Mendel University researcher receives Czech Minister of Agriculture Award

Viktória Pipíšková, a doctoral student at Mendel University in Brno, has received the Czech Minister of Agriculture Award for her research on the effects of drought on forest stands. She placed second in the category designated for young scientists.

Her study utilized dendrochronological and anatomical analysis of tree rings from three economically significant species: Norway spruce, European beech, and larch. The research compared how these species react to drought within both mixed and monoculture stands under similar climatic conditions.

The findings revealed varying levels of resilience: larch showed a relatively stable reaction, spruce was the most sensitive to drought, and beech demonstrated an ability to acclimate. The award was presented during the 52nd Země živitelka international agricultural fair in České Budějovice.