N.B. We eliminate many costs by growing our own plants from seed, making composts and sowing mediums, growing summer and autumn mulch and saving seeds. We also provide our own support materials for the crops.


Basil seeds in the nursery room

What we Record - Outputs

Crop Yields - All produce is weighed directly after harvest. The produce is recorded into two categories, fit for market and fit for processing/fodder.


Polycultures Yields


Financial output - Profit -  The market value of the produce is estimated based on the average prices we were receiving from local buyers, veggie boxes and Trustika buyers club in Sofia.

N.B. We do not sell all of the produce from the garden. Some of the produce is consumed by the team or preserved.

What we Record - Surveys

Soil Analysis - Each spring and autumn we obtain a soil sample and send it to NAAS of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. To take a sample we take approx a hand trial full of the top 20 cm of soil  from 8 random areas from the beds, mix it together and send 400g "bagged and tagged" to the lab the same day.


Physical Analysis -  Each spring the team carry out a series of 9 tests that are designed to provide an indication of soil health based on observable physical properties of the soil. It's a soil management tool developed by farmers for farmers to track the developing health of soils. You can download the form with instructions how to carry out the tests here.  We have slightly modified the test for our purposes.



Regenerative Landscape Design Course participants working through the soil health test cards


Invertebrate Survey - We made a start on the invertebrate survey but have incomplete records and are not entirely happy with the method, so we will try again this coming year. We are looking for entomology enthusiasts to help us with this part of the study. If this interests you please get in touch for further discussion.



Support Species Tagetes spp. and Calendula officinalis are planted within the vegetables and attract a large diversity of invertebrates some of which are beneficial to the crops.   

Results

We'll start off by looking at the results from the soil analysis and soil health tests, then look at the results for each polyculture and finally finish up with the overall garden results.

Soil Results - Mineral Analysis

Each spring and autumn we take soil samples and send them to NAAS of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. The March sample is taken before we add any fertility and the November sample is taken after all of the crops have stopped producing.

The first sample taken in March 2015 in the table below is the base sample taken before work in the garden began.


Soil Results - Soil Health Card

This year's soil health card test scored 58.9 - an increase from last year's base test of 39.4. The highest score obtainable for this test is 88.

You can find the full results for the 2015 and 2016 test in the spreadsheet 2016 Annual Polyculture Market Garden Study - Published Records - Sheet 6.Soil Test Cards

Should you wish to use this excellent tool you can download the Soil Health Card forms with instructions on how to carry out the tests here.


Inputs and Outputs - Epictetus



The total amount of time spent on Epictetus was 37.5 hrs. The time inputs are recorded into different categories as seen below.

Epictetus   
Task   Time in mins
Propagation   336
Planting/Sowing   919
Fertility   8
Weeding   721
Irrigation   130
Observation   33
Mowing Paths   99
Total   2246
Total hrs   37.5 hrs

The fertility inputs on Epictetus were as follows:


Fertility Inputs   Total Quantity
Mulch - Lawn Mower Clipping   540 L
Mulch - Spot Mulching   1 Bale
wood ash   6.720 kg
Seedling mix for Beans   14 L
Compost planting out Kale, Chard and Aubergine   30 L
Compost for sowing beetroot strips   100 L
Seedling mix for Sowing Parsnips and Carrots and Beetroots   75 L
Compost for Propagation   90 L
Seedling Mix for Propagation   87 L

The yield outputs for Epictetus totaled 87.42 kg of produce. This translates to approx 1.58 kg per m2.   

Crop   Weight in kgs
Carrots   15.465
Parsnips   19.775
Dwarf Beans   5.025
Swiss Chard   21.56
Kale   13.35
Beetroot   12.245
Total   
87.42 kg

N.B there is still some produce in the beds namely parsnips, chard and kale. We'll add these to the records later but I would estimate there to be no more than 10 kg of produce remaining.

Inputs and Outputs - Zeno




The amount of time spent on Zeno was 38 hrs.

Zeno   
Task   Time in mins
Propagation   
110.5
Set up   
460
Fertility   
131
Planting /Sowing   
300
Garden Care   
831.5
Observation   
7
Mowing   
99
Irrigation   
130
Harvesting   
219
Total   
2288
Total hrs   38 hrs

The fertility inputs on Zeno were as follows:


Fertility Inputs
Item   Total Quantity
Strawbales   31
Compost added to beds pre planting (L)   460 L
Compost for
Tomatoes (L)   17.6 L
Seedling Mix
for Squash (L)   10.4 L
Seedling mix for Beans
(L)   13.2 L
Comfert (L)   44 L
Wood Ash kg   6.72 kg
Mulch - Lawn Mower Clipping (L)   540 L

The yield outputs for Zeno totaled 130.08 kg of produce. This translates to approx 2.36 kg per m2.

Crop   Weight in kgs
Tomatoes   55.08
Tomatoes for processing   25.17
Basil   8.01
Beans   14.19
Summer Squash   23.63
Winter Squash   4
Total   
130.08 kg

Inputs and Outputs - Zeno Control

The amount of time spent on Zeno was 37 hrs. See below for a breakdown of the time spent on this polyculture.
 
Zeno Control   
Task   Time in mins
Propagation   
110.5
Set up   
552.5
Fertility   
129
Planting /Sowing   
217
Garden Care   
746.5
Observation   
5
Mowing   
99
Irrigation   
130
Harvesting   
219
Total   
2208.5
Total hrs   37 hrs

The fertility inputs on Zeno control were as follows:


Fertility Inputs
Item   Total Quantity
Strawbales   31
Compost added to beds pre planting (L)   460 L
Compost for
Tomatoes (L)   17.6 L
Seedling Mix
for Squash (L)   10.4 L
Seedling mix for Beans
(L)   13.2 L
Comfert (L)   44 L
Wood Ash kg   6.72 kg
Mulch - Lawn Mower Clipping (L)   540 L


The yield outputs for Zeno totaled 112.57 kg of produce. This translates to approx 2.04 kg per m2.


Crop   Weight in kgs
Tomatoes   46.55
Tomatoes for processing   20.7
Basil   8.92
Beans   12.55
Summer Squash   22.38
Winter Squash   1.47
Total   
112.57 kg


Some time categories were difficult to assign to each polyculture so I clumped them together into a general task category. It's mainly the time preparing the produce for market as well as soil analysis, initial propagation tasks and end of season tidying up and packing away of the garden.


General Tasks
Task   Time in mins
Soil Analysis   20
Propagation   240
Set up/down   20
Market Prep   1920
Total   2200
Total hrs   36.5 hrs


Zeno Polyculture vs the Control





It's only the first year we have tried this comparative study so it's too early for any clear implications,  but this year's result shows the polyculture out performing the control in terms of yields and the control taking less time to operate in. The fertility inputs were the same for each.


Zeno   Control
Total time   38 hrs   37 hrs
Total Produce   130.08 kg 112.57 kg


You can find the above results in the spreadsheet 2016 Annual Polyculture Market Garden Study - Published Records - Sheet 9. Inputs and Outputs per Trial. For date stamped harvest records for Zeno see here and for Epictetus see here.


Inputs and Outputs -  All Beds






The amount of time spent on all beds was 149 hrs.



Time
Tasks   Minutes   Hours
Weeding   721   12.01
Propagation   797   13.28
Set up   1012.5   16.87
Fertility   8   0.13
Planting /Sowing   1436   23.93
Garden Care   1578   26.3
Observation   45   0.75
Mowing   297   4.95
Irrigation   390   6.5
Harvesting   438   7.3
Market Prep   1920   32
Set up/down   20   0.33
Analysis   20   0.33
Total Time Input in hrs   149 hrs


The fertility inputs for all beds were as follows:




Total inputs for all beds
Strawbales   63 bales
Compost   1205 L
Wood Ash   20 kg
Sieved Compost
/River Sand 50 /50   224 L
Lawn Clippings   1620 L
Comfert   88L


Special thanks to Dimo Stefanov from Wastenomore for the excellent compost that we use for our sowing mix and to plant out the crops with. Great stuff !


www.wastenomo.eu

The yield outputs for all beds totaled 329.96 kg of produce or 3.78 kg per m2.



Produce - All beds
Product   Weight in kgs   Average weight in
kgs per m2
Carrots   15.465   0.28
Parsnips   19.775   0.35
Dwarf Beans   5.025   0.09
Swiss Chard   21.56   0.39
Kale   13.35   0.24
Beetroot   12.245   0.22
Tomatoes   101.53   0.91
Tomatoes for processing   45.87   0.41
Basil   16.935   0.15
Beans   26.73   0.24
Summer Squash   46.005   0.41
Winter Squash   5.47   0.04
Total kg   329.96
Total kg/m2   3.78kgs/m2



The market value of the produce is as follows:



Market Value
Crop   Our Average market price per kg   Total Market Value (BGN)
Carrots   2   lev30.93
Parsnips   5.5   lev108.76
Dwarf Beans   6.5   lev32.66
Swiss Chard   12   lev258.72
Kale   12   lev160.20
Beetroot   2   lev24.49
Tomatoes   3.5   lev355.36
Tomatoes for processing   1.5   lev68.81
Basil   34   lev575.79
Beans   6.5   lev173.75
Summer Squash   2.2   lev101.21
Winter Squash   3.8   lev20.79
Total Market Value   lev1,911.46
Value per m2 of garden - 256m2   lev6.99
Value per m2 of bed 165.6 m2   lev10.84
Value per hour worked   lev12.05




The polyculture garden in Summer


Results in Summary

The garden produced just under 330 kg of produce from a cultivated area of 165.6 m2  -  3.78 kg of produce per m2.

The time spent on the garden was 149 hrs. this time being distributed from sowing the first seeds indoors in February to packing up in late October.

The fertility inputs of the garden were 63 Straw bales, 1205L of compost. 20 kg of wood ash, 224 L of sowing medium, 1620 L of lawn clippings and 88L of Comfert ( Comfrey Tea)

The garden expenses  were 115.56 BGN and the estimated value of the produce was 1911.46 BGN providing a profit of 1795.9 BGN. This translates to 12.05 BGN per hr or 10.84 BGN per m2.


Comments on Results

Time Input 
Not included in the records were other tasks carried out around the site such as making compost, harvesting stakes and support sticks, establishing beneficial habitat such as wildlife ponds, hedgerows/stick piles.
The time for preparing the produce for market i.e quality control, packaging and delivery, was estimated at 2 hrs per week . We send out weekly veggie boxes and orders from a food coop with produce from our other gardens  and did not record separately the polyculture trials produce.
Financial Inputs - Costs
Not included here are the set up costs for the garden. These costs were included in last years results. The costs recorded here are the annual operating costs.

Financial Output - Income
A polyculture market garden should be a polyculture of revenue streams. Our study currently focuses on annual vegetable production. We chose to begin our study of annual vegetables as it is the most accessible practice to most people requiring the least amount of investment making it ideal for a novice or curious grower. Other potential revenue from the Polyculture Market Garden includes perennial crops (see here for a perennial polyculuture study we are starting next year),  plant nursery, adding value to produce and courses and training. We hope to add a study of these activities over time to represent better the financial potential of a Polyculture Market Garden.   

Design of our new perennial polyculture garden coming in Spring 2017


Entomology Survey - We did begin to record invertebrate diversity in the beds and here you can find a photo album of what was recorded along with some other wildlife that resides in the garden. Thanks to Peter Alfrey for the photo records and survey.



Dylan and Ute in spring sweeping the native plants that grow around the edges of the beds.


Crop failure :-

Aubergines were also included in the Epictetus polyculture and failed to produce any significant yield. 
A cold and wet April and May meant that many squash and beans did not germinate. This resulted in less production from beans and squash than would be expected. Next year we will be growing these plants in starter trays under cover and planting out when the weather conditions are favourable.

N.B. The majority of the tasks were carried out by a volunteer team that had little or no prior experience in horticulture. An experienced grower or with repeated experience of these cultivation methods should be able to reduce the task times significantly.

You can access the full spreadsheet here that includes all of the data entries and task descriptions. (note there are multiple sheets that can be accessed from the blue tabs running along the top of the sheet).

www.balkep.org
http://balkanecologyproject.blogspot.bg/

[landroverroy]

 What is a BGN worth?