The Use of Digestate as Fertilizer: Effect on Cocksfoot Productivity and Total Energy Input

The financial viability of bioenergy production is mostly influenced by the productivity and quality of the biomass (Lehtomäki et al. 2011; Šiaudinis et al. 2012. Biogas which is an important form of bioenergy, is composed of methane and carbon dioxide produced from the anaerobic digestion of organic raw materials. To maximize the economic value of the anaerobic digestion process, both biogas and digestate should be efficiently utilized. The energy input for grass grown specifically for biogas production ranges from 4.1 to 24.5 GJ/ha (Kryževičienė et al. 2005; Navickas et al. 2006; Navickas et al. 2011) depending on the fertilizer rate. In this case and because of nutrient content in digestate, it may also be used as an organic fertilizer to increase the productivity of crops with a reduced need for mineral fertilizers. The objective of the current study was to investigate the effect of digestate, derived from pig manure and organic residues, on the productivity of cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.)

Biomass of Grasses and Other Herbaceous Plants for Bioenergy Use

Biomass supply for different uses, especially for bioenergy production, is becoming increasingly important. Independently of the purposes of biomass use, high yields per unit area and best possible quality need to be achieved. As a result, the selection of appropriate plant species is an important aspect. Cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) were investigated on a light loam (Cambisol) with a view to assessing the impact of nitrogen (N) and harvest time on biomass yield used for biogas. The biomass yield was influenced by cutting frequency and N fertilizer rate. In the two years of experiment, tall fescue and reed canary grass were most productive. Since traditional grasses (cocksfoot, reed canary grass, etc.) generally yield less in a northern climate, it could be attractive some alternative crops. Cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) and other herbaceous crops – Miscanthus x gigantheus, cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum L.), Virginia fanpetals (Sida hermafrodita R.), mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris L.) and absinthe wormwood (Artemisia dubia Wall.) were established. The non-traditional herbaceous species were investigated in a small-plot experiment on sand with small stone and gravel admixture (Eutri-Cambic Arenosol). Preliminary research results suggest that the biomass yield of some investigated alternative crops is quite promising, particularly absinthe wormwood. Yield data averaged over three years of swards use showed that with and without nitrogen fertilization, absinthe wormwood and Virginia fanpetals out-performed cocksfoot, which is regarded as a traditional grass. Absinthe wormwood and Virginia fanpetals also exhibited the lowest concentration of ash, which is an important indicator of suitability for bioenergy use. Further research on grasses and alternative bioenergy crop management is needed

The effect of strong microwave electric field radiation on: (2) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seed germination and sanitation

Abstract The seeds of the winter and spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were subjected to a strong microwave electric field (SMEF) generated in a high power magnetron generator, working in a pulsed mode. Seed samples with different moisture contents (12, 15 and 18 %) were treated at the band 2.6, 5.7 and 9.3 GHz at 5, 10 and 20-minute exposures. Seed germination energy (GE), germination (G), abnormally germinated seeds (AG), germination index (GI) and seedling vigour index (SVI) were tested. The effect of SMEF on Tilletia caries infestation, plant productivity and seed sanitation was also explored. Seed treatment with SMEF did not sufficiently effect on winter wheat seed GE and G; however, the increase in AG and reduction in GI and SVI were observed. The negative effect on GI and SVI increased when seeds with higher humidity were treated. Treatment of winter wheat cv. 'Kovas' seeds, artificially inoculated with Tilletia caries, with SMEF showed a trend towards reduction of bunt infected ears. Seed treatment with SMEF stimulated grain yield increase and the bands 2.6 GHz for 20 min, 5.7 GHz for 10 min and 9.3 GHz for 5 and 10 min induced an increase in grain number and grain weight per ear. The efficacy of the chosen SMEF bands and exposition time on winter and spring wheat seed sanitation were contradictory. The SMEF treatment against wheat seed borne pathogens such as Phaeosphaeria nodorum (causal agent of Stagonospora glume blotch), Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (causal agent of tan spot) and Fusarium spp. (causal agents of seedling and adult plant foot and root rots and Fusarium head blight) gave conflicting and inconsistent efficacy results. The composition of most frequently isolated Fusarium species on SMEF treated winter wheat seeds was pertained to SMEF bands and exposition time

Prevalance of fusarium fungi in spring wheat crops

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a harmful wheat disease which is caused by Fusarium fungal pathogen. It can decrease grain yield and quality. This disease has become of increasing international importance in recent years. Fusarium head blight is of the most common diseases after mildew and rust (Jackowiak et al., 2005). The aim of study was to determinate infection of Fusarium head-blight in spring wheat head and grain in different districts of Lithuania. To evaluate the impact of various environmental and anthropogenic factors on Fusarium distribution. Spring wheat grain samples were collected at harvest during 2013–2014 from 11 districts of Lithuania. FHB incidence and severity in spring wheat were evaluated at late milk stage. Fusarium fungi were identified by their morphological characteristics (Leslie et al., 2006). FHB incidence of spring wheat at late milk stage varied from 3.8 % to 80.8 %, severity from 0.7 % to 12.7 %. The higher severity level was found in 2013. The main reason – better meteorology conditions for disease spread (warm and moist weather) compere to 2014 year. Most affected southwestern (Šakiai – 80.8 %; Vilkaviškis – 52.3 %, less – west part (Kretinga – 11.3 %, Mažeikiai – 3.8 %) part of Lithuania. By averaged data spring wheat grains were damaged by Fusarium spp.: 1.1 % in 2013; and – 0.8 % in 2014. In wheat market permissible limit of Fusarium damaged grains is ( ≤1.0 %), therefore in 2013 higher then permissible limit was found in 36.7 % 2014 and 32.0 % in 2014. These results indicate that the problem of Fusarium infection in wheat is relevant because damaged grains cannot be used for stage of production. Spring wheat in Lithuania mainly was affected by F.avenaceum and F. graminearum species. In first year F. avenaceum (19.9 %) were mostly detected, in the second year of research – F. graminearum (15.9 %), but both species dominated between other Fusarium speciesVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij

Agronomijos mokslų istorija ir dabartis

Vytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij

Grybinių ligų paplitimas tarp skirtingų cukrinių runkelių veislių

Vytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij

Augalų patologija : vadovėlis

Lietuvos agrarinių ir miškų mokslų centro filialas Žemdirbystės institutasVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij

The occurrence of leaf spotting diseases in different sugar beet varieties

Cukrinių runkelių pasėlius labiausiai pažeidžia rudmargė (sukėlėjas – Cercospora beticola Sacc.), baltuliai (Ramularia beticola Fautrey & F. Lamb.) ir fomozė (Pleospora betae Björl.), kurios apibendrintai dažnai vadinamos lapų dėmėtligėmis. Kauno augalų veislių tyrimų stotyje 2011 ir 2012 m. augintuose 14 veislių cukrinių runkelių pasėliuose buvo įvertintas šių ligų paplitimas ir intensyvumas. Nustatyta, kad tyrimų metais skirtingose veislėse lapų dėmėtligės pažeidė 35,6–100 % lapų ir intensyvumas svyravo 2,16–19,63 %. Labiausiai runkelius pažeidė rudmargė, kurios intensyvumas – 1,73–16,71 %, mažiau baltuliai – intensyvumas 0,23–1,83 % ir mažiausiai – fomozė, jos intensyvumas tesiekė tik 0,07–0,84 %. Pagal pažeidimą lapų dėmėtligėmis veislės labai skyrėsi. Tyrimų duomenys atskleidė, kad visoms grybinėms lapų dėmėtligėms jautriausios buvo ‘Bartok’, ‘Frieda KWS’, ‘Jagusia’, ‘Jonas’, ‘Minta’, ‘Primadona KWS’, ‘Scorpion’ ir ‘Wapiti’, o atspariausios – ‘Charly’, ‘Gustav’, ‘Eldorado’, ‘Shannon’, ‘Wellington’ ir ‘Zoom’ veislėsThe most common diseases infesting sugar beet crops are Cercospora leaf spot (causal agent is Cercospora beticola Sacc.), Ramularia leaf spot (Ramularia beticola Fautrey & F. Lamb.) and Phoma leaf spot (Pleospora betae Björl.). In 2011 and 2012, fourteen sugar beet varieties were screened for the incidence of fungal diseases at the Kaunas Plant Variety Testing Station. The sugar beet varieties were assessed for the incidence and severity of Cercospora leaf spot, Ramularia leaf spot and Phoma leaf spot. The test results indicated that leaf spotting diseases affected from 35.6 to 100% of leaves in different varieties and the affected leaf area ranged from 2.16 to 19.63%. The highest incidence was recorded for Cercospora leaf spot, whose severity varied from 1.73 to 16.71%, Ramularia leaf spot occurred at lower incidence and its severity ranged from 0.23 to 1.83%, and the incidence of Phoma leaf spot was the lowest and the severity ranged from 0.07 to 0.84%. The tested varieties significantly differed in the incidence and severity of leaf spotting diseases – the most susceptible varieties to all leaf spotting diseases were found to be ‘Bartok’, ‘Frieda KWS’, ‘Jagusia’, ‘Jonas’, ‘Minta’, ‘Primadona KWS’, ‘Scorpion’ and ‘Wapiti’ , while the most resistant ones were ‘Charly’, ‘Gustav’, ‘Eldorado’, ‘Shannon’, ‘Wellington’ and ‘Zoom’. The aim of the research was to investigate the incidence of sugar beet fungal spot diseases (Cercospora, Ramularia and Phoma leaf spots) in different sugar beet varietiesVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij

Dirvožemininkų konferencija

Vytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij