This article deals with conception and particularity of management process and functions of non-governmental organisations (hereinafter referred to as NGO), as well as peculiarities of management functions of NGO. Empirical research results of implementation of NGO management functions in Kaunas District have been presented, the major advantages and disadvantages of implementation of NGO management functions in Kaunas District have been pointed out. With reference to the data of theoretical analysis and empirical research, the directions towards development of problematic areas of NGO management functions have been indicated and justified, highlighting the elimination of drawbacks to the implementation of management functions.

With increasing competition between companies providing logistics services, a need for new services occurs, entire service packages are formed in order to retain customers. Logistics companies frequently have similar machinery and equipment, employees with similar professional qualifications; they also work in essentially identical economic environment. Investments to technical base are not enough in order to attract new users of logistics services or to retain existing users. In order to be profitable, companies providing logistics services try not only to satisfy the needs of users, but also to provide value for the services that would totally meet implied expectations of the users. When using the same service, different users may assess it completely differently. Therefore, one of the most important aspects in business activity of the companies providing logistics services is the creation of consumption value without the need for significant financial investments ensuring high-end performance. The objective of the research is to determine conditions presupposing the creation of consumption value of logistics services in agrarian sector upon analyzing theoretical assumptions of the creation of consumption value. The research was conducted in the Republic of Lithuania by interviewing executives of the companies providing different logistics services and operating in different regions. Main logistics service groups specific to agrarian sector are defined in the article, and conditions presupposing the creation of consumption value of logistics services are determined.

Aim of the paper is to identify low productivity lands distribution in Vidzeme region, identify enterprises that could use wood chips from willow plantations established on these lands as the main resource in electricity and heat production and calculate produced wood ash amount from these enterprises that could be used as fertilizer and could be recycled in SRC plantations. For better soil fertility evaluation and economic turn predictions all agricultural lands are evaluated in quality units, where one quality unit in money is equal to 5.38 EUR or 70 kg of rye. According to studies, traditional farming in lands, which are below 38 quality units, could be unproductive. In Vidzeme region are 501,880 ha of agriculture lands from which 206,574 ha (52%) are lands with quality assessment under 38 units. According to local farmers’ opinion, the real quality unit, below which economically profitable farming is impossible, are 25 quality units. There are 87,900 ha of agricultural lands under 25 quality units, which represent 18% from all agricultural lands in region. These lands could be used by growing SRC plantations in 2013; the region has 48 enterprises that used wood chips, with total amount of 170,500 oven-dried tonnes per year. Wood chips from SRC plantation could be used in these enterprises. To fulfil the wood chip demand in the region, about 17,000 – 34,000 ha of agricultural land should be planted with SRC plantations. To increase the yields from these lands, fertilization is recommended. In this region are more than 300 enterprises, which use wood as the main resource for electricity or heat production leading to 14,000 oven-dried tons of wood ash production every year.

The purpose of this study was to predict and compare salt accumulation in the soil profile under drained and undrained conditions. The water management simulation model, Drainmod (Ver. 6.1) was used to determine the optimal drainage system design parameters, which will decrease soil profile salinity and provide maximum crop yields in Ankara-Bala Basin of Turkey. Soil sampling points were coordinated with the Global Positioning System (GPS). Soil, crop and site parameters were obtained as an input. The model was run for 5 years from 2005 to 2010 to simulate optimum drainage design parameters (drain depth, drain spacing) while controlling soil salinity in the root zone. Soil water conditions and soil salinity level were simulated for crop rotation of corn (Zea mays) and winter wheat (Triticum). Yield of individual crops was predicted for each growing season. The results of the simulations were analyzed to identify alternatives of subsurface drainage system that would satisfy maximum crop productions. According to the simulation results, the drain spacing of 130 m and drain depth at 160 cm are recommended for Bala Basin. Soil salinity maps were created for undrained and drained conditions. Results showed that the soil salinity level and salinity stress can be reduced and yield increased by installing a drainage system.

Legumes (Leguminosae) are one of the most widely grown crops in the world after cereals (Poaceae). They are not only an important source of protein in food and feed, but also a significant component of different agrosystems. The N2 fixation by legumes is of great importance in nutrient management and sustainable economy of nitrogen. Legume productivity largely depends on a successful formation of symbiosis between the plant and soil microorganisms. The most important among those are rhizobia and mycorrhiza fungi. The field experiment was carried out at the Institute of Soil and Plant Sciences, Latvia University of Agriculture in 2014 to evaluate the influence of double inoculation using rhizobium leguminosarum and mycorrhiza fungi preparation on yield formation of broad bean V. faba L. var. major Harz ‘Bartek’. The bean seeds were treated with rhizobia and/or mycorrhiza fungi before sowing. Seeds were treated with rhizobia by soaking in bacteria suspension for 30 minutes directly before sowing. Mycorrhiza fungi preparation was added in soil under seeds before sowing. Plant height, fresh and dry weight and the weight of nodules were measured at the beginning of broad bean flowering (BBCH 60-61). rhizobium leguminosarum response to double inoculation differed between the strains. Rhizobium leguminosarum strain RL407, isolated from Vicia faba, was shown to be the most appropriate strain used for inoculation of broad bean seeds. Bean seed double inoculation increases the protein content significantly comparing to single inoculation using mycorrhiza fungi preparation.

Pisum sativum L. (field or garden pea), is widely cultivated in Europe. The purpose of this investigation was to see whether pea varieties differ in their yield and content of protein and nutrients. Another aim was to select the best varieties suitable for breeding or production. A field experiment with different varieties of peas (‘Bruno’, ‘Capella’, ‘Clara’, ‘Mehis’ and ‘Vitra’) was carried out at the Estonian Crop Research Institute in 2014. Yields (t haE-1) were not statistically different. Crude protein content (g kgE-1 in dry matter) was lowest in ‘Clara’; all other varieties had a higher content of protein, within much the same range. The lowest N content was found in ‘Clara’, followed by ‘Capella’ and ‘Vitra‘, ‘Mehis’ (44) and the highest in ‘Bruno’ (45). The lowest P content was found in ‘Clara’, followed by ‘Capella‘ and ‘Vitra’; the highest was found in ‘Bruno’ and ‘Mehis’. The lowest K content was found in ‘Mehis’, then ‘Clara’, followed by ‘Capella’ and ‘Vitra’ and the highest in ‘Bruno’. The lowest Ca content was found in ‘Clara’, followed by ‘Capella’ and ‘Mehis’, ‘Vitra’, and highest in ‘Bruno’. The lowest Mg content was found in ‘Capella’, followed by ‘Clara’ and the highest in the other varieties ‘Bruno’, ‘Mehis’ and ‘Vitra’. Thus, choice of the right variety for pea cultivation is very important, but depends on the local agro-climatic conditions. This investigation has been developed with the help of the project EUROLEGUME, funded from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration under the grant agreement no. 613781.

The experiment was carried out at the Research Centre of Organic Farming of Estonian University of Life Sciences in 2012 and 2013. The study was aimed to find out the effect of defoliation and humic acid application on the strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) plant growth, yield, and on the ascorbic acid, total phenolic and anthocyanin contents in ‘Darselect’ yield. Defoliation decreased significantly the number of leaves and inflorescences in both experimental years, while the fertilization effect was only in one experimental year. Fruit weight ranged from 19 to 42 g, being significantly decreased by defoliation in 2012, but increased in 2013. Yield was decreased due to defoliation up to 40% in 2012 and up to 51% in 2013, but humic acid application increased the yield of the defoliated plants in both experimental years. Defoliation in combination with humic acids had a significant effect on strawberry ascorbic acid content, but the effect was different for different fruit order. Tertiary fruits contained up to 46% more of total phenolics due to defoliation in both experimental years. Defoliation increased anthocyanins in primary and secondary fruits, but decreased it in tertiary fruits; while fertilizing increased the content up to 45% in defoliated plants in primary, but decreased about 13% in tertiary strawberries.

This research was conducted to determine the chemical composition of smooth bromegrass in artificial pasture from the years 2010 to 2012 in Isparta Province located in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. The mixture of the pasture used were alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) + sainfoin (Onobrychis sativa Lam.) + crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum L.) + smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis L.). Animal grazing applications were performed in the second and the third year of the study since the first year covered only the establishment of the artificial pastures. Forage samples were collected from grazing and non-grazing areas once every 15 days during the grazing seasons. The crude protein (CP), acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) contents, total digestible nutrient (TDN) and relative feed value (RFV) were determined on the smooth bromegrass forage samples. According to results, CP, TDN and RFV values decreased throughout the grazing season, while ADF and NDF contents increased in grazing and non-grazing areas. The ADF and NDF contents of smooth bromegrass in non-grazed areas were higher than the grazed areas, while CP, TDN and RFV values of grazed areas were higher than non-grazed areas. It can be concluded that the harvesting at the late stages caused a reduction in forage quality of smooth bromegrass in grazing and non-grazing areas.

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.

There is an increasing demand in the development of new and better types of organic plant fertilizers. The aim of the present study was to evaluate if the beneficial effect of vermicompost on plant growth and development could be further promoted by adding different amounts of bat guano using two model species under controlled conditions, as well as to assess the microbiological characteristics of bat guano and soil after its application. The study was performed at the Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia, during 2013 and 2014. The amount of bacteria was significantly lower in guano in comparison to vermicompost samples. No actinobacteria were present, but yeasts were found in the guano sample. Soil fungal populations after the application of organic fertilizer from vermicompost and bat guano were dominated by potentially plant growth promoting fungi Trichoderma and Mortierella. However, at increased guano concentration (300 g kg˗1) the proportion of potentially plant pathogenic fungi significantly increased. Addition of bat guano to vermicompost fertilizer significantly enhanced the positive effect of the fertilizer on growth and development of winter rye (Secale cereale L.) and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plants.