Fodder galega (Galega orientalis Lam) grass potential as a forage and bioenergy crop

ArticleFodder galega (Galega orientalis Lam.) is a forage legume that has been grown in Estonia for almost forty five years. Pure galega is known to be persistent, high-yielding crop and rich in nutrients, in particular crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF). Galega is usually grown in a mixture with grass in order to optimize its nutrient concentration, increase dry matter (DM) yield and improve fermentation properties. The trial plots were established on a typical soddy-calcareous soil. There are certain grass species suitable for the mixture. In this study galega mixtures with reed canary grass cv. ‘Marathon’, timothy cv. ‘Tika’, red fescue cv. ‘Kauni’ and festulolium cv. ‘Hykor’ were under investigation in three successive years (2013–2015). In order to increase competitiveness of grasses and the yield of the first cut, two N fertilization levels were used: N0 and N50 kg ha-1 . Two cuts were carried out during the growing season in all three years. The total dry matter yield varied from 9.1 to 12.8 t ha-1 . The NDF concentration in the DM varied from 495−559 g kg-1 . Both DM-yield and NDF were dependent on the year, mixture, cutting time and fertilization. Nitrogen fertilization (N50 kg ha-1 ) favoured grass growth and reduced the role of galega in the sward

The impact of the termination technology of agro-ecological service crops on soil properties in open field vegetable production

ArticleThe agro - ecological service crops (ASC) are introduced in the agro - ecosystems to provide or enhance ecological services, thus promoting the whole soil - plant system equilibrium. To avoid competition with the subsequent cash crops, the growth of the interposed ASC is terminated in advance of the cash crop planting. The traditional, most widespread technique to terminate the ASC is incorporation as green manure into the soil by tillage (GM). However, since tillage includes energy and labour consuming and soil dis turbing operations, the use of no/reduced tillage techniques (as the roller crimping technology - RC) has received increasing interest. An international research consortium (SOILVEG) including Estonian Crop Research Institute, was established in 2015 with th e aim to study among others the impact of ASC termination on soil dry bulk density (BD), water content, soil structure and microbiological activity. Data are collected from Estonian tri als in 2016 and 2017 at Jõgeva. The physical properties of 0 – 40 cm soil layers were determined. Higher BD in soil layers (0 – 20 cm) of plots with ASC and RC was determined comparing to the GM and control plots. Bigger water content in same layer of plots with ASC and the RC was determined comparing to the GM plots. The use of the ASC - s helped to arise ratio of agronomically preferred soil particles. Microbial activity was estimated by assessing of enzyme dehydrogenase activity in 0 – 20 cm soil layer. There were no statistically relevant differences in soil dehydrogenase activit y (DHA) be tween the RC and GM treatments

Express-diagnostics method for assessment of soil compaction for different cultivation methods

Saabunud / Received 01.12.2019 ; Aktsepteeritud / Accepted 08.05.2020 ; Avaldatud veebis / Published online 11.05.2020 ; Vastutav autor / Corresponding author: Edvin Nugis e-mail: [email protected] compaction remains a concern because of the heavy tractors used in intensive agriculture. When axle loads of vehicles increase, soil compaction is affected in deeper soil layers. An efficient tool is needed to assess the impact of machines on soil. Therefore, an expressdiagnostics method was developed and implemented under Estonian agricultural conditions. Since 1976, an investigation has been carried out on how wheeled or tracked vehicles (WTV) influence soil under agricultural conditions in Estonia. The main goal of the investigation was to develop a mathematical model and corresponding computer simulation system. Uncompacted and compacted soil was modelled using a vegetation model of "guttated vegetation miniatures". The system allows soil vulnerability to compaction to be assessed by the criterion (qabc) agroempirical bearing capacity (ABC). Both field and laboratory data were used in the development of the system. We have found that at the deepest layer the bulk density was higher for tilled soil compared to no-tilled soil. Dry soil bulk density in no-tilled soil after 2 years in the deepest layer was 0.11 Mg m3 –1 less than tilled soil, and for no-tilled soil after 3 years in the deepest layer it was 0.12 Mg m3 –1 less compared to the tilled field soil. The amount of agronomically preferable aggregates (2–4.75mm) was major in tilled soil compared to no-tilled soil. It means that the preferred (in agronomical sense) soil particles Kstr in conventionally tilled (ploughing – K2; K3) fields were significantly better compared to no-tilled (O2; O3) fields in the trial plots. These results emphasize the benefits of multifunctional modelling systems (computer simulation and simulation by vegetation miniatures) and the need to improve assessment of methodology for receiving adequate and probable results, and finally for yield prediction

Effects of lake sediment on soil chemical composition, dehydrogenase activity and grain yield and quality in organic oats and spring barley succession

In organic farming, it is important to maintain soil fertility with organic fertilisers; often organic compost, manure, or slurry is used. However, the effects of lake sediment in maintaining and improving soil fertility are less studied. The direct and residual effects of a one-time application of 50 t ha-1 or 100 t ha-1 of lake sediment were compared to an unfertilised control for oats (Avena sativa) (2015) followed by spring barley (Hordeum vulgare) in 2016, under organic farming conditions. Soil chemical composition, microbial activity in the 0–20 cm soil layer, grain yield, and grain quality were tested. The application rate, 100 t ha-1 , increased (P < 0.05) the soil organic carbon (SOC), the amount of mobile calcium (Ca), total nitrogen (Ntot), and boron (B) content in soil. Both application rates increased (P < 0.05) the amount of magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) content in the soil. The application rate had no effect on soil pH. Soil dehydrogenase activity (DHA) was higher (P < 0.05) at 100 t ha-1 than the control and the lower application rate. Both rates of lake sediment application significantly (P < 0.05) increased the grain yield and test weight for oats in 2015. Positive residual effects on spring barely yield only occurred in the 100 t ha-1 treatments in 2016. No residual impact of lake sediment was found on spring barely quality

The impact of distance to the farm compound on the options for use of the cereal plot

In increasingly competitive conditions, the dominant trend of enlarging the production area of farms is causing a growth in transportation costs making the profitability of cultivating distant plots questionable. The aim of this study was to provide a method to evaluate the rationality of using a plot depending on its distance, area and cultivation technology. An algorithm and a mathematical model were composed to calculate the total costs depending on the distance to the plot. The transportation costs of machines and materials, cost of organisational travel and timeliness costs are taken into account in the model to enable determination of the maximum distance or the minimum area of the plot necessary for profitable cultivation. Simulations allow us to conclude that the growth in yield and selling price of the production allow an increase in the limit value of driving costs and, thus, the profitable distance of the plot; on the other hand, it means also an increase of timeliness costs as a limitation for extending distance. Exploitation of more distant plots can be uneconomical in coming years because of increasing fuel costs.vo