The paper presents data on the water quality in drainage from manure-fertilized areas in a large livestock company (629 conditional livestock) from 2008 to 2012. The scheme of investigation consists of two field variants: manure fertilized and non-fertilized. Researches are carried out in drained areas, where the drainage water is drained away through outlets. The nitrogen rate 170 kg haE-1 is used annually to fertilize fields in spring. The aim of the research was to ascertain the impact of large livestock company fields fertilized annually with manure on the water quality in drainage. For the purpose of chemical investigations, water samples from drainage were taken once per month. Water analyses were carried out by the accredited Chemical Analytical Laboratory of the Water Management Engineering Institute of Aleksandras Stulginskis University according to specified methods. Investigation results have demonstrated that fields fertilized annually with manure raised the contents of Nmin and P2O5 in the soil by 1.5 and 2.2 times respectively in comparison to the non-fertilized ones. The increase in these contents was conditioned by the higher air temperature and the lower rainfall. The seasonality of Ntotal concentrations in drainage water was discovered: higher concentrations were identified in autumn and winter, lower concentrations – in spring and summer. Due to low dissolubility in the soil, low Ptotal concentrations were identified in drainage water. The highest concentrations were identified with the start of drainage operation.

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.

Electronic circulation of documents and electronic services have become the most significant IT development trend in the public sector. During the last few years public sector institutions in all Europe have significantly improved the quality of the provided services. With the evolving options offered by the internet and the digital signature getting more widely used, citizens expect a more up-to-date approach to communications from governmental institutions. Successful operation of electronic services would not be possible without a proper circulation of electronic documents on the national level. This article briefly inspects the history of the electronic service development and analyses the conditions of the development, deals with the experience of different countries with the implementation of e-services. Particular attention has been paid to Latvia, its current situation and historical analysis of e-services. A special part is dedicated to Agricultural Ministry of the Republic of Latvia which is most closely related to national rural development, projects of transition towards electronic document circulation and provision of electronic services.

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.

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.

Field trials with the spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were carried out on the experimental fields of Estonian University of Life Sciences in 2011. The yield quality (volume weight, 1000 kernel weight, falling number, gluten content, gluten index, gluten content in dry matter) of spring wheat was studied in cultivar ‘Vinjett’. The wheat was part of the five-year crop rotation experiment where red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), spring wheat, peas (Pisum sativum L.), potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) undersown with red clover were following each other. There were three treatments which followed the crop rotation. In one treatment mineral fertilizers and pesticides were used, but other two treatments were organic without any synthetic agrochemicals. In mineral fertilizing treatments, the background of P25 and K95 kg ha-1 the N amount varied from 0 to 150 kg haE-1. Herbicides Sekator and MCPA 750 were used in conventional part. The aim of this research was to study red clover’s after-effect and different N fertilizer amounts’ influence on the spring wheat yield quality. In treatments where no mineral fertilizers were used and which only followed the red clovers after effect had higher gluten index and gluten content in dry matter. Higher mineral nitrogen amounts and organic treatments decreased spring wheat 1000 kernel weights and volume weights. The wet gluten content and falling number increased with increase of the amount of mineral N.

Abstract Studies comparing slurry injection versus spreading have reported inconsistent results so far. The objective of the study was to compare two slurry application methods, injecting and spreading, in terms of influence on sward yields and leaching of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) from grassland. The experiment was conducted from 2008 to 2011 at the Eerika Experimental Station, Estonian University of Life Sciences. Mini-lysimeters filled with loamy sand soil embedded in three swards (three-species grass mixture (Phleum pratense, Lolium perenne and Poa pratensis), grasses mixture with white clover (Trifolium repens), and grasses mixture with lucerne (Medicago sativa)) were used. Three annual nitrogen rates (60, 120, 180 kg haE-1) in conjunction with the two slurry application methods (injecting and spreading) were applied. Percolated water quantities, N and K content in leachate and the sward yield were measured. N leaching was significantly less with slurry injection while K leaching did not depend on slurry application method. N and K leaching was more affected by sward botanical composition and applied N rate and N:K ratio n slurry than by slurry application method. Sward yields did not depend significantly on slurry application method. Slurry injection is rational only in grasses sward when used N rates are above 120 kg haE-1 yrE-1. Slurry injection may have negative influence on the distribution of white clover in the grasses + white clover sward and thus lead to sward yield decrease.

Products of organic origin used in agriculture to reduce the application of artificial pesticides and fertilizers are investigated world-wide now. Composting organic fertilizers, plant residue and household waste, results in new products of organic origin. In several countries (USA, Russia, Belorussia, and some others), the role of earthworms in organic waste processing and the possible further use of this processed product have been investigated. In Latvia, similar investigations are few but they are needed. A goal of our investigation was to investigate the impact of extracts made from the products of organic origin on potato (Solanum tuberosum) tuber yield in biological crop production system. A field experiment was established at the State Stende Cereals Breeding Institute in 2011, using an early-maturing potato variety ‘Borodjanskij Rozovij’ suitable for growing both in conventional and organic production systems. Tubers or plants were treated with peat elixir and earthworm bio-humus extract obtained at different temperatures: +45 °C and +95 °C, and their mixtures. In total, 18 treatments and untreated control variant were included in the experiment. Tubers were treated just prior to planting, but potato plants were treated three times in season. In the first production year, the obtained potato tuber yield ranged 26.16-45.38 t haE-1 in treated plots, and 35.27 t haE-1 in untreated control plot. Data were subjected to analysis of variance. In 2011, tuber yield was significantly dependent on organic extracts applied, which increased the yield significantly (p is lee than 0.05) in four treatments, but in the rest of them significantly decreased if compared to control.

Oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) is one of the most popular spice and medicinal plants of untraditional horticulture in Latvia. Wild populations of this plant are too few. That is why it is necessary to cultivate oregano for keeping the biodiversity of Latvian nature. It is important to use local oregano genetic resources in agrocenosis as well as to get as rich and qualitative yield as possible. The aim of this research was to explore the parameters of oregano inflorescence in Latvia and to recommend the most productive clones for cultivation. In summer 2011, a total of 45 oregano clones from an ex situ collection of spice and medicinal plants of the Laboratory of Cultivated Plants and Apilogy (Jelgava, Strazdu Street 1) were analysed. Such inflorescence parameters as length and width were explored. The average length of inflorescence of all clones was 17.99 cm, and the average width was 5.74 cm. The results showed that the clone No 26 had the largest width of inflorescence (9.6 cm), but the clone No. 2 had the largest length of inflorescence (31.1 cm). Using oregano Draft Descriptor List, the inflorescence was characterized as short, medium or long. The variability between clones was significant (p is less than 0.05), but between samples of each clone - non-significant (p is greater than 0.05). It is recommended to grow oregano clones No. 2, 5 and 26 in agrocenosis as the most productive.

This paper discusses some aspects of introducing a new agricultural crop in Latvia – truffles Tuber spp. Truffles are mycorrhiza–forming mushrooms with edible fruit bodies developing in the upper layer of soil. In Latvia, there is a growing interest among farmers to start cultivate truffles. From several cultivated truffle species, the Burgundy truffle Tuber aestivum syn. T. uncinatum is the most suitable to cultivate in Latvia. There are both autochthonous and introduced tree species in Latvia, which are suitable for the Burgundy truffle cultivation and it is suggested to use Quercus robur, Corylus avellana, Tilia cordata and Fagus sylvatica. In order to find the regions in Latvia with the highest potential for successful Burgundy truffle cultivation, climate and soil characteristics had been co-analysed. By superimposing soil and climate maps of Latvia, the most suitable regions for truffle cultivation are situated in the central and southern part of the country. Considering the variability in soil composition even within regions in Latvia, it is thereafter also of great importance to investigate site-specific soil characteristics in order to find the most favourable grounds for truffle cultivation. Other truffle species which might be suitable for cultivation in the future are also discussed, as well as some general recommendations in establishing truffle orchards.