Research

In the spring of 2026, an agroforestry trial site was established on a 24-hectare arable plot in Fuchsenbigl, managed by Bundesversuchwirtschaften GmbH. The project aims to determine the production-related and ecological effects of agroforestry structures on arable farming in arid regions, as well as the impact of agroforestry strips on wind reduction and crop yields across varying widths of arable strips. The agroforestry area comprises 11 rows of woody plants and three distinct system types featuring different arable strip widths (81 m, 45 m, and 22 m). The spacing between the rows of woody plants is the primary factor in analyzing their effects on yield, wind reduction, and soil water dynamics. Additionally, the varied design of the woody rows—ranging from single rows of high-value timber with intermediate woody species to multi-row multi-purpose hedges and single rows of fruit-bearing trees—allows for the investigation of how different agroforestry systems influence arable crops and ecological parameters at the field level (such as erosion, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration).

In 2003, a comprehensive long-term study was established at the Rutzendorf organic farm (150 ha; Marchfeld, Lower Austria)—a subsidiary of the Federal Agricultural Research Farms (BVW) GmbH—to document, develop, and optimize organic arable farming and associated agro-ecological measures (Project MUBIL: Monitoring the Conversion to Organic Farming). The study aimed to determine how the transition to organic farming and its associated habitats affect soil parameters; nutrient, humus, and water balances; plant communities; crop yield potential and quality; fauna; and economic viability. Since 2003, IBIO has been conducting a long-term trial to evaluate the sustainability of stockless organic arable farming systems by comparing them with a control system that includes livestock. The trial examines four fertilization variants (DV1: green manure only; DV2: green manure + organic waste compost; DV3: alfalfa removed + farmyard manure; DV4: alfalfa removed + biogas digestate) regarding—among other factors—their impact on soil properties (humus and nutrient content, soil structure) and the yield and quality of harvested crops. This long-term trial in Rutzendorf is the only ongoing organic farming experiment in Austria. Consequently, the results obtained are of great importance for both agricultural practice and scientific understanding. Furthermore, the organic long-term trial has been designated a "Regular Site" by LTER-Austria (the Austrian Society for Long-Term Ecological Research) and, alongside other agricultural long-term trials, forms part of the agro-ecological eLTER Cluster Marchfeld.

In Raasdorf, on the organically managed experimental fields of BOKU, a Europe-wide unique agricultural landscape experiment was established in spring 2026: a large-scale, randomized field trial covering around 20 hectares, demonstrating how productivity, biodiversity, and climate protection and adaptation can be jointly promoted. Three levels of diversification are being scientifically investigated in the agricultural landscape experiment with regard to their ecological, economic, and climatic impacts: (i) monocultures (control), (ii) strip cropping with common crops such as maize, wheat, and soybean, as well as functional strips, and (iii) strip cropping with functional strips as in (ii), combined with agroforestry (alley cropping). Within the functional strips, annual plants (e.g., herbs, crops such as milk thistle and calendula) and perennial plants (e.g., clover-grass mixtures, spice fennel, fallow land, flowering strips), as well as the agroforestry strips, play a crucial role. They promote soil protection, biodiversity, and influence the microclimate, thereby creating diverse habitats, ecological niches, and biotope corridors. For the first time in Austria, the agricultural landscape experiment collects extensive interdisciplinary data on ecosystem services and biodiversity indicators to quantify how structural diversity affects yield, soil fertility, water balance, carbon storage, and species diversity, as well as labor input and wage costs. This is achieved through innovative technologies—drone- and AI-supported data collection and sensor systems—which enable the development of a “digital twin.” These results provide a scientifically sound basis for future agricultural and environmental policy decisions.