Innovation of practices for the establishment of mixed cultures of alfalfa to improve soil quality and produce of safe forage
Coordinator: Mendel University in Brno
Investigator: Ing. Daniela Knotová, Ph.D.
Supported by: Technology Agency of the Czech Republic
Time of solving: 2018 – 2022
Summary: The main objective of the project is to propose a procedure for the establishment of a mixed culture of alfalfa seeded with the simultaneous application of inoculants and to propose a technical solution for incorporating the inoculant into the soil with the emphasis on preserving the viability of the used cultures of microorganisms. Mixed alfalfa cultures will allow biomass to be harvested with a balanced proportion of protein and energy components. Silable biomass will be rich in nitrogenous substances, increasing the energy content through the grass component will ensure the production of not only high-quality but also health-safe feeds, especially in the case of algae silage, the risk of producing biogenic amines.

Biodiversity increase and support of ecosystem services in agricultural landscape through alternative management practices in grasslands and pastures
Coordinator: Agricultural Research, Ltd.
Investigator: Mgr. Tomáš Vymyslický, Ph.D.
Supported by: Technology Agency of the Czech Republic
Time of solving: 2019–2022
Summary: The main aim of proposed project will be testing, standardisation and certification of management tools leading to increased biodiversity and restoration of ecosystem services of meadow biotopes. Meadows are essential part of agricultural landscape. Due to realisation of this project an important increase of plant and invertebrates biodiversity will be supported. Some key ecosystem services will be restored. For example increase of pollinator’s populations, limitation of soil erosion, and water retention in the agroecosystems. The results will be available through certified methodologies, certified technological procedure and utility model. We expect wide transfer of the results into praxis and sustainability even after project will finish.

Promoting the functional diversity of soil organisms by applying classical and modified stable organic matter while preserving the soil's production properties
Coordinator: Mendel University in Brno
Investigator: Ing. Antonín Kintl
Supported by: Technology Agency of the Czech Republic
Time of solving: 2018 – 2022
Summary: The aim of the project is to support the functional diversity of soil organisms by applying stable organic matter, especially activated biochar and digestate, in order to eliminate their negative impacts on soil and to improve the ecological and economic aspects of agricultural production. The project will result in improved soil properties, supporting functional diversity, promoting fertility and returning carbon back into soil.

Application of precision farming in the whole process, from the production of silages to the feeding of cattle
Coordinator: Agricultural Research Ltd.
Investigator: RNDr. Jan Nedělník, Ph.D.
Supported by: Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Time of solving: 2018 – 2022
Summary: The aim of project is design new and improve existing systems and technologies for the production of quality forage by extending the precision farming features in the field of crop production to their harvest, storage and use in cattle nutrition. Develop software for the evaluation of forage quality using the fast and inexpensive NIRs spectrometric method. Update NIRs calibration equations according to chemical analysis results. Set up devices to respond appropriately to dryness, nutrition, and fodder processing level, and indicate the need for intervention, or automatically change eg the dose of silage preparation or the length of TMR mixing in the feed wagon.

Quantification of the impact of farming management on soil erosion, soil quality and yields of crops with proposals of the environmentally friendly cultivation technologies
Coordinator: Mendel university in Brno
Investigator: Ing. Jaroslava Novotná, Ph.D.
Supported by: Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Time of solving: 2018 – 2022
Summary: The main aim is to evaluate the effects of water erosion to the production of crops and subsequent quantification of production losses depending on the intensity of erosion within the system of sustainable management of natural resources, as well as to examine the system of the definition of strongly and moderately erosion-endangered soils (SEO, MEO) in the conditions of the individual farms, and to suggest the optimization and adjustment of the subsidies system. An important aim is to design and verify erosion control systems too, respecting the production view and the protection of the natural resources (soil, water, landscape).

Aerobic - anaerobic mobile contained rotary bioreactor
Coordinator: Vysoká škola báňská - Technická univerzita Ostrava
Investigator: RNDr. Jan Nedělník, Ph.D.
Supported by: Technology Agency of the Czech Republic
Time of solving: 2018–2020
Summary: The aim of the project is to develop an aerobic - anaerobic horizontal contained rotary bioreactor that will be usable for various processes, especially for dry anaerobic digestion (biogas production in stackable biomass) and for intense aerobic fermentation (in-wessel composting, biodrying). Peripheries (valves, dosing device and stirring blades) will be developed so that the reactor can be used also for wet or semi-dry anaerobic digestion (biogas production in liquid batch). The future may show further possibilities of use of this reactor such as autothermal thermophilic aerobic sludge stabilization (sanitation). Small-scale bioreactor (10-15 tons of biomass) is designed for standalone or battery operation. The prototype will be made and approved (certified) by the end of 2020.

Cultivation of corn for grain in a controlled mixed culture system using clover
Coordinator: Agricultural research, Ltd.
Investigator: Ing. Antonín Kintl
Supported by: Technology Agency of the Czech Republic
Time of solving: 2018–2021
Summary: The aim of the project is to increase the efficiency of a production of corn grain, the technology of a mixed crop management system with the use of cloven-hoof trees. The purpose is to support the implementation of experiments leading to the specification of methodological procedures enabling the introduction of the technology into agricultural practice.
 

Resistance monitoring methods of economically important pests and weeds to pesticides and anti-resistance strategies
Coordinator: The Crop Research Institute
Investigator: Ing. Pavel Kolařík
Supported by: Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, QK1820081
Time of solving: 1.1.2018 – 31.12.2020
Summary: The aim of the project is to verify or develop methods for resistance monitoring of pests and weeds to pesticides. The object of the research will be pest organisms with incidence of resistance in Europe. Resistance of pests of oil seed rape, field vegetable and potatoes and weeds will be evaluated. For resistant populations of pests and weeds, the LD50 and LD90 values will be established for active substances for which this knowledge are not available. The efficacy of new active substances on resistant populations will be proved and values of baseline will be established. Mechanisms of resistance of pests and weeds to pesticides will be evaluated by molecular and biochemical methods antiresistant strategies will be proposed.
 

Support for Czech participation of the agrarian sector research organizations in the international research
Solving of a project „Support for Czech participation of the agrarian sector research organizations in the international research“ started 1.2.2017. The project is financed from the programme of international cooperation in research and development INTER-EXCELLENCE, sub-programme INTER-INFORM. It is managed under registration number LTI17006. Coordinator of the project is Agrovýzkum Rapotín, Ltd., one member of the project team is company Agricultural Research, Ltd. Project solving time is from 1.2.2017 to 31.12.2020. More information could be found at www pages of the project.

The development and verification of apparatus for deep incorporation of organic matter to the soil in the vineyards and orchards 
Coordinator: Agricultural research, Ltd., Troubsko
Investigator: Ing. Barbora Badalíková
Supported by: Technology Agency of the Czech Republic
Time of solving: 2017–2020
Summary: The aim of the project is the development of functional devices for depth application of organic material useable in a complex technological line for fertilization of vineyards and orchards. A partial aim is to verify the possibility of increasing the content of stable organic matter, support functional diversity of soil organisms in the soil preserve production capability even in drought. Solutions contribute to the fulfilment of subprogram technology and new techniques useful in environmental protection and improvement of soil properties.
 

Revitalisation of agricultural land in the areas of the Czech Republic endangered by drought
Coordinator: Mendel University in Brno
Investigator: Mgr. Tomáš Vymyslický, Ph.D.
Supported by: Technology Agency of the Czech Republic
Time of solving: 2017–2020
Summary: The aim of the project is the use of auxiliary soil substances and perspective technologies to improve the parameters of damaged soils in arid areas of the Czech Republic and increased Biodiversity in these areas. A model plot of a degraded farmland in the Hodonín region will be used for testing the application of top-quality lignite from local sources combined with moisture absorbents, which shall improve the physical and chemical properties of the soil and conditions for vegetation growth. The project will also test the WASP technology based on special pellet-like treatment of seed that helps to increase its germination rate. In the conditions of arid environment without irrigation this could be a significant improvement applicable in both production and non-production agriculture.

 

National programme of conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources and agro-biodiversity
Coordinator: Research Institute of Crop Production, Praha-Ruzyně
Investigator: Ing. Daniela Knotová
Supported by: Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Time of solving: 2017–2021
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 main testing and evaluation species are Medicago spp., Trifolium pratense, T. repens and Trifolium spp. and other forage species. Available varieties, ecotypes and landraces are evaluation. In this time the collection of our institute have 3221 items with passports dates and from these items 2345 are available. 1631 items have the descriptive dates and 2337 items is in the store of seed samples. Previously stored genetic resources can be found on the website of gene bank in VÚRV Praha - Ruzyně: http://genbank.vurv.cz/genetic/resources/asp2/default_c.htm.

The representation of passport dates of available items in the group forage