Soils characteristics affecting BNF of organically grown red clover in Finland

In this study we will study the variation of sward yield, its clover content and biological nitrogen fixation of red clover of a two hectares field under organic farming

Organic food and farming research in Finland

In Finland we have a tendency of increasing activities in organic food and farming research during last five years. Most of the organic food and farming research i Finland is carried out at the MTT Agrifood Research Finland. The rest is done at the universities and other institutes

On-farm estimation of clover content of mixed swards

Estimation of clover content of mixed swards is difficult in practice. We are currently in the process of developing several on-farm methods for clover content estimaton. Yield samples with known area from several points of the field are separated for clovers and grasses and weighted. The clover content of yield (% in dry matter) can be calculated with formula y=23.90Ln(number of clover plants/m² in spring) - 18.759

Report on improved use of research facilities and topics relevant for integration, and training schemes

This report describes the possibilities of different research facilities to fulfil the research needs established by the participating countries of the CORE Organic project. The report is based on information given in the WP4 report, WP6 report and WP6 final report

How to establish a perennial legume-grass sward?

In 2002, a field experiment with split-plot design was established in Juva in order to compare the use of nurse crop to establish perennial legume grass sward in organic farming

Report on Organic Food and Farming in Finland

The interest in research on organic farming grew in the beginning of the 1980s. In 1980, an extensive seven-year-project started in cooperation between several institutions investigating the possibility to improve the efficiency of nitrogen fixation and utilisation of nitrogen fertilisers and cow manure. Two extensive comparative projects began in 1982: (1) conventional and organic cropping systems at Suitia, University of Helsinki and (2) self-sufficient crop rotation and cropping system by the Agricultural Research Centre of Finland at its regional research stations. In September 1985, the Partala Centre for Rural Development for research on organic farming was founded in Juva. The University of Helsinki, Juva municipality and some other organisations belonged to this Partala association, as it is called nowadays. Partala experimental farm was integrated into the MTT Agricultural Research Centre of Finland in 1990. MTT Partala and Karila in nearby town Mikkeli were joined together in 1996 to the MTT Research Station of Ecological Production. Partala research station and later MTT/Ecological Production has coordinated research on Organic Food and Farming in Finland since 1990. It has launched three research programmes, which have covered the whole organic sector from soil issues to food processing and markets, as well as social issues. Professor Artur Granstedt from Sweden was nominated as professor for organic farming research in Partala for 5 years in 1993, and he influenced strongly the research programmes of Organic Food and Farming at that time. MTT Ecological Production established ‘The Finnish Research Network on Organic Agri-Food Systems’ (ReNOAF), together with other stakeholders in 2000 and has coordinated this network ever since. Funding directed especially for research programmes on Organic Food and Farming (OF&F) was addressed for the first time in Finland in 2003, when the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry launched its first research programme on Organic Food and Farming, based on the priorities prepared in the ReNOAF. National research seminars were also organised by MTT Ecological Production. The Partala Research Station will be closed down in September 2006. The lands of the Partala Research Station will remain under organic farming research, but all personnel will move to the Mikkeli Research Station to work in close connection with the Ruralia Institute of the University of Helsinki. The reason for this decision was to improve efficiency by having a better critical mass of researchers by putting more people to work together and by concentrating the resources. At the University of Helsinki, the Mikkeli Institute for Rural Research and Training (Ruralia Institute Mikkeli Unit), a neighbour of MTT Ecological Production, got started in 1988. Organic production has been one of its priorities from the very beginning. It has concentrated on further training and development activities. It has, for example, educated all advisors and teachers for organic farming since 1991. Developing activities have covered the processing and marketing of food, plant protection and animal welfare. In 2000, the only academic educational programme for Organic Food and Farming was started there. This Eco Studies – project has been under way at the Ruralia Institute Mikkeli Unit of the University of Helsinki since 2001. The project consists of scientific research and university level study entities. Studies in the organic agri-food systems study programme are available for university students and through the Open University for all who are interested in the field. It provides opportunities to join the European and Nordic study programmes, too. Organic production, marketing and consumption of organic products are also studied in Finland at the other departments of the MTT Agrifood Research and University of Helsinki, the University of Joensuu, the National Consumer Research Centre, the VTT Technical Research Centre, the National Veterinary and Food Research Institute and the Work Efficiency Institute

Analysis of facilities in OFF research in participating countries of CORE Organic

Report lists the following research facilities: research farms, experimental fields, on-farm studies, networks, animal research facilities, leaching fields and long-term experiments. Other facilities like facilities for laboratory analyses, food processing, greenhouses, climate chambers and growth cabinets are left out from this analysis, because they are seldom exclusively used for OFF research and because their use for OFF research does not require particular characteristics. On the other hand, when required, these facilities can easily be converted to OFF research

Analysis of OFF research topics in CORE Organic participating countries

This analysis of OFF research in the participating countries of CORE Organic is based on titles of projects running during the time period 2000-2007, with some variation from country to country. Lists of project titles were taken from country reports

Typen ja fosforin huuhtoutuminen luonnonmukaisessa viljelyssä : kirjallisuuskatsaus

Nimekkeen selvennys: Leaching of nitrogen and phosphorus in organic farming.Litterature review.vokAP/tarkMyynti MTT:n kirjasto. Yksikön huom.: Kirjasto Aj-kNitrogen and phosphorus leaching in ecological agricultur

Exercise yards in Finland - structures and environmental impact

Two exercise yards have been designed, constructed and monitored. Samples from the runoff water have been taken regularly, and their nutrient concentrations(nitrogen, phosphor), total solids, pH, total chemical oxygen demand and hygienic quality have been analysed. The behaviour of animals has been observed