Laima Česonienė

CHANGE OF ECOLOGIC FARM AREAS AND CULTIVATED CULTURES WITHIN THE TERRITORY OF LITHUANIA IN 2010–2014

Research objective is to evaluate the change of ecological farm areas and cultivated cultures within the territory of Lithuania within the period from 2010 to 2014. In 2010–2014 the data from certification institutions (databases) were used for the purpose of evaluation of change of ecological farm areas, which provide all ecological farm areas declared and certified in Lithuania within the whole reported period and agricultural plants cultivated on the areas within the set period. ArcGIS software was used for demonstration of layout of ecological farm areas within the territory of Lithuania. It was established that the major areas of ecological farms analysed within the period were located in the North-East of Lithuania, less areas in the Northern and Southern parts of middle Lithuania. During the whole period the major planted acreage of the ecological farms was taken by meadows, pastures, perennial grass; these cultures annually made almost a half of the declared planted acreage. Less declared planted acreage of the ecological farms within the research period was taken by root plants and vegetables; area planted with the cultures usually made 1 per cent from all declared planted acreage of the ecological farms. Strong correlation exists between the areas of ecological farms and pastures (r = 0.70, when p = 0.0001), complex agriculture (r = 0.76, when p = 0.0001), transition forest stage and bushes (r = 0.85, when p = 0,0001), broad-leaved forests (r = 0.84, when p = 0.0001), needle-leaved forests (r = 0.72, when p = 0.0001) and mixed forests (r = 0.84, when p = 0.0001). Weak correlation exists between ecological farm area and agricultural areas with natural plant insertions (r = 0.47, when p = 0.0001). Keywords: agricultural plants, acreage, ecological farm. Article DOI: http://doi.org/10.15544/RD.2015.075

Intensity of Nutrient Leaching after Application of Different Organic and Mineral Fertilizers

Tests have been conducted in an experimental eight lysimeter plot. Lysimeters are dug into the ground. All lysimeters are connected by a tube which leads towards a well with containers for leachate collection installed inside of it. The aim of the research is to determine nutrient leaching intensity after application of various organic and mineral fertilizers. The following fertilizers were chosen for the research: organic - Biojodis, Biokal, slurry, Horn Shavings Provita, Horn Core Powder; mineral - ammonium saltpeter. After application of fertilizers, nitrate, nitrite, ammonium ions and phosphate concentrations in leachate were periodically measured. Research results show that the lowest concentrations of nitrites and ammonium ions are found after application of Horn Shavings, Horn Core Powder and Provita fertilizers. Application of ammonium saltpeter fertilizers resulted in nitrates leaching into lysimetric water by the 14th month; application of slurry, Biokal and Biojodis resulted in nitrates leaching into lysimetric water by the 36th month; application of Horn Core Powder, Horn Shavings and Provita did not result in nitrates leaching into lysimetric water by the 44th month. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.erem.65.3.4800