The paper deals with monitoring results of nitrate nitrogen (NO3 --N) run-off in three small agricultural catchments in Latvia (Berze, Mellupite, and Vienziemite) during the period of 1995 - 2007. Continuous flow measurements and water sampling were carried out in two scales - catchment and drainage field. Water quality data was analyzed statistically to identify outliers at various intensity agricultural production systems. The results indicated that with increase of agriculture intensity outlying values are higher and scattered from the rest of the data set thereby the risk of NO3 --N leaching is higher. It can be explained by application of different rates of organic and inorganic fertilization. To analyze water discharge data, cumulative distribution was used. The results show that main part of the water discharge is observed from late autumn to spring, whereas in summer period it is low and stable. The dependence of NO3 --N concentrations on the discharge is expressed by Spearman's correlation coefficient - at catchment scale it is 0.37 in Vienziemite site, 0.39 - in Berze, and 0.44 in Mellupite. Calculated correlation coefficients are statistically reliable.

Eight-year (2000-2007) field studies on the effectiveness of controlled drainage in loam sandy soil were carried out in the Lowland of Middle Lithuania. The plot, which has existing subsurface water removal systems operated as conventional drainage was readjusted for the water table management. Two separate systems - 4.9 hectares free drainage (FD) and 5.4 hectares controlled drainage (CD) were arranged. A water level control structure with a riser column and hand operated rigid flap door was installed in the outlet of drainage collector in the manhole at the junction of two collectors. The water table level was allowed to rise to the maximum of 68 cm above the drains. Measurements to record the water table depth, drain outflow quantity and quality were performed. It was determined that in the CD system the annual drainage outflow lasted shorter by 40-62%, at the same time it was reduced by 25% and nitrate leaching - by 20-28% lower in comparison with the drainage operating in an ordinary regime. These indicators varied depending on weather conditions. The water table control in single-acting drainage systems is feasible and has a positive hydrological and environmental impact.

Agricultural farms in modern production system are specialized; therefore, animal-origin organic fertilizers are not available for many of them. Researches on the use of organic products in agriculture to restrict the use of pesticides and mineral fertilizers have been performed for a long time. Nowadays different organic preparations that are acquired as a result of complex processes are produced, ensuring ready-to-use biologically active substances in them and also activating their properties. One of the purposes of the research was to evaluate the impact of extracts from organic products on the potato (Solanum tuberosum) yield and tuber quality in the conventional cultivation system. A field experiment using cultivars ‘Borodyansky Rozovij’ (early maturity) and ‘Lenora’ (mid-early maturity) was arranged in the State Stende Cereals Breeding Institute in 2011 and 2012. Peat elixir and vermicompost extract obtained at different temperatures: + 45 °C and + 95 °C, as well as a mixture of these extracts were used for treatment of tubers and plants. The research included 24 treatments in total, including control (without treatment) and a standard potato cultivation technology. Tubers were treated immediately before planting, but plants were treated three times during the vegetation period. Average two-year research results showed that the use of organic product extracts significantly (p is less than 0.05) affected the tuber yield in different treatments for both cultivars ‘Borodyansky Rozovij’ and ‘Lenora’. The content of nitrates in tubers, using extracts, did not exceed the allowable level (160 mg kgE-1) in any of treatments.

Establishment of sedimentation ponds is a method to reduce the negative impact of forest management (fellings, drainage) on the quality of nearby rivers, lakes and streams. The aim of the study was to determine the efficiency of sedimentation ponds in forest drainage systems during high precipitation periods. Nine sedimentation ponds with different drainage areas were analysed. The sedimentation ponds are located in the northern part of Latvia on different types of soils and managed by the Joint Stock Company ‘Latvia’s State Forests’. In order to determine efficiency of these ponds the following parameters in water samples were measured: nitrate (NO3 -), ammonium (NH4 +), phosphate ion (PO4 3-), total nitrogen and total suspended solid concentration. The amount of precipitation was taken into account. Results show that there is a correlation between the amount of precipitation and concentrations of total suspended solids and total nitrogen. Ammonium ion concentration was the only parameter that significantly exceeded water quality standards in Latvia. Only one of the objects had high concentration of pollutants, which could be explained with the peaty soil of its drainage area. In further studies data should be collected more frequently, three or four days during one precipitation period.

Progressive type of controlled environment horticulture, such as plant factories, enables the precise control of cultivation environment parameters. The experiments were performed at the Institute of Horticulture, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry in the year of 2017. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different irradiance levels produced by solid state light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on nitrates, nitrites and organic acids contents in tatsoi (Brassica rapa var. rosularis), cultivated in the controlled environment chambers. Plants were cultivated under combinations of red (640, 660 nm), blue (445 nm) and far red (731nm) LEDs at photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) level of 200 µmol mE-2 sE-1. At the pre-harvest stage, PPFD was increased to 300 µmol mE-2 sE-1 by elevating the fluxes of different spectral components for 3 days. The contents of nitrates, nitrites and organic acids were evaluated. The results propose the metabolic interface between nitrates, nitrites and organic acids in green vegetables, sensitive for lighting conditions. The higher intensity of LED light at pre-harvest stage led to decreased contents of nitrates in tatsoi. The increased intensity of blue 455 nm light led to lower contents of nitrates and higher of organic acids in comparison to red 640 nm. In addition, the increased intensity of red 640 nm led to significantly higher (p≤0.05) contents of nitrites. The target management of LED light spectra and intensity at pre-harvest stage could be used to reduced nitrates and increased organic acids in tatsoi.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the main plant nutrient: mineral nitrogen (NH4 + -N and NO3 -N) dynamic in soil under fertilizing for obtaining high grain yields of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and to determine relationships between nutrient uptake and winter wheat productivity. The field study was carried out at the Research and Study farm ‘Vecauce’ of the Latvia University of Agriculture for two years 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 with winter wheat variety ‘Kranich’. Different nitrogen application rates (0, 85, 153, 150, 175, 180 and 187 kg haE-1) and timing were used for winter wheat. The content of nitrates NO3 -N and ammonium nitrogen NH4 -N was determined in the soil layers 0-0.20 m, 0.20-0.40 m, 0.40-0.60 m. Nitrogen management strategy during the plant growth period based on soil Nmin evaluating can improve N use efficiency and reduce environmental contamination. The maximum of mineral nitrogen content in soil in the vegetation period was observed at the beginning of stem elongation with a tendency to decrease. A significant impact (p is less than 0.05) of nitrogen fertilizer application was noted on the mineral nitrogen content in soil layer 0-0.20 m deep in both trial years. The increasing doses of nitrogen fertilizer raised the amount of mineral N in the soil profile. The significant impact (p is less than 0.001) of nitrogen application and year conditions was observed on grain yield. Close positive correlation significant at 99% probability level was observed between the grain protein content and nitrogen concentration mostly in all soil layers, but it was not found between the grain yield and nitrogen content.

The aim of the research was to evaluate how the quality of carrots is affected by organic and conventional production systems. The experiment was carried out at the Estonian Crop Research Institute in 2009. Conventional treatment received the following amount of nutrients via mineral fertilizers: N 115, P 40 and K 152 kg haE-1. For plant protection, the following pesticides were used: Fenix, Fastac 50, Agil and Signum. In organic cultivation system compost and humic acid solution Humistar were used for fertilization and polypropylene non-woven fabric Agryl P-17 for plant protection. Marketable yield of organic carrots was 8% lower compared to the conventional carrots. Conventional carrots contained pesticide residues and had significantly higher nitrate concentration than organic carrots. The contents of total sugars, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium did not differ significantly between carrots from different cultivation systems. At harvest, dry matter (DM) content of organically grown carrots was significantly higher, whereas vitamin C and ß-carotene content was significantly lower in organically grown carrots. However, after 5-months of storage, the organic carrots had significantly higher total soluble solids (TSS) and β-carotene content compared to the conventional ones indicating that organically grown carrots were less susceptible to storage conditions.

Trying to find the best solution for the ecological problem of karst zone (i.e. protection of surface and ground water from agricultural activity) it is important to determine the migration extent of plant nutrients leached from the soil into the streams and ground water depending on the type of land use. The paper presents the results of the studies carried out in two vicinities of intensive karst zone in Birzai district. The obtained results show the influence of drainage water on the quality of stream water in drained areas. It has also been determined that drainage water quality is influenced by soil forming rocks as well as by the type of land use. In the failures of karst zone, as well as in arable land the quality of ground water is worse, especially when ground water is found near the ground surface.

During the period 1995-1998, in the western part of Lithuania, the organic and intensive (conventional) cropping systems were compared on small autonomous drainage plots in limed Bathihypogleyi-Albic Luvisols (LVa-gld-w) and Dystri-Endohypogleyic Cambisols (CMg-n-w-dy) as well as non-acid Endocalcari-Endohypogleyic Cambisols (CMa-n-w-can) soils. This paper presents the summarised results of field crop productivity and the factors determining drainage water runoff as well as the migration and balance of elements in the organic and intensive cropping systems.

Stable isotope ratios of water (δ2H and δ18O) are important indicators which describe hydrological processes in the environment. These parameters allow to analyse structure, status, migration of pollutants and processes of the groundwater system. Groundwater from dug wells is widely used as a drinking water source highlighting the importance of investigation of water quality and its possible flows and sources. Despite available centralized water systems, there are still wide territories where dug wells are the main source of drinking water supply. Dug wells are recharged from shallow groundwaters which makes them more vulnerable to anthropogenic contamination. Therefore, quality monitoring and estimation of anthropogenic influences are of importance. Quality requirements of drinking water do not provide measurements of stable isotope ratios in drinking water, but the combination of those elements can be valuable for the characterization of impacts on groundwater quality. The aim of this study was to survey 64 dug wells in Eastern Latvia and analyse water quality together with measurements of stable isotope ratios. Measurements were performed twice, i.e., autumn and spring to track water sources in wells and describe the extent of possible impacts. This approach can indicate the magnitude of local factor impacts on drinking water quality. Surveyed wells provide high differences in analysed parameters, for example, nitrate concentrations in autumn varies from 0.44 to 108.26 mg LE−1. Also, other detected parameters are variable; therefore, tracking water flow with stable isotope values gives better insight into the water quality of the studied region.