Thesis possibility RIKILT - CSA
Subject
Field survey among primary cereal productions in the Netherlands to collect information on the relation between agronomic practices and the occurrence of mycotoxins in grains (wheat and grain maize).
Background
RIKILT and PSG have developed mathematical models to predict the occurrence of the mycotoxin DON in winter wheat in the Netherlands. The models, in which weather data and agronomical practices are used as explanatory variables, are based on field data. Information on agronomic practices were obtained from farmers, and at harvest samples were collected to determine the actual DON content. Model validation clearly showed that the models need to be refined, probably by including additional variables.
A predictive model for mycotoxins in grain maize is under construction. For grain maize only very limited field data is available at the moment.
Therefore, for the purpose of modeling, agronomical data needs to be collected in the current field season, both on grain maize and wheat (season 2010).
Tasks
- Held questionnaires (by postal mail) among about 100 farmers in the Netherlands
- Contact with the farmers by phone in case of clarifications needed
- Insert the collected data into Excel sheets
- Statistical analyses of the collected data using SPPS and/or GENSTAT
- Help in model construction
- Write thesis report
Period: April – December (4-5 months in this period)
Preferred language
As contact with Dutch farmers is needed, the preferred language is Dutch
Contact persons
Lammert Bastiaans (Lammert.Bastiaans @ wur.nl)
Centre for Crop Systems Analysis (Crop and Weed Ecology Group)
Supervisor at RIKILT: Ine van der Fels-Klerx