UZ ILGTSPĒJĪGU VIDI & APRITES EKONOMIKU / toward sustainable environment & circular economy
wise: [we improve surrounding environment]
Several terms are used regarding soil improving agents:
Continue reading “Briefly about: Remarks on terminology in soil improvement”
Work on the reports is going on. Report No.2 “Characterization of Raw Material Applicable for the Formula of Peat-Free Soil Conditioner” is in progress.
As well as Report No.3 “Characterization of the Formula of Peat-Free Soil Conditioner”.
The reports include the results of analyzes and experiments performed during the project, as well as a review of the scientific literature. The data compiled in the reports will be used for the elaboration of new scientific publications.
Thanks to SCOPUS (Expertly curated abstract & citation database) database, it is possible to follow the progress and scientific growth. A positive result can be seen – the increase of my h index to 7 at SCOPUS.
Another virtual tool – ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) – provides an up-to-date collection of scientific publications and other information about the researcher. Check my ORCID here.
These virtual tools allow following the scientific progress of own and colleagues, as well as are useful for evaluating partners’ scientific capacity.
Two abstracts are submitted for presentation at the 4th International Agriculture and Natural Sciences Congress (planned virtually from 30-10-2020 to 31-10-2020).
Titles of presentations: “From utilization of wood ashes to new product for soil improvement” and “Circular economy approach for weak soil stabilization”.
Taking into account the topicality and broad directions of the project topic, in cooperation with foreign colleagues, work is underway to prepare a scientific publication on the topic “Circular economy approach for soil stabilization in peatlands”.
One of the possible applications of the product formula is the improvement of the physical condition of the soil, which is important not only for agricultural purposes but also for road construction, recultivation of eroded soils, etc. The publication is designed as a review on the possibilities of using various secondary materials to stabilize weak soils.
The issue of reducing the use of fossil resources is still relevant. Consequently, peat-free substrates and soil improvers are the ones that need to conquer the consumer market of the future.
Looking at the current supply, it can be seen that peat-free substrates made of composted material (Gardman, Rolawn, Pro-Grow, Neudorff, Klassman, etc.) are mostly available on the market.
Continue reading “Briefly about: News in the market of peat-free substrates”
An abstract has been submitted for the presentation at the 3rd international EAGE Workshop on Petroleum Geochemistry in the Middle East (planned in October 2020, in Muscat, Oman).
Title of presentation: “Perspectives of sapropel- and clay-containing soil amendments in bioremediation of complex pollution”.
In order to evaluate the effect of the product formula on plants, experiments with plants must be performed. An experiment with the cultivation of Lactuca sativa is currently underway. The results of the experiment will indicate to necessary improvements in the development of the product formula. The greenhouses in the Nature House of the University of Latvia provide suitable conditions for plant cultivation experiments – hopefully, our plants will enjoy the “eternal spring sun”.
The cultivation experiment includes preparation, mixing and filling of the substrate components into pots, seed selection and careful sowing process, seedling diving, regular monitoring and measurements (soil pH, etc.) and, of course, watering.
In addition, it is necessary to understand the behaviour of the product formula in the soil – the duration of degradation, the relationship with soil components, etc. These experiments should be performed under both laboratory and field conditions.
Based on the performed tests and analyzes of secondary raw materials, as well as identifying the availability and volume of various waste materials, a prototype version of the product has been developed in the form of granules made from biomass ashes and sapropel.
What comes next? We will test how the granules can be used to improve the soil quality, whether the properties of the granules meet the requirements of soil improvers, how the granules interact with the soil and plants.
In the shadow of COVID-19, abstracts for presentations have been prepared and submitted for two international conferences:
Will there be an opportunity to attend the conferences? No one can answer the question at this time. Today’s virtual world is technologically equipped for off-site events with a face-to-face effect, therefore it is expected that the planned events will not be missed.