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Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

Zwischenfrucht

English translation:

catch crop

Added to glossary by adamgajlewicz
Feb 15, 2011 12:57
13 yrs ago
3 viewers *
German term

Zwischenfrucht

German to English Tech/Engineering Agriculture Agriculture (higly specialized)
I'm looking for an adequately informed expert opinion here. For there seems be a problem with the English equivalent word linked to the German term on the Wiki. The German context is abundantly clear and thus Zwischenfrucht is defined as follows:
Als Zwischenfrucht bezeichnet man in der Landwirtschaft eine Feldfrucht, die zwischen anderen zur Hauptnutzung dienenden Feldfrüchten als Gründüngung oder zur Nutzung als Tierfutter angebaut wird.
Then the author of the article says it is the same as "Cover crop". Is it accurate or should there be a different English term such as catch crop or undersown crop? Or do you think cover crop is a broad enough term? TIA.
Proposed translations (English)
4 +5 catch crop
4 Agriculture term

Discussion

adamgajlewicz (asker) Feb 15, 2011:
Thank you for your suggestion, Johanna However, that will no longer be necessary....
Johanna Timm, PhD Feb 15, 2011:
Adam, seeing that you are dealing with a Wiki text, why don't you contact one of the English speaking members of the WikiProject Agriculture? Go through the contributors' bios and look for the person who seems most qualified to assist you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Agricultu...
adamgajlewicz (asker) Feb 15, 2011:
@Helen You got me wrong. I am thoroughly satisfied with your answer. Thank you, Helen, and I am almost certain I will use the word you have suggested. However, I'm still trying to ascertain beyond any reasonable doubt if or that all those terms we have mentioned stand for Zwischenfrucht.
Helen Shiner Feb 15, 2011:
EU document I am sorry that the official EU regulatory documentation as cited in my answer is insufficiently compelling for you.
adamgajlewicz (asker) Feb 15, 2011:
@Helen @ Cetacea "why you consider the Wikipedia article to be definitive". I don't and I am thinking of removing the link asap. But before that happens I have to make sure. I am sure all unprofessional opinions should always be treated with a good deal of care. @ Cetacea. "Check out one"... I have. There are lots of options to choose from, hence my confusion. I decided to ask proz specializing in agriculture..... I'm still waiting for some utterly compelling and convincing evidence....
Cetacea Feb 15, 2011:
Agree with Helen Even though Wikipedia can be helpful to get started, technical terms such as this should always be verified with specialized sources. Check out one of the big agricultural sites for the definition of catch crop/Zwischenfrucht.
Helen Shiner Feb 15, 2011:
Wikipedia I am just wondering why you consider the Wikipedia article to be definitive? Surely they should always be treated with some care.
adamgajlewicz (asker) Feb 15, 2011:
Definitive term required.... Yes, I am aware that lots of other options are possible here, too, eg intercrops. The thing is that I cannot find THE technical term which would be absolutely, undeniably, unquestionably, and definitively equivalent. I hope there is an expert capable of clarifying why cover crop (which seems the most controversial) has been chosen as the most accurate equivalent on the Wiki instead of other terms such as catch crops, undersown crops and intercrops which are equally and entirely acceptable.
Wendy Streitparth Feb 15, 2011:
As I understand it, the purpose of a cover crop is primarily to improve the state of the soil. A catch crop can be a crop sown before or after the main crop, or as a cover crop and either ploughed in or used as animal feed. etc.
adamgajlewicz (asker) Feb 15, 2011:
Thank you, Helen... I have reasonable confidence that catch crop and undersown crop are perfectly possible but need to know if cover crop is also possible and why it has been chosen by the Wiki author. I thought the term also covered those other two. I've also noticed that catch crop is linked to Untersaat on Wiki...
Helen Shiner Feb 15, 2011:
@ Adam Then we must wait to see what others say. Catch crops are familiar to me from conversation with estate managers in the UK, but I am unable to claim that this is in any way definitive.
adamgajlewicz (asker) Feb 15, 2011:
@Helen In one there are cover plants and in the other undergrown plants...
http://tinyurl.com/63eh8eq
http://tinyurl.com/6kvczfz
Helen Shiner Feb 15, 2011:
@ Adam And what do they say in that document (sorry, haven't got time to read through all of that for you!)?
adamgajlewicz (asker) Feb 15, 2011:
@Helen The thing is that in another "reliable source with official translation" they say something different: http://tinyurl.com/63eh8eq

Proposed translations

+5
6 mins
Selected

catch crop

I am not an expert in this field, but I found this reliable source with official translation:

Codenummer 3 Folgekulturen (Zwischenfrüchte) (unbewässert)http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:...

Code 3: Non-irrigated follow-up crops (catch crops)
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:...

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Note added at 30 mins (2011-02-15 13:28:08 GMT)
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catch_crop

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Note added at 31 mins (2011-02-15 13:29:16 GMT)
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http://www.nvsuk.org.uk/growing_show_vegetables_1/intercropp...

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Note added at 33 mins (2011-02-15 13:30:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Explains the difference between 'intercropping' and 'catch cropping':
http://www.nvsuk.org.uk/growing_show_vegetables_1/intercropp...

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Note added at 35 mins (2011-02-15 13:32:43 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Looks like in depends on whether the crops are planted at the same time - ie between other crops - or between harvesting other crops, ie independently.

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Note added at 1 day5 hrs (2011-02-16 18:07:56 GMT) Post-grading
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Thanks, Adam
Note from asker:
Thank you, Helen.
Peer comment(s):
agree Cetacea : "catch crop" is the equivalent of "Zwischenfrucht". A cover crop can be a catch crop, but it doesn't have to be. And to make things even more confusing, "intercrop" is sometimes used as a synonym of "catch crop" in the U.S. ...
1 hr
That is my understanding also.
agree philgoddard
4 hrs
Thanks, phil
agree Eckhard Boehle : agree with you and Cetacea, "Cover crop" is translated with "Deckfrucht", "Schutzfrucht, "Zwischensaat" (not "-frucht"!) or also a "crop which is grown to give protection to another crop which is sown with it - hence "Überfrucht", "Stützfrucht"
4 hrs
Thanks, Eckhard
agree Clive Phillips : Catch crop: fast-growing, grown simultaneously with or between plantings of a main crop. Cover crop: planted to manage soil fertility/quality, water, weeds, pests/diseases, biodiversity/wildlife. Intercrop: crop between the rows or plants of another crop.
5 hrs
Thanks, Clive
agree 784512 (X)
6 hrs
Thanks, Rose
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you, Helen, for your accurate answer and thank you all for clarifying all those tough technical terms."
1 day 22 hrs
German term (edited): catch crop

Agriculture term

In agriculture, a catch crop is a fast-growing crop that is grown simultaneously with, or between successive plantings of a main crop. For example, radishes that mature from seed in 25–30 days can be grown between rows of most vegetables, and harvested long before the main crop matures. Or, a catch crop can be planted between the spring harvest and fall planting of some crops. Also Catch cropping is a type of succession planting. It makes more efficient use of growing space. Catch crops are also crops that are sown to prevent minerals being flushed away from the soil. By using catch crops, such as grain (millet, ...) one can keep certain minerals not attached to the humus-clay connection (such as carbon (C) and other positively charged elements) in the soil for (many) years.
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