Peat is still mined in many parts of the world for production of peat substrates and energy. Many peatlands were affected by drainage in the past also for forestry and agricultural needs. Nowadays a raised attention to peatlands is focused, especially to drained peatlands due to their carbon reserves and their potential influence to the climate on the one hand, but on the other hand - due to raising awareness on protection of environment, habitats and biotopes. There are many examples on restoration activities in peatlands found worldwide, especially their water regime is the subject of regulation, which plays the major role to bring back original functions. In most cases in Latvia as the aim for protection and restoration of degraded peatlands was protection of EU biotopes and habitats. Of course, peatlands play an important role in emissions of the greenhouse gases CO2, CH4 and N2O, produced during mineralization of the drained peat organic matter. In literature, we can find only few cases where hydrological regimes are described for natural raised as well as restored block-cut peat extraction fields. This research analyses block-cut peat extraction field water level fluctuation influence on naturally raised bog hydrological regimes. Hourly data is analysed for six groundwater monitoring wells as well as for determination needs of water level fluctuations in excavated peat quarry as a response to precipitation.

The study was aimed to investigate the effect of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in vitro plantlets planting density under greenhouse conditions on obtained minitubers number per unit area, multiplication rate and their weight distribution. Three cultivars of different maturity (‘Monta’ – early maturity, ‘Prelma’ – medium early and ‘Mandaga’ – medium late maturity) were used for the study. In vitro plantlets were planted in a greenhouse of State Priekuli Plant Breeding Institute, Latvia in 2014 at four planting densities (PDs) 63 plants per square m, 95 plants per square m, 142 plants per m2 and 184 plants per square m respectively. Fertilized peat was used as a substratum. Significant effect of planting density (p is less than 0.001) and cultivar (p is less than 0.01) was found on analyzed yield parameters. Increased planting densities resulted in increased minitubers number per square m (from 272 minutubers mE-2 at PD 63 plants mE-2 to 414 minutubers mE-2 at PD 184 plants mE-2), decreased multiplication rate (4.3 to 2.7 minitubers per planted plant) and mean fresh weight of minitubers (from 20.26. g to 12.11 g). The highest increase of minitubers number per m2 was observed within size (weight) range 3 to 5 g. Minitubers number per m2 increase within bigger size ranges (5 to 10 g, 10 to 20 g) was less pronounced. Slight insignificant (p=0.330) decrease of minitubers number is greater than 20 g was observed in relation of planting density increase (112 minitubers mE-2 at PD 95 plants mE-2 to 84 minitubers mE-2 at PD 184 plants mE-2).

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.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most important agricultural crops for human consumption and high amount is produced worldwide every year. Potato peel waste is a zero value by-product, which occurs in big amounts after industrial potato processing and can range from 15 to 40% of initial product mass, depending on the peeling method. Food waste utilization causes great concern in food industry in Europe and many scientific works were written on this topic in the last years offering solutions and original approaches. Present article aims to summarize the review of available literature on industrial potato peel waste application possibilities in food production industry. Scientific articles on food waste management, potato peel chemical composition and recycling methods have been studied. The main results show, that there is a big potential for potato peel extract as an antioxidant in food systems due to its high phenol content. In addition, potato peel powder could serve as a partial flour replacement in dough up to 10 g 100 gE-1 of flour weight without causing significant changes in sensory properties. Potato peel waste can serve as a solid substrate for fermentation. Further investigations in the present field are needed in order to evaluate full potato peel waste application potential.

Whole grain flour can be considered as a good candidate for pasta fortification due to the health benefits. Literature reports pasta dough fortification with non-traditional ingredients and cereals. Therefore, the purpose of the current research was to investigate rheological properties of whole grain flour blends for pasta production. Flour blends were made from wheat flour (type 405) in a combination with other flours (whole grain wheat, rye or hull-less barley flour) in various proportions (from 10% to 50%). Wheat flour type 405 was used as a control. Rheological properties of dough were analysed using Farinograph AT (Brabender, GmbH and Co.KG., Germany) and starch gelatinization properties of flour starch using Amylograph-E (Brabender GmbH and Co.KG., Germany); moisture content of flour samples (AACC 44-15A from 2000). The results of present research demonstrate that rheological properties of dough decrease if the amount of whole grain flour in blend increases. It was concluded that water absorption and dough development time of dough with whole grain flour blends addition is less than the parameters of control wheat flour (type 405). However, a higher starch gelatinization was obtained for flour blends with whole wheat grain flour, comparing to blends with whole rye and hull-less barley grain flour, which mainly could be explained with a higher gluten content of whole wheat grain flour.

In this work the combinations of commercial lactic acid bacteria starters and acetic acid bacteria strain were used for production of fructans in substrate, both with and without sucrose additive, and studied their potential in maintaining technological properties of yoghurt and fermented milk. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of fructans producing starter cultures on milk coagulation technique, the amount of secreted fructans and viscosity of fermented milk samples. An amount of fructans synthesized by starter cultures and Gluconobacter sp. B35, pH and viscosity of samples were measured using appropriate standards and analytical methods. Results showed that the addition of acetic acid bacteria did not influence the pH dynamics of fermented milk samples. Increasing sucrose concentration in samples significantly influences fructans production potential. The application of such technology in fermented dairy product production would have potential from microbiological exopolysaccharides increasing position with the aim to promote functionality of dairy foods and to substitute commercial stabilisers etc. The addition of acetic acid bacteria in milk showed negative impact on viscosity of the evaluated samples. The viscosity was liquid in all analyzed samples with acetic acid bacteria, the addition of sucrose helped to make the consistency of yoghurt and fermented milk more liquid. We concluded that the structure of synthesized fructans could not help to improve the textural properties of fermented dairy products. From this point of view, the studied acetic acid bacteria strain should have the potential as prebiotic.

Avian mycoplasmosis have been considered a severe problem in poultry diseases; Mycoplasma gallisepticum being one of the most important. This study was conducted in Joint-Stock Company Balticovo, Latvia, to determine the prevalence of M. gallisepticum infection in hen’s flocks in the farm. A total of 904 serum and 335 swab samples from non-vaccinated birds against M. gallisepticum from 65 chicken flocks of different age, from day 1 to 75 weeks old, were all tested. The commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests were used. Results revealed that the seropositive flock rate, based on ELISA tests and, according to ratio that represents the extent to which a light source effectively stimulates the rods: S/P ratios and antibodies titer higher 1.076 were 22/904 (2.43%) and 4/904 (0.44%), respectively, while PCR-positive flock rates were not confirmed. Seroprevalence of M. gallisepticum in commercial layer flock in Latvia was more common seen in birds from 17 to 30 weeks of age.

This article presents the results of a comparative evaluation of preventive treatment of udder with probiotic agents: ‘Dipal’ (manufacturer DeLaval - Sweden), ‘Zorka’ (manufacturer «NPP Farmaks» - Russia). We have received data on the effects of probiotic preparation on quality of milk and number of somatic cells in milk. Research has been conducted in two dairy farms of Almaty region of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Lactobacillus acidophilus 05ch - isolated from shubat (South Kazakhstan region, Turkestan). Lactococcus lactis 010k - isolated from three-day kumys (Zhambyl region, Merke). These probiotics are used as a means for sanitary treatment of the udder of cows. Thus, the procedure of determining the antagonistic activity revealed their high activity against both gram-negative and gram-positive microorganisms, notably Staphylococcus aureus (10-13 mm), Escherichia coli (12 mm), Proteus vulgaris (10-14 mm), Salmonella abortus ovis (11-13 mm). Significant changes in the milk indices can be found in the experimental group: 9.1% rise of lactose, and 7.2% reduction of protein. The level of protein increased by 4.1% , whereas the amount of lactose, on the contrary, went down 1.6%, which may be indicative of the increase in the content of serum protein when the udder is inflamed. The examination of the milk obtained from the cows of the control and experimental groups showed a nearly double reduction in the number of somatic cells from 488.00 down to 178.000 thousand, which was caused by the daily treatment of cows by probiotic cultures during 2 weeks.

The article presents the comparative, descriptive statistics analysis of the changes of the Baltic Sea coast in the territory of the Republic of Lithuania. This paper analyzes the Baltic Sea coast measurements taken during the period between 2008 and 2015. The formation of the strip of the Northern breakwater - Giruliai during this period was influenced by the Hurricane Felix on January 10 of 2015. Describing the Baltic Sea coast strip dynamics trends, the Baltic Sea coastline change during the period between 2008 and 2015 was selected and calculated on the basis of the measurements results. Analysis of the erosive and accumulation processes of the 4 km long strip from the Northern breakwater to Giruliai strip was provided. The carried out data of the Baltic Sea coast changes analysis show that seacoast limits are constantly changing. The replenishment of the Baltic seacoast spatial data set during the period between 2008 and 2013 with the revised spatial data of the period between 2014 and 2015 showed that during the months of January during the period between 2008 and 2015 the 4 km long strip of the Baltic Sea coast decreased by 3.7075 ha, in the 1st Melnrage area, the 0.7 km long strip of coastline has moved more than 30 m inland. It was found that in the southern half of the researched section erosion processes prevailed, while in the northern part – both erosion and accumulative ones.

The paper aims at analyzing agricultural production for energy generation purposes, including the production of agricultural biogas, as an opportunity for functional diversification of agriculture and for multifunctional rural development in Poland. There have been many changes observed in Polish agriculture. New directions of crop production and of the use of agricultural products have emerged. One of the changes is the increasing significance of the production of agricultural biogas and energy from biogas. There have been built both small-scale and large-scale biogas plants. Most of the agricultural biogas plants are located in northern, western and south-western Poland, i.e. in the areas where there are relatively large farms which can provide a supply of substrates necessary for the production of agricultural biogas. The formation of biogas plants and the use of agricultural production for generating energy are an eagerly anticipated trend contributing to the dissemination of renewable energy sources, the functional diversification of agriculture, the development of additional economic activities in rural areas, and the increase in the energy security of particular regions and the entire country.