This article presents the results of studies of the chemical composition of the fish meat while using as a feed additive zeolite of Chankanay origin. The research was conducted during 2011-2013 at the Department of Veterinary-sanitary examination and hygiene of the Kazakh National Agrarian University and at the laboratory of JSC ‘Kazakh Academy of Nutrition’ LTD ‘NUTRITEST’. The material of study was the zeolitic tuff of Chankanay deposit (Almaty region) and two-year trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. For the research we used feed by recipes of GosNIORH - 12-80. The chemical composition of fish meat was determined by a set of methods: moisture by drying at 105 °C, fats by Soxhlet, total protein by modified Kjeldahl method (ISO 937:1974), and minerals by incineration in a muffle furnace. Calorie content of meat was determined by Alexandrov’s formula: X = C - (F+A) ´ 4.1 + F ´ 9.3. Fatty acid composition of fish meat was determined by gas-liquid chromatography. Thus, the results are the indirect evidence that zeolites added to primary diet for growing fish, do not adversely impact proteolytic enzyme systems of fish, that is, have no negative effect on fish organism.

This article presents data on veterinary and sanitary evaluation of cows’ (Bovis) meat infected by leptospirosis. The material for the study was a sample of muscle tissue of m. longissimus dorsi taken at slaughter of 10 cows (Bovis) kept on farms in Almaty region. The following parameters have been examined in muscle tissue: water, protein, fat, ash, amino acid composition. Besides the biochemical studies we also measured pH of meat, put the reaction of neutral formalin (Formalin test) and determined the biological value of meat. It was determined that physical and chemical characteristics of sick animal meat have significant deviations from the norm. Such meat rapidly accumulates products of protein decay. The amount of essential and nonessential amino acids decreases, which indicates low nutritional value of meat. Meat of cattle infected by leptospirosis concedes by nutritional and biological value comparing to meat of healthy animals.

The aim of the study was to determine and compare calcium and phosphorus content in pedal mass, visceral mass and shell of wild and bred trial groups’ snails (Helix pomatia). The trial was performed from May to September of 2011 at the Roman Snail Research Facility of the Research Institute of Biotechnology and Veterinary Medicine „Sigra”, of Latvia University of Agriculture (LLU). Snails were divided in 4 trial groups depending on the diets. Samples were collected from the local natural population of snails and experimental breeding farm in spring (May), summer (July) and autumn (September). Significant differences (p is less than 0.05) were found between the levels of the calcium and phosphorus content in the edible part (pedal mass) and visceral mass in wild snails and experimental trial groups.

The aim of current study was to investigate the spectral separability trends of different tree species due to varying foliage spectral reflectance properties during the growing season. Five tree species prevailing in Lithuania were chosen for the study: aspen (Populus Tremula L.), black alder (Alnus Glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.), Norway spruce (Picea Abies L.), Scots pine (Pinus Sylvestris L.) and silver birch (Betula Pendula Roth). The hyperspectral reflectance data was collected under laboratory conditions scanning the foliage samples from two healthy middle aged stands. Hyperspectral scanning was implemented using Themis Vision Systems LLC VNIR 400H hyperspectral imaging camera in 400-1000 nm range. Principal component analysis and the Jeffries-Matusita distance measure were applied for the analysis of hyperspectral data. The wavelengths providing the best separability between tree species were determined. They were discovered to vary during the growing season: in late spring – early summer the most informative wavelengths were concentrated in blue and near infrared spectral zones, in summer they shifted towards green and red zones, and in autumn they moved further to longer waves - the red and near infrared - spectral zones. The investigated tree species were determined to be spectrally separable during the whole growing season, but the particular periods were revealed to contribute for improved spectral separability between certain tree species. The separability between coniferous species was best in September, while deciduous species were best separable when the samples were collected in August.

Roads play an important role in our daily surroundings and provide access to landscape. Views from the road create the first impression about the country. It is important to pay attention to the landscapes along the roads used by tourists. The purpose of this study was to obtain general overview of the current state, identify existing and disappearing features of the road landscape in Latvia. Research on road landscape perception and design is well developed in the USA and some countries in Europe. The assessment of the current state and proposals for the road landscape development in Latvia are fields which are little discussed and need more attention. The research was carried out in several sections of the main roads and some sections of regional and local roads in July and August, 2011 and August, 2012. Photography method was used. Analysis of the results shows that the main reasons of aesthetic quality loss in road landscapes is lack of planning and management, indicating the necessity to find ways for rural landscape quality enhancement.

The paper overviews the research material related to occurrence of sinkholes and change of their water quality in the conditions of increasingly natural environment and minimal anthropogenic impact. Sinkholes create favourable conditions for interaction of surface and groundwater. Identification of possible sources of sinkholes pollution is very important in solution of groundwater safety problems. Water quality investigations are carried out in 4 sinkholes, which are of different age and have differently overgrown slopes. Sinkhole water quality may worsen due to accumulation of organic materials (increasing peat content) or natural changes of environment (abrasion of slopes, overgrowth, etc.), while anthropogenic impact is minimal. Water quality in peat-filled sinkholes and young sinkholes with mineral slopes is different. Water of peat-filled sinkholes has bigger amounts of N-NO3, PTotal, SO4 and BOD7 than water in young sinkholes. The highest N-NO3 and SO4 concentration is observed in the sinkhole that is overgrown with trees and shrubs.

The investigations were carried out during the period 2006-2011 in the land of the Water resources management institute of ASU, in the village of Lipliūnai on Endocalcari Endohypogleyic Cambisol (CMg-n-w-can). The base of investigations is 3 drainage systems, which contain cereals differing in fertilization and grass crop rotations. The aim of investigations is to determine the crop rotations differing in fertilization and these relations with cycles of phosphorus in agroecosystem. Higher productive was perennial grass crop rotation. In the conditions of cereal crop rotations this productive was 3-46% lesser. The highest concentration of P-PO4 3- in drainage water was received in the conditions of higher fertilization cereals crop rotation while highest concentration of total P was in the conditions of grass crop rotation. The concentration of P-PO4 3- in drainage water essentially depends on amount of mobile P2 O5 in soil, fertilization, productivity of field crops, drainage runoff as well as cumulative balance of P. The highest leaching of P-PO4 3- and total P by drainage was received under the conditions of higher fertilization cereals crop rotation. The leaching of P-PO4 3- essentially depends on fertilization, drainage runoff as well as cumulative and yearly balance of P. The application of all crop rotations was distinguished by positive P balance.

Most of the regulated rivers are situated in the middle part of Lithuania. Approximately 90% of all agricultural lands are drained in the Basin of Nevezis River, which is one of the most sensitive basins in Lithuania due to the lack of water and potential anthropogenic pollution. The goal of the research is to assess the impact of drainage on Nevezis River flow. Following the data series of 62 years, it was determined that water balance of Nevezis Basin is characterized by negative water balance during May-September due to higher evapotranspiration than average precipitation amount of the same period. It was stated that the average annual flow coefficient of the whole 10th hydrologic region of Lithuania was 0.3 till reclamation. It decreased to 0.28 during the period of intensive reclamation; however, the average annual flow was 0.35 from the year 1980, i.e., it increased in comparison with the period till reclamation. The average flow coefficient of warm period was 0.10 till reclamation, and remained the same during the period of 1956-1980, while the data of 1981-1995 show that the average flow coefficient increased – 0.11. After assessing the meteorological conditions and soil water balance of the Basin of Nevezis River it might be stated that the primary reason of water lack in the basin is climatic conditions. Drainage systems can hardly have a significant impact on wateriness of Nevezis River.

The aim of this research is to evaluate the spatial differences of the agricultural economy of Latvia during the First Republic by using spatial autocorrelation calculations. Morans’s I coefficient of spatial autocorrelation is used to describe the spatial relations of the analyzed indicators. The obtained results show that Moran’s I for more than half of the obtained parameters is greater than 0.5, which indicates a rather high spatial autocorrelation. It was observed that variations of the spatial autocorrelation values can be explained by what affects these parameters. Spatial autocorrelation is significantly higher for those parameters whose value depends mainly on the variety of natural factors (land use, specific crop share). Moran’s I value for those parameters whose values depend on the actions by the local government in rural parishes is considerably lower (for example, budget allocation, etc.) A large portion of the examined parameters characterizing the level of parish economic development show the biggest differences when comparing Latgale with the rest of Latvia. In the case of such regional differences, Moran’s I is usually within 0.5–0.7, indicating moderately close spatial autocorrelation. For many indicators regarding agriculture and land use many southern parishes within Jelgavas and Bauskas county show a very considerable difference from the rest of Latvia showing much higher rate of agricultural production.

Even though thousands of people suffer from hunger each day, there are people that simply throw away their food, imposing serious environmental, social and economic consequences. Food waste concept, however, is not as strictly defined as it varies from research to research. The classification itself can be specific to certain regions and cultures, and it can even be affected by the eating habits of the researchers. This review paper aims to unify the theoretical knowledge of food wasting with examples from actual research, evaluating data from the perspective of eating habits and finding motives for such an action, such as family and friends’ influence, incomes, lifestyle, religion, mass media etc. Previously done studies show that people are less concerned about reducing food wastage when it comes to environmental and social problems, but are the most motivated if they see a real opportunity to save money.