Resource information
Research on the sustainable use of the soil as the main agricultural resource employing different field crop rotations and tillage systems was started in 2009. The influence of new technologies on sustainable output of agricultural raw materials used for safe and good quality food and feed production was studied at the Latvia University of Agriculture, Study and Research Farm “Peterlauki” where long-term field experimental plots were established specially for this purpose. Complex investigation of the soils at the experimental plots was performed. Investigations conducted at the long-term field experimental plots included: the influence of reduced tillage and conventional tillage practices on a wide complex of yield forming factors using different crop rotations, including mono-cropped (minimum crop rotations) sowings determining soil biological, physical and agro-chemical parameters at different layers of soil and their change in the long term; the dynamics of the development and spread of harmful organisms (weeds, diseases, pests) and their influence on safe and harmless food production, crop yield and its quality. Plant growth and developmental parameters were assessed in the vegetation period, yields and quality of field crops, as well as plant nutrient removal were determined.
