Developing organic cereal production, increasing agro-ecosystem service capacity, maintaining crop security

Cereal crops, mainly winter wheat, occupy a dominant share of organic arable land, almost 40%. The biological base is expanding, with almost 200 varieties on the national variety list and over 2000 on the EU variety list. A wide range of varieties is also used in public production, but for organic farming it is necessary to select varieties with better environmental-biological-agronomic stress tolerance, but also with high yield and quality. For these varieties, agrotechnical elements to increase resistance should also be selected. To increase stress tolerance and to stabilise yield and quality, a wide range of inputs are commercially available which can be integrated into organic farming. However, it is important to establish their application and practical effects through independent trials, thus showing the way for farmers.

The aim of our research is to improve farmers’ decision making in the field of variety selection, to promote the commercial labelling of varieties suitable for organic farming, to increase the yield of organic winter wheat and to increase the use of metal-locked seed.

Activities

  • Conducting variety trials of winter wheat and other cereals (e.g. spelt, triticale) in a national network of on-farm and small plot trials, with about 10 on-farm and 7 small plot sites per year.
  • On-farm tests of wheat cultivation technology with input materials: seed treatment with microbiological products to reduce the risk of fungal diseases, stand treatment to increase drought tolerance.
  • Practical testing and demonstration of technology alternatives: sustainable crop rotation with spring legume crops, e.g. using Trifolium crops and their autumn tillage.

Expected results

  • Regional and national recommendations on varieties and cultivation techniques by year
  • Development of wheat cultivation technologies that can be integrated into organic farming and enhance soil protection and plant stress tolerance
  • Publishing practical technology guides
  • Organizing field days
  • Publishing scientific publications and accessible articles

Contact person

Földi Mihály

Mihály Földi

Lead researcher
Horticulturist, MSc

MNVH

The implementation of the research is supported by Hungarian National Rural Network (MNVH): www.videkihalozat.eu

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