The Effects of Biogeotextiles on the Stabilization of Roadside Slopes in Lithuania.

Soil erosion, Water erosion, Soil conservation, Geotextiles, Geotextile mats, Roadside slopes, Vegetation cover, Biogeotextiles , Palm mat geotextiles - Borassus aethiopum - Mauritia flexuosa - Buriti mats - BORASSUS Project - LithuaniaBiogeotextiles constructed from the leaves of Borassus aethiopum and Mauritia flexuosa are investigated at the Kaltinėnai Research Station of the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture, which is participating in the EU-funded BORASSUS Project. Biogeotextiles are potentially excellent biodegradable and environmentally-friendly materials useful for soil conservation. Field studies on a steep (21–25°) roadside slope in Lithuania suggest biogeotextile mats are an effective and sustainable soil conservation technique. Biogeotextiles have a potential as a biotechnical soil conservation method for slope stabilization and protection from water erosion on steep industrial slopes and may be integrated with the use of perennial grasses to optimize protection from water erosion. The investigations demonstrated that a cover of Borassus and Buriti mats improved the germination and growth of sown perennial grasses. The biomass of perennial grasses increased by 52.0–63.4% under cover of Borassus mats and by 18.6–28.2% under cover of Buriti mats. Over 2 years, the biogeotextiles (Borassus and Buruti, respectively) decreased soil losses from bare fallow soil by 90.8% and 81.5% and from plots covered by perennial grasses by 87.9% and 79.0%, respectively

Genetic Recourses : Evaluation Of The Value Of Some Old Latvian Flax Accessions

In the resent years evaluation and conservation of genetic recourses becomes of great importance. Some of the genotypes could be lost when un-sufficient attention is given to them. Some old (created before WWII) Latvian flax accessions have been investigated at the collection nursery at the Upytė Experimental Station of the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry in 2007-2010. Phenological phases, plant height, flower colour, stem, seed and long fibre yield, fibre content and quality (flexibility, strength, quality number), duration of vegetation period, resistance to lodging, etc., have been investigated. The most valuable genotypes have been suggested to be used in further breeding programs

Investigations of Changes of Stinging Nettle’s (Urtica dioica L.) Crop Density

Recently all countries are looking for the renewable resources. Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.) is a perennial plant owning many valuable properties, including yielding natural fibres. Fiber nettle is a cultivated form of the wild nettle. The aim of the research was to investigate changes of productivity of stinging nettle’s crop established at different crop densities. Main criterion discussed in the article is the number of the stems per measuring unit (i.e., crop density). The investigation was carried out at the Upytė Research Station of LRCAF in 2008-2012. The crop of different implantation density was established: 60x60 and 60x100 cm. The results of our investigation show that in the first cropping year stinging nettle produced 25-43 stems per plant. Plants from the crop of 2nd year, 60x60, were grosser, more productive than that of the 1st year crop. Plants of the 1st year crop, 60x100, had more stems per plant than that of 1st year crop, 60x60, but amount of stems per ha1 was higher in the crop of 1st year crop, 60x60. The inundation early in 2010 led to the decrease of plant density of stinging nettle’s crop. Crop density in the spring was lower than that in the autumn. The greatest increase of amount of stems per plant was found in the plots of lower implantation density (60 x 100 cm). It could be that the optimal crop density (112-136 plants m-2) was already achieved in the crop of 4th and 5th cropping year, and it will not increase any more in more matured crop in following years. Further investigation would be intrigued

FIBRE FLAX BREEDING FOR HIGH FIBRE QUALITY

The objective of flax breeding at the Upyte Research Station of LIA is to develop new varieties with a high yielding capacity, satisfactory resistance to lodging and diseases, as well of adequate quality to meet the demands of the textile industry. Two high yielding varieties with a good fibre quality ‘Vega 2’ and № 1547-11-7 have been developed at the Upyte Research Station of LIA recently. In the present paper we have provided a description of the origin of those 2 varieties, main yielding characteristics and fibre quality parameters. The variety ‘Vega 2’ produced 20 % higher stem yield, 18.3 % higher seed and 47 % higher long fibre yield than the standard variety ‘Orshanskij 2’. Long fibre quality of the variety ‘Vega 2’ is good: fibre is firm, flexible, fine and meets the demands of the textile industry. Stem yield of the variety № 1547-11-7 was similar to that of ‘Orshanskij 2’ and ‘Belinka’. Seed yield was 0.13 t/ha higher than that of the variety ‘Orshanskij 2’ and equal to the seed yield of ‘Belinka’. Long fibre quality of № 1547-11-7 is good and also meets the demands of the textile industry. The variety ‘Vega 2’ has been registered in Lithuania since 1997, in Latvia since 2001. The seed samples of the variety № 1547-11-7 have been transferred to the Genebank

The Diversity Of Weeds In Organic Linseed And Flax Crop

The flax is grown in the world for many years. The area of linseed in the world is much more than that of fibre flax. The seeds of ecologically grown linseed have high value as the row material for food, medicine, fodder, oil production. The cold pressed oil and seeds of ecologically grown linseed are especially popular in EU, Canada and USA. The quality of the finished linen product is often dependent upon growing conditions and harvesting techniques. The organic textile trend is starting to develop worldwide, while in Lithuania it is still almost non-existent. Therefore, the chance for Lithuanian farmers appears to export the ecological seed and fiber, not only use them in local market. Lithuanian farmers are in luck for the advices how to grow flax in ecological way. Therefore, in 2007- 2009 some investigations were carried out at the Upytė Experimental Station of the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry (Panevėžys district, Lithuania). The results of our investigation showed that it is possible to grow and harvest fibre flax and linseed in organic farms without any pesticides. The incidence of weeds is one of the biggest problems in organic growing of flax and linseed

BENIKO AND BIALOBREZSKIE – INDUSTRIAL HEMP VARIETIES IN LITHUANIA

The biometrical indices of two hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) varieties of Polish origin – Beniko and Bialobrezskie – sown at different rates (40; 55 and 70 kg ha-1) have been investigated at the Upytė Research Station of LIA in 2006. The data from 2006 led to draw conclusion that plants of industrial hemp varieties of Beniko and Bialobrzeskie could be successfully grown in Lithuania. Hemp produced enough high amount of green (up till 42.95 t ha-1) and dry (up till 15.27 t ha-1) biomass. Plants of Beniko were more productive than plants of Bialobrzeskie. The tendencies of higher green and dry biomass were noticed in the plots of lower density. Seed rate had significant influence on crop density. Seed rate (crop density) had significant effect on crop weediness

INVESTIGATION OF STINGING NETTLE (URTICA DIOICA L.) IN LITHUANIA

Fiber nettle is a cultivated form of the wild nettle and could become a renewable recourse of natural fibres in Lithuania. The aim of research was to investigate propagation ability (shoot rooting) of stinging nettle, investigate influence of different crop density on plant biometrical indices, productivity. The investigation was carried out at the Upytė Research Station of LIA in 2008-2009. The shoots of stinging nettle were cut into segments, the top part of the stem and the segments of the stem were separated and planted in the filed separately. The crop of different density was established: 60x60 and 60x100 cm. The results of our investigation showed, that stinging nettle may be propagated in vegetative way, rooted under field conditions. The top parts of the stem shoved slightly better rooting results than the segments of the stem. Plants from the crop of 2nd year, 60x60, were grosser, more productive than that of the 1st year crop. Plants of the 1st year crop, 60x100, had more stems per plant than that of 1st year crop, 60x60, but amount of stems (units ha-1) was higher in the crop of 1st year crop, 60x60

THE POSSIBILITIES OF LINSEED GROWING ON ORGANIC FARMS

The study was designed to investigate linseed cultivation without using chemical fertilizer and plant protection measures. We study the influence of the anthropogenic and agrotechnical factors on the linseed yield. We also tried to compare the crop productivity cultivating linseed in intensive technology and in organic farm. These investigations are new in Lithuania because beforehand linseed was grown on usual technology farms. It is still not as popular in Europe

INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND GENOTYPE ON THE LINSEED YIELD AND SEED QUALITY

The weakness of knowledge about linseed varieties and its growing features depending on genotype prevent linseed growing and seed marketing in Lithuania. The linseed varieties in Lithuania didn’t achieve yield promised in the variety description. The aim of our investigations was to establish the influence of linseed genotype on the plant productivity, agrotechnical and biological characteristic and seed quality. Nine linseed varieties: Helmi, Szafir, Symphonia, Blue Chip, Lirina, Olinette, Lu-5, Gold Merchant and Flanders were tested in year 2008. As the result of our investigations, the linseed variety Symphonia, with best productivity is recommended to grow and multiple in Lithuania