THE INSTITUTE-FOR-SOIL-FERTILITY-RESEARCH 1890-1990

The Institute for Soil Fertility Research in Haren, the Netherlands, was established as a State Agricultural Experimental Station in Groningen on 2 January 1890. From 1890-1915 the major occupation of the experimental station was the quality control of animal feedstuffs and fertilizer materials for agriculture in the northern part of the Netherlands. In 1916, the experimental station was given the task to conduct scientific research on arable and grassland farming in the Netherlands. The research areas after 1916 can be distinguished into (1) soils and hydrology, (2) soil fertility and fertilizers, and (3) crops and crop production. Of these research areas, only soil fertility and fertilizers is still within the domain of the present Institute for Soil Fertility Research. The other research areas have been transferred to existing (soils) or newly founded institutions (hydrology, crops, crop production). The research on the 'fertility factors' laid the foundation for the system of fertilizer recommendations in the Netherlands, on the basis of soil analysis. In recent years, research emphasis has shifted to environmental issues and the ecology of agricultural systems, making use of simulation modelling and other mathematical tools for the description of soil-crop ecosystems.