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In recent years, climate change trends specific to the world’s regions have been observed in Lithuania. Droughts and torrential rains are increasingly being recorded, causing long-term waterlogging. As Lithuania is an agrarian country, the horticulture sector is developed. Abundant growers of potatoes, cabbage and other vegetables are counted in years. It is estimated that the consumption of potatoes in Lithuania is more than 96 kg per capita per year. However, potatoes, which are grown by the majority of crop farms, suffer most from frequent natural droughts. To lower droughts influence, farmers can install irrigation systems or use biological additives in the field, such as agroperlite and agrovermiculite. The experiment was conducted at the two experimental farms in Lithuania, growing ‘Vineta’ potatoes. The aim of the study was to determine the dynamics of soil moisture in May-August, when different amounts (effects of different percentages) of biological additives are added to the soil. In 2020, the amount of precipitation varied during the research period. During the whole period in Pupasodis fields precipitation was 234 mm. During observed period, 77% of all decades were drier than perennials (DNs). In Šilavotas fields, it was found that 351.5 mm of precipitation fell during the observed period, which is 164.3 mm more than in the Pupasodis area. The distance between experiment plots was more than 70 km. The study results show that soil temperature correlates with exponential dependence with precipitation. The correlation coefficient r = 0.69, and when assessing the relationship between soil temperature and ambient temperature, a linear dependence and R = 0.5649 were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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With the onset of climate change, dry periods are more frequent, and therefore the rational use of naturally accumulating soil moisture can be a tool to regulate the unfavourable soil moisture regime. Demand for new biological materials is increasing rapidly with the development of biotechnological science. Superabsorbent or water retaining material is considered promising material that is widely used in the fields of industry and agriculture. These can both absorb large amounts of water, as much as hundreds of times their own mass. The use of biological environmentally friendly additives to the cultivation of agricultural products, particularly germination and rooting periods, can ensure the required moisture content of the soil. The use of additives is more economical growing relatively more expensive raw materials, so in most cases it is related to vegetable and berry crops. The aim is to investigate the extent to which biological additives can absorb and give back moisture, assessing the different incorporation relations, as well as different biological additives. Soil moisture variation for samples with embedded biological additives ended after 24 and 26 days under laboratory conditions at 17 and 19 °C; it ended after 15 days in an environmental chamber at 20 °C. On average, soil moisture retention increases by 14 days more than the control without additives. The results showed that at low temperatures all the biological additives considered help to keep the moisture available to the plants longer in the soil for approximately the same number of days. In assessing these results, it should be emphasized that the conditions in the nature are different from the simulated critical temperatures and without the addition of moisture, in the natural conditions the impact of biological additives will be longer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water balance of agro ecological systems is a key parameter for most physical and physiological processes with the system soil- crop-climate. Therefore it is of great importance to calculate the water budget parameters in the required scale. The field study was conducted in the period of 2002-2005. Seedlings were planted in Irrigation engineering department experimental fields at the Lithuanian University of Agriculture. Seedlings were grown under standard nursery cultural practices until being transplanted into new fields in mid April 2002 and 2004. The research site contains evaporators and 8 lysimeters in which spruce seedlings were grown and studied. Lysimeters amount 42 m2 and 30 m2. At 2002, field No.1 was irrigated 8 times, irrigation norm was 250 m³ ha-1 and seedling got 2000 m³ ha-1 water. Field No.2 was irrigated 6 times, irrigation norm - 1500 m³ ha-1. In 2003 fields No. 1 and No. 2 were irrigated 4 times and seedlings got 1000 m³ ha-1 water. At 2004, field No.1 was irrigated 8 times, irrigation norm was 250 m³ ha-1 and seedling got 2000 m³ ha-1 water. Field No.2 was irrigated 6 irrigation norm - 1500 m³ ha-1. The total evapotranspiration of the first year seedlings planted in the field No.1 in 2004 made up 323 mm. The total evapotranspiration of the seedlings growing in variant No. 2 was 307 mm in 2004 and it is by 16 mm less as compared to variant No.1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analysis of the impact of hydrokinetic energy technology schemes has been carried out on the following river parameters: water quality, the riverbed and bank stability, sediment dynamics, coastal and aquatic vegetation, fish communities, noise, aesthetics, fishing and riverbed practicability (kayaks and barges). Hydrokinetic energy generation technologies are compared to conventional tidal technologies. Each parameter assessed was evaluated for minor, notable, high, and very high likelihood of constant and temporary exposure. Subordinate elements, such as aesthetics, fishing, and river practicability were determined to be the greatest possible use of hydrokinetic energy schemes in the world rather than river ecosystem elements. The researchers carried out an approximate assessment of the economic indicators because Lithuania does not operate hydrokinetic power plants. An assessment of reduced investment and electricity market energy purchase price indicates that the approximate payback period is six years and the net present value in the seventh year of operation is EUR 7,450. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]