Author: ZVG

On October 30-31, 2020, the IV. International Eurasian Agriculture and Natural Sciences Congress took place online, organized by the universities in Turkey (Selçuk University, Konya Food and Agriculture  University, etc.) bringing together scientists of fields such as agricultural, environmental sciences, engineering, water and soil management, plant and animal biology, biotechnology, food chemistry, sustainable farming and others.

Two posters were presented at the congress:

• “From utilization of wood combustion ashes to new product for soil improvement” (Zane VINCEVICA-GAILE, Karina STANKEVICA, Maris KLAVINS – Department of Environmental Science, University of Latvia);
• “Circular economy approach for weak soil stabilization” (Zane VINCEVICA-GAILE(1), Juris BURLAKOVS(2), Mait KRIIPSALU(2), Vita RUDOVICA(1) – 1) University of Latvia, 2) Estonian University of Life Sciences).

Participation in this congress has led to the project result dissemination in Eurasia and new contacts of the scientific network, particularly with Turkish researchers.

Scientific Report No.2 “CHARACTERIZATION OF RAW MATERIALS APPLICABLE FOR THE FORMULA OF PEAT-FREE SOIL CONDITIONER” has been prepared. It contains a range of data obtained from experiments and analyses of biomass combustion products and sapropel samples.

The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the travelling plans, and therefore short-term mobility to the project collaboration partner ELI-UCL in Belgium currently is not possible. However, travelling within the Baltic states is permitted, and collaboration with universities in neighbour countries can be expanded.

Estonian University of Life Sciences (Eesti Maaülikool – EMU), located in Tartu, Estonia, is the only university in Estonia which priorities in academic and research activities provide the sustainable development of natural resources necessary for the existence of Man as well as the preservation of heritage and habitat. According to QS World University Rankings by Subject (2019), EMU is one of the top 50 universities in the world in the field of agriculture and forestry, ranked 48. The university also belongs to the top 1% most cited research facilities in the world (regarding plant physiology professor Ülo Niinemets being the most cited Estonian researcher altogether).

Continue reading “Collaboration perspective with Estonian University of Life Sciences”

On September 25, 2020, a Knowledge Agora was held at the University of Latvia during the Day of New Technologies and Innovation. The Knowledge Agora is an open-stage for new ideas and innovative research. The presentation was delivered on the topic “Development of peat-free soil improver composition” in a popular-science manner.

The Knowledge Agora was bringing together students and scientists of the broad background of sciences. It gave an opportunity to look into the work of other researchers as well as to identify the priorities to be set for successful idea realization.

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 4^th 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.