est
Estonian Academic Agricultural Society
Agraarteadus
1024-0845
2228-4893
2016-06-20
27
1
3
11
article
Effect of the seeding and fertilization rates of cover crop and the seeding rate of timothy on the seed yield of the cultivar 'Tika'
Kattevilja agrofooni ja põldtimuti külvisenormi mõju sordi 'Tika' seemnesaagile
Ants Bender
1
Estonian Crop Research Institute, Aamisepa 1, 48309 Jõgeva, Estonia
In the years 2012–2015, the Estonian Crop Research Institute conducted a field trial in order to investigate the effect of the seeding and fertilizer rates of the cover crop barley 'Inari', and of the seeding rate of the timothy grass 'Tika' on the seed yield. In the trial there were four variants with the cover crop's seeding rate and nitrogen fertilizer rate, and three different seeding rates of timothy grass (3, 6 and 9 kg ha-1) were tested. The trial results indicated that both the seeding rate of the cover crop (variants 333 and 500 germinating seeds per m-2) and the nitrogen fertilizer rate (variants 60 and 90 kg N ha-1) had an effect on the later seed yield of the timothy grass. Thereat the effect of the cover crop’s seeding rate was smaller; the effect of nitrogen fertilizer bigger. The effect of the cover crop on the seed yield of timothy was bigger in the first year after establishment, in the following years the effect decreased. The highest timothy seed yield was obtained in the trial variant that was seeded with 3 kg of 100% pure live seeds (PLS) per hectare under the cover crop the seeding rate and nitrogen fertilizer rate of which had been reduced by one third. Economic calculations also indicated that in total of the year of establishment and three years of seed harvest, this variant turned out to be the most profitable one for the seed producer. The studied trial variants had no effect on the quality of timothy seed.
http://agrt.emu.ee/pdf/2016_1_bender.pdf
seeding rate of cover crop
nitrogen fertilizer level
seeding rate of timothy
economic profitability
seed yield
eng
Estonian Academic Agricultural Society
Agraarteadus
1024-0845
2228-4893
2016-06-20
27
1
12
18
article
Assessment of dairy production development on the example of Polish conditions and comparison with certain European countries
Marek Gaworski
1
Department of Production Management and Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Nowoursynowska str. 164, Poland
Changes observed in the European dairy sector in the last decades constitute an important example of transformation processes taking place in the global food economy. The aim of the study was to present an analytical approach to assessment of advance concerning certain technical and biological resources in the farm dairy production system. Data from the Polish dairy production system were used to show and assess some of the trends regarding the dairy system development, including some comparisons with other EU countries. As a result of undertaken studies, there are scientific premises to identify technical and biological solutions for optimizing the farm dairy production system, allowing sustainable improvement. Further effective transformation of the Polish dairy sector requires overcoming certain barriers hindering development of the sector, connected first of all with high dispersion in raw milk production and its low technology level, high dispersion of dairy processing, and others. Implementation of modern technical equipment for milking at dairy farms needs simultaneous improvement of dairy cow herds and other factors, e.g. economic profitability.
http://agrt.emu.ee/pdf/2016_1_gaworski.pdf
automatic milking system
dairy production system
indices
livestock
milk yield
est
Estonian Academic Agricultural Society
Agraarteadus
1024-0845
2228-4893
2016-06-20
27
1
19
25
article
Mycotoxin contamination in dried and high moisture fermented cereals in Estonia
Kuivatatud ja konserveeritud söödateravilja mükotoksiinide sisaldusest Eestis
Helgi Kaldmäe
1
Andres Olt
1
Meelis Ots
1
Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences,Fr.R. Kreutzwaldi 46, 51006 Tartu
Cereal quality is estimated by chemical composition and fermentation parameters, but there is need to check for the presence of mycotoxins. Feed cereals are stored dried, with a dry matter of 86% or ensiled in a silo with a dry matter of 55–75%. A high moisture content in cereals is a good substrate for the growth of mould fungi of a range of genera (Fusarium, Aspergillus, Penicillium), the availability of their metabolites and of other undesirable microorganisms, such as bacteria and yeast. The aim of this study was to determine the nutritive quality, the concentrations of zearalenone (ZEA) and deoxynivalenol (DON) and the fermentation process of ensiled high moisture cereals prepared for feeding to cows in Estonia. A total of 190 samples of dried cereals (DC): 56 wheat, 113 barley, 11 oats, 4 triticale and 4 rye, and 147 samples of high moisture cereals (HMC) collected and analysed. The mean DM content of the DC was 86.9% and of the HMC 68.1%. In this study the DC were found to contain mycotoxins, 70.5% of the samples were positive for DON and 68.4% were positive for ZEA, while in the HMC these were 85.7 and 96.6% respectively. The mean DON content in the DC was 100.4 ppb, and the mean content of ZEA in the DC was 27.6 ppb; the contents in the for these mycotoxins in the HMC were 189.6 ppb and 163.6 ppb respectively.
The concentration of mycotoxins between the different species of cereal did not differ significantly.
The of DON and ZEA contents were related the dry matter of HMC. The DON concentration in low DM (63.3%) cereal was 220.0 ppb and of ZEA 204.5 ppb while in the higher DM (75.5%) cereal the concentrations were 141.4 ppb and 94.7 ppb respectively. The fermentation quality of the HMC was good.
The threshold mycotoxin level in feed, below which there are no negative effects on health and performance in dairy cows are, for DON under 500 ppb and ZEA under 100 ppb. These are considered low levels of toxins; moderate levels are, for DON 500–2,000 ppb and for ZEA 100–250 ppb, and high levels are over 2,000 ppb and over 250 ppb respectively. Of the samples, 94.7% of DC were at the low level of DON while 89.1% were at the low level for ZEA. Of the HMC samples, 89.7% and 50.7% were at the low level for the mycotoxins, while 9.5% had levels of DON at moderate level and 33.1% had levels of ZEA at moderate levels.
http://agrt.emu.ee/pdf/2016_1_kaldmae.pdf
dried cereals
high moisture cereals
deoxynivalenol
zearalenone
est
Estonian Academic Agricultural Society
Agraarteadus
1024-0845
2228-4893
2016-06-20
27
1
26
37
article
Review: Bog soil – Year 2016 Soil of Estonia
Ülevaade: Rabamuld – Eesti aasta 2016 muld
Raimo Kõlli
1
Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Science, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Fr. R. Kreutzwaldi 5, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
The formation of humus profiles in forest ecosystems depends on the soil and plant cover types, and on the flux of falling debris into the soil. The transformation of "fresh organic matter" into humus is mainly performed by soil organisms. Therefore the species composition and abundance of living organisms in humus covers are good indicators in the evaluation of ecosystems functional efficiency and in understanding humus profile forming mechanisms. The abundance, species richness and vertical distribution of microannelids in the humus covers of forest ecosystems were studied in the pedo-ecological conditions of Estonia. The first research area (UA-I, Koorvere) is located in the pine forest of a Rhodococcum site type on a typical podzol with a sandy texture and fresh mor humus cover. UA-II (Kaagvere) is located in a mixed pine-spruce forest of Oxalis site type on a pseudopodzolic soil with a loamy sand on sandy loam texture and fresh moder humus cover. UA-III (Reola) – is in a spruce forest of an Oxalis drained swamp site type on a shallow fen soil with well decomposed peat and a eutrophic peaty humus cover. The mean abundance and species richness of microannelids in the humus covers of these three forest ecosystems (UA I-III) were respectively 17.0, 23.4 and 54.5 (in 103 individuals per m2), while the observed numbers of microannelids species were 1, 7 and 12. The highest number of one species per unit volume (319 individuals per one litre of soil) is characteristic of a moor type forest floor (UA-I) where, of the microannelids, only those in a strong acidity indicator group species Cognettia sphagnetorum were found. In the well decomposed eutrophic peat (UA-III) with the highest volume density (250 individuals L-1) the species found was Hemifridericia parva, which is an indicator of slight acidity, while in the moder type forest floor (UA-II) Enchytronia parva (177 individuals L-1) were found, which are an indicator of moderate acidity.
http://agrt.emu.ee/pdf/2016_1_kolli.pdf
bog soil
ecological services
environmental protection
Fibric Histosol
soil properties
year 2016 soil
eng
Estonian Academic Agricultural Society
Agraarteadus
1024-0845
2228-4893
2016-06-20
27
1
38
41
article
Short communication: The effect of vermicompost based growth substrates on tomato growth
Margit Olle
1
Estonian Crop Research Institute, J. Aamissepa 1, 48309, Jõgeva alevik, Estonia
Vermicomposting is a decomposition process involving the joint action of earthworms and microorganisms. Although microorganisms are responsible for the biochemical degradation of organic matter, earthworms are crucial drivers of the process, by fragmenting and conditioning the substrate and significantly altering its biological activity. The purpose of the work was to assess the influence of vermicompost based growth substrates on tomato transplant growth. Treatments were followed (supplier K. Compos): A) 30% vermicompost, peat, sand and dolomite stone; B) 25% vermicompost, peat, gravel, perlite; C) 25% vermicompost, peat, gravel, concrete block; D) commercially produced growth substrate bought from retail centre, as a control. Substrates containing vermicompost had increased stem diameter compared to control treatment. The tomato plant height was increased in substrates containing 25% vermicompost compared to other treatments. The number of leaves was highest in treatment C compared to other treatments. The number of flowers was increased in treatment A and lowest in treatment D. It can be summarized that for tomato the best growth substrate, regarding growth parameters is 25% vermicompost, peat, gravel, concrete block (treatment C).
http://agrt.emu.ee/pdf/2016_1_olle.pdf
tomato
growth
vermicompost
substrate
eng
Estonian Academic Agricultural Society
Agraarteadus
1024-0845
2228-4893
2016-06-20
27
1
42
47
article
Comparison of methane production from individual feeds and total diets – an in vitro evaluation
Mohammad Ramin
1
Merko Vaga
1
Edward Hernando Cabezas-Garcia
1
Edenio Detmann
2
Department of Agricultural Research for Northern Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-901 83, Umeå, Sweden
Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 36570-900
The objective of the current study was to compare methane (CH4) production from the in vitro gas production system by incubating feeds either individually or as mixed total diet. Eleven diets varying in the forage to concentrate ratio were tested. The forages were tropical grass or corn silages and the concentrate mixtures consisted of soybean grain, soybean meal, corn grain, wheat bran, urea and minerals in different proportions. There were three replicates for each diet. Methane production was reported as weighted mean for individual feeds and total diet separately. The mean of CH4 production from total diet was 30.1 mL g-1 dry matter (DM) and 30.8 mL g-1 DM from the weighted mean of individual feeds. There was a weak correlation between weighted CH4 production from individual feeds and complete diet (r = 0.15). It can be concluded that individual feeds cannot be used as a proxy to estimate CH4 production from total mixed diets.
http://agrt.emu.ee/pdf/2016_1_ramin.pdf
feed interaction
greenhouse gases
gas production