| Department
of Applied Sciences
Head
of Department: Ph.D. Elda Vitanovic
Research
activities:
- Soil
Research and Plant Nutrition
- The
soil research includes the production of digital
soil maps and different specified-purpose maps,
for example: soil suitability and land capability
maps for specific land uses. The soil studies are
conducted with the modern information technology
(GIS, GPS, Remote sensing) and the results are applicable
to scientific and professional projects for the
needs of agriculture, forestry and environmental
protection. Plant nutrition activities include the
diagnosis and improvement of plant production in
both open (orchards, vegetables plantations and
vineyards) and protected areas (ornamental plants
and vegetables). The physical and chemical analysis
of soil samples, plant material, water and nutrient
solution are carried out in modern and well equipped
laboratories.
-
- Plant
Protection
- The
Croatian (Mediteranean) agro-ecosystem has over
a century of tradition of plant pest and disease
management. The main research subjects are harmful
and beneficial entomofauna of fruit and vegetable
cultures. This is particularly related to the research
of olive pests bioecology as to Arthropods presence
in olive groves with different systems of plant
protection. Plant Protection does whitefly (Hemiptera:
Aleyrodidae) research as well, since they are serious
pests in the field and the greenhouse. We study
two most economically important whitefly species:
Trialeurodes vaporariorum and Bemisia
tabaci; their molecular background, bacterial
endosymbionts, begomoviruses monitoring, pesticide
resistance and control measures.
- Agro-economics
- The
focus of operations are the socio-economic research
process, competitive ability and the development
of agricultural holdings in the Mediterranean region
of Croatia. Agro-economic research includes the
economic aspect of certain branches of production.
Agricultural economists deal with, and provide consultancy
services, in agriculture. This is reflected in a
number of studies completed to date.
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