The Institute for Plant Production and Cultural Landscape conducts scientific and systematic research on all aspects of plant production, particularly grassland farming, in conjunction with issues of cultural landscape and rural areas, as well as inter-institutional analysis of sample materials.

• Systematic handling of all issues related to grassland management
• Applied research in precise laboratory and field experiments as well as through field and case studies including living labs
• Interdisciplinary studies on the topic of nutrient balance, including the recording of substance flows
• Development and application of technologies and methods for digitalization in agriculture
• Scientific study of the impact of climate change on the grassland ecosystem
• Addressing current issues related to forage harvesting and forage conservation
• Scientific analysis of soil science, ecological and botanical issues
• Use of different lysimeters
• Breeding and modification of grasses and legumes for the production of high-quality seed mixtures for grassland
• Design, adaptation and evaluation of the Austrian environmental program for the BML
• Scientific analysis of questions concerning the quality assessment of animal feed
• Analytical determination of organic and inorganic constituents of various materials
  
  

Main tasks of the Institute for Plant Production and Cultural Landscape Research

Conservation, breeding and propagation of grassland plants

At the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein, the breeding of Austrian ecotypes of grasses and small-seeded legumes is carried out. A key objective is to safeguard the genetic diversity of grasslands in our gene bank and to develop and propagate climate-adapted varieties specifically for the management conditions in Austria.
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Grassland improvement and recultivation

Soil, water and nutrient supply

Yield and forage quality in grassland are primarily influenced by climate, soil, and management practices (especially fertilization). These factors also determine the speed, direction, and extent of nutrient flows within the soil-plant-atmosphere-groundwater system.
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Biodiversity, vegetation dynamics and nature conservation

The floristic composition of the plant population and the diversity of plant species in grasslands are primarily determined by the climate, the soil, and the type and intensity of management. Only regular, site-adapted management can maintain this high level of biodiversity.
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Feed production, feed quality and feed evaluation

In Austria, the production of grassland and field forage with optimal yield and high nutritional value is the foundation for a closed-loop livestock farming system. Quality-oriented production requires professional management in the areas of grassland management, forage conservation, and quality control.
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Land use and cultural landscape

The impacts of land use, particularly agricultural use and its associated tasks, on the cultural landscape in mountainous regions are studied scientifically and practically.
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Agricultural meteorology and climate impacts

Agriculture is highly dependent on weather and climate. Climate change has a lasting impact on land management. Analyzing the consequences of climate change based on agrometeorological studies and models provides an important foundation for appropriate adaptation measures.
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Conferences and specialist events

Contributions and presentation materials from the respective conferences of the Institute for Plant Production and Cultural Landscape.
Dates.
Conference downloads.

Dr. Bernhard Krautzer.

Telephone: +43 3682 22451-310
bernhard.krautzer@raumberg-gumpenstein.at

Temmel Mara

Telephone: +43 3682 22451-348
mara.temmel@raumberg-gumpenstein.at