Research Projects in Progress

Testing of some chosen brassicacae insect pests susceptibility to insecticides
Coordinator:AG­RITEC, výzkum, šlechtění a služby, s.r.o.
Investigator:Ko­lařík Pavel Ing.
Supported by: Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Time of solving:2012 – 2016
Summary: The main object of the project is to evaluate an occurrence of pollen beetles´ resistance to insecticides in the Czech Republic for the State Phytosanitary Administration needs. On the base of large sampling activities the MELIAE subpopulations coming from all regions of the Czech republic will be tested on susceptibility to chosen pyrethroids (taufluvalinate, byfenthrin, cypermethrin), neonicotinoids (thiacloprid, acetamiprid), organophosphates (chlorpyrifos, pirimiphos-methyl) and to some new perspective active ingredients (pymetrozine, indoxacarb, spinosyny) to be stated baseline sensitivities to the insecticides, significant shifts in susceptibilities to the insecticides and differences in susceptibilities to the insecticides in the various regions of the Czech Republic. The main receiver of the results of the project will be the State Phytosanitary Administration of the Czech Republic in order to be able more quickly and more precisely adjust its recommedations and regulations related primarily with antiresistant strategies aiming to farmer practice.

Establishment and management of pond dykes growths with respect to their utilisation
Coordinator: Mendel University in Brno
Investigator: Mgr. Tomáš Vymyslický
Supported by: Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Time of solving: 2012–2016
Summary: This project supposes the elimination of soil erosion and the decrease of biodiversity of permanent grasslands on ponds dykes. One of the factors stabilising the soil surface is the vegetation cover and its root system, which leads to the improvement of structural conditions of the soil and the soil retention capacity. Within this project attention is devoted to diversity of pond dykes, including its crowns. Their vegetation, possibilities of improvement the stands on dykes by additional sowing, the possibilities of biomass harvest with respect to slopes and trees growing on the dykes are studied. Important aspect will be the utilisation of harvested biomass to harmonise the C:N ratio and utilisation in fish and water birds feeding. The second aspect should be the minimisation of biomass production and decrease of the management needs. All will be considered with respect to strengthening of the dykes against erosion and with respect to protection of population against floods. The main aim of the project is to propose technical measures, mechanisation devices and technological lines for dyke treatments. Relevant solutions will be based on the ways of grasslands management on dykes and on the choice of proper composition of grasslands with respect to the soil conditions.

Sustainable and innovative use of waste from grape and fruit processing
Coordinator: Institute for Forage Crops, Ltd. Kruševac, Serbia
Investigator: Mgr. Tomáš Vymyslický
Supported by: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic
Time of solving: 2012–2015
Summary: The aim of the project is to ensure ecologically and economically acceptable ways of disposal of waste from wine and fruit juice processing by the processes of ensiling and composting. The main part of the project will verify the influence of composts made with the use of waste from wine and fruit juice processing on soil environment, plant growth and development. New composts will be tested in anti erosion protection of the soil and during restoration processes (vineyards, permanent grasslands, road slopes and dumps). Importance of the soil protection against erosion increases due to the fact that in the last 10 years many areas of the Czech Republic and Europe have faced to large and more frequent floods. The possibilities of good realization of the composts made from waste from wine and fruit juice processing on the market is very probably. We are coming out from the prerequisites that production costs of the composts from tested wastes will be low and in addition the composts will contribute to sustainable use of these organic wastes. Silage preparation will be focused on obtaining the animal feed with high content of nutritionally valuable elements and the high quality.

Effect of soil degradation on complex soil properties including conservation measures for restoration soil agroecological function
Coordinator: Vysoké učení technické v Brně
Investigator: Ing. Bartlová Jaroslava
Supported by: Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Time of solving: 2012 – 2016
Summary: The project is focused on determination effect of soil erosion on soil properties during application of conventional farming and elaboration and verification of new conservation methodes and measures for increasing and restoration soil agroecological function.The aim of the project include application of research issues as a source for legistation change, subsidy process and new metodology for conservation measures in the process of Land consolidation.

Agronomic measures to a reduction of water erosion on arable land with utilization of organic matter plough down
Coordinator: Výzkumný ústav zemědělské techniky, v.v.i.
Investigator: Badalíková Barbora, Ing.
Supported by: Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Time of solving: 2012 – 2016
Summary: Project will solve complex remedy of soil protection technologies in the course of soil cultivation, which serve to protection of surface and underground waters as well as technological (manure application) and agricultural practices to an increase of topsoil infiltration ability and the elaborated principles publish in form of verified technology in selected agricultural enterprises.

Innovate the system of quality of feeds evaluation with the emphasis on the new national system implementation
Coordinator: Agricultural Research Ltd.
Investigator: Nedělník Jan RNDr. Ph.D.
Supported by: Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Time of solving: 2012 – 2015
Summary: On the base of current knowledges, chemical analyses of maize hybrids and the results of digestibility determinations the new system of maize silage hybrids evaluation will be developed. This system will take into account a variability of natural conditions in various cropping areas. The methodical and analytical procedures will be optimized for the purpose of optimal using of these ones in parameters quality evaluation. The maize silage hybrids will be evaluated in the areas of VÚP Troubsko and Praha Uhříněves. Next sites will be chosen with the cooperation of Svaz chovatelů českého strakatého skotu. The aim of project is to develop of independent system of maize silage hybrids evaluation which are accessible on Czech market.

Study of methods and crop management practices for seed yield of selected grass, legumes and intercrop species and quality increasing in organic agriculture
Coordinator: Oseva PRO Ltd., Grassland Research Station, Rožnov – Zubří
Investigator: Ing. Jan Pelikán, CSc.
Supported by: Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, 101C167
Time of solving: 2010 – 2014
Summary: The project concentrates on some important problems in organic grass, legumes and intercops seed growing. The main goals are: new wals of establishing of seed stands and thein protection against difficult Leeds, pests and diseases (including searching for sources of resistence to stem rust in perennial ryegrass). The solving can bring the new and interesting knowledge not only for the organic farmers, but non-chemical crop management will be available for conventional grass, legumes and intercops seed growers too.

The main project aim is to evaluate an influence of microfungi and some of their secondary metabolites occurence of feed (maize and grass sillages) quality
Coordinator : Research Institute for Fodder Crops, Ltd. Troubsko
Investigator : RNDr. Jan Nedělník, PhD.
Supported by: Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Time of solving: 2007–11

Protection innovation of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) against account fungal pathogen
Coordinator :
Investigator : RNDr. Jan Hofbauer, CSc.
Supported by:
Time of solving:
Summary: As a result of the project is finding the patogens spectrum on safflower in the Czech Republic, with more emphasis on Ramularia carthami.Diagnosis of fungal patogens and suggestion of technology of protections against patogens of safflower

Testing of new accesses to stem weevils (C. pallidactylus and C. napi) control in oil seed rape based on more precise monitoring of their occurrence and behaviour and testing of Meligethes aeneus subpopulations to pyrethroid resistance
Coordinator : Agritec Šumperk
Investigator : doc. ing. Jiří Rotrekl, CSc.
Supported by: Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Time of solving:
Summary:
The project is aimed at an innovation of plant protection methods of oilseed rape to stem weevils, Ceutorhynchus pallidactylus, Ceutorhynchus napi and at detection of occurrence of pyrethroid resistant Meligethes aeneus (sub) populations in the Czech Republic. On the base of stem weevils monitoring within the whole Czech Republic the important information for delimitation of locations with clear and long-lasting predomination of C. pallidactylus over C. napi will be obtained. The new methodics of oilseed rape protection just to C. pallidactylus will be elaborated. The methodics will be built up on the results of detailed bionomic studies of the species. The results of residual effects of insecticidal applications (primarily targeted to C. pallidactylus) on Meligethes aeneus will be a component part of the methodical access too. The findings of occurrence of pyrethroid resistant Meligethes aeneus (sub)populations within the Czech Republic will contribute to a knowledge store mapping insecticide resistance situation not only in the Czech Republic but also in the whole Europe.

Interactions of insect biodiversity in an landscape with various methods of agricultural land use and technologies with respect to pests of grasses and alfalfa and their bioregulators.
Coordinator : OSEVA PRO
Investigator : doc. ing. Jiří Rotrekl, CSc.
Supported by: Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Time of solving:
Summary:
Biodiversity of both agricultural land and adjacent areas is strongly influenced by both management methods and technologies used. Agrobiodiversity (both planned and associated) has many specific functions beside production. We strongly stress the ecological, environmental and production services produced by associated biodiversity for productive and and sustainable agriculture. In the main focus of our interests are pests (including vectors of diseases) and their bioregulators. The following hypothesis will be evaluated: associated biodiversity may serve as an indicator of the overall influence of technologies used on biodiversity as a whole.
Recently, management strategies of European agriculture is changing as well as land use patterns. These changes are partly influenced by transition from central planned economies and collective land tenure to decentralized agriculture and private land tenure in East and Central Europe and partly by CAP leading to direct payments to those fulfilling criteria of agroenvironmental policies if EU.
In the Czech republic, these changes result in implementation of relativelly new technologies (conservation tillage, mulching, ecological agriculture) and creation of new habitats (spontaneous fallows).

Evaluation of soil degradation as effected by anthropogenic activities in connection with crops cultivation
Coordinator : Research Institute for Fodder Crops, Ltd. Troubsko
Investigator : Ing. Barbora Badalíková
Supported by: Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Time of solving: 2007–2011
Summary:
The project is aimed at soil degradation changes in spring barley growth under different types of management regimes. It will be evaluated change of soil physical, chemical and biological properties that influence the nutrient availability and quality of production. Possibilities for the elimination of soil degradation processes and the influence between land use and soil adaptability under differing agroecological conditions will be investigated in connection with growth of crops.

Optimization of water regime in landscape and increasing of its retention ability through application of compost from biologically degradable waste on arable land and permanent grassland
Coordinator : Research Institute ofAgricultural Engineering Prague
Investigator : Ing. Barbora Badalíková
Supported by: Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Time of solving: 2008–12
Summary:
The organic matter decrease in soil and excessive soil loading with farm mechanization leads to the soil structure degradation and consequently to water regime failure in soil. By means of controlled composting it is possible to produce organic matter (compost) usable for soil physical and hydro physical properties improvement. In selected soil- climatic areas there will be established semi- operational trials with aim to verify the compost impact on deficiency soil using model treatment of graded compost portion and simplified crop circulation. There will be experiments on arable soil and by permanent grassland rehabilitation. There also will be investigated compost effect on soil hydrophysical properties and its influence on soil water infiltration.

Technical facilities for harvest and processing grapevine woods
Coordinator : Mendel Agricultural and Forestry University in Brno
Investigator : Ing. Barbora Badalíková
Supported by: Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Time of solving: 2008–12
Summary:
The project solves the elimination and next utilization of clip off of grapevine wood from vineyards to energy effects in technological line with collection whole grapevine woods and also in line collection and contemporary output of wood chips.

Research and inovation of the methods of an integrated plant management of the pea (Pisum sativum L.) against the chosen insect pests (project No. 1B44008)

Summary:
The basis of the project are current problems of pea (Pisum sativumL.) protection against some important pest insects, whose importance has increased during the several last years or the methods of controlling them are not developed. The benefit from the results of the project for agricultural practice should be formulation of a complex methodological approach towards pea (Pisum sativum L.) protection against Bruchus pisorum L. and other chosen insect pests (Cydia nigricana F., Thysanoptera) occurring in and infesting the pea practically at the same time. The other part of the project concerns the evaluation of the effect of the insecticidal coating of pea seeds on reducing pea damage by pea leaf weevils (Sitonaspp.) and on increasing yield parameters.

Bumblebees as an active element of te enviroment biodiversity (project No. 2B06007)

Summary: The aim of project is to complete missing information of the occurence of the bumblebee species in our territory and to obtain more knowledge on the biology, comunication taxonomy and ecology of bumblebees. This knowledge is crutial for protection of diversity of the indispensable plant pollinators. This project should contribut to extension of knowledge of the biological cycle of Bombus terrestris in the laboratory conditions, to bring information about occurence of Bombus cryptarum and Bombus magnusin the Czech Republic, to give methodical recomendation to producers of the bumblebees hives for comercial pollination leading to the succesful breeding of the local bumblebees, to get to know the bionomy of the moth Aphomia sociella and to offer the way of the bumblebees protection against this parasite. The Research Institute for Fodder Crops solve the problems regarding the influence of the food quality on overwintering of queens and the changes in the quantity of their lipids and glycogen. Furthermore we occupy ourself with determination of the problematic species of genus Bombus with using of molecular methods within this project.

National programme of conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources and agro-biodiversity

Summary: Within the framework of the research project „National Programme on Conservation and Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources and Agro-biodiversity“ the sub-stage „Gene-pool of leguminous fodder plants“ is solved. The main aim of this project is collecting, testing and describing of leguminous species according to available descriptors. Available varieties, ecotypes and wild forms are collected, sown, tested and described. Among the tested and described species are Medicago sativa, Medicago spp., Trifolium pratense, T. repens, Trifolium spp. and other fodder crops. Also meadow species, some wild-growing endangered species and rare weed species are collected. All the seed samples are preserved in the national gene bank in the Research Institute of Plant Production in Praha-Ruzyně and they are used in the joint projects.

The optimization of both agricultural and river landscape in the Czech Republic with an emphasis on the biodiversity process (project No. 2B06101)

Summary: To determine the condition and use of representative cultural landscapes in the Czech Republic, to define their negative impacts, to propose remedial measures which enable the increase of ecological stability and create conditions for enhancing biodiversity are the main aims of the project. . The special aim for our Institute is to optimize farming systems both in agricultural and river land from the wiewpoint of increasing biodiversity and soil and water protection.