Projects of the Department of Irrigation and Land Improvement (ÖMT)

Last modified: 12. February 2024

EFOP – 3.6.1. – 16-2016-00016 Specialisation of the research and training profile of SZIE Szarvas Campus with intelligent specialisation: agricultural water management, hydroponic crop production, alternative arable crop production, development of related precision machinery management, 2016-2021, 398.5 M Ft

The project has been used to expand the University's research capacity, develop research services, enhance social innovation and improve the knowledge base function of the R&D sector. Education and research specifications have been increased in four specific and important sectors for the present economy. The project has enabled young people to become involved in research, with successful results at a number of local and national scientific conferences. The project has resulted in an increase in the number of people entering the degree process. At doctoral and postdoctoral levels, new collaborations with EU and EEA higher education institutions have been established and research cooperation has been strengthened.

The objectives of the project were achieved in five working groups:

1. Alternative arable crop production sub-theme

2. agricultural water management

3. hydroponic crop production sub-theme

4. precision machinery management

5. knowledge centre

GINOP-2.2.1-15-2017-00042 Genetic utilisation of plants from the Pannon Region, 2017-2021., 1604 M Ft

The consortium partner of the project is Szent István University, successor of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The Department of Irrigation and Land Improvement (its predecessor) participated in the Irrigation Research Group.

The Carpathian Basin, due to its specific characteristics and location, is a very heterogeneous but at the same time organic unit. It is a repository of outstanding genetic values. These values are the renewable strategic resources of our nation. The aim of our agricultural innovation project is the genetic exploitation of the Carpathian Basin's plants.

The Irrigation Research Group conducts its research in the experimental areas of the Tessedik Campus and in the laboratories of the campus. It carries out water utilisation and irrigation research on agricultural, medicinal and green field plant groups under study, determining their water requirements and utilisation. The research will help develop the basis, breeding and technology for drought tolerance. In the light of climate change, this will significantly help to increase the utilisation of plants in the Pannon Region.

GINOP-2.2.1-15-2017-00061 Development of a planning and consultancy system for precision water management in support of water retention, 2017-2020, Szent István University (Consortium member): 220.8 M Ft

In precision farming, on-farm water management is still a missing element, although it is possible to rationally distribute and retain excess water under operational conditions. The project developed a planning procedure that uses modern spatial data acquisition methods and numerical modelling to determine the necessary operational irrigation interventions in a precision approach. This significantly reduces the likelihood of flooding and over-watering. The design outputs have been developed to enable RTK systems, which are becoming more prevalent in agriculture, to implement on-board interventions automatically and with precision. The results of the project will facilitate the spread of precision water management, which will benefit water resource management in our country, and significantly reduce both the vulnerability of inland areas to inland water and drought.

MEC_SZ 141619 V. „5th International Conference on Water”, 2021-2022. 7 M Ft

The primary objective of the project is to promote the integration of the domestic scientific research community into the international scientific community and to support the promotion of open science in the country. The 5th International Conference on Water was held in a hybrid format in Szarvas from 22-24 March 2022.

NTP-SZKOLL-18-0055 – Geoinformatics and remote sensing in agricultural water management, 2018-2019

Students have been trained in the framework of the Agricultural Water Management College, in theoretical and practical seminars, to gain up-to-date knowledge on the different research directions of geoinformatics and remote sensing. The main topics covered were: theory and practice of GIS applications, GIS applications in water management, terrain models, hydrological modelling, basics of remote sensing, satellite data processing, drone technology. The programme also included a two-day field exercise (wetlands).

NTP-SZKOLL-19-0051 – Remote sensing in precision water management, 2019-2020, 2.534 M Ft

As a continuation of the previous year's programme, the students were trained in the following areas: applications of GIS in water management, elevation models, basics of hydrological modelling, remote sensing, drone technology, remote sensing data processing.

NTP-SZKOLL-21-0043 – Groundwater distribution monitoring options, 2021-2022, 3.974 M Ft

The main objective of the project is to increase the knowledge and skills of agricultural water management students in the field of groundwater monitoring, with a focus on groundwater and soil moisture.

NTP-SZKOLL-23-0032 Options in agriculture for adaptation to extreme climate change 2023-24, 2.5 MFt

The negative effects of climate change cause increasing problems for agriculture. The College programme will provide theoretical and practical courses on adaptation options. Climate adaptation preparation courses cover the following topics: climatology, agrometeorology, rainfall management, agricultural irrigation, inland excess water protection, flood protection, drought monitoring, water storage options.