Investigations were carried out in the production fields of agricultural company Linas in Ringaudai eldership, Kaunas district. Spring wheat variety 'Koksa' was grown on non-damp, light loamy soil with a mobile phosphorus content of 173 mg kg-1 and a potassium content of 139 mg kg-1. Soil acidity - pH 6.9-7.0. The ozonator was attached on the trailing sprayer JARMET. During the studies, the concentration of ozone-saturated water and the spray rate were determined so as not to damage the crop, pollute the environment, or harm humans or animals. The speed of the sprayer was 6 km h-1. The application was performed 2 or 4 times. It was determined that treatment of spring wheat with ozonated water, although not always statistically significantly, however, reduced the occurrence of powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis), brown rust (Puccinia recondita), and inhibited the spread of aphids. A tendency for tan spot (Pyrenophora tritici repentis) and thrips decrease in the crop was observed. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of ozonated water application on the spread of spring wheat pests and leaf diseases.

Soil berms are typically built on the sides of ditches and are designed to purify water from agricultural fertilizers and to limit the transport of sediments to water bodies. However, for soils with fine particles, water filtration is limited and wet soil conditions can occur, which in turn reduces the soil's hydrologic conductivity capacity and hinders tree growth in the forest. The aim of the study is to develop a methodology for automatic modeling of the furrows in soil berms. Open source software QGIS and GRASS GIS is used in data processing. LiDAR data with minimum ground point density of 1.5 points per square meter were used in DEM creation. Local maximum analysis and further data filtration were used in determination of locations of soil berms. The results show that by making one furrow for every 185 m of ditches it is possible to reduce the area of the depressions by up to 91.8%.  

Fresh hardy kiwifruit (Actinidia kolomikta (Maxim. & Rupr.) Maxim.) possible to store for only two weeks at 0–5°C, therefore in order to maintain longer, the fruit have to be processed. The purpose of the study was to determine the quality of the Actinidia kolomikta fruit using research methods that are faster and easier, i.e. bioelectric Vincent method and biocrystallization. Four cultivars of Actinidia kolomikta fruits – ‘Landė’, ‘Paukštės Šakarva’, ‘Laiba’ and ‘Lankė’ – were investigated. Fresh, frozen and freeze-dried fruit were analysed. The amount of dry matter was determined by drying the samples to constant mass at 105 ºC, ascorbic acid was determined by titration with 2,6-dichlorphenol-indophenol sodium salt dehydrate. The pH and redox potential were measured by 781 pH/Ion Meter, electrical conductivity was measured by conductometer. P value as combined parameter was calculated according to the formula. Biocrystallization studies were carried out with fresh, frozen and freeze-dried fruits of all cultivars. The images derived from the encoded by sort samples were characterised with respect to the visual strength of form expression and were described by 10 criteria, criteria were evaluated using a 5-point scale. Research results showed that the dry matter and ascorbic acid content of A. kolomikta fruit significantly depended on the cultivar. Dry matter content of frozen fruit decreased from 4 to 7%, but increased during freeze-drying process by 6 to 7 times compare to the fresh fruit. Fruit processing methods increased pH, redox potential and P values. The lowest redox potential and P values were determined for fresh fruit, medium for freeze-dried and the highest for frozen fruit samples.

Enhanced forest growth may respond to the increasing demand for wood resources. Moreover, the forest is considered to be carbon storage, thus contributing to climate change mitigation. The forest soil fertilization, as well as forest drainage, thinning and regeneration may be an effective measure in increasing harvest rates. In the context of bio-economy, wood ash needs to be managed and can be utilized as an equivalent to potassium and phosphorus containing fertilizer. Ammonium nitrate can be used as fertilizer in forests on mineral soil since nitrogen is considered to be a tree growth limiting element in boreal forests. However, environmental aspects like leaching of the fertilizer should be taken into account. The aim of this research is to evaluate the impact of wood ash, ammonium nitrate and combined wood ash and nitrogen fertilizer impact on the chemical properties of soil water in dominated forest site types in Latvia. The trials were conducted in total in 16 forest stands. The fertilizers were spread in treatment plots, but the control plots were left untreated. The soil water samples were collected for two seasons. The pH, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphate and total nitrogen were determined in the soil water samples. Ammonium nitrate had an impact on the elevated concentration of total nitrogen in all experimental objects; although the significant differences between the control plot and treated plot were detected only in a part of experimental objects. The elevated concentrations of total nitrogen decreased after two months and remained above the control level. Interestingly, we observed a trend of both – increased and decreased concentrations of potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphate. Nevertheless, only a part of the differences was statistically significant. The impact of wood ash on chemical properties of soil water was less pronounced in comparison to ammonium nitrate.

EU countries agreed upon increasing the use of renewable energy, which strongly stimulates usage of biofuels. Biomass ash is generated as a residue product in large volumes as a result of biomass combustion. Heavy metal content in the ashes is the main hinder for further ash utilization in agriculture, forestry and construction sector. Aim of this study was to assess potential of biomass ash to be used as pavement base, also to evaluate risks associated with heavy metals contained in ash as well as their leaching possibility. Ash elemental analysis showed that biomass was burned efficiently, and organic carbon content in ash samples was below 2%. The limiting trace element was cadmium, which concentration in ash exceeded maximum permissible value, restricting ash recycling in forestry or agriculture. Leaching test showed that there is no threat to the environment when such waste material is used in road construction as base layer. All leaching values were below permissible concentrations or even below ICP detection limits. Compaction tests of layers made from gravel/ash mixtures revealed that biomass ash could be successfully used in road construction industry. Results showed that the strongest mixed layer was from 80% gravel and 20% ash. The compaction of this mixture was the highest, only the second best result showed pure 100% gravel, while the least compacted was 50% ash and 50% gravel mixture.

. Alkaline soil additives used in this study, as cement kiln dust and lime mud, resulted in significant rise of the pH in contaminated soil and sludge mixtures, while buffering capacity of the sludge appeared to be much stronger than that of the soil. Total concentrations of the investigated trace elements in the tested samples in most cases were above limit values given in Lithuanian environmental normative documents HN 60:2015 and LAND 20:2005; Cd, Zn and Pb concentrations exceeding MPCs by 2-10 times. Nickel, cadmium and copper in the sludge appeared to be the most mobile elements, their EDTA-extractable fraction reaching 30-50% from the total. The tested industrial by-products in most cases significantly reduced trace element mobility. Immobilizing effect in the contaminated soil was from low to moderate, while impact on the reduction of Cd, Pb, Zn, Cr, Ni, As, Se, Hg mobility in the sludge was much stronger. Alkaline treatment was not so effective to reduce mobility of Cu and As in the soil, but immobilising effect of lime mud on these elements in the sludge was significant. A multivariate data analysis model with two principle components explained 94% of the data variation. The most distinctive factor, separating samples, was the origin of the two tested metal-rich substrates: contaminated soil and sewage sludge. Contaminated soil could be distinguished by high concentrations of As, Tl, Hg and Pb. Both alkaline treatments on sewage sludge were more effective, thus scores are further from the origin, although, difference between kiln dust and lime mud immobilising effectiveness was not so significant. Application of alkaline amendments: cement kiln dust and lime mud, proved to have strong immobilizing effect on the most of the investigated trace elements, and usage of local by-products for contaminated soil (sludge) remediation purposes could be seen as an environmentally friendly, cost-effective and safe disposal alternative.

Field experiments were carried out at the Experimental Station of Vytautas Magnus University (54º52′ N, 23º49′ E) in Lithuania. Winter wheat was grown on the background of N150P90K90 mineral fertilization and was additionally foliar-fertilized with different concentrations of amino acid solutions (0.5-3.0%) at stem elongation and heading stages. The study was aimed to establish protein content as well as quantitative and qualitative distribution of amino acids in winter wheat grain as influenced by fertilization with different concentrations of amino acids. Experimental evidence showed that solutions with different concentrations of amino acids applied at winter wheat stem elongation and heading stages increased grain protein content and total amino acids contents. Plants, fertilized with amino acids solutions at stem elongation stage accumulated higher protein content by on average 4.8%, at heading stage by 4.5% compared with the grain protein content of plants that had not received amino acids fertilization. The total amino acids content in winter wheat grain in response to amino acids applied at stem elongation stage increased by on average 2.0 g kg-1, at heading stage by 5.3 g kg-1. Nonessential and essential amino acids content in winter wheat grain was significantly increased by 2.5 and 3.0% amino acids solutions, applied at stem elongation stage by 0.5, 1.0, 1.5% amino acids solutions applied at heading stage. Winter wheat fertilization with amino acids solutions at stem elongation stage mostly increased the content of glutamic acid, at heading stage mostly increased the contents of glutamic, aspartic, valine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, methionine, threonine and lysine acids.

The main goal of rural development is to raise the economic, social and cultural levels of all individuals living in rural areas. Rural development, which is considered to be an important tool in the fight against poverty, increases the quality of life of rural population and improves the work and living conditions of the regions where these people live. With rural development, it is aimed to increase both agricultural and non-agricultural incomes. Undoubtedly, agriculture is the most important source of income for people living in rural areas. However, in recent years, those living in rural areas also generate significant incomes from non-agricultural activities. Rural tourism activities are an important source of income for people living in rural areas. Thanks to rural tourism, entrepreneurs are making investments in rural areas. Thus, income growth is experienced in rural areas and employment is increasing. Rural tourism also makes important contributions to the sustainability of the local culture. On the other hand, rural tourism is an alternative field of activity where farmers can make better use of their free time. Through rural tourism, rural-urban migration can be prevented. This is important for the sustainability of rural areas. The current study primarily discusses the concepts of rural development and rural tourism. The interaction between agriculture and tourism is examined and the benefits of rural tourism are uncovered. The results of the study have shown that rural tourism activities have positive effects on rural development.

Awareness of the requirements of sustainable development has become increasingly important in terms of responsible consumption, respect for the environment and promotion of local economies. The purpose of this research is to examine the impact of sustainable involvement and buying intentionof tourists on their socially responsible behavior. An empirical study was conducted with a sample of 113 tourists in Morocco. Validation of hypotheses through bi-varied analysis shows that sustainable involvement and intention have a positive impact on socially responsible behavior. In addition, the age, gender and marital status variables have a significant moderating effect on causality links between groups.

In recent years, it is a global trend of avoiding the use of synthetic ingredients for the food products quality enhancement. In this case it is actual task to search for the alternative natural raw materials, which provide the stabilization the products quality during storage. Due to their chemical composition, physiological and functional-technological properties the usage of herbs is a perspective solution of this problem. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of natural ingredients based on herbs (powder and extracts) on the rancidity retardation. The antioxidant effect of herb raw-materials (hop, chamomile, nettle) was studied for the low-moisture bakery products with high fat content. These products are the ideal type of “food on the go” with long term of storage, which characterized with increasing popularity among modern consumers. The study was conducted at the Odessa National Academy of Food Technologies labs. The peroxide value of samples was determined by iodometric method (ISO 3960:2017). The results revealed that addition of natural antioxidants to the bakery goods in comparison to products without additives reduced this indicator up to the 37…52 %  for the samples with herbs. It has been determined that hop, chamomile and nettle incorporation have pronounced antiseptic properties also. The use of herbs in the low-moisture bakery products technology leads to the quality stabilization during their shelf life, improvement of nutritional value and it may be more attractive to consumers due to their natural origin.