Department of Growing Technologies

The department is engaged in applied research of potato growing technologies, especially soil preparation and tillage, fertilization and weed management. It is the accredited workplace for performance of registration trials with herbicides in all agricultural crops and with fertilizers for potatoes. It provides technological consulting for agricultural practice

Main activities

• solution and co-operation in solution of research projects (TA ČR, NAZV MZe ČR, MŠMT)
• proposing ways of weed regulation in potatoes based on weed range and intensity of weed distribution with the potential using of precision farming principles
• study of potato nitrogen fertilization with respect to reduction of nitrate loading in the environment
• verification of new ways of mineral fertilization as local application and use of nitrification inhibitor-containing fertilizers
• innovation of potato growing technologies with regard to soil protection from water erosion, verification of conservation treatments and soil conservation technologies
• measurement of nutritive important harmful substances in potato tubers and potato products
• development of growing technology and utilization of other tuber crops, especially Jerusalem artichoke

Topics of research projects

• strategies for chemical safety of heat-processed foodstuffs prepared from potatoes and cereals
• optimization of agricultural and river landscape in the Czech Republic with an emphasis on the biodiversity process
• new growing technologies in potatoes directed to higher efficiency of fertilization and water conservation
• new potato growing technology – new environmental-friendly procedures
• optimization of weed control in the precision farming system
• use of Jerusalem artichoke in the agrarian sector
• use of colour-fleshed potatoes as an alternative crop with specific food quality
• functional genomics and proteomics in plant breeding

Services offered

• fertilization schedules based on soil nutrient content prior to planting incl. soil sample analysis
• recommendations of additional potato crop fertilization during growing period based on plant nutrient content
• proposal of potato weed management strategies based on weed range and infestation intensity
• registration and demonstration trials with herbicides in all agricultural crops
• orientation and demonstration trials with herbicides, organic, mineral and foliar fertilizers, soil amendments and plant adjuvants
• workshops and oral presentations related to above mentioned topics

Head
Ing. Pavel Kasal, Ph.D.

Staff
Ing. Josef Vacek, Ph.D.
Ing. Andrea Svobodová, Ph.D.
Vladimír Kužel
Markéta Kuljová
Dana Krejčiříková
Miroslav Novák