Experimental station

The Experimental Station is a non-academic unit of the Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy, established to serve research and educational purposes.

MISSION OF THE EXPERIMENTAL STATION

To develop fundamental and applied research in priority areas of agricultural science, with particular emphasis on the relevance of the research and its importance for Lithuanian agriculture and economy. To develop and disseminate state-of-the-art knowledge and experience in biological sciences, sustainable use, and development of agricultural resources.

THE MAIN FUNCTIONS OF THE EXPERIMENTAL STATION:

Provide conditions for the University researchers to carry out fundamental and applied agricultural research;
Disseminate innovations in agricultural science and technology;
Provide favorable conditions and opportunities for the researchers conducting the experiments to use the Station facilities, laboratories, equipment, and inventory, as well as the services provided by the auxiliary staff;
Provide technical and methodological assistance to students, to enable them to study agricultural technologies at the Experimental Station, to carry out training practices;
Provide assistance to the University researchers in organizing experiment inspections, field days, conferences, seminars, and workshops;
Participate in the research and educational process of the students of Bachelor, Master, and Doctoral programs;
Provide consultations to agricultural specialists and farmers.

RESULTS

Interdisciplinary research teams are set to embrace new challenges

The Experimental Station hosts more than 50 field experiments annually in the priority areas of agricultural sciences, features about 3 thousand experimental plots, and serves as a 150 ha repository for the plant, crop rotation collections, and intercrops that are updated on an annual basis. The station is equipped with modern field and laboratory equipment and contributes to the annual output of 60-80 research and science popularization publications, 1-2 Doctoral dissertations, about 50 Bachelor’s, 20-30 Master’s theses, over 750 hours of training practice classes in various disciplines. The Station maintains an ongoing dialogue with farmers, other agribusinesses, and students involved in young researchers’ projects as a significant part of its operations.

In recent years, the Experimental Station of VMU Agriculture Academy has become a platform gathering an increasing number of interdisciplinary research teams working on global issues such as the sustainability of agroecosystems, conservation of soil resources, and optimization of plant mineral nutrition. Researchers from different disciplines are working together to find solutions in engineering and agronomy aimed at providing economic benefits in agriculture without an adverse environmental impact. The results of 50 years of research summarised in the collection of rotations with different purposes and scopes dating back to 1965 show the preferable crop sequence so as to avoid soil impoverishment and loss of fertility. This is essential for long-term sustainable farming, as Lithuanian agriculture has taken the direction of specialized crop production. Three decades ago, soil-draining cereals accounted for around 45-50% of the crop rotation structure compared to today‘s figure of 70-80%. This is severely affecting the ratio of soil-improving to soil-draining crops. The researchers are therefore calling for the cultivation of intercropping oilseed radish, mustard, and clover, as well as for a shift to no-till farming since surface loosening clearly increases the valuable organic carbon stock.

Prospects for sustainable agriculture and development of precision farming

Our traditional agricultural crops will not adapt to climate change on their own. This requires improvements to conventional and new technologies, and adjustments to parameters such as fertilization, crop protection, sowing, and harvesting times. Researchers at the Experimental Station have been working with partners on a major research project funded by the Research Council of Lithuania “The complex impact of climate and environmental change on the productivity, biodiversity, and sustainability of agro-ecosystems”, and a number of other projects. A great deal of fundamental work has been done, and recommendations to farmers have highlighted the need for a holistic approach to research-based measures that can reduce the likely loss of crop production and soil degradation under the changing climate and intensive farming: agrotechnical and soil cultivation measures that increase humus and nutrient reserves, improve soil structure and water regime must be the basis for the development and application of agro-technologies that are environmentally and resource-friendly, competitive and adapted to climate change.

Long-term research at the Experimental Station of VMU Agriculture Academy has shown that the most favorable humification and mineralisation processes for stable soil fertility maintenance and enhancement take place in organic and sustainable farming systems. This type of farming, therefore, ensures the sustainability of the agro-ecosystems in terms of their long-term viability. Conservation agriculture in Lithuania should become the farming system of the future, with a 30% reduction in fertilizer and pesticide use, yet leading to greater organic enrichment and the use of catch crops. However, in order to accelerate the shift of intensive crop farms, which form the majority of farms in Lithuania, to conservation agriculture, a public economic incentive system should be created.

The EU’s Green Deal Action Plan aims to invest in environmentally friendly technologies. Research is therefore needed to substantiate farming that is not only competitive but also environmentally friendly. This is supported by the “Precision Farming” research that has been carried out at the Experimental Station for a number of years. The research has already has shown that the introduction of innovative precision farming technologies can lead to savings of up to 22% in production costs for fuel, seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, while reducing the negative environmental impact of farming and increasing the safety of food raw materials.

Special focus on the oilseed rape

The area of winter oilseed rape, which is currently producing a stable profit for our country’s farmers, has already exceeded 250,000 hectares, which is a great merit of the researchers at VMU Agriculture Academy, who pay special attention to this crop at the Experimental Station. Six doctoral theses have been defended in the last 15 years, and a great deal of fundamental and applied research has been carried out on this subject. The comprehensive focus on the oilseed rape is due to the high sensitivity of the crop to the choice of agricultural techniques and climatic changes, and the crop never forgives the grower for mistakes made. Rape is not only important as a cash crop but also as a rotation crop, as it is one of the most fertile crops. It has been shown that oilseed rape releases substances that can act as agricultural plant stimulants and weed inhibitors. In addition, due to its phytoncidal properties, oilseed rape also acts as a soil sterilizer. As the climate is changing rapidly and newer varieties of oilseed rape are appearing on the market, the experiments carried out at the Experimental Station are providing farmers with new recommendations on the agricultural techniques of oilseed rape to optimize the sowing and maintenance of the crop. A significant part of the research is also devoted to various experiments commissioned by businesses, which are increasingly willing to work with researchers to help them find solutions to their challenges.

Annual scientific and practical conference “Zemdirbio vasara” (Farmer’s Summer) held for more than 25 years

To disseminate the latest research results, the Experimental Station holds a series of annual seminars and conferences for farmers, advisers, and scientists. However, the key event that receives the most attention from farmers, i.e. the direct users of knowledge, is the traditional annual scientific and practical conference “Zemdirbio vasara” (Farmer’s Summer), which takes place in June. Its topics are chosen according to their relevance for farmers. This event, aimed at farmers, advisers, and district and regional farmers, is the first of its kind. The event, which is open to farmers, specialists from district departments, farmers’ associations, farmers’ associations, and other stakeholders, is a great opportunity for farmers to participate in a wide range of activities. It also attracts representatives of agricultural companies and firms providing dedicated services to farmers. Staff of the Chamber of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, members of the Agronomy Section of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, members of the VMU Agriculture Academy, and other agricultural institutions are also invited to participate at the event. The agricultural technique-related challenges of organic farming, no-till farming, crop rotations, seed production, plant fertilization, soil fertility improvement, evaluation of farming systems, precision farming, rapeseed, and other crops, etc. have been presented on several occasions. During the conference, farmers, as well as representatives of companies providing advisory services and peers from related studies and research institutions, have the opportunity to hear about farming issues, solutions, and the latest scientific recommendations, see the latest machinery demonstrated by business enterprises and have the unique opportunity to consult with the researchers representing the Agriculture Academy directly in the experimental fields.

Director prof. habil. dr. Rimantas Velička

Rapsų str. 7, Noreikiškės, Kaunas district

Phone 8 37 752 217; 8 37 788 161

E-mail: rimantas.velicka@vdu.lt