The report presents the assessment of emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) generated by the treatment, disposal and storage of sewage sludge in Latvia. The aim of the study was to determine GHG emissions from stored sludge because those were not previously estimated. The proposals for the further reduction of the GHG emissions are elaborated on the provided estimations of different treatment models. The calculations of GHG emissions are conducted by using acknowledged software and data from Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre. Data from the year 2005 till 2009 about the amount of stored sludge were used by the authors for mathematical calculations in the year 2010. The long-term storage of sewage sludge and their disposal in landfills were detected as the main sources of GHG. It was detected that the average GHG reduction of 5 Gg per year can be ensured by using biological treatment of sewage sludge.

Methane is considered to be the main greenhouse gas (GHG) emitted by livestock. One method for reducing methane emissions from ruminants is to improve production efficiency, which reduces methane emissions per unit of product (FAO, 2010; Gworgwor, Mbahi, and Yakubu, 2006). There are many researches about prebiotics which can reduce methane production in livestock, for example, galacto-oligosaccharides reduced methane emission up to 11% (litres/day) (Zhou et al., 2004). There is almost no information about prebiotic inulin, so the aim of this research was to determine the impact of different dosages of inulin concentrate (50%) on the increase of calves’ body weight and its impact on methane emission, as well as to find out how the results change if it is added to barley flour not to milk as in our previous research. Approximately fifty days old, clinically healthy, different Holstein Friesian crossbreed calves kept in groups of 8, in a partly closed space with natural ventilation through windows were included in this research. Eight calves were in the control group (CoG) and sixteen received inulin (Pre12 (n = 8), Pre24 (n = 8)). At the beginning of the experiment – the 28th and 56th day - we determined each calf’s weight and measured the methane level in the rumen by using the PICARROG-2508 gas analyser (Fleck, 2013). We concluded that inulin supplement significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased the live weight gain comparing Pre24 and CoG. The highest methane production on 1 kg of body weight at the end of the research was detected in Pre24 – 1.24 mg mE-3 and the lowest in CoG – 0.99 mg mE-3.

The aim of paper is a comparative analysis of on-farm greenhouse gas emissions across family farm types and farm size classes using FADN data in Lithuania. To achieve this, Lithuanian FADN data of 2014 were used for the analysis. The research draws on a sample of 1304 family farms. The methodology is based on an adaptation of the IPCC guidelines using Lithuanian emission factors from Lithuania’s National Inventory Report and the activity data of family farms derived from Lithuanian FADN. The GHG emissions were analysed per farm (t CO2eq farmE-1) and per hectare (CO2eq haE-1 of UAA). The research found out that the major sources of GHG emissions are related to the use of chemical fertilizers on farms comprising 52.6% of the total emissions from family farms. The performed analysis shows that GHG emissions per farm depended on the farm size and ranged from 63.3 t CO2eq farmE-1 to 479.6 t CO2eq farmE-1, on farm size class less than 30 ha UAA and from 500 ha UAA or over, respectively. The GHG emissions on family farms totalled 184.2 t CO2eq farmE-1 and ranged from 5.8 t CO2eq farm E-1 to 234.6 t CO2eq farmE-1, in the permanent crops farms and in the specialist dairying farms, respectively.

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 is to evaluate carbon stock in litter and organic forest soils in Latvia as well as to characterize accumulation of carbon in litter in afforested lands. The study is providing empirically valid information about soil and litter carbon changes for the National greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory by using data from National forest inventory (NFI), forest soil monitoring demonstration project BioSoil and other studies. The study proves significance of organic forest soil carbon pool in Latvia and demonstrates necessity to extend NFI incorporated forest soil monitoring program to improve data on soil density in wet organic soils, as well as to integrate data characterizing water regime in forests. The acquired data also proves that the conservative approach of calculation of carbon stock changes in litter in afforested lands applied in the Latvia’s National GHG inventory avoids overestimation of CO2 removals. The data on litter carbon stock collected in this study is sufficient to estimate total carbon stock for stands dominated by most common tree species and long term impact of changes of species composition. Measurements of organic soil and litter thickness should be continued by NFI and integrated with more detailed soil monitoring to increase accuracy of carbon stock estimates and gather data necessary for verification of modelling data, particularly in afforested lands and due to change of dominant species.

The study represents results on remote sensing methods based evaluation of land use and land use changes in former and existing peat extraction areas in Latvia. The aim of the study is to elaborate activity data set for the National GHG inventory for the wetlands remaining wetlands for peat extraction. The study results provide sufficient data for application of the default emission factors for the peat extraction sites and flooded lands. Abandoned peat extraction fields, which are not yet afforested, flooded or rewetted, should be reported as peat extraction sites following a conservative approach in application of the emission factors. The study results can be used to report land use changes since 1990; however, linearized approach in calculation of the land use change may result in overestimation or underestimation of GHG emissions in certain periods of time. According to study results, the area of peat extraction sites is considerably bigger than currently reported in the National GHG inventory, mainly due to considerable areas of abandoned peat extraction fields. Flooded lands may be a significant source of emissions and should be introduced in the National GHG inventory to secure consistency of reporting. Methodology for calculation of GHG emissions from flooded lands should be also elaborated. It is also necessary to elaborate emission factors for fertile and no fertile peat extraction sites and continue work on separation of different soils in the inventory to increase accuracy of calculations.

Liming soils make both direct and indirect effects on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. If raising the pH of soil, the amount of N2 O emissions in the result of nitrification decreases; therefore, it is important to perform also maintenance liming if applying nitrogen fertilisers. Liming acidic soils contributes to the absorption of nutrients supplied by means of fertilisers by plants, limits the spread of plant diseases, forms better soil moisture and air regimes for plants, improves the structure of soil and activates microorganisms. The aim of this study was to assess liming effect on nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen oxide emissions in crop farming. To achieve the aim, this study proceeds in two stages: 1) to analyse the scientific literature on the liming effect on nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen oxide emissions in other countries, as a few such research studies are available in Latvia; 2) to calculate potential gains and losses from liming acid soils in order to examine the real situation concerning liming and its effects on the economy of farms. The research finds out that at the farm level in Latvia liming gives a positive economic effect (41.6 EUR haE-1) however, it is essential for maintaining soil fertility, increasing yields, and presumably for more efficient circulation of nitrogen, which decreases nitric oxide emissions.

Since the middle of the last century rapid intensification of agricultural production systems has resulted in dramatic increase in fertilizer consumption as fertilizer has been considered as one of the most important factors for increased yields. However, not all the nutrient ions in a fertilizer applied to soil are taken up by crops, thus certain amount of the applied fertilizer is lost from agricultural fields leading to increases in nitrogen surplus, nitrogen losses to the environment and harmful impacts on biodiversity, air and water quality. This study aims to focus on crop fertilisation planning which is based on the knowledge of physical and chemical properties of soil and involves performing soil tests, designing a fertilisation plan and its practical implementation as well as calculating the balance of N, and to evaluate crop fertilisation planning as a tool for achieving balanced economic and environmental benefits in crop farming, which play an important role in efficient farming. In this study, the authors have analysed current situation in Latvia regarding requirements for fertilization planning in crop farms and have assessed potential costs and benefits from fertilisation planning. The research finds out that total cost of introducing of fertilisation planning ranges from 34 to 22 EUR haE-1, however, fertilisation planning is a neutral measure where costs are compensated by savings from N inputs which ranges from 10 to 40 kg N haE-1.Fertilisation planning generates environmental benefits, i.e. – reduces direct N2 O emissions from agricultural soils by 47 – 187 kg CO2eq haE-1 through reduced N fertilizer inputs.