Internetowa Platforma Wspomagania Decyzji Nawodnieniowych

Laboratory of Plant Irrigation (Department of Agroengineering), Research Institute of Horticulture, Skierniewice, Poland

Laboratory performs research in many areas linked to agronomy of horticultural crops and plant physiology. Research conducted in the Laboratory is highly interdisciplinary and involves knowledge and methods from various disciplines. Current research clusters are:

1. Irrigation and fertilization of horticultural crops. Evaluation of different irrigation and fertigation techniques for the production of field and protected-grown crops. Optimization of irrigation of crops considering weather condition and soil water resources.
2. Protected cultivation of horticultural plants. Development and adaptation of soilless production systems (including hydroponics and aeroponics). Artificial lighting systems (LEDs). Closed nutrient solution systems. Testing new cultivars, growing media and fertilizers. Developing plant propagation systems (soilless nursery).
3. Sensor technologies. Testing and developing sensor systems for automation of horticultural plant production (irrigation scheduling, spring frost warning).
4. Plant physiology. Examination of the influence of environmental factors on plant performance (plant tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses). Much effort is focused on evaluation of plant response to water stress (tolerance of different cultivars to drought).
5. Agrometeorology. The Laboratory has access to a weather station network which is used for monitoring weather conditions and soil water status (water balance) in major fruit production regions. The study and application of weather and climate information to increase crop production and to reduce weather-related hazards that producers may face.

The Laboratory is equipped with modern instrumentation which is used in the research work. Among the major items are:

1. Gas exchange analyzer – for assessing the leaf gas exchange (photosynthesis and transpiration).
2. Fluorometer – for analyzing the activity of plant photosynthetic apparatus.
3. Water potential equipment (pressure chamber, dewpoint potentiometer) – for assessing the water potential in soil and plant tissue.
4. Biomorphographer (dendrometer) – for continuous measurements of plant organ diameter (stems, branches, fruits). This approach allows to analyze plant growth patterns and enables monitoring changes in plant water status as a result of external stimuli influence (stressing factors, cultivation measures).
5. Image analysis systems for assessing plant growth dynamics (including root architecture) and plant response to external factors (including thermography).
6. Weather station network – for monitoring weather conditions and soil water status.
7. Equipment for analyzing soil physical/chemical properties and soil (soilless media) water relations. Moisture and water potential meters (also water measurements in soil profile), instrument for generating moisture characteristic curve, groundwater monitoring loggers (water level, temperature and EC), pH/EC meters, etc.

The Laboratory has access to facilities necessary for performing field and greenhouse experiments. These include: fully equipped greenhouse complex (with climate and irrigation/fertigation control systems, artificial lighting), experimental fields equipped with irrigation (computer-controlled) system, research laboratory (equipped with the above specified instrumentation).

The Laboratory performs studies in the frame of national (government-subsidized) and international (EU subsidized) projects and grants. It also conducts research contracted by private companies. Many years of experience in performing research projects and contracted studies makes the Laboratory a reliable and proven partner. A list of companies the Laboratory cooperates with is presented below:

• Agrosimex Sp. z o.o.
• Ceres International Sp. z o.o.
• COMPO EXPERT Polska sp. z o.o.
• ICL Polska sp. z o.o.
• ICL Specialty Fertilizers (Holandia).
• INTERMAG Sp. z o.o.
• MARTEX Przedsiębiorstwo Prywatne.
• Mivena BV (Holandia).
• Netafim Ltd.
• Sumi Agro Poland Sp. z o.o.
• Timac Agro Polska sp. z o.o.
• Yara Poland Sp. z o.o.

Our offer includes:

1. Testing efficiency of fertilizer formulations, plant growth enhancers (adjuvants, surfactants, wetting agents, growth regulators, biostimulants, anti-stress agents) in open field and protected cultivation systems (horticultural crops).
2. Testing and improving sensors and sensor systems for automation of horticultural plant production.
3. Analysis of tolerance of newly bred cultivars to abiotic environmental stresses (water and nutrient stress, extreme temperatures).
4. Analyzing physical properties (water relations) of soils and soilless media.

Contact persons:

Prof. dr. Waldemar Treder (Head of the Laboratory), phone: +48 46 8345246, e-mail: Adres poczty elektronicznej jest chroniony przed robotami spamującymi. W przeglądarce musi być włączona obsługa JavaScript, żeby go zobaczyć.

Dr. Krzysztof Klamkowski, phone: +48 46 8345238, e-mail: Adres poczty elektronicznej jest chroniony przed robotami spamującymi. W przeglądarce musi być włączona obsługa JavaScript, żeby go zobaczyć.