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Let's get to know about the International Potash Institute.
(Attila Kosztolányi interviewing Dr. T. Popp, IPI Coordinator Central Europe)
The International Potash Institute (IPI) and the Corvinus University of Budapest organized an international conference with acknowledged lecturers on the nutrient management and nutrient requirements of energy plants at Budapest on 7 July. The International Potash Institute has had intensive relations with Hungarian researchers for almost 30 years. This network of relations started with technical translations and invited lectures from both sides. By now, this network has been widened to include also the agricultural and horticultural fields via the universities and colleges.
The present conference provided a great opportunity to interview Dr. Thomas Popp, the IPI coordinator for Central-Eastern Europe on the work and objectives of the Institute and their experiments in Hungary.
Dear Mr. Popp,
Q: Please give our readers an overview of the International
Potash Institute and please also say a few words about your position!
A: The International Potash Institute was established
in 1952 by German and French potash fertilizer manufacturers. With the passing
decades, the Institute has become a significant organization, the members of
which include also participants of the Belgian, Israeli and Russian potash
industry.
The International Potash Institute is a non-profit organization independent
of governments, its major field of research is sustainable agriculture and
within this the potash supply of plants. The centre of the Institute is in
Switzerland in Horgen near Zurich, the colleagues from here keep in touch with
the coordinators of the different regions such as China, East-India-Bangladesh-Sri
Lanka, East and West-Asia, North-Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Brazil, Central-Europe.
The International Potash Institute carries out experiments with several crops
in different countries, the aim of which is to study the impact of potash fertilization
on yield quantity and quality. The obtained results are published as scientific
papers and publications with which we aim to enrich the knowledge of growers
of the given country on the favorable effects of balanced potash fertilization.
In addition, we frequently organize seminars and international events, such
as the present conference, in countries where greater attention should be paid
to proper potash supply.
As a coordinator for Central-Eastern Europe, I am responsible for the countries
of this region including Ukraine and the Baltic states.
Q: What kind of experiments is carried out in
Hungary organized by the IPI and in which crops?
A: Currently, a very interesting project is being
performed in Hungary in gooseberry in co-operation with the University of Debrecen,
we study the effect of the different potash dosages and forms on the pectine
content of gooseberry. The pectine content of gooseberry is used as a basic
material by the food industry, e.g. for the condensation of jams.
In addition to that, we have been carrying out an experiment for three years
with the Corvinus University of Budapest in which we study the effect of potash
fertilization on the relationship of the rootstock and the cultivar and on
nutrient accumulation in fruit trees (sweet cherry). In sunflower, we study
the effect of different potash fertilizers on oil content and oil yield.
As a matter of curiosity, it can be mentioned that we study the effect of balanced
potash fertilization on wine quality in cultivars Welschriesling and Kövidinka
at the College of Kecskemét under the supervision of Dr. István
Búzás.
Of course, we carry out numerous experiments in Central-Eastern Europe in the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and not only in Hungary.
Q: Could we speak briefly about the aim of the
present conference on bioenergy? How current is this topic?
A: When we planned this conference and arranged
the program, bioenergy as a topic was much more current due to the dependency
on oil prices. This is less definite now due to the reduction in oil prices.
In spite of that, I think that people are still concerned in bioenergy, since
it is an unlimited resource and it can be a good alternative to get rid of
the excess produce by the growers in Europe where we have to fight the problem
of overproduction.
Q: At the end of the interview, let us talk about
how the IPI tries to motivate the Hungarian B.Sc. and M.Sc. students to join
in your research!
A: We publish a call for applications under the
title "Potash in the soil and in the plant" - it has been done already
on five occasions, for which we wait applications from students and PhD students
from 19 Hungarian universities and colleges so that they carry out their thesis
work in this field. The best works are awarded with a prize. The present call
will end in April 2011.
Thank you very much for this quick interview!
Published at the Agricultural Journal "Agrofórum", August 2009
What's new in the region...
- Publication: No. 18: Potassium - Decisive Nutrient for Yield and Quality more >
- Paper: Crop Production Systems and Nutrient Balance for Bio Energy Plants in Sub-Tropic Regions more >
- Paper: The Effect of Different Forms of Potash Fertilizers on Yield and Composition of Alfalfa and Cocksfoot in Pure Stand and Mixture - 2 Chemical Composition and Palatability more >
- Publication: A kálium garancia a zöldségtermesztésben a termésminőségre és a termésbiztonságra
Potassium - a guarantee for yield quality and yield security in vegetable cropping more > - Paper: The Role of Some Waste Material in the Nutrient Supply of Energy Plants more >
