Cereal Research Communications 2006/1. I-II. [antikvár]

V. Alps-Adria Scientiflc Workshop Opatija. Croatia 2006. Preface All living creatures in the World require favourable living conditions for themselves. "Life quality criteria" are defined in different ways by various societies or individuals. However, there is full agreement on the need for three elements: healthy, good quality food, and food security, clean water, and pleasant environment. All these are closely related to rational land use and sustainable management of land resources. The holocoenosys of living organisms from microbes to the humán society is much influenced by the transport and processes of elements within the food chain. Food production and a healthy environment are both strategic issues in this century. The amount, quality and humán health safety aspects of the food consumed by the public are part of our quality of life. This conference is initiated by three committees of the Hungárián Academy of Sciences; the Crop Production Committee, the Plánt Protection Committee and the Soil Science and Agrochemistry Committee. The workshop is dedicated to the Alps-Adria movement providing a bridge to science and people of the region. The task of the conference is to overview research activities and experimentál results in the field of food chain element transport and processes. The main topics to be discussed will be the role and impact of biogeochemical cycles, nutrition processes, pollution processes, soil, plánt, animal and humans on that. Jubilee. This conference is the 5th in the row of Alps-Adria scientific workshops. The host of the conference is the Grand Hotel Adriatic, the Queen of tourism on the Adriatic, a most experienced popular convention venue in Croatia. Situated in the beautiful surroundings of the Opatija Riviéra this pearl of the sea will link science and leisure, touristic and intellectual interests. In the historical cauldron of Dalmatia Greek, Román, Celtic, Illyrian roots, Croatian, Hungárián, Turkish, Venetian and Austrian fruits of social and cultural heritage form a magic potion with such a unique spicy flavour that will force anyone to return here whoever tasted that once. Natural beauty, Queen Elizabeth's Abbazia of dignity, the famous Croatian hospitality labels an amosphere that offers today's visitors an everlasting experience. Opatija, 6th March 2006 The Organizing CommitteeIntroduction In Hungary, the growing area of potato area dropped dramatically in the last fevv decades; moreover, we lag behind Western European countries as regards yields. The ecological and climatic conditions of Hungary are not suitable for potato growing everywhere (Sárvári, 2001), but the low yields alsó have other causes: the use of not suitable seeds, the low level of irrigation, nutrient supply and old-fashioned machines. The competitiveness of production is further decreased by the great alternation in yields from year to year, unpredictable markét conditions, poor consumption habits and often the lack of quality products. For potato growing, considering its originál place, humid areas are the most suitable, vvhere the weather is slightly cool, and summer is moderately warm (Mészáros, 1979). High temperature reduces the allocation of plánt biomass to tubers and will result in smaller leaves, more nodes per stem, longer internodes, tallér plants, higher leaf areas and lower rations of leaf/stem leaf (Khedher - Evving, 1985.). Water stress causes yield loss by reducing the growth of crop canopy and biomass. Water at 3-5 mm per day is necessary for evapotranspiration (ET) and the maintenance of optimál soil moisture tension (10-50 kPa) in growing potatoes (Marutani and Cruz, 1989, Kruppa et al., 2003.). In order to maintain at least our domestic markét positions we should improve the level of production. To achieve this, quality should improve besides the enhancement of yield per hectare and the simultaneous reduction of production costs. (Kruppa - Zsom, 2003). The higher average of yield and tuber quality could be achieved by improving technological elements in the production chain. Ecological limits could be overcome by irrigation and tuber yields of 40-50 t ha or even higher could be attained (Horváth, 2002.). Methods The experiment was carried out at the experimentál site of the Farm and Régiónál Research Institute, University of Debrecen, at Látókép. In our experiment, we examined the yield and somé quality parameters of 9 medium-early varieties in large parcels. Out of the examined varieties, 3 were of Dutch, and 6 were of Hungárián breeding. The 9 varieties were examined in 4 repetitions in randomized blocks, out of which two repetitions were irrigated and two were non-irrigated. The experiment was set up in 2004 and 2005, on 50 m2 parcels on calcareous chernozem soil after winter wheat (2004) and two rowed barley (2005) as a forecrop. In 2004 the amount of precipitation was 60 mm higher than the 30 years' average, but the distribution of precipitation was unfavourable. May was extremely dry, the monthly amount of precipitation was only 17 mm. In July the quantity of rainfall was twice the average, which was unfavourable in terms of pathological parameters. In 2005 the amount of precipitation was 157 mm higher between April and September than the 30 years' average, and alsó the distribution of precipitation was balanced. The repetitions were irrigated 4 times in 2004: on 22 May 2004 with 15 mm; on 05 June 2004 with 25 mm; on 11 June 2004 with 30 mm; on 08 July 2004 with 30 mm. In 2005 the dates of irrigation were 01 June and 28 July. We examined the yields of the varieties and the changes in specific parameters of quality and inner content as a result of irrigation.