Precision of the forest inventory still is one of the most important problems in the forestry nowadays. The aim of this research was to estimate the results of the combined forest inventory (CFI), using high spatial resolution aerial images in the planned areas of clear-cuts, comparing the results with the calipering and production files of harvesters. Testing of algorithms showed considerable difference in results between the CFI, forest inventory data and harvester production data. CFI results and production data had a close correlation with R2 =0.83. Comparing CFI calculated growing stock with production data, the average relative error amounted to 10.7%, which means the possibility for integration of these results into the forest inventory system. Comparing to CFI, there is a weak correlation between forest inventory and production data with R2 =0.34. The results indicate that LiDAR CFI technology can be used in the forecasting of the forest management, offering precise information about potential amount and economic value of assortments.

In Latvia, P.abies (L.) H. Karst stands occupy about 18% of the total forest area (3.01 million) forming pure and mixed stands. Regardless of the main goals, productivity of the future forest stands must be preserved; therefore, it is very important for forest management to identify risk factors. P.abies often suffers from various risk factors. The aim of the research was – to assess the sanitary state of Picea abies (L.) H. Karst in Oxalidosa, where the area of forest stands has been restored both anthropogenically and naturally. Selected young stands are located in Limbazi district of Latvia. Empirical data was collected in 5 spruce stands with the total area of 9.2 ha in Oxalidosa. In total, 67 sample plots were installed with radius of 3.99 m, measuring 799 trees. Diameter was measured for all trees in the sample plot. For sanitary state of P.abies young stands characterization damage caused by biotic factors was assessed visually after four-point scale: health tree (0), minor damage to 25% (1), moderately damaged 26 – 50% (2), severely damaged or dried – from 51% (3). Damage caused by P.abietina and browsing was found in several stands, while damage produced by P.abietina larvae was detected only in one pure stand. Occurrence of browsing damage is 10 – 28%, while damage intensity – 7.7 – 21.8%. There are significant differences between occurrence of browsing damage (p=0.001) and also between damaged tree damage intensity (p=0.003). Nature of browsing damage depends on the size of pure and mixed stand area, the location in forest massif and adjoining territory.

Woody plants at urban greeneries in Lithuania are injured by rust fungi of 13 genera, 28 species: Coleosporium pulsatillae, C. tussilaginis, Cronartium flaccidum, C. ribicola, Cumminsiella mirabilissima, Gymnosporangium clavariiforme, G. confusum, G. cornutum, G. sabinae, G. tremelloides, Hyalopsora aspidiotus, M. allii-fragilis, M. allii-populina, M. caprearum, M. epitea, M. laricis-populina, M. populnea, Melampsora ribesii-viminalis, M. salicis-albae, Melampsorella caryophyllacearum, Melampsoridium betulinum, M. carpini, Ochropsora ariae, Phragmidium tuberculatum, Pucciniastrum areolatum, P. symphyti, Uromyces caraganicola, U. pisi-sativi. During 2009 – 2017 Gymnosporangium sabine had the strongest damages (from 0.21 ± 0.00 to 2.43 ± 0.33 grades) on Pyrus pyreaster, the weakest damages had done G. cornutum on Sorbus intermedia and S. x thuringiaca ‘Fastigiata’ – 0 – 1 ± 0.58 grades.

The article provides the research data on the variation of organic matter in the Jaugila Stream, which flows through drained fields fertilized with organic fertilizers. The aim of the research was to determine the effect of manure application in drainage basin to the changes of organic matter concentration in the Jaugila Stream. Water samples for chemical analysis were taken once a month from the drainage water and the river. The samples from the river were taken upstream and downstream manure fertilized fields and the drainage water – from the outlets of the drainage system, which drains the fertilized area. Water analysis was performed by the Analytical Laboratory of Chemical Analysis of the ASU Water Research Institute. BOD7 was determined by titrimetric method. The research has shown that a greater impact on the increase of BOD7 concentrations in the Jaugila Stream was due to the stream water, saturated with the organic matter, flowing from the upstream areas, rather than the drainage water flowing into this stream from manure fertilized area. The assessment of BOD7 concentrations according to the water quality requirements for surface waters determined that in most cases the water of the Jaugila Stream, both in above and below fertilized areas, was in a very good or good ecological status. The impact of manure fertilized areas on the organic matter concentration in the stream was determined to be minimal, as the statistical analysis of the data has shown that the difference between BOD7 concentrations above and below fertilized areas is negligible.

Road landscapes can be considered important resources for place development. They create impression about the infrastructure of places and transport, which is an important aspect of attracting investment and tourism development. Yet this field of landscape planning and design is hardly studied and needs more attention in Latvia. Institutions at different planning levels and from several fields of expertise are involved in road landscape development. In order to achieve successful cooperation among all the parties involved, it is necessary to reflect the information about road landscape development in the way that it can be easily perceived and understood. Studies in landscape perception prove that people perceive visual information about landscape design and planning better than textual information and regular maps. The purpose of the paper is to introduce with a method of three dimensional (3D) road landscape modelling, developed by authors as a tool for road landscape design aesthetic evaluation, which can be used to demonstrate design variants to wider public and stakeholders. We demonstrate what kind of data are necessary for road landscape modelling, how they are obtained and processed, why certain modelling programs are chosen. The methodology, problems, which occurred during the modelling, and the chosen solutions are described. Results show that chosen methodology is appropriate for large scale projects. The experience gained from the project helps to evaluate the suitability of certain computer programs for road landscape planning and design.

The aim of the work is to increase the efficiency of cyclone technology by using a separator plate. Cyclone technology is used not only in the processing of various agricultural products, but also in air purification from dust. Air flow trajectories and the movement of dust particles inside the cyclone unit were simulated and analysed using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and particle study analyses. The separator plate was designed in certain sizes and placed inside the cyclone, thus increasing the efficiency of the cyclone. The angle of position of the separator plate significantly affected the obtained results. The experimental equipment was assembled together to test the simulation results. Wood ash was used to determine the efficiency of the cyclone. Studies have shown that the effect of the separator plate on increasing the efficiency of the experimental equipment is less than that shown in the simulations. Most of the experiments used ash particles that were greater than 20 μm, thus cyclone efficiency was 98.9 ± 0.05%. This confirms the compliance of CFD simulations with the physical model. More detailed research should be carried out in order to use the separator plate effectively for the filtration of very small dust particles.

Specialty coffee, according to Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) standards, is coffee which has been standardized from the coffee plantation process until its delivery to the consumer, in compliance with all quality standards, to highlight the characteristics of the beverage. With increasing coffee consumption, more attention is focused not only on the flavour and texture of the drink, but also on the impact of coffee on health. The beneficial effects of coffee on human health are mainly based on a wide range of biologically active components. The coffee composition of the biologically active compounds and flavour compounds are influenced differently by almost all technological processes. The aim of this review was to summarize recent scientific developments about composition of aroma, flavour and biologically active compounds in specialty coffee and evaluate the best possibilities to balance health promoting and flavour attributes. Specialty coffee mainly focuses on fruity, floral, sweet and acidic notes in coffee, which are opposite to phenolic compound aroma characteristics during roasting process. In conclusion, roasting temperature significantly influences all biologically active compounds and important aroma, flavour volatiles in coffee. All compound concentration, except coffee melanoidins, decreases during roasting process. Light-medium roast level could provide stability among floral, fruity aroma, flavour notes and biologically active compounds (phenolic compounds and coffee melanoidins) in coffee.

In dairy cows shedding of Coxiella burnetii in milk can be persistent, sporadic to absent. Persistent heavy shedder cows are mostly highly-seropositive. Serological response due to C. burnetii antigenic phase demonstrates acute or chronic infection (serological response to phase II (PhII) or phase I (PhI) antigen, respectively). The aim of this study was to detect dynamics of C. burnetii DNA in milk and phase-specific serological response. In this study, the sera samples from 46 animals and milk samples from 34 were collected initially. Milk and sera samples from 36 animals were collected repeatedly. Samples were collected in five herds with previous history of C. burnetii infection from different parishes in Latvia – in 2017 and 2018. Milk samples were tested by detection of C. burnetii DNA by realtime PCR amplification using ‘ADIAVET™ COX REALTIME’ (ADIAGENE). Sera were tested by ‘VetLine Coxiella Phase1 and Phase2 ELISA’ (NOVATEC). Three cows (9%) in the first sampling and five (14%) in second sampling demonstrated shedding of C. burnetii DNA in milk . Six cows (13%) in the first sampling and eight (22%) in second sampling demonstrated positive serological response to PhI. Three cows (7%) in the first sampling and one (3%) in second sampling demonstrated a questionable serological response to PhI. Two cows (6%) in the second sampling demonstrated a questionable serological response to PhII . In herds with previous history of C. burnetii infection the number of animals demonstrating PhI positve serological response increases significantly (p0.05) during six months. In cows demonstrating positive serological response to PhI it continues and mostly remains unchanged during six months.

Ruminants produce a large amount of methane (CH4 ) and carbon dioxide (CO2 ) in their foregut. These gases cause greenhouse effect. There are a lot of studies about different feed additives which can reduce the production of greenhouse gases in ruminants. Prebiotics can also change the amount of bacteria in animal gastrointestinal tract and reduce the occurrence of diarrhoea. The aim of this study was to test whether the prebiotic inulin affects the production of CH4 and CO2 in calves’ rumen and whether it affects the bacteria count in the rumen fluid and bacterial overgrowth in intestines. We used the flour of Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) containing 50% of inulin. Approximately fifty days old, Holstein Friesian crossbreed calves were used in this study. Eight were in the control group, 8 received 12 g of flour and 8 received 24 g per day. On the 28th and 56th day of the research, we measured the amount of CH4 and CO2 in calves’ rumen took rumen fluid samples for bacterial analysis and urine to measure the level of phenol and indican. We concluded that adding the flour of Jerusalem artichoke at doses 12 g and 24 g did not significantly impact the production of CH4 and CO2 in calves’ rumen, the prebiotic inulin may suppress the growth of anaerobic microorganisms in the rumen at concentration 12 g of inulin reaching 56th day of experiment. The amount of phenol and indican in calves’ morning urine did not correlate with the faecal consistency of calves.

The aim of the study was to compare weed species diversity in organic and conventional farms in Poland. The study was carried out between 2012 and 2014 on production fields located in Lublin province, one of the easternmost regions of Poland. The results showed that diversity and abundance of weeds in spring cereals were generally higher in organic farming system than in conventional one. No significant differences between systems were found in 2013, because local flooding of fields in spring made impossible the execution of agricultural weed management treatment for some farmers. Both above-ground and soil seed bank weed communities were the mainstay of valuable weed species, which is confirmed by the presence of the species threatened with extinction, for example, summer pheasant’s-eye (Adonis aestivalis), poorman’s blue weatherglass (Anagallis foemina) and others in both tested farming systems. Dwarf everlast (Helichrysum arenarium) was the only found species that is subject to partial protection by Polish law. Both organic farms, run under CAP policy and support, and conventional extensive farms of the province of Lublin were the mainstay of biodiversity. Future rural development and CAP should be adapted and implemented regionally. Traditional extensive farms could contribute to the biodiversity and valuable plant species conservation.