Scientific and practical seminar «Ražas svētki Vecaucē» (Harvest Festival)

On November 3, 2022, our colleagues T. Garbovska, N. Kyryukhina, Y. Syromyatnikov, as part of their scientific internship, took part in the scientific and practical seminar "Ražas svitki Vecaucē" (Harvest Festival), which was held by the Faculty of Agriculture of the Latvian University of Natural Sciences and Technologies – LBTU (formerly Latvian Agricultural University), which this year received the theme "Miers baro, karš posta" (Peace feeds, war destroys) in line with global current events in the world.

This year, the scientists recalled the events of the centenary anniversary of the Stendes research center, discussed the peculiarities of the soil cover, the selection of tomato fruits, the productivity and quality of the eggs of laying hens, as well as the stratification of the soil for weed control. There was also an award ceremony for the winners of the experimental field and laboratory research and the winners of the post-graduate competition.

The report section was opened by Sanita Zute, head of the Department of Agricultural Breeding and Agroecology of the Center for Tree Stand Research of the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Economics, who focused on the brightest centenary events and stages of the center's development. Its beginnings can be traced back to the time when the Latvian Ministry of Agriculture commissioned the excellent agronomist Jānim Lielmanim to create the Stende breeding station. When the center was created, its purpose was to grow new varieties of agricultural crops suitable for local climatic and soil conditions, resistant to plant diseases and productive, as well as to test varieties of foreign selection. Over the years, 76 varieties of field crops have been known around the world under the name Stand Breeders, and now the center has 200 hectares of arable land, where pea, potato and grass varieties created by Priekuļu breeders are also marked. S. Zute is convinced that one of the main driving forces over the decades is the strong team, strong traditions and excellent breeders who continue to bear the name of the Stende Research Center today.

An overview of modern research on soil stratification for weed control was presented by Yuriy Syromyatnikov from the Institute of Vegetable and Melon Growing of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Ukraine, located in the Kharkiv region. He emphasized that currently chemical methods of weed control are increasingly replaced by mechanical weeding. One of the promising mechanical devices for weed control is a rotary loosener and separation stratifier. This equipment provides high-quality soil treatment, in addition, if it is used at the pre-sowing stage, thanks to this equipment, it will not be necessary to carry out pre-sowing harrowing and cultivation. The soil for sowing will be prepared immediately and will allow more effective control of weed growth without the use of herbicides.

In continuation, Professor Aldis Kārkliņš presented a study of soil cover features in Paltones parish. Together with his colleagues, he participates in the study of soil resources, which is necessary for solving European and global challenges - stopping global warming, implementing a climate-neutral production model, reducing plant nutrient losses, and soil development. saving technologies, etc. Speaking about the research carried out in Paltones parish, A. Kārkliņš explained that 82 excavations were carried out on an area of 86.6 km2 and 9 groups of soils were found - luvisols (39 %), planosols (24 %), ferzem (phaeozems) (21%), calcisols (5%), podzols (4%), gleysols (2.3%), regosols (2.3%), anbrisol ( unbrisols) (1.2%) and arensols (arensols) (1.2%).

But Lilija Dučkena, a senior laboratory assistant at the Institute of Soils and Crops, a master's student in Agriculture, shared practical advice on choosing tomato fruits, who, together with her colleagues, determined how to choose tasty tomatoes, if we take into account visually visible signs - the size and color of the fruit. About the progress of the research, she says that a total of 45 varieties of tomatoes were included - red, pink, orange, brown, yellow and variegated tomato fruits, then the content of sediment, soluble sediment, titrated acid, as well as the taste index (GI) and relative index were determined of taste (RGI), but was followed by a fruit tasting held as part of Tomato Days 2022 in Virtsavas. According to those present, Golden Pearl (tomatoes have yellow fruits, characteristic mild taste, average fruit weight from 13 to 18 g), Sakura (characteristic red fruits with an average weight from 18 to 22 g) and Bellastar (tomato according to biochemical analysis the taste can be rated as moderately tasty, the weight of the fruit is on average from 12 to 15 g). In conclusion, L. Dučkena notes that some of the tastiest are small-sized tomatoes with a high content of soluble fat, but if we compare them by color, then red tomatoes are characterized by the smallest spread of the relative taste index, which means the least chance to buy tasteless fruits, but variegated ones are recognized as the tastiest tomatoes, besides, it is still necessary to investigate their productivity in the conditions of Latvia.

Leading researcher Aiga Nolberga-Trūpa spoke at the seminar about productivity and egg quality of Dominant laying hen crosses on different feeds. As the researcher explains, the laying hen feeding study was conducted to determine the most acceptable amount of vegetable protein in the feed for laying hens and their effect on the performance of the laying hens. The project was implemented in the laying hen house "Upkalnu ferma" SIA "Kurzemes olas" of Įbuļu parish, Talsu region, using three crosses of Dominant laying hens: Dominant Barred with partition D959, Dominant Tinted with coloring D723 and Dominant Red Barred with red stripe D459 , starting from day-old chicks to full-fledged chicks to achieve a cycle of us. The researchers say that the free range hens of each laying hen were divided into two groups, each group containing 100 hens (a total of 6 groups). The birds were kept on the floor in separate boxes throughout the breeding period. Each group of birds was fed with a different biologically complete compound feed: the first group with purchased complete compound feed for chickens, young and laying hens from the AS "Dobeles dzirnavnieks" company, and the second group with complete compound feed for chickens, young and laying hens prepared on the farm. Scientifically based feed recipes for each group of poultry have been developed for feed mixtures prepared on the farm. A. Nolberga-Trūpa, together with the partners involved, concluded that groups of laying hens, where the birds were fed agricultural feed, had a higher laying intensity compared to groups of hens fed commercial organic feed. The best laying intensity was shown by the Dominant Tinted D723 cross, while the D495S hen group produced larger and better quality eggs. The content of dry matter, crude protein and crude fat in the egg mass in the groups of hens was equivalent and corresponded to the indicators of physiological norms.

At the seminar, along with reports on research results, the rector of the university I. Pilvere discussed the topic "University in times of change". I. Pilvere explains that the history of LBTU is proof of constant changes, the constant opening of new faculties and the closing of some, changes in names and statuses, in addition, significant changes were also facilitated by the need to implement the requirements of the Higher Education Law. Currently, the university has an LBTU Council, which is responsible for the sustainable development, strategic and financial supervision of the university, as well as ensuring that the LBTU works in accordance with the goals set in its development strategy, which is foreseen thanks to the reform of the management of higher education institutions implemented in Latvia. which is enshrined in the Law on Higher Education. Although at the beginning of its historical development, only two fields were represented in the university - agriculture and forestry, one of which bore the name of the university for more than 80 years, today LBTU has become a multidisciplinary university, which has determined three priority areas of specialization in science: 1. rural sciences, forestry and veterinary sciences; 2. engineering sciences and technologies; 3. social sciences.

During the event, the participants also had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the poster presentations, which were evaluated by the jury and those present. In the "Most attractive" nomination, the work of the stand was recognized by Garbovskaia T. "Evaluation of new parthenocarpic F1 hybrid combinations of cucumber according to selection characteristics and their variability under protected soil conditions" (Institute of Vegetable and Melon Growing, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Ukraine), in the "Best Structured" nomination - Skutele K ., Mešķis S., Dorbe A. "Macroalgae on the coast of Latvia - an opportunity or a burden?", but the sympathies of the seminar participants won - Vilka L., Siliņa D. "Is it possible to limit the rot of large cranberry berries without chemical plant protection products?"

The scientific reports presented at the seminar are collected in the collection of articles "Ražas svjetki "Vecauce - 2022": Miers baro, karš posta".