Environmentally-friendly horticultural production systems

Research aim - development or adaptation of environmentally friendly horticultural production systems suitable for Latvian agro-climatic conditions and cultivar biological characteristics

Priority research topics:

Research of sustainable organic and integrated production systems, including biological nitrogen fixation, implementation of agricultural services crops in the growing of the regionally commercially important horticultural plants;
Research on the production potential of major regional horticultural crops, increasing the production efficiency, including resource economy and sustainable use;
Research on yield affecting factors for apples, plums, cherries, primocane raspberries and strawberries, including use and improvement of soil and organic substrate potential by optimizing nutrient availability;
Evaluation of newly bred and introduced horticultural plant cultivars and forms (rootstocks) for suitability in environmentally friendly growing technologies;
Development of risk-reducing growing technologies by using methods of precision agriculture;
Importance of orchards in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions under Latvian agro-climatic conditions, research on economic aspects of the processes and results;
Studies on factors affecting planting material quality and reproduction, possibilities for their improvement,
Development of organic and integrated growing technologies for cultivation of regionally new, promising vegetable species;
Research on leaf vegetable quality, promoting the synthesis of biologically active compounds in plants under conditions of changed environment;
Quality and processing capability evaluation of commercially important horticultural crops produced in organic and integrated growing systems;
Research on storage for apples and pears produced in various growing systems.

Participating units of Institute of Horticulture: