The workshop on low-emission agriculture was held in Błonie-Topola Experimental Farm on 30th March 2016.
The meeting was moderated by the Błonie-Topola EF Director, Zbysław Wardziński. The Director of IUNG-PIB, Prof. Wiesław Oleszek outlined the work carried out in the Institute. Dr Jerzy Kozyra and Dr Mariusz Matyka presented details of the project. Dr Kozyra discussed the GHG emission from the agricultural sector and methods of its reduction, while Dr Matyka presented low-emission practices implemented as a part of the project.
Usage of Decision Support Systems for the mapping of fertilizers use was recommended in order to improve nitrogen uptake efficiency, and thus to reduce nitrogen oxide emission from the soil. Two DSS tools have been developed by IUNG-PIB for farmers - NawSald and Macrobil. The work of the computer programmes was presented by Dr Tamara Jadczyszyn.
Proposed mitigation practices include also precision agriculture methods. Farmers can control the amounts of fertilizer applied to the crop when and where needed by collecting spatial data from pre-existing conditions in the field (e.g. by yield measurement or remote sensing) in time scale. Using N-sensors allows estimating the reflection rate of sun radiation for various frequencies of the spectrum. The information can be used to assess nutritional status of the plant. The subject matter of the problem was described by Dr Rafał Pudełko.
Finally, results of multi-annual experiments on reduced tillage in Poland were summarised by Dr Janusz Smagacz and assessed from economical and environmental points of view.
After the meeting, there was a demonstration of the reduced tillage system, attended by farmers, state officials, researchers, advisors, agri-business and representatives of the key agricultural media in Poland - overall over 80 people.
