Projects

The main aim of the project RIBUST (RIparian BUffer STrip) is to analyse the effectivity of grassed filter strips to retain nutrients (especially phosphorus) and which factors are contributing the most to nutrient retention and release processes. Other research questions are to which extent buffer strips are already saturated with phosphorus in Lower Austria and if they could switch from nutrient sinks to sources.

Potatoes are one of the most erosion-prone crops in Austrian agriculture. Innovative optimization techniques in seedbed preparation, such as the transverse dam, help to reduce soil erosion during heavy precipitation events. In the OptEro project, four different variants in potato cultivation (with / without transverse embankment, each with / without greening) are compared at 5 locations in Lower Austria. Soil erosion is quantified by both sediment measurements and aerial image interpretation.

As part of the EU's LUCAS program (Land Use and Land Cover Survey), sampling and analysis of soils in Austria is being carried out. Here, the topsoil of about 660 sites is sampled and subsequently examined for soil chemical, soil physical and partly also soil biological parameters.

The ErosAT project aims at a national calculation of soil erosion with regional data and local significance. In particular, the effectiveness of different erosion control measures in the Austrian program for environmentally friendly agriculture (ÖPUL) is to be evaluated.

The Marchfeld region can be characterized as intensively used agricultural production zone. Vegetables , cereals and maize  are dominant crops in the region. In combination with low precipitation amounts and the associated low groundwater recharge, the nitrogen losses into the groundwater are very concentrated due to the lack of dilution. Nitrate concentrations in the groundwater are therefore usually above the limit of 50 mg l^-1, requiring measures to reduce the pollution of groundwater.

Soil cover is crucial for sustainable agriculture. Up to now the estimation of soil cover by vegetation and residues is labour and time consuming. The SoilCover project deals with the development and implementation of an automated image classification method for soil cover estimation of vegetation and residues.

Advantages of structural variety and species richness in vine growing regions are diverse and can reduce additional external inputs. In the VineDivers project the compatibility of wine production and biodiversity on different scales will be analysed. The main target of the VineDivers project is the development of a recommendation note for vine growers and politicians to evaluate the influences of different management practices on ecosystem services in wine growing regions.