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Engineering a Solution for Karst Grassland Restoration

brush harvester

UL FS

Date of publication:

Tag:

  • Research achievements
  • University Office for Research
  • Research
  • SDG 9
  • UL FS

Researchers at the LECAD Laboratory for Engineering Design at the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, have developed the Semenko P200PSJ brush harvester, which will be used by Škocjan Caves Park to collect native seed mixtures and support the restoration of Karst grasslands. The machine has been designed specifically for the demanding conditions of the Karst, where overgrowth increasingly threatens species-rich grassland habitats.

The Semenko P200PSJ was developed as part of the ZA KRAS 2 project, under the leadership of Dr Ivan Demšar from the LECAD Laboratory. It was delivered to Škocjan Caves Park in June and has already been put to use in the field.

By brushing mature grasslands, the machine collects native seed material from species-rich meadows. The harvested seeds are dried and stored before being sown on areas where overgrowth has been cleared. This helps restore characteristic Karst vegetation while reducing the risk of invasive alien plant species becoming established.

The Semenko P200PSJ has been designed to operate on demanding Karst terrain. It is mounted on the tractor's front hydraulics, has a working width of two metres and features a hydrostatic brush drive. The direction and speed of brush rotation can be adjusted to suit field conditions, while additional gauge wheels allow the machine to follow uneven terrain more effectively.

“When developing the machine, we had to take into account both the specific characteristics of the Karst terrain and the requirements of seed harvesting. Our aim was to build a machine robust enough for field use while ensuring efficient seed collection from species-rich grasslands,” explains Dr Ivan Demšar.

This is the second brush harvester of its kind in Slovenia developed under Dr Demšar's leadership. Its use in the Karst is also an example of how engineering knowledge and research developed at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering can be transferred into practical applications.

The ZA KRAS 2 project runs from September 2025 to August 2029. Among its activities, the project aims to restore almost 200 hectares of Karst grasslands and improve habitats for endangered plant and animal species within the Natura 2000 Kras area.

You can find more about the project on the website. 

The project is part of the European Cohesion Policy Programme 2021–2027. The investment is co-funded by the European Union.

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