ARDS Turda

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT STATION TURDA ROMANIA

Short history

In 1956, by the Decision of Ministers Council no. 2731 from December 28^th, regarding the establishment of the Research Institute for Maize Cultivation from Fundulea, was set up the Agricultural Experimental Maize Cultivation Station Turda alongside other 4 stations in the country (Săftica, Podu-Iloaiei, Şimnic şi Ceala).

Until 1961, it retained the name of Agricultural Experimental Maize Cultivation Station Turda, when, by merging with the Agricultural Experimental Station at Câmpia Turzii,  it became the Agricultural Experimental Station Turda – 1962; in 1974 it became the Agricultural Research Station Turda, and since 2002 – the Agricultural Research  and Development Station Turda.

Therefore, the Agricultural Research and Development Station Turda is the continuation of the of Agricultural Experimental Maize Cultivation Station, which was organized from February 1^th, 1957, in the perimeter of the Agricultural School no. 1 Turda, a center coordinated at that time by the Agronomic Institute from Cluj.

After its establishment in 1957, the Agricultural Experimental Maize Cultivation Station Turda functioned in parallel with the Agricultural Experimental Station at Câmpia Turzii within ICAR until 1962 when the two stations merged and the research material together with a part of the researchers were transferred to Turda. Also, much of the terrain of the Campia-Turzii Station remained in the administration of the unit formed by unification.

The merger resulted in the Agricultural Experimental Station Turda, a representative unit for the agricultural research in the area, where the sphere of research and production concerns has expanded and diversified by strengthening teams work and the research material.

Objectives

Agricultural Research and Development Station Turda is a scientific institution of public interest in the ASAS structure, having the following research objectives:

• the creation of maize hybrids, varieties of grain cereals and legume, with high productivity and quality, with increased resistance to diseases, pests and unfavorable environmental conditions, feasible for mechanization and various crop systems, having the capacity of efficient utilization of technological inputs;
• developing crop technologies that highlight the genetic features of new creations, economically and energetically efficient, to obtain high, constant and high quality productions;
• the expansion of valuable biological material and modern technologies in the production farms in the station area, meant to contribute to the general growth of agricultural production;
• production and supply of cereal, maize, soybean seeds necessary for the agricultural area inside the Carpathian arch, as well as adjacent areas;
• elaboration and improvement of zoning methods for varieties and hybrids;
• mechanical research carried out in the direction of adaptation of new agricultural machinery to the area’s specific relief and soil conditions;
• zootechnical research aimed at maintaining the stock of swine breeds Bazna and Mangaliţa – red variety; keeping the sheep breed Ţigaie in genetically stock – the rusty variety; improving the sheep population for the quantity and quality of the lines (1967-1989) and for body weight and milk production (1980- present); production of breeding material;
• the development of fundamental research in genetics, phytopathology, entomology, physiology, agrochemistry, pedology, ecology, etc. new methods and techniques that will considerably reduce the time required to create varieties and hybrids, to ensure bioproduction and biological methods in the control of diseases and pests and to bring into crop new plant species with high energy conversion and a higher amount of biomass;
• expanding and popularizing the original experimental results, updated at all times, by organizing internal sessions, meetings, demonstration plots, editing own periodical publications to support agricultural producers.

ARDS Turda is a agriculture development research unit in the center of Transylvania. The fundamental goal of the unit has always been “Developing an agricultural system” that exploits, at the highest crop quotas and in the most efficient way, the natural, economic and social resources existing in the area and the transfer in practice of research results for the development of agricultural production in Transylvania.

Soybean team: