Merrit Noormets

Assessment of abandoned agricultural land resource for bio-energy production in Estonia.

Abstract The current study locates and quantifies abandoned agricultural areas using the Geographic Information System (GIS) and evaluates the suitability of abandoned fields for bio-energy production in Tartumaa (Tartu County) in Estonia. Soils of abandoned areas are generally of low quality and thereby limited suitability for crop production; as a result soil–crop suitability analyses could form the basis of knowledge-based bio-energy planning. The study estimated suitable areas for bio-energy production using willow (Salix sp), grey alder [Alnus incana (L.) Moench], hybrid aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.×Populus tremula L.), reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.), and Caucasian goats rue (Galega orientalis Lam.) in separate plantations. A combined land-use strategy is also presented as these crops are partially suitable to the same areas. Reed canary grass and grey alder have the highest energy potentials and each would re-use more than 80% of the available abandoned agricultural land. Energy grasses and short-rotation forestry in combined land-use strategy represents the opportunity of covering approximately a quarter of countys annual energy demand. The study estimates only agronomic potential, so further bio-energy analysis should take into account technical and economic limitations. Developed framework supports knowledge-based decision-making processes from field to regional scale to achieve sustainable bio-energy production.

Soil compaction effects on soil bulk density and penetration resistance and growth of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Abstract The weight of the tractor is not the only factor affecting soil compaction. Soil-management practices, such as the use of fertilizers and pesticides, also affect soil properties through an increased number of overriding. The aim of the current study was to investigate compaction effects on soil physical properties, such as dry bulk density and penetration resistance, and the growth of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) as a monoculture. The five-year experiment was conducted on the Estonian University of Life Sciences’ research field at Eerika, near Tartu in 2001–2005. The soil of the experimental site is sandy loam Stagnic Luvisol. The treatments included were no compaction, one pass, three passes, and six passes. All passes were track-by-track. Measurements of soil and plant were made in the earing phase of barley and measurements of yield in the maturity phase of barley. The compaction treatment was conducted using an MTZ-82 tractor (total weight 4.84 Mg). Neither fertilizers nor herbicides were used. 5 years after compaction distinguishable subsoil and topsoil compaction was detected. Soil deformation increases with the number of passes; in the case of six passes soil bulk density increased by 0.15 Mg m−3 and penetration resistance by 3 MPa. However, there were no significant differences in the soil bulk density and penetration resistance between treatments compacted with one and three passes. The effect of compaction on soil bulk density was higher when the soil was compacted under wet conditions. Compaction decreased the quantity of barley shoots, their phytomass, and grain yield by more than 80%. In the second year of the experiment the dry weight of above ground biomass decreased by almost three times and shoots’ density by 1.5 times, compared with the first year results. In the third year of the experiment the biomass, plant density, and grain yield of barley were stabilized and no further decreases were detected in the following two experimental years. The results from the experiment revealed that even a low weight tractor can induce subsoil compaction and a high decrease of plant productivity by repeated passes over time.

Efficiency of Estonian grain farms in 2000-2004

The aim of this study is to analyse the efficiency of Estonian grain farms after Estonia’s transition to a market economy and during the accession period to the European Union (EU). The non-parametric method Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) was used to estimate the total technical, pure technical and scale efficiency of Estonian grain farms in 2000–2004. Mean total technical efficiency varied from 0.70 to 0.78. Of the grain farms 62% are operating under increasing returns to scale. Solely based on the DEA model it is not possible to determine optimum farm scale and the range of Estonian farm sizes operating efficiently is extensive. The most pure technically efficient farms were the smallest and the largest but the productivity of small farms is low compared to larger farms because of their small scale. Therefore, they are the least competitive. Since pre-accession period to the EU, large input slacks of capital have replaced the former excessive use of labour and land. This raises the question about the effects on efficiency of the EU’s investment support schemes in new member states.

The importance of solid cattle manure application on soil microorganisms in organic and conventional cultivation

Abstract Microbial communities are integral parts of the soil and their activity is very important to the functioning of the soil but the impact of different factors on soil microbial community composition is not well researched. Many studies have focused only on a few species. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of treatment and sampling date on soil pH, abundance of total number of bacteria, molds, yeasts, mesophilic spore-forming bacteria, Fusarium spp., actinomycetes, azotobacteria, cellulose decomposers, denitrifying and nitrifying bacteria in organically (ORGGRM – green manure, and ORGFYM – green manure, solid cattle manure) and conventionally (CONFYM – solid cattle manure + mineral fertilizer and pesticides) cultivated soil. Fertilization with manure had positive direct- and after-effect (p<0.05) on the total number of bacteria, mesophilic spore-forming bacteria, nitrifying bacteria and cellulose decomposers, even in the CONFYM treatment. The abundance of yeasts was higher (p<0.05) in ORGFYM treatment (3.35×103) and 34–48% lower in CONFYM and ORGGRM treatments. The abundance of molds, Fusarium spp., and actinomycetes during the study in different treatments was similar but their abundance was significantly higher (p<0.05) when the weather in the sampling time was warm and humid. The negative impact of pesticides in CONFYM treatment occurred on the total number of bacteria, yeasts, molds, and denitrifying bacteria. The yeasts were most sensitive to pesticides; in study years, when the use of pesticides was very intensive, their abundance in CONFYM treatment decreased 72% compared with the ORGFYM treatment. The 4-year test results showed that although green manuring is considered an important management practice in organic cultivation, to maintain and increase the abundance of microbes in different microbial communities it is important to use other organic fertilizers such as animal manure in addition to green manure.

Effect of Cut Plant Residue Management and Fertilization on the Dry-Matter Yield of Swards and on Carbon Content of Soil

The goal of this research was to study the impact of cut plant residues, returned to or removed from the grassland sward, on the dry-matter yield of swards and on the organic carbon (Corg) concentration of soil. The experiment was carried out during 2004–2008. The variables of the experiment were (i) sward type: turfgrass sward (Festuca rubra rubra and Poa pratensis) and grass–clover sward (Phleum pratense, Lolium perenne, and Trifolium repens) and (ii) treatment of residues: the cut plant residues were returned (RRT) to the plots or removed (RRM) from the plots after the mowing. The fertilizer treatments were as follows: N0P0K0, N80P11K48, N160P22K96, and N400P56K240 kg ha−1 for the turfgrass sward and N0P0K0 and N80P26K50 kg ha−1 for the grass–clover sward. The Corg and Ntot concentrations in the 20-cm soil layer were measured at the beginning and at the end of the experiment at depths of 0–5 cm and 5–20 cm. Nitrogen was returned as plant residues to the grass–clover sward in treatment N0P0K0 at 190 kg ha−1 and N80P26K50 at 204 kg ha−1 and consequently the returned cut plant residues increased the yield by 31% and 22%, respectively. The amount of N returned as residues to turfgrass sward was 31–236 kg ha−1 but it had no significant influence on the sward dry-matter yield. During the 5 years of the experiment the Corg content in 0- to 5-cm soil layer of grass–clover sward in treatment RRT increased by 42.9% and in RRM by 32.0% as an average of both fertilization treatments. At the depth 5–20 cm the Corg concentration did not change in treatment RRT, but in treatment RRM with fertilization the Corg concentration decreased by 8.2%. In turfgrass soil the Corg concentration increased in RRT treatment by 21.6% and in treatment RRM by 7.2% during 5 years. In the lower soil layer the concentration of Corg decreased with removal and return of plant residues. The fertilization did not influence the changes of Corg concentration in turfgrass swards soil.

Consequences of pre-planting treatments of potato seed tubers on leaf area index formation

Abstract In field trials conducted in 2000–2002, we examined the influence of pre-planting treatments of seed tubers on the formation of leaf area index. The potato varieties used were Agrie Dzeltenie (early), Piret (middle-maturing) and Ants (late). The following treatments were used: untreated control, thermal shock and pre-sprouting. Pre-sprouting treatments of all varieties and thermal shock treatment of the variety Agrie Dzeltenie had a significant effect on the leaf area index. The value and timing of maximum leaf area index were: variety specific, 4.0 units of the early variety Agrie Dzeltenie, 3.7 units of the middle-maturing variety Piret and 3.9 units of the late variety Ants. The weight of the haulms of the plants developed from physiologically older seed tubers formed faster and remained smaller. Pre-planting treatment of seed tubers provided quicker field emergence. The slower the potato plants developed the haulms, the greater the maximum weight achieved. Pre-planting treatments influence the leaf area index. The importance of this influence lies in potato varieties with different maturity times since increases in quality and yield depend on the size of the photosynthetic area.

The decomposition of turfgrass clippings is fast at high air humidity and moderate temperature

Abstract In grassland areas where herbage production has no economic value, the cut grass is often left on the sward surface where its decomposition is influenced by weather conditions. Although the influence of temperature and humidity on decomposition has been investigated under controlled lab conditions, experimentation has generally been under ideal moisture conditions that have not tested the combinations of climatic limitations that might occur in the field. The decomposition of mown turfgrass clippings deposited at different times of vegetation period was studied in situ using nylon bags during the first 8 weeks after deposition to investigate the effect of weather conditions (the air temperature, relative humidity, precipitation) on decomposition. Decomposition is the highest in the case of high air humidity and temperature of 10°C. Limiting factors for decomposition at temperatures above 10°C is the air humidity and below 10°C the air temperature. The general tendency was that the rate of decomposition increased with increasing air temperature up to 10°C, but with further increases of air temperature the decomposition rate slowed down. Relative air humidity had a variable impact (at the beginning of the decomposition process (weeks 1–2) the influence was negative, during weeks 3–8 of the decomposition process the effect was positive), and hence had no generalized relationship with decomposition over the studied decomposition period (weeks 1–8). The most significant influence of weather conditions on the decomposition rate was recorded directly after cutting. If the cutting was done during hot weather conditions, the material was drying fast and therefore decomposed slowly. Our results indicate that for fast decomposition of clippings it is important to maintain the freshness of material. Lower decomposition rates occurred during conditions of hot and dry weather, and also cooler (temperature near to 0°C) weather, and can be compensated as soon as favourable weather arrives.

The productivity and fruit quality of the arctic bramble (Rubus arcticus ssp. Arcticus) and hybrid arctic bramble (Rubus arcticus ssp. arcticus×Rubus arcticus ssp. stellatus)

Abstract The fruit biochemical content and productivity of arctic bramble (Rubus arcticus ssp. arcticus) and hybrid arctic bramble (R. arcticus ssp. arcticus×R. arcticus ssp. stellatus) cultivars were investigated during three experimental years (2001–2003) in field conditions. Rows of experimental plants were alternated with rows of raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.). Finnish cultivars together with a strain from Estonian nature (E1) and Finnish and Swedish hybrid cultivars were planted in rows that were covered with plastic mulch. The cultivars and strain were planted in rows turning in order to secure the best conditions for pollination. The following combinations were used: E1 + ‘Susanna’; E1 + ‘Mespi’; E1 + ‘Pima’; ‘Astra’ + ‘Aura’; ‘Astra’ + ‘Anna’; ‘Anna’ + ‘Beata’. Yield and biochemical content were different between variants consisting of two cultivars. Significantly higher yield parameters such as fruit weight, number of drupelets, and productivity were observed from the hybrid cultivars ‘Astra’ + ‘Aura’. Combinations with arctic bramble cultivars did not have a significant difference in yield, thus all tested cultivars are suitable for growing in combination with Estonian clone. Hybrid arctic bramble fruits in cultivar combinations of ‘Astra’ + ‘Anna’ showed the highest titratable acid (TA) content. E1 and ‘Susanna’, in combinations with arctic bramble, had higher soluble solids and ascorbic acid content, but TA and SS/TA did not show significant differences. The darkest (L*) and reddest (+a*) juice was found in fruit of hybrid cultivars combinations; those combinations with ‘Astra’ produced the darker juice colouring.