The research was carried out on ASU WRI grounds in Juodkiškes village in Endocalcari Endohypogleyic Cambisol (CMg-n-w-can). Research basis is 3 different field studies. In Variant I an organic cropping system was used with manure and without mineral fertilizers and pesticides, in II - organic-mineral cropping system with manure and mineral fertilizers, using pesticides, in Variant III - mineral cropping system with mineral fertilizers and pesticides. Minimum mineral nitrogen content in soil was in the organic cropping system, and the total minimal field crop capacity - in the mineral cropping system. However, it has the highest energy efficiency of this system (ETK - 13). Minimal N-NO3 - concentration in drainage water was in the mineral cropping system. In the organic-mineral and organic cropping systems concentration of this compound increases by 11 percent (to 21.8 mg l-1). The minimal concentration of ammonia nitrogen was under organic cropping conditions. The organic cropping system showed the highest runoff and maximum leaching of nitrogen compounds by drainage.

In 1999-2003, the investigations were carried out in Juodkiskis study object of Water Management Institute of Lithuanian University of Agriculture. Study scheme is composed of three treatments: treatment I -slurry applied, treatment II - mineral fertilizers applied; treatment III - no fertilization. Test field is drained, drain spacing is 15 m; draining depth is 1.2 m. During the crop rotation the following plants were grown: spring wheat with undercrop, red clover (1st year of use), red clover (2nd year of use), sugar beet, and spring rape. The objective of studies was to determine the effect of cultivated crops on drainage water quality. As the study results have show, N total concentrations contained in drainage water increased due to higher fertilization rates and inorganic nitrogen accumulated in the soil. Neither fertilization nor amount of mobile phosphorous contained in the soil made any effect on Ptotal concentrations in drainage water. In arable land, Ntotal concentrations contained in drainage water were 2.3 times higher than those in drainage water of the field, where red clover was grown. Ptotal concentrations were higher in the field with red clover. According to the rates determined in Lithuania, drainage water is not polluted with phosphorus, while average annual Ntotal concentrations exceeded the maximum allowable (MAC) when spring wheat with undercrop and sugar beet was grown.

In the celebration of the Annual 25th International Scientific Conference “Research for Rural Development 2019ˮ held at the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, in Jelgava, from 15 to 17 May, participants with different backgrounds from 12 countries did 156 presentations, enjoyed welcome dinner with Latvian folk songs and dances as well as tasted a special cake. During a social programme of the conference, the participants visited a malt production plant, Rundāle palace and had farewell lunch. In the retrospect, four months later, we consider the Conference a great success in terms of interdisciplinary studies and networking opportunities. The sessions of the conference were structured so as to give all participants the opportunity to contribute to the primary purpose of the conference, which is discussion of important current issues facing rural development. The interdisciplinary proceedings of the Annual 25th International Scientific Conference “Research for Rural Development 2019ˮ (two volumes since 2010) are intended for academics, students and professionals. The subjects covered by those issues are as follows: crop production, animal breeding, agricultural engineering, agrarian and regional economics, food sciences, veterinary medicine, forestry, wood processing, water management, environmental engineering, information and communication technologies.

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.

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.

Results of the study showed the following: 1) There exists an extremely broad range of agricultural and agroforestry land-use alternatives to the current slash-and-burn systems but much work needs to be done. 2) There is a major need for scientific quantification of the many attributes of the most promising systems. 3) There is a need for national policy to discourage use of environmentally destructive systems and to encourage longer-term investment by finding solution to land tenure uncertainty. Innovative marketing approaches that open large market segments for agroforestry fruit products (such as the soft drink market) have been extremely successful but not well documented in many parts of Asia. 4) There is a need to "harness" and distribute the best farmers knowledge about integrated systems, but have little successful experience with this. 5) Finally, scientist must realize that the scientific knowledge base covering the range of options is frightfully narrow, and the scope for learning is enormous. The success stories of imaginative application of the many options give hope, but at the same time stretch our abilities, to understand and to properly apply the numerous technologies waiting for more widespread use

The economics of the tree plantation crops is summarized in this paper. Aleurites spp. cultivation gives good economic returns. However, the end product of this crop is an oil which is particularly used in industries. Therefore, it is highly dependent on external market forces. At present, most requirement of this oil is met from imports. This also necessitates that the cost of production should be minimal to warrant a competitive price. Poor infrastructure and hilly terrains put these traditional farmers at a disadvantage vis-a-vis their counterparts elsewhere. Still, Aleurites spp. had a good economic potential and support from the government can provide the required impetus to the cultivation of this crop. It can provide an alternative livelihood to shifting cultivators not only in Mizoram but in other states as well where agroclimatic conditions favor the growth of this tree. On Livistonia jenkinsiana, at present, the produce has a small market which can possibly expand in terms of its demand. However, large market expansion is impossible as the leaves must compete with modern house building materials. Thus, it can provide an alternative to shifting cultivation only to a limited extent. Intervention in terms of value addition and market expansion is desirable. Thysanolaena maxima, on the other hand, has a high benefit cost ratio and very good market, processing and value addition facilities have also come up in nearby lowland trading centers. As a result, T. maxima cultivation is expanding rapidly. Even without any external intervention, the farmers are getting good returns. In villages where the farmers have taken up the cultivation of this crop, within 10-15 years it has almost completely occupied all the lands previously used for shifting cultivation. T.maxima had low starting cost and quick returns (on the second year). The other two species have high cost on the first three years. In particular, Aleurites can give the highest income over six years