Research

I. Department of Agricultural Mechanisation

• Examination and development of environmental-friendly, precision (differentiated, site specific, work specific) plant protection application techniques
• Examination of spraying control-systems
• Diagnostic, work quality control and classification of plant protection machines
• Field tests of drifting influenced by weather conditions and procedure
• Reducing environmental pollution caused by spot contamination at application of crop protection
• Examination of energetically, economically, qualitative relationships of operation- and machine combinations
• Examination and development of seed and harvesting technology of rape and sunflower production
• Rheological, hydro dynamical, mixing, drop-formation examination of agricultural granulates and liquids
• Development and applications-technology examination of new chemical-sparing, chemical free spreading techniques, micro distribution methods
• Agricultural and communal utilization, demonstration of renewable, alternative energies, comparative evaluation of their application factors
• Development of new vacuum tube solar collectors
• Application of microcontrollers for process control and/or measuring data collection in agricultural engineering
• Examination of the effects of physical stress - mostly electromagnetic radiation (light: UV, VIS, IR, telecommunication beam) in case of plant organisms

Research & Development projects at present

• Examination of field crop sprayers for protect from scab
• Application of microcontrollers for process control
• Examination of utilisation of renewable energies
• Examination of weed-sprayer

II. Department of Animal Science and Animal Husbandry

Group of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition

• Poultry nutrition and physiology
• Determination of digestible amino acid content of poultry diets
• Investigations on the use of feed additives of natural origin in broiler ratios
• Dietary substitution of protein sources of animal origin for plant proteins in poultry diets
• The effect of dietary mycotoxins on the meat production and immune status of broiler chickens
• The enrichment of poultry meat and egg with type n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid by nutritional means
• Investigations on the relationship between fatty acid composition of diet and effects of feed restriction of poultry
• Nutrition and physiology of ruminants
• Ruminal digestibility of nutrients of different feedstuffs
• Investigations on new by-pass protein sources for ruminants
• Improving the energy balance of high-producing dairy cows with dietary fat supplements
• Experiments in order to produce mycotoxin-free sheep milk
• Relationship between nutrition and reproductive performance in ewes
• Investigations on the effects of conjugated linoleic acid in ruminants

Group of Zoology and Aquaculture

Zoology

• Research on the European bug (Heteroptera) fauna
• Taxonomy of the Lygaeidae fauna of the Oriental (South-East Asia) and Australian Region
• Investigations on dragonflies (Odonata), barklouses (Psocoptera), leafhoppers (Auchenorhyncha), beetle (Coleoptera) families and the diurnal butterflies (Lepidoptera: „Diurna"

Aquaculture

• Intensive culture technologies of predatory fishes, as pike (Esox) pike perch (Sander) and pout (Lota).
• Production of monosex sterlet (Acipenser) stocks.
• Simplifying fish hatchery technologies
• Genetic background of scale pattern in Cyprinids
• Comparison of production parameters and genetic diversity of pike perch stocks of the Lower-Danube and Balaton Lake.

Group of Animal Breeding

• Production traits of beef cows of different breeds
• Determination of genetic parameters of beef cows of different breeds
• Genetic evaluation of Hungarian Simmental cattle
• Slaughter traits and meat quality of different breeds of cattle and sheep in Hungary
• Opportunity for improving the competitiveness of the national diary production
• Genetic evaluation of meat production traits of Hungarian Large White hogs and pigs
• Egg production traits and egg quality with different hy-breeds in Hungary
• Improvement of the Competitiveness of Beef Market

III. Department of Economic Methods

• Statistical methods in biometric research
• Biometeorolgy in different scales: from micro to large scale processes
• Managerial Accounting in Agriculture
• Environmental Accounting in Agriculture
• Business Information Systems
• Image Processing (Pattern Recognition, 3D Simulation and Measuring)
• Remote Sensing and Agricultural Applications
• Evaluation of Remote Sensing based Hyperspectral data
• Development of environmentally friendly GNSS agricultural technology and services - ND_INRG_06-GEOGNSS2
• GIS using in Practice and Education
• Developing Multimedia Based Materials
• Mobile Information Systems in Agriculture, Mobile Services - IST-2001-32595
• Developing Exact Quality and Classification System
• Psychovisual Comparison of Image Compressing Methods
• Developing exact quality and classification system to plant improvement and phytopathology - IKTA-00101/2003
• Nutrient supply analysing using visual informatics methods
• Analysis of social and economic occurrences from the point of view of statistics, development of analytic methodology.
• Exploration of cylices of purchase prices and the purchased quantity in the EU and their influences on the Hungarian prices.
• Investigating how influence the established prices of produces the competitiveness in different countries.
• Exploration of that which produces make comparative advantage or disadvantage for the individual countries.

IV. Department of Economics and Social Sciences

• Bioenergy production systems in regional and rural development.
• Regulation surrounding agricultural land ownership and rent in the European Union.
• Farm structure analysis.
• The role of CAP operation and reforms in the Hungarian agriculture.

• Corporate Social Responsibility

After 37 years of Milton Friedman's often cited article, which claimed CSR is a "fundamentally subversive doctrine in a free society", the world has changed. Few debate in a world of melting icecaps, that the responsibility of business, especially big business is more than making profit: also caring for the environmental and keeping the society healthy. We intensively publish, attend conferences and work together with Hungarian companies on this issue. We also build these issues into the subjects of Global Trade, Ecological Economics and Basic Economics.

• Alternative economics

The 250 year old theory of classical economics worked very well for long, but it fails to give answers to some quite serious modern, global problems (ecological footprint deficits, lost happiness of the wealthy, dramatic loss of species). Many feel that we need a new economic theory, which is not built on the fake idea of unlimited growth, we are thinking and researching toward this end. We also build these issues into the subjects of Basic Economics, Global Trade, and Ecological Economics.

West Balaton Social Sciences Research Group

• Social and economic processes by the Lake Balaton - completion and assessment of  surveys related to the social structure, economic activities, and  current trends in the area
• Health and wellness tourism in the Lake Balaton Outstanding Resort Area
• Foreign ownership and foreign inhabitants by the Lake Balaton - coexistence and cooperation between native and foreign inhabitants
• Junk trade in Hungary and in Central and Eastern Europe - the consumer society of poverty
• Regional and rural development programmes by the Lake Balaton
• Cross - border cooperation in the rural regions of  the Croatian - Hungarian border region.

V. Department of Farm Economics and Rural Development

• Viability studies of agricultural enterprises in the West-Transdanubian Region
• The current project:
• the study of corporate financial structures; review of methodology with special attention to agricultural characteristics.
• The analysis, prospects and role of winery production in rural development studies of agricultural enterprises in the West-Transdanubian Region
• The current project:the study of corporate financial structures; review of methodology with special attention to agricultural characteristics, the analysis, prospects and role of winery production in rural development.

VI. Department of Horticulture

Viticulture

• Grapevine breeding of white wine, red wine and of seedless table grape varieties.
• The other gorgeous program is going on the grapevine rootstock breeding from the early 70's. We would like to develop the most lime and drought tolerant rootstock varieties. Clonal selection is also in progress in rootstock breeding.
• We have study on phylloxera population. Comparative evaluation is going in root bioassay and on potted vines. The methods are applied in rootstock breeding also to determine the level of resistance.
• Develop existing grapevine propagation methods.

Pomology

• Almond selection - Examination carried out on 12 years old almond hybrids which were collected from North side of Lake Balaton.
• Flower biology in orchard - The fertility and open pollination are examined of the pear cultivars (258 cultivars) in each of the years. Details are noted about the flower phenology and blooming vigor. The parthenocarpy is examined too. Additionally. The fruit morphology and yield quantity, quality are described at 20-25 varieties each year.

Vegetable production

• Pepper breeding - Breeding for virus resistance has started in the early 80's. TMV, PVY and AMV resistant varieties  were produced in the frame of this program. Nowadays our program includes to build up resistance again TMV, CMV, Xanthomonas vesicatoria, Alternaria alternata, Macrophomina phaseolina in our varieties.

Ornamental plants

The goal of the project is a co-operation in the cross border area, which can influence the efficiency of the Hungarian and Croatian ornamental plant cultivation and increase the economic role of them in the long run. Our main activity is the examination of the Mediterranean ornamental trees and shrubberies in the cross border area in connections with cultivation techniques, changes of climate. We would like to present the scientific results of the project for the economic environment/ persons of the economy. Our goal is to actuate the ornamental plant cultivation in the area and to increase the biodiversity. As a result of the project the green area will grow, which advantageous not only because of the environmental protection but also for the inhabitants of the area. The results of the project can be used by the nursery gardens, local governments, civil organizations, and also by the local garden owners.

VII. Department of Metorology and Water Management

• Climate change and its impacts on        a) agricultural crops and on b) Lake Balaton
• (The applied tool in prognosis of future consequences for crops is the simulation modeling)
• Investigation of long term meteorological data series of Keszthely
• (air temperatures and precipitation sums from 1871)
• Study in extremes in meteorological data (indexes e.t.c.)
• Investigation on crop microclimate with its antropogen modifications
• Water balance of plants and irrigation (evapotranspiration measurements on wetland crops (reed, sedge, rush) characterizing the vegetation cover of Small Lake Balaton

VIII. Department of Plant Production and Soil Science

Soil management and land use group

The scientific capacity of our group beyond the graduate and PhD education activities includes research work alike as the soil fertility concerned.

• Soil fertility
• Long-term Field experiments
• Crop rotations
• Soil cultivation
• Mineral fertilization
• Organic fertilization
• Land evaluation, qualification
• Long-term field experiments (cca. 3000 plots)

Crop science group

The scientific capacity

There are several important long-term field experiments. Some of the trials have been lasting for more than 40 years, so their scientific significance is outstanding and irreplaceable. These field-experiments are not only nationally but internationally admitted. Some of them are on the list of the International Network for Long-term Experiments.

The more important long-term field experiments are as follows:

• Comparative study of organic and mineral fertilizers
• Compensation of organic matter content in soil by different crop-residues
• Assessment of the direct residual effect of phosphorus fertilization
• Assessment of the direct residual effect of potassium fertilization
• Long-term experiment with nitrogen fertilization
• The National NPK Fertilization Long-term Field Experiment at Keszthely (OMTK).

Due to their scientific values and significances the maintenance and continuation of the trials are reasonable and desirable. The financing of the experiments have primarily been ensured by means of applications. We wish the experiments mentioned above to be continued independently of the financial source.

Soil science group

Research capacity

• Soil physical methodological research (particle size distribution measurements: sedimentation, centrifuge method, different types of desaggregation methods, the methods of estimation; aggregate stability measurements: the different types of wet sieving methods; pF curves: measurements between 0,01 and 15 bar pressures, on different temperatures; measurement of the hydraulic conductivity: falling head method, different size of samples)
• Soil sampling (different soil samplers: hand auger equipments, soil core samplers, soil column cylinder auger with gasoline driven mechanical hammer, undisturbed soil sampler with soil sample ring kits)
• Soil physics of organic liquids - environmental and theoretical aspects (measurements of the retention of organic liquids on disturbed and undisturbed soil samples [P-S curves]: measurements between 20 mbar and 5 bar pressures, 10 and 50 0C temperatures;  measurements of  the fluid conductivity of disturbed and undisturbed soil samples: falling head method, different size of samples, soil samples are covered with resin)
• Soil mapping, environmental impact assessments, risk assessments etc. (using computers and different geostatistical methods)
• Studies on the nutrient dynamics in the soil-plant system  with the use of pot experiments.
• Investigations of plant nutrient element contents and plant available forms of soil nutrients using different methods. Studies on the relationships between plant and soil nutrient concentrations.
• Studying the effects of nutrient imbalances on young crops.
• Testing new fertilizer products and fertilizer products under development with different soil types and crop species.   
• Small catchment-sized erosion monitoring
• The meteorological factors mostly influence the erosion (precipitation intensity and amount, relative humidity, air temperature) and the runoff can be measured in high temporal details with the monitoring network established from sources of a national project (Nagyhorváti, Somogybabod, Zánka) and water samples can be taken proportional to the amount of runoff.
• Total and molibdenium-reactive phosphorus and suspended solid content are measured from the samples and soil and nutrient losses are calculated.

• Plot-sized erosium measurements

A rainfall simulator developed in Petzenkirchen, Austria was purchased and plot-sized erosion measurements started. 

• Laboratory method to assess erodibility

A laboratory method was developed in international cooperation in order to quickly assess soil erodibility and phosphorus loss.

• Assessment of the soil and nutrient loss from the watershed of Lake Balaton

An extensive GIS database was developed for the watershed of Lake Balaton which enables us to develop field-scale soil protection services and recommendations and to assess the agricultural nutrient loss from the whole watershed.

IX. Institute for Plant Protection

Department of Herbology and Pesticide Chemistry

• Weed biology and ecology
• Competition between crops and weeds for nutrients and water
• Biology, spread and strategy of integrated weed control of invasive weed species: Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L.), Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense L. Pers) and Cyperus esculentus L.
• Examination of generative and vegetative reproduction strategies of annual and  perennial weeds
• Allelopathy of weeds
• Precision weed management
• Testing of herbicides' effect and herbicide sensitivity of cultivated plants
• Possibilities of biological weed control

Research and Development projects at present

• Testing weed control technologies of Focus Ultra tolerant maize hybrids.
• Efficacy of Focus Ultra against Sorghum halepense.

Department of Hygiene

• Examination of irritation potential of agrochemicals with in vitro methods.
• Early and late embryotoxicity study on pesticides in avian embryos.
• Teratogenicity test of pesticides and heavy elements in chicken embryos after administration as a single compounds or in combination.

Department of Plant Pathology

• Bacterial diseases of potato; examinations from different aspects
• Complex investigations of wheat diseases (rust, powdery mildew, Fusarium- and leaf diseases)
• Etiology of vine-stock decline
• Complex investigations of nut diseases
• Plant pathological examinations in natural (water and uliginous) and agro-ecosystems
• Virus and phytoplasma diseases of grapevine
• Survey of virus diseases of small grains (In cooperation with the Cereal Research Institute, Szeged.
• Inhibitory effect of virus infection on the photosynthetic activity and photosynthetic apparatus. (In collaboration with the Department of Plant Anatomy, Eötvös Loránd University of Sciences, Budapest)
• Biology and ecology of invasive weed species and their virus epidemiological role
• Virological examinations on herbaceous ornamentals
• The role of weeds in the epidemiology of Tomato spotted wilt virus
• The effect of herbicides and natural extracts on the plant host-virus relations

Department of Entomology

• Plant protection and botanical researches on the area of Bakonyerdő Erdészeti és Faipari Zrt.
• Effect of soil improvement microbiological sera on the animal pest of maize between 2007 and 2009.
• Protection against the larval damage of western corn rootworm and study of its ecology.
• Investigation about the effect of pesticides of Summit-Agro Hungaria Inc.
• Survey of the damage of western corn rootworm.

X. Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology

Biotechnology research group

• Development of molecular markers linked to the Rysto PVY resistance gene, and fine mapping of the gene in potato.
• Construction of a linkage map in potato.
• Detection and molecular characterization of gene mutations causing herbicide resistance in ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) and other weeds.
• Molecular genetic analysis of phylogenetic relationships int he genus Solanum.

Genetic and plant breeding group

• Plant Breeding and Genetics:
• Abiotic stress tolerance, especially drought tolerence
• The study of different agronomical characters of the derivatives of species    hybridization
• Organic plant breeding
• Human Ecology
• Environmental and Agricultural Bioethics

Measuring of the information of producers and consumers on genetically modified (GM) crops and the acceptability of these plant varieties by several actors of the food chain (an Alps-Adria Research Project at the University of Udine, Italy, 2007).

Measuring of the agro-ecological conditions of the environment, and its responses to various human activities evaluating human influences related to agricultural production and environmental management. This research activity is based on the international cooperations with the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD, Winnipeg, Canada, with Dr. L. Pintér, Senior Researcher and Program Leader) and with the Swiss College of Agriculture (SHL, Bern, Switzerland with Prof. Dr. Fritz J Häni).

Chemistry and microbiology group

• Interaction between pesticides and soil micro-organisms.
• Soil biological effects of long-term fertilization trials.
• Isolation and characterization /Clostridium botulinum/ species in the area of Kis-Balaton, investigation the effects of environmental factors on the outburst of avian botulism.
• Antibiotic resistance factors and their transfer in the environment.
• Interaction between microbes and plants, characterization of plant pathogen /Erwinia/ species in potato and investigation their occurrence.

Botany and plant physiology group

• Identification of potato breeding lines and cultivars by proteine and DNA analyses.
• Ex situ preservation and propagation of protected flowering plant species in Georgikon Botanical Garden.
• Gene banking and development of infraspecific taxa of Galanthus spp., Telekia speciosa, Solanum spp., Trifolium pannonicum, traditional land-races and cultivars of fig (Ficus carica) and wallnut (Juglans regia)
• Floristical and vegetation studies especially in Keszthely hills, Balaton lake and Kis-balaton wetland area with quantitative and qualitative evaluation of reed stands and wetland communities by field, aerial photogrammetric and GIS method.
• Population biological monitoring of wild-growing orchids.
• Domestication of wild-growing mykorrhizal mushrooms.
• Botanical, nature conservational and economical evaluation of natural grasslands.
• Nature conservation biological monitoring.
• Investigation on macrophytas in lake Balaton and in Kis-Balaton area: primary
• production, classification, mapping, harvesting.

-Involving wild growing mushroom into mushroom breeding

-New technologies in mushroom breeding

XI. Potato Research Centre

• Potato variety breeding
• Variety maintenance and seed propagation
• Potato agronomy
• Potato pathology and plant protection
• Biotech application in potato breeding (somatic hybridisation, genetic modification)
• Development of overall biotic and abiotic stress resistance of potato

Running Research & Development projects:

• Fine mapping and localisation of Solanum stoloniferum Rysto gene conferring resistance to potato virus Y in the tetaploid potato genome
• Development of environment-friend integrated potato cropping and advisory system
• Food security by improving Hungarian and South African potato varieties
• Development of integrated and ecological plant protection technology against potato late blight based on forecasting