Improving the growing technology of horticultural crops at the aim of increasing yield quality and competitive strength of the producers

Supported by Estonian Ministry of Agriculture
Project duration: 2010-2014
Project leader: Marge Starast, Ph.D.

The joint research project of Estonian University of Life Sciences and Jõgeva Plant Breeding Institute includes 12 different experiments with vegetables, fruits and berries.
Vegetable trials aim to:

• identify the influence of flaming and use of acryl-cover on the productivity and quality of carrot;
• find out optimal technology of flaming of carrot and onion in order to ensure effective weed control with minimal cost;
• identify the impact on growing technologies on the yield quality and storability of turnip, white cabbage, carrot, red beet, tomato and garlic;
• find out the most suitable companion plants for white cabbage in Estonian conditions, in order to increase the impact of parasitoids as biocontrol agents.

Fruit and berry trials aim to:

• identify the effect of burning of strawberry leaves on the spread of diseases and pests, plant viability, winter hardiness; and the effects of mulching and flaming on the soil fertility.
• develop entomovector technology to control gray mould of strawberry;
• identify the most suitable grafting combinations for organic apple production (rootstock + cultivar);
• find out the effects of mulches and genotype on the productivity and quality of black currant;
• identify the different effects of fertilizer on blueberry fruit productivity and quality.

Towards a sustainable and productive EU organic greenhouse horticulture COST Action no. FA1105

Acronym: Biogreenhouse
Project duration: 2012-2016
Homepage: http://www.biogreenhouse.org/

Organic greenhouse horticulture (OGH)(i.e the production in greenhouses or polytunnels) in the EU should improve its sustainability, production and productivity. Emissions of nutrients and its footprint should be reduced. Production and productivity are too low to meet the demand of the society.

The scientific challenges are - 

• to design sustainable irrigation and fertilization strategies
• to reveal the mechanisms of resilience, robustness and suppressiveness for the management of pests and diseases
• to integrate crop management, energy saving, renewable energy sources and new techniques and combinations with other activities
• business to realize climate neutral production.

This COST Action coordinates, strengthens and focuses the activities of the partners. It improves the communication, offers a common agenda, more and better knowledge for less money, sharing new techniques, an improved dissemination to OGH, basis for further collaboration in joint research proposals and support in the development of EU standards for OGH.