COMPETITIVE ABILITY OF MAIZE IN MIXTURE WITH CLIMBING BEAN IN ORGANIC FARMING

Intercropped crops represent an important production system in organic farming, especially maize/climbing bean mixture due to its high content of protein in bean seeds for human diet, and producing silage for ruminants. To test this hypothesis, the effects of maize (Zea mays L.) sown as a sole crop and maize/climbing bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Cipro) mixtures on maize plant height, maize leaf area index, bean leaf area index and grain yield were investigated in field experiments on an organic farm following accepted rules of certification. The maize/climbing bean mixture increased maize plant height as well as maize and bean leaf area and reduced maize grain yield in comparison with maize sown as sole crop, but 477.5 kg ha-1seed yield of bean sown in mixture was obtained. Maize was a stronger competitor than bean. The overall conclusion is that maize/bean mixture has promise for producing valuable yield of maize and bean, but mixtures needs further investigation

Importance of Underutilized Field Crops for Increasing Functional Biodiversity

Despite the suggestions to include two or three crops into crop rotation that is widely considered to support the richer biodiversity on fields, industrial field crop production systems are still based mainly on monoculture, where the farmers produce permanently mainly one crop. Review and analyses of different possibilities showed that more diverse functional (also important for diverse nutritional and health products of food) biodiversity of underutilized field crops needs to be established, especially if beneficial social and economic effects of introducing underutilized crops into small-scale farms are taken into account. We can conclude that functional biodiversity based on rich crop rotations associated with underutilized crops increases biodiversity in the soil and has an effect on richer and sustainable behavior of cultural plants with good balance of pests and plant diseases

Organic farming as a potential for the development of protected areas

The objectives of organic farming are consistent with the objectives of protected areas. In this paper, possibilities for development of organic farming in protected areas are analyzed against the background of the current state of organic farming in Slovenia, current legislation regarding farming in protected areas, and economic and demographic characteristics of the selected protected areas in that country. Organic farmers are important providers of healthy, locally produced food, which can be an important component of tourism. Low interconnections between farmers, insufficient supporting legislation, limiting natural factors, and aspects of demographic structure inhibit the development of organic farming in protected areas

ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT AS A METHOD FOR EVALUATION DIFFERENT AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

Ecological footprint could be a tool for evaluating impacts of different agricultural production systems (PS). Based on more years field experiments producing vegetables and field crops cological footprint of conventional (CON), integrated (INT), organic (ORG) and biodynamic (BD) farming systems in Maribor and CON, INT and ORG in Dolenci was calculated and interpreted using the SPIonExcel tool. Results showed a markedly lower ecological footprint of ORG and BD systems compared to CON and INT which are not significantlly different. Identified were possibilities for reducing ecological footprint – for CON and INT by reducing mineral fertilizers and pesticide inputs; for ORG and BD by changing fuels and reducing maschinery use

EFFECT OF LIVING MULCH ON PEST/BENEFICIAL INTERACTION

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of cover crops on pest/beneficial dynamics and to test the potential of living mulch on enhancing biological control against insect pests. The research, carried out in the frame of the InterVeg (Core Organic II) project, involved four European countries: Germany, Slovenia, Denmark and Italy. Three crops were tested: cauliflower, leek and artichoke. The preliminary results obtained in Italy on cauliflower, indicated that the living mulch did not affect the infestation of the cabbage butterfly, Pieris brassicae, showing no detrimental effect of this technique on pest dynamics. A very high level of parasitization against cabbage butterfly was detected either in the living mulch crop (88%) and in the sole one (63%). Living mulch showed to increase the spider and rove beetle activity density, while the carabid activity density was slightly higher in the sole crop

NEKI NOVI PRISTUPI U OBRAZOVANJU IZ EKOLOŠKE POLJOPRIVREDE – SLUČAJ SLOVENIJE

Official, inspected and certified organic farming started in Slovenia in 1998 and almost one decade later we have the first accredited Organic farming study programme on B.Sc. professional level at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maribor. It is also possible to continue the study programme on master and PhD level, too. At the moment there is no special programme for organic farming on the secondary education level, but there are some courses on organic farming on this level. Almost all agricultural schools have nowadays part of their estates converted to organic farming and one of them converted the whole estate (Kranj). Getting also a very some practical knowledge is important part of new study programmes in Slovenia. On the other hand there is lack of new knowledge on organic farming among farmers and especially among agricultural advisors. Based on this, the Leonardo da Vinci pilot project the central data bank has been established on European level for the education of ecological farming advisers. Knowledge and education centres at eight partner institutions have been developed. Collection of the basis of ecological farming knowledge is on a joint server called Ecolibrary. The Knowledge centres disseminate collected database to advisers and other interested groups in the frame of e-learning training courses based on the mutually developed education material that would be adapted to the given ecological, technological, social, national and economical circumstances of the partners. 14 modules have been developed: (i) ecological farming, (ii) EU and national cultural knowledge, (iii) marketing, quality control, communication abilities, (iv) advising knowledge, (v) plant growing, (vi) animal husbandry, (vii) plant protection, (viii) post harvest, storage and processing, (ix) horticulture, (x) agricultural regulations and programs, (xi) conversion to ecological farming, (xii) management and planning of organic farms, (xiii) inspection and certification of ecological farms, (xiv) soil fertility, fertilizing and composting. Training of advisers takes 14 weeks to 6 months depending on the level of preliminary education. The participating advisers will get access to the on-line system, receive education material weekly, and be examined by test and will have tasks controlled regularly by a tutor. They can perform and finish the training in 14 weeks; the shortest and the longest training period is 6 months. The graduated advisers receive a certificate on finishing the training programme. It is possible to disseminate this project in Croatia and some other interested countries. Based on three international summer schools Erasmus Socrates “Alternatives for organic crop production” in the years 2003, 2005 and 2007 in Maribor, new activities are going on, such as “double degree” with University of Kassel and preparation of Erasmus Mundus M.Sc. study programme on Organic farming with international partners.Ecologica je nov pristup dobivanja znanja putem e-obrazovanja. Putem Leonardo da Vinci pilotnog projekta Razvoj centralne baze podataka na europskoj razini za e-obrazovanje u ekološkoj poljoprivredi izrađena je platforma za e-obrazovanje savjetodavaca za ekološku poljoprivredu. U osam partnerskih organizacija razvijeni su Centri znanja i izrađena je internetska veza. Elektronska zbirka znanja nalazi se na zajedničkom serveru pod imenom Ecolibrary. Centri znanja brinu se za širenje nakupljenog znanja i informacija pojedinaca kao što su savjetodavci za poljoprivredu i drugi zainteresirani za ekološku poljoprivredu te prihvaćaju program e-obrazovanja. Sadržaji se temelje na zajedničkom razvijanju i pripremi obrazovnog gradiva prilagođenog specifičnim ekološkim, tehnološkim, socijalnim i ekonomskim uvjetima pojedinih zemalja. Razvijena su 14 modula: (i) ekološka poljoprivreda –osnove, (ii) EU i poznavanje nacionalnih kultura, (iii) marketing, kontrola kakvoće, komunikacijske vještine, (iv) znanja na području savjetodavanja, (v) biljna proizvodnja, (vi) stočarstvo, (vii) zaštita bilja, (viii) požetvene tehnologije, skladištenje i prerada, (ix) hortikultura, (x) legislativa i programi u poljoprivredi, (xi) preusmjerenje na ekološku poljoprivredu, (xii) management ekoloških gospodarstava, (xiii) kontrola i certificiranje, (xiv) plodnost tla, gnojidba i kompost. Program obrazovanja traje između 14 tjedana do 6 mjeseca ovisno o prethodnom obrazovanju i znanju. Sudionici imaju on-line vezu sa studijskim gradivom i mogu tjedno dobivati novo gradivo. Testovima se tjedno provjerava njihovo znanje i nastavnici redovito provjeravaju njihov rad. Na kraju dobivaju certifikat koji dokazuje, da su program e-obrazovanja uspješno završili

EFFECT OF LIVING MULCH ON PEST/BENEFICIAL INTERACTION

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of cover crops on pest/beneficial dynamics and to test the potential of living mulch on enhancing biological control against insect pests. The research, carried out in the frame of the InterVeg (Core Organic II) project, involved four European countries: Germany, Slovenia, Denmark and Italy. Three crops were tested: cauliflower, leek and artichoke. The preliminary results obtained in Italy on cauliflower, indicated that the living mulch did not affect the infestation of the cabbage butterfly, Pieris brassicae, showing no detrimental effect of this technique on pest dynamics. A very high level of parasitization against cabbage butterfly was detected either in the living mulch crop (88%) and in the sole one (63%). Living mulch showed to increase the spider and rove beetle activity density, while the carabid activity density was slightly higher in the sole crop