1st Staff Training of the Experimental Farm Network

held from October 1 to 4, 2018 at BOKU, Vienna

Participants of the first staff training "Set up & management of field trials to determine ecosystem services" made it a big success and the Experimental Farm network (EFnet) of CASEE expanded its activities.

Researchers from Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia and Austria met in a nice workshop atmosphere in Gross-Enzersdorf, one of the so called 4th sites of BOKU, the University of Life Sciences and Natural Resources, Vienna. The program included a broad spectrum related to cover crops and their ecosystem services. The training emphasised on the methodology of field trials; from statistics, soil chemistry, root hyperspectral imaging, soil fertility examination, earthworms, bio pest control to data visualization with R and field excursions to LFS Mistelbach and Hollabrunn. All participants and presenters were absolutely positive about the outcome of the training and new project cooperations opened. Carried away by the good spirit of this training the University of Novi Sad announced being the next host in 2019.

Programme of the 1st EFNet Staff Training:

Field trails are complex and therefore the training is a platform to share knowledge and innovations in field experiment methodology. It offers tools from trial set up to data sampling, from planning to practical implementation. The focus is on improving ecosystem services.

Content blocks:

• trial set up and statistics
• cover crops (above- and belowground and imaging)
• soil biota (earthworms)
• plant pathogenes (Sclerotinia, inoculation, apothecia)
• available plant nutrients (rhizosphere, phosphorus and imaging)

This training was only permitted to researchers and technicians from CASEE member universities!