EMU DSpace
Digitaalarhiiv EMU DSpace kogub, säilitab ja loob ligipääsu Eesti Maaülikooli liikmeskonna poolt loodud või Eesti Maaülikooli vastutusvaldkondadega seotud teadustöödele toetamaks maaülikooli konkurentsivõimet ja teadmistepõhist ühiskonna arengut. Digitaalarhiivi haldab Eesti Maaülikooli raamatukogu.
Valdkonnad DSpace's
Valige valdkond, et selle kogusid sirvida.
- Institute of Forestry and Engineering (MII)
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (PKI)
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences (VLI)
- Publications
- Units
Hiljutised sisestused
19th Congress of the European Society for Agronomy: 24.-28.08.2026 Tartu, Estonia : Book of abstracts
(Estonian University of Life Sciences, 2026) Estonian University of Life Sciences
The 19th Congress of the European Society for Agronomy took place from 24 to 28 August 2026 at the Estonian University of Life Sciences in Tartu. Under the leadership of ESA President Prof Evelin Loit-Harro, the congress brought together leading experts in agronomy and crop science to discuss the main challenges and opportunities of modern crop production and agriculture. The focus was on soil–plant interactions, experiences from organic production, increasing the resilience of agriculture, and different agronomic technologies that helped keep yields stable under climate change.
Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat food and antimicrobial effect of plant additives in meat products
(Estonian University of Life Sciences, 2026) Koskar, Julia; Roasto, Mati (advisor); Meremäe, Kadrin (advisor); Mäesaar, Mihkel (advisor); Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences; Uyttendaele, Mieke (opponent)
ABSTRACT. Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen that poses a significant public health risk, particularly in the consumption of long shelf-life ready-to-eat foods that do not require additional heat treatment. The ability of this pathogen to remain viable and grow at refrigeration temperatures is especially hazardous for vulnerable consumer groups. Increasing consumer demand for natural and minimally processed foods necessitates the identification of alternatives to synthetic food preservatives. This thesis analysed the occurrence of L. monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods produced in Estonia and assessed the effects of plant-based powders and their mixtures on microbial growth in both raw and heat-treated minced meat samples. The results indicated that contamination of ready-to-eat foods with L. monocytogenes was generally low, pathogen was detected in 3.6% of samples (n = 30,016). The pathogen was most frequently found in fish products, particularly in lightly salted and cold-smoked fish. Although the counts of L. monocytogenes in most samples remained below 10 CFU/g, the food safety criterion (100 CFU/g) was exceeded in certain fish, meat, and fruit and vegetable products. The findings demonstrated that plant powders, especially rhubarb, inhibited the growth of microorganisms, with the exception of L. monocytogenes. The most effective suppression of microbial growth was achieved using mixtures of plant powders, particularly in low-fat minced meat samples. The utilisation of juice processing by-products, such as pomaces, offers a promising approach to improving the microbiological quality of meat products while aligning with the principles of the circular bioeconomy.
Influence of climate warming and land-cover change on aerobiological pollen season in Estonia
(Estonian University of Life Sciences, 2026) Haasmaa, Elen; Väli, Vivika; Saar, Maret; Teinemaa, Erik; Vill, Mart; Poska, Anneli
Pollen monitoring, performed using Hirst-type volumetric traps, expressed as daily average pollen concentration per cubic meter of air (grains/m3/24h).
Effectiveness of organic fertiliser from bovine carcass residues on pasture biomass yield and nutritional value: A one-year trial comparing with inorganic fertilisers
(Estonian University of Life Sciences, 2026) Teixeira, S.M.P.; Rosa, H.J.D.; Madruga, J.S.; da Silveira, M.G.; Borba, A.E.S.
The use of organic fertilisers in agricultural soil promotes sustainable agriculture and reduces the use of chemical fertilisers, which could have an economic and environmental impact. An experiment was conducted to assess the effects of inorganic vs. organic fertiliser produced from residues (dried to 97% of dry matter DM) resulting from bovine carcass cutting on pasture biomass production and nutritional value. Twenty-five plots of a biodiverse pasture were ploughed, sown with Lolium perenne L. and Trifolium repens L. and randomly assigned to 5 treatments: control (no fertiliser) and chemical or organic fertiliser (100 and 200 kg N ha per year) in a Latin square experimental design. In the following year, monthly pasture samples were taken to determine chemical and nutritional analysis. Results for annual DM production showed no significant differences in quality of fertiliser, but rather in the quantity (only for chemical 200 being 16% higher than 100; p = 0.026). Regarding results for annual protein production, chemical was 12.9% higher (p = 0.005) than organic. For digestibility, there were only significant differences between quantities and not quality (200 was 3% higher than 100 for organic and 7% for chemical; p = 0.002). These results suggest that this organic fertiliser can replace chemical fertilisers in soils of grass pastures for dairy cattle without compromising DM production and grass digestibility. By reusing animal by-products, it promotes sustainability in line with circular economy principles, especially in areas with a high level of cattle production and beef industry such as the Azores and regions alike.
Soybean production potential in Estonia
(Estonian University of Life Sciences, 2026) Mölder, Christel; Talgre, Liina; Altosaar, Illimar; Loit-Harro, Evelin; Estonian University of Life Sciences. Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Soybean is a widely cultivated protein crop globally, yet it is a novel crop in the Baltic States. The first scientific soybean trials in Estonia started in 2005. Farmers on the island of Saaremaa, where the climate is milder, tested varieties from The Czech Republic. Success led to the official soybean breeding program and the Estonian variety ‘Laulema’ was registered in 2014 along with the first cultivation recommendations. Soybean production expanded in 2015 and reached its peak in 2017, when 119.4 ha was planted. On-farm and certified seed-lot yields ranged from 176–784 kg ha⁻¹, with thousand kernel weight from 170.9–190.3 g and protein content from 35.36–37.55%. Pre-registration variety trials in Viljandimaa (2012–2013) recorded yields of 993–1516 kg ha⁻¹, while multi-year national variety trial records (METK) indicated a substantially wider range, from 693 to 3161 kg ha⁻¹. Certified seed batches were produced only in 2015, 2016 and 2018. Although soybean was grown every year until 2024, the production has subsequently declined, and the crop has not secured a stable place in crop rotations. Soybean cultivation is constrained by a short growing season, the risk of spring and autumn frosts, suboptimal soil conditions, limited availability of varieties adapted to Baltic-Nordic environments, and difficulties in multiplication of the sole local variety ‘Laulema’. Initial expectations were driven by expected climate change and rising temperatures. However, this 20-year assessment shows that the region's still insufficient temperature sums, and excessively wet harvest seasons further restrict production. Overall, while soybean holds potential in the Baltic-Nordic region, its broader adoption will depend on future climate conditions, targeted breeding efforts, and agronomic solutions.