Integrated Production of Sour Cherry (Prunus cerasus) in Croatia

The integrated sour cherry production in Croatia was monitored over a three year period. It was found that in the continental Croatia dominates Oblačinska cherry cultivar, followed by Csengőd and Gipsy cultivars, while in the Mediterranean Maraska cherry clones are present. Number of producers and production areas varied depending on purchase possibilities of cherries from the integrated production. The most common integrated sour cherry production in the continental Croatia is in Osijek – Baranja County, while in the Mediterranean area it is in Zadar County. Results have shown that the majority of cherry producers produce in accordance with prescribed Technical Guidelines for the integrated production. Within the integrated cherry pest management (IPM), control of aphids, was performed by pirimicarb and neonicotinoides. Rhagoletis cerasi was controlled by dimethoate. Diseases Stigmina carpophila and Blumeriella jaapii were commonly controlled by active substances: captan, copper hydroxide – Ca-chloride complex + zinc sulfide and dodine. Monilinia laxa was controlled mainly by the: boscalid, cyprodinil and carbendazim, while copper oxide was the most common substance in controlling Pseudomonas morsprunorum. Weed control included total herbicides application: glyphosate and glufosinate. The occurrence of mentioned harmful organisms was expected due to favorable climate conditions characterized by above – average temperatures and variations of extreme precipitation and droughts

Influence of Biodiversity Measures on the Improvement of Integrated Vegetable Production

Integrated vegetable production is based on a balanced application of agrotechnical measures taking into account economic, environmental and toxicological measures, while at the same time the economic effect, ecological and toxicological acceptable measures such as biodiversity conservation are preferred. Safety and sustainability of an ecosystem is maintained by increasing agro-biodiversity, which includes preserving local cultivated varieties of vegetables, maintaining agro-biodiversity in the soil, green manure, intensification of crop rotation, low allopathic relations in polyculture, planting useful plants for biodiversity conservation and providing habitat for beneficial organisms. Under Professional supervision by Advisory Service in Croatia integrated vegetable production in continental Croatia is mostly represented in Osijek-Baranja, Virovitica-Podravina and Međimurje County and in the Mediterranean area in Istria. Th e implementation of agro-biodiversity friendly measures was monitored over three-year period on farms engaged in the integrated vegetable production. Results have shown that biodiversity measures were mainly maintained in: Međimurje, Krapina-Zagorje and Bjelovar-Bilogora counties. Production of cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes, pumpkins and lettuce was predominant in the above mentioned counties. Th e total of 76.5% of farms under professional supervision of the integrated vegetable production fully implemented the measure, which is a proof of producers being educated and informed about the importance of maintaining biodiversity

Genetic Diversity and Symbiotic Efficiency of Indigenous Common Bean Rhizobia in Croatia

Nodule bacteria (rhizobia) in symbiotic associations with legumes enable considerable entries of biologically fixed nitrogen into soil. Efforts are therefore made to intensify the natural process of symbiotic nitrogen fixation by legume inoculation. Studies of field populationsof rhizobia open up the possibility to preserve and probably exploit some indigenous strains with hidden symbiotic or ecological potentials. The main aim of the present study is to determine genetic diversity of common bean rhizobia isolated from different field sites in central Croatia and to evaluate their symbiotic efficiency and compatibility with host plants. The isolation procedure revealed that most soil samples contained no indigenous common bean rhizobia. The results indicate that the cropping history had a significant impact on the presence of indigenous strains. Although all isolates were found to belong to species Rhizobium leguminosarum, significant genetic diversity at the strain level was determined. Application of both random amplifi cation of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus–polymerase chain reaction (ERIC-PCR) methods resulted in similar grouping of strains. Symbiotic efficiency of indigenous rhizobia as well as their compatibility with two commonly grown bean varieties were tested in field experiments. Application of indigenous rhizobial strains as inoculants resulted in significantly different values of nodulation, seed yield as well as plant nitrogen and seed protein contents. The most abundant nodulation and the highest plant nitrogen and protein contents were determined in plants inoculated with R. leguminosarum strains S17/2 and S21/6. Although, in general, the inoculation had a positive impact on seed yield, differences depending on the applied strain were not determined. The overall results show the high degree of symbiotic efficiency of the specific indigenous strain S21/6. These results indicate different symbiotic potential of indigenous strains and confirmed the importance of rhizobial strain selection. These are the first studies of indigenous common bean rhizobia in Croatia that provide the basis for further characterization and selection of highly efficient indigenous strains and their potential use in agricultural practice and future research

Zapažanja poljoprivrednika o utjecaju prekomjerne kiše praćene poplavama na poljoprivredna zemljišta u Hrvatskoj

Extreme events have produced more rain and became more frequent in many regions around the world, and these trends will rise with the warming of the planet. The vulnerable agricultural sectors, directly dependent on the climate, is predicted to be significantly affected by climate change, with an expected decline in future crop yields. We provide data on the effects of floods, because of excessive rain, on the agricultural sector in Croatia, with emphasis on its northern Pannonian region. Data collected for the period 2015-2020 are based on a 34-question survey, conducted among farmers previously reporting on climate-related damages to their crops. With almost 80% of farmers having experienced flooding on their field plots in the last 5 years (mostly short-term flooding, i.e. waterlogging of up to seven days), it is clear that this type of investigation needs further attention. Data suggested that floods most often occurred in the plant germination phase (before the 5th leaf) representing a risk for plant damage and consequent reduction in yields. A combination of mitigation and adaptation measures could minimize water retention in the fields and reduce damage, however, our survey implied that farmers scarcely use such measures. Knowledge gained in this study represents the first step toward understanding potential negative effects of the extreme events on the fragile agricultural sector in Croatia and could help authorities in decision making with the aim to reduce the degree of uncertainty associated with climate change effects.Ekstremni vremenski događaji, između kojih su i obilne kiše, postali su sve češća pojava u mnogim dijelovima svijeta. S obzirom na to da se planet nastavlja zagrijavati, očekuje se njihovo povećanje. Predviđa se da će poljoprivredni sektor, koji izravno ovisi o klimi, pretrpjeti velike štete s očekivanim padom prinosa usjeva. Istraživanje je usmjereno na poplave koje nastaju kao posljedice obilnih kiša te njihov utjecaj na poljoprivredni sektor u Hrvatskoj, s naglaskom na njegovu sjevernu Panonsku regiju. Podaci su prikupljeni za razdoblje 2015-2020, a temelje se na anketi od 34 anonimna pitanja provedenom među poljoprivrednicima koji su prethodno prijavljivali klimatske štete na svojim usjevima. Budući da je gotovo 80% sudionika istraživanja u posljednjih 5 godina na svojim proizvodnim površinama imalo poplavu (uglavnom kratkotrajnu tj. poplavljivanje do sedam dana), jasno je da ovoj vrsti problema treba dodatno posvetiti pažnju. Podaci sugeriraju da su se poplave najčešće dogodile u fazi klijanja biljaka (prije 5. lista) što predstavlja rizik za oštećenje biljaka i posljedično smanjenje prinosa. Kombinacija mjera ublažavanja i prilagodbe mogla bi umanjiti zadržavanje vode na poljima i smanjiti štetu, međutim, istraživanje je pokazalo da poljoprivrednici rijetko koriste takve mjere. Znanje stečen u ovoj studiji predstavlja prvi korak ka razumijevanju potencijalnih negativnih učinaka ekstremnih događaja na krhki poljoprivredni sektor u Hrvatskoj i moglo bi pomoći vlastima u donošenju odluka s ciljem smanjenja posljedica takvih događaja

Climate change and olive growing

Klimatske promjene stavljaju na kušnju maslinare 21. stoljeća te ih prisiljavaju na adekvatnu i provjerenu tehnologiju uzgoja u cilju zaštite od potencijalnih prijetnji. Zemlje mediteranskog bazena suočavaju se s velikim promjenama i izazovima koje uzrokuju posljedice globalnog zatopljenja kao što su temperaturni ekstremi i nepovoljan raspored oborina. Mnoge regije postaju nepogodne za uzgoj maslina, dok se u drugima počinju stvarati idealni uvjeti za maslinarstvo i poljoprivrednu proizvodnju općenito. Grčka i Italija su pretrpjele ogromne gubitke uslijed klimatskih promjena, stoga nam njihovi primjeri služe kao okosnica u kreiranju razvojnih strategija za maslinarstvo.Climate change will challenge 21st century olive growers and force them to practice adequate and proven cultivation technologies to protect themselves against potential threats. The Mediterranean basin countries are facing major changes and challenges caused by the effects of global warming such as temperature extremes and unfavorable distribution of precipitation. Many regions are becoming inadequate for olive cultivation, while others are beginning to create ideal conditions for olive growing and agricultural production in general. Spain, Greece, and Italy have suffered enormous losses due to uncontrolled climate changes, so their examples might serve as a backbone in the development of olive growing development strategies