Experimental Station

Experimental Station for Innovations and Technologies

Experimental Station for Innovations and Technologies consists of arable land located in Tenja, Antunovac, and Mandićevac, while the beekeeping station is located in Bilje. In Tenja and Antunovac, research is conducted on field crops, vegetables, industrial crops, and fruit species, while in Mandićevac, research is focused on viticulture, specifically grapevines. The professional practice at the experimental station involves student participation in:

• conducting experiments within scientific research,
• commercial agricultural crop production,
• preparing their final or master's thesis.

The aforementioned arable land was acquired by the Faculty through an agreement for the use of agricultural land owned by the Republic of Croatia without a public tender, signed with the Agricultural Land Agency which includes parcels in the area of the City of Osijek – Tenja (parcel numbers 1308, 1309, 1310, 1312, 1313, 4004, and 4024 – 88.57 ha) and the Municipality of Antunovac (parcel number 3/8 – 8.19 ha). The agreement is valid at least until the end of 2039, covering a total area of 96.76 hectares. Additionally, FAZOS owns a total of 3.67 hectares of land in Mandićevac, which includes a vineyard with several grape varieties. The Bilje Experimental Station was established during 2022 for the purpose of setting up an apiary and conducting scientific research in the field of beekeeping and bio-pollination.

On the aforementioned cadastral parcels, commercial plant production has been established, and a range of activities related to teaching and scientific research is being conducted. Accordingly, students’ professional practice is carried out at all locations of the experimental stations, within the framework of scientific research and commercial agricultural crop production. In addition to the implementation of scientific research projects at the FAZOS Experimental Station, activities within the National Program for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in the Republic of Croatia (PGRFA) are being carried out with several FAZOS working groups included and defined by the program itself. Accordingly, FAZOS participates in the programme as a member of following working groups:

1. Working Group on Industrial Crops
2. Working Group on Cereals and Corn
3. Working Group on Fruit – Subgroup on Continental Fruit
4. Working Group on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants
5. Working Group on Grapevines
6. Working Group on Vegetables

Each working group, through its activities, has contributed to the development of the Experimental Station by acquiring laboratory equipment, machinery, two greenhouses, irrigation systems, and other equipment and tools that support the implementation and achievement of the program's objectives, as well as other activities at the experimental stations.

In December 2019, a National Safety Collection of autochthonous continental fruit species was established at the Tenja experimental station. This collection currently contains 170 varieties of seven fruit species (cherry, sour cherry, pear, apple, plum, peach, and apricot).

In May 2020, a National Safety Collection of autochtonous continental grapevine varieties, as well as newly developed grapevine varieties tolerant to some of the most significant grapevine diseases, was established at the Mandićevac experimental station. Generally, the accessions included in the National Program (PGRFA) are preserved at the Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek in a field collection, as well as in the form of seeds and isolated genomic DNA. The preservation and maintenance of accessions in ex situ collections involve storing genetic plant material for agricultural production outside its natural habitat.

In 2021, the Faculty initiated the preparation of project documentation for the construction and establishment of a smart multifunctional farm and fishpond (using aquaponics technology) as part of a project titled “Bio-park for Animal Production and Biotechnology”. The necessary documentation was obtained, and the conceptual design was completed to apply for a building permit. The biopark will be located in Antunovac.

Additionally, within the project entitled "Scientific-Research Centre for Grapevine and Wine Mandićevac”, aimed at constructing the centre itself at the location Mandićevac, FAZOS completed the main design for all facilities and obtained all required building permits. The completion of the centre is planned by the end of 2026.

Furthermore, to support student professional practice and inform the public and farmers, demonstrations and scientific trials are set up annually or are permanently established. These trials are led by FAZOS researchers, either independently or in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and various economic entities. The most notable trials include the following:

1. Comparative trial with sunflower hybrids from different seed companies – Sunflower Field Days
2. Comparative trial with corn hybrids from different seed companies – Corn Field Days
3. Comparative trial with biostimulants (corn) – Trial set up in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture
4. Apple adaptation to environmental stress – APPLERESIST (modern orchard with 33 apple varieties)
5. Twin-row sowing of corn, sunflower, and soybeans
6. Soybean resistance to drought stress
7. Consociation of different species (short-rotation crops)
8. Smart irrigation system – 1 hectare

Among the many scientific and professional projects carried out by FAZOS researchers, a significant number of projects and research are conducted at the faculty’s experimental stations which was made possible by the modern equipment available at FAZOS Experimental Station for Innovation and Technology.

Currently, FAZOS owns a modern combine harvester, four tractors of various purposes and power, all essential attachments, and has implemented GIS technology for field management, preparation, and sowing of crops, as well as the setup of trials.

Since the establishment of its experimental stations in 2014 and significant equipping during previous years, FAZOS has signed numerous contracts for conducting professional trials and collaborations, including the following:

1. Seed production of barley and soybeans – Agricultural Institute Osijek
2. Variety trials with various agricultural crops – KWS Sjeme d.o.o.
3. Variety trials with various agricultural crops – Cerera Agro d.o.o.
4. Variety trials with various agricultural crops – Corteva Agriscience, Croatia
5. Variety trials with multiple corn and rapeseed hybrids – BC Institute
6. Biostimulant trials – Timac Agro
7. Sunflower trials – KWS Hungary

Considering the above mentioned, all FAZOS experimental station locations, as part of the Experimental Station for Innovation and Technology, along with its manager and staff, today represent a key foundation for the future successful development of the faculty’s educational, scientific, and professional activities.

Employees of the Experimental Station for Innovation and Technology:

1. Zvonko Zeko, mag. ing. agr. – manager
2. Ivan Kelava, dipl. ing. agr.
3. sc. Dario Knežević
4. sc. Tomislav Pandurović
5. Tomislav Jurišić
6. Krunoslav Litrić
7. Hrvoje Dragičević

Documents 

 Pravilnik o radu Pokušališta Fakulteta agrobiotehničkih znanosti Osijek

Activities on Experimental Station 

Annual report 2022/23 

Annual report 2023/24