For several years, the Institute has been conducting research in key areas such as agricultural water management, precision agriculture, and circular farming systems. Since 2023, agricultural water management and environmental informatics research has been carried out by the Department of Water Science and Environmental Informatics, while the Department of Circular Economy and Environmental Technology has led studies related to organic matter management and circular farming.
Aeroponic Research Facilities
Research is currently underway in the aeroponic cultivation system located within the Institute of Water and Environmental Management of the University of Debrecen, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management (UD-FAFSEM).
The Institute houses two acclimatization plant-growing chambers that operate with water- and energy-efficient technologies and offer fully controlled conditions of light, temperature, and humidity. The two chambers have been designed to function independently with adjustable environmental settings.
Our research focuses on white and pinto bean, for which we determine:
- optimal nutrient concentrations,
- pH and electrical conductivity of atomized nutrient solutions,
- atomization frequency and duration,
- optimal temperature, humidity, light intensity, and light spectrum required for cultivation.
In addition, we perform plant-level analyses, including:
- germination tests,
- pigment content measurements,
- photosynthetic and gas-exchange parameters (photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, CO₂ assimilation efficiency, transpiration),
- elemental composition of plant tissues.
Further plant species are currently being introduced into ongoing experiments.
For more information, please contact Dr. habil. Attila Nagy (attilanagy@agr.unideb.hu).
Precision Agriculture and Water Management Research
The Institute has long-standing research activities in precision agriculture and water management. These include studies on surface and groundwater resources, microclimatic conditions of agricultural crops, irrigation systems, and their integration into GIS-based frameworks and databases.
Aerial imaging can be performed over biomass-producing areas to obtain spatially detailed information on key biomass-related parameters (e.g., carbon, nitrogen, cellulose content). Such assessments offer a more comprehensive spatial dataset compared to the point-based sampling techniques commonly used in current agricultural practice.
Laboratory and Research Infrastructure
The Institute is equipped with laboratory facilities suitable for:
- measuring plant sap flow needed for evapotranspiration calculations,
- determining leaf area,
- assessing soil moisture and soil temperature,
- analysing plant nutrients, heavy metals, and other contaminants.
The Institute also maintains:
- remote-sensing imaging equipment,
- a geoinformatics laboratory capable of developing GIS databases,
- data-processing and data-storage units with the required software tools.
The Environmental Status Assessment and Evaluation Complex, operated by the Institute of Water and Environmental Management, has been designated a Strategic Research Infrastructure (SKI) by the NEKIFUT Steering Committee. Over recent decades, the Institute has successfully implemented more than 30 national and international research projects in collaboration with numerous partners.
WATERAGRI project pages:
- Project website: WATERAGRI
- EU project page: Water Retention and Nutrient Recycling in Soils and Streams for Improved Agricultural Production (H2020)
Laboratory Visit – I. Hungarian Agricultural Science Doctoral Symposium
The Department of Agricultural Sciences of the National Association of Doctoral Students, in cooperation with the University of Debrecen, Faculty of Agricultural, Food Sciences and Environmental Management, organized the I. Hungarian Agricultural Science Doctoral Symposium on 24–25 February 2023.
During the two-day event, more than 70 presentations were delivered across seven sections, covering veterinary science, animal science, food science, forestry and wildlife management, environmental and nature protection, as well as crop production and horticulture. In addition to the academic programme, participants had the opportunity to visit our Institute and gain insight into the research activities currently underway.