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Using machine learning techniques to assess the technology adoption readiness levels of livestock producers
No full textReceived: March 23rd, 2025 ; Accepted: June 19th, 2025 ; Published: August 5th, 2025 ; Correspondence: [email protected] adoption in agriculture, particularly in precision livestock farming (PLF), is often hindered by a range of barriers such as high investment costs, limited infrastructure, and uncertainty regarding the reliability and integration of new systems. Understanding these barriers is crucial for promoting the uptake of innovations that enhance sustainability and productivity. This study investigates technology adoption barriers in precision livestock farming to support sustainable agricultural development. A survey of 266 farms across several European countries and Israel was conducted to assess existing infrastructure and farmers' attitudes toward smart farming technologies. Using machine learning techniques, farmers were grouped into two clusters representing different levels of technological readiness. The study identified the most prominent factors influencing technology adoption, including the presence of smart technologies on-site, market accessibility, cost efficiency, and the ability to manage labor shortages. A Logistic Regression model further demonstrated high predictive accuracy for farmers' technological readiness based on these characteristics. These findings provide valuable insights into the main drivers and barriers of PLF adoption and highlight the relevance of data-driven approaches for requirement analysis and targeted policy interventions. By uncovering critical user traits and adoption barriers, this study offers structured guidance for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and researchers to foster the broader adoption of precision livestock technologies
Modeling the process of management of water-salt and food regime of salt soils of marginal land using waste water
No full textReceived: February 15th, 2025 ; Accepted: July 28th, 2025 ; Published: September 4th, 2025 ; Correspondence: [email protected] the development and further improvement of the ecosystem approach to the development of saline marginal lands, a theoretical justification has been prepared for the conceptual model of the technology for the management of the salinity and nutritional regime of marginal lands, where the development of such land takes place in three symmetrical and parallelsequential actions in time at annual intervals on the basis of using biologinization of agriculture, programming productivity of agricultural crops with desalinization of the saline soil to a certain acceptable level subject to leaching limit and chemical reclamation, taking into account the environmental management requirements and classification of the saline soil and salt tolerance of agricultural crops. In addition, the distinctive peculiarities of the proposed technology are the possibility to implement the entire complex of environment-forming functions of the natural system, including the assessment of energy resources of the soil and vegetation cover (various agro-ecological categories), productivity of agricultural land using the reference yield methods, water consumption deficit of agricultural land and leaching limits, ensuring the gradual achievement of the safe level of salinity, using the biological characteristics of salt-tolerant crops (halophytes) and chemical reclamation, based on application of gypsum to the topsoil, owing to a balanced supply of mineral fertilizers, and based on their rationing, taking into account planning the yield of cultivated crops. To illustrate the capability of the presented models, a two-year field experiment was conducted on saline lands using wastewater in the Kyzylorda region of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the results showed that supplementing the information with data from actual measurement results will provide even greater adaptability of the model. Based on the experimental research conducted to explore the possibility of managing the water-salt and nutrient regimes of soils in marginal lands using wastewater and salt-tolerant crops, and developed through mathematical models of soil water, salt, and nutrient dynamics along with a control technology algorithm for these natural-technogenic processes, it was demonstrated that the theoretical justification and the proposed conceptual model of the software and hardware system for managing the soil water-salt regime under wastewater irrigation comply with environmental protection requirements and align with the ecological, economic, and social aspects of the sustainability triad. The materials and methods of this manuscript, except for the experimental part of the study were presented as a preprint in Research Square (Mustafayev et al., 2024)
Milk productivity, reproductive performance, hematological and clinical indicators of holstein, brown swiss, simmental, and jersey breeds of cows under Armenian agro-climatic conditions
No full textReceived: May 9th, 2025 ; Accepted: August 4th, 2025 ; Published: August 18th, 2025 ; Correspondence: [email protected] research was conducted on the farms of ‘Himnatavush’ Foundation and ‘Agroholding Armenia’ LLC in the Tavush and Lori regions of the Republic of Armenia. This study aims to fill a research gap regarding the adaptability of elite dairy breeds in the South Caucasus under variable agro-climatic conditions. The scientific and practical goal of the work is to conduct, for the first time, a comparative study of the milk productivity, reproductive capacity, and hematological and clinical indicators of Holstein, Brown Swiss (Schwyz), Simmental, and Jersey cattle breeds imported into the Republic of Armenia from various European countries in recent years, as well as cows born and raised locally (local reproduction). The study is being carried out in two farms located in different agro-climatic zones of the Republic. At the farms of ‘Agroholding Armenia’ LLC and the ‘Himnatavush’ Foundation, the age at first calving of both imported full-grown cows of Holstein, Brown Swiss, Simmental, and Jersey breeds and their locally born and raised first-calf heifers corresponded to breed-specific norms. The service period for cows of all breeds exceeded the desirable range (80–90 days), ranging from 93.8 to 115.6 days. However, the reproductive capacity coefficient ranged between 92.9–97.3, which is considered a good indicator. Hematological and clinical parameters of all cows remained within physiological norms. Jersey cows exhibited slightly better adaptation markers. The study confirms the successful acclimatization of these breeds to Armenia’s diverse agro-climatic zones and supports the continued use of these high-yielding breeds for sustainable dairy development
Drought stress and selective manure on the growth and yield of Chaya (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius) in a tropical climate
No full textReceived: March 12th, 2025 ; Accepted: June 27th, 2025 ; Published: July 4th, 2025 ; Correspondence: [email protected] (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius) is a nutrient-dense, perennial leafy vegetable with great potential to support food security, especially in tropical regions. As a drought-tolerant plant, chaya is suitable for cultivation under changing climate conditions, including prolonged dry seasons. However, limited research has examined its specific response to varying levels of drought stress and organic fertilizer application. This study aimed to assess the growth and yield response of chaya under different irrigation volumes and manure types. The experiment was conducted from June to September 2024 in the greenhouse of the Faculty of Agriculture, Sriwijaya University, using a factorial randomized block design with two factors: irrigation volume (250 mL, 500 mL, 750 mL per two days) and manure type (no manure, chicken manure, and goat manure). Each treatment combination was replicated three times. Results showed that severe drought stress (250 mL) significantly inhibited plant growth, particularly in terms of shoot length and leaf area. Chicken manure improved soil moisture retention, maintaining levels up to 25% under drought conditions. In contrast, goat manure was more effective in supporting plant growth and yield under limited water availability. These findings suggest that combining appropriate organic amendments with optimized irrigation can enhance the resilience of chaya cultivation in tropical dryland environments
The Quality of Integrated Reporting in Estonian Public Interest Entities
No full textMagistritöö
Majandusarvestus- ja finantsjuhtimise õppekavalIntegreeritud aruandlust nimetatakse aruandlusmeetodit, mis ühendab majandusaasta aruande ja kestlikkusaruande üheks aruandeks. See annab ülevaate organisatsiooni strateegiast, juhtimisest, tulemustest ning väliskeskkonna mõjust väärtuse loomisele ja säilitamisele lühikeses, keskmises ja pikas perspektiivis (IIRC 2021: 11, Hahn, Kühnen 2013). Magistritöö probleem seisneb asjaolus, et tulenevalt aruande mahu ja erinevate andmete esitamise ulatuse kasvule on keeruline esitada teavet arusaadavalt ja läbipaistvalt. Eestis on märgata suurenenud huvi kestlikkusaruandluse vastu, kuid esitatud aruannete tase on erinev. Ebakindlust lisavad Euroopa Liidu direktiivide muudatused ning ebaselgus selles, millises ulatuses standardeid lihtsustatakse ja millised ettevõtted aruandekohustuse alla kuuluvad. Avaliku huvi üksuste jaoks jäi 2024. majandusaasta kohta kestlikkusaruande esitamise kohustus muutumatuks, mistõttu pidid nad aruande siiski koostama ja tegema aruandlusprotsessides vajalikke ümberkorraldusi, mis nõudis täiendavaid ressursse.
Magistritöö eesmärk on välja selgitada, kuidas ettevõtted rakendavad integreeritud aruandluse põhimõtteid majandusaasta aruannetes. Seejuures ei ole oluline, et ettevõte järgiks teadlikult IIRC raamistikku. Seatud eesmärk aitab tuvastada integreeritud aruandluse rakendamise kitsaskohad, et toetada selle edasist arendamist Eestis.
Teoreetilises osas antakse ülevaade integreeritud aruandluse olemusest, varasematest uuringutest ning tuuakse ülevaade IIRC raamistiku sisuelementidest ja juhtpõhimõtetest. Uurimuse eesmärgi täitmiseks viidi läbi kvalitatiivset ja kvantitatiivset sisuanalüüsi. Andmete kogumiseks koostati vastavalt teoreetilisele kirjandusele hindamismudel, mille alusel hinnati 10 Eesti avaliku huvi üksuse integreeritud 2023. – 2024. majandusaasta aruande kvaliteeti.
Uuringu tulemustest selgus, et integreeritud aruandluse kvaliteedi käsitlus on Eesti avaliku huvi üksustes ebaühtlane ja arengujärgus, mis on kooskõlas ka Devarapalli et al. (2024) ning Bray et al. (2023) uuringu tulemustega. Kõige paremini oli kajastatud organisatsiooni ja väliskeskkonna sisuelement, kuid puudujääke esines tegevustulemuslikkuse ja tulevikuväljavaadete esitamisel. Peamiseks probleemiks oli strateegiliste eesmärkide, mõõdikute ja sihttasemete puudumine ning ärimudelite ebapiisav selgitamine. Juhtpõhimõtetest valmistavad enim raskusi teabeühenduvus, olulisuse määratlemine ja kokkuvõtlikkus, kuna aruanded on sageli liialt detailsed ja seoseid ei esitata piisavalt süsteemselt.Integrated reporting refers to a reporting approach that combines the annual report and the sustainability report into a single document. It provides an overview of the organization’s strategy, governance, performance, and the impact of the external environment on value creation in the short, medium, and long term (IIRC 2021: 11, Hahn, Kühnen 2013).
The research problem arises from the difficulty of presenting increasing reporting and data volumes in a clear and transparent way. In Estonia, interest in sustainability reporting has grown, but the quality of reports varies. Additional uncertainty stems from amendments to European Union directives and ambiguity about the extent to which standards will be simplified and which companies will fall under the reporting obligation. For public interest entities, the obligation to prepare a sustainability report for the 2024 financial year remained unchanged, which meant that they still had to compile the report and make necessary adjustments to reporting processes, requiring additional resources.
The aim of the master’s thesis is to examine how companies apply the principles of integrated reporting in their annual reports. It is not relevant whether they intentionally follow the IIRC framework. This supports identifying challenges in the implementation of integrated reporting and contributes to its further development in Estonia.
The theoretical part outlines the concept of integrated reporting, previous research, and the IIRC framework’s content elements and guiding principles. A qualitative content analysis was conducted using an evaluation model developed from theoretical literature to assess the quality of integrated 2023–2024 annual reports of 10 Estonian public-interest entities.
The results show that the quality of integrated reporting among Estonian public-interest entities is inconsistent and still developing, aligning with findings by Devarapalli et al. (2024) and Bray et al. (2023). The content element concerning the organization and its external environment was generally well presented, while performance and future outlooks were less developed. Key issues included the absence of strategic objectives, indicators, and targets, and insufficient explanation of business models. Among the guiding principles, the most challenging were connectivity of information, materiality, and conciseness, as reports tended to be overly detailed and lacked systematic presentation of linkages
The starting material is the basis of heterotic wheat breeding
No full textReceived: June 1st, 2025 ; Accepted: September 15th, 2025 ; Published: October 3rd, 2025 ; Correspondence: [email protected] study addresses key aspects of developing initial breeding material for heterosis breeding in bread winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). In the context of climate change and threats to food security, particularly in Ukraine, the creation of new high-yielding hybrids resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses is of paramount importance. The research involved a comprehensive assessment of 78 winter wheat varieties from the Ukrainian National Gene Bank. Field trials were conducted during 2022–2024 at the Agronomic Research Station (Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine) using a randomized complete block design with three replications. The study focused on morphological and physiological traits influencing cross-pollination efficiency, including anther extrusion (VAEX-method scored on a 1–9 scale), plant height (cm), flowering synchrony (days from January 1 to heading), spike characteristics, grain yield (t ha⁻¹), and resistance to pathogens (septoria, powdery mildew; % leaf area affected) and winter hardiness (1–9 score). Cluster analysis revealed three distinct groups with specific breeding potential. Group 1 (Achim, Mescal, Yuvileyna Patona) demonstrated the highest spike productivity (61.2–63.6 grains/spike; grain mass 2.8–3.4 g) and yield (6.1–6.2 t ha-1). Female components (Group 2: Altigo, Soborna, Taira) exhibited short plant height (71.4–78.2 cm) and early heading time (140.3–144.0 days). Male components (Group 3: Zoreslava, Metelytsya Kharkivska, Urbanus, Liryka Bilotserkivska, and Kyivska 17, etc.) were characterized by tall plant height (80.3–89.8 cm) and high anther extrusion (6.3–7.5 score). A topcross mating design is proposed for further evaluation of combining ability and heterosis effects. The results provide a foundation for the development of hybrid wheat breeding programs under Ukrainian conditions, with an emphasis on parental lines with complementary flowering biology and agronomic performance
Differences in the quality of grass silage in 2020 and 2023
No full textBakalaureusetöö
Loomakasvatuse õppekavalLoomade tervis kui ka toodanguvõime sõltuvad etteantavast sööda kvaliteedist. Mäletsejalised toituvad peamiselt rohusilost, mispärast on oluline sööta neile võimalikult kvaliteetset silo. Antud bakalaureusetöö eesmärk on uurida silo kvaliteedi erinevusi 2020. ja 2023. aastal valmistatud silodest. Andmed saadi Eesti Maaülikooli söötmisteaduse õppetooli sööda ja ainevahetuse uurimise laboratooriumist ning andmete analüüsiks kasutati programmi Excel. Antud uuringust saab järeldada, et silo tootjad on aja jooksul muutunud rohkem teadlikumaks närvutamise olulisusest. Samuti oli märgata, et 2023. aastal oli liblikõieliste osakaal seemnesegudes suurem ning rohusaagi koristamisega alustati taimestiku nooremas arengufaasis. Antud uuring annab ülevaate, kuidas silo kvaliteet on ajas muutunud kuivainesisalduse, botaanilise koostise, niite, hoiustamisviisi ja silokindlustuslisandi kasutamise alusel.The health and production capacity of animals depend on the quality of the feed provided. Ruminants feed mainly on grass silage, which is why it is important to feed them the highest quality silage possible. The aim of this bachelor's thesis is to analyze the differences in silage quality between silages produced in 2020 and 2023. The data was obtained from the Feed and Metabolism Research Laboratory of the Estonian University of Life Sciences and the Excel program was used for data analysis. It can be concluded from this study that silage producers have become more aware of the importance of wilting over time. It was also noticeable that in 2023 the proportion of leguminous plants was higher in seed mixtures and that grass harvesting began in the younger developent phase of the vegetation. This thesis provides an overview of how silage quality has changed over time based on dry matter content, botanical composition, mowing, storage method and use of silage additive
The effect of using IgG additive extracted from cows' transitional milk on daily weight gain of weaning piglets
No full textMagistritöö
Loomakasvatuse õppekavalMagistritöö on osa laiemast uurimisprojektist, mille eesmärgiks oli hinnata
immunoglobuliinirikka (IgG-rikka) söödalisandi mõju võõrdepõrsaste ööpäevasele massiiibele.
Põrsaste võõrutamine on seafarmide jaoks üks kriitilisemaid perioode, mis mõjutab
oluliselt loomade tervist, heaolu ja jõudlusnäitajaid. Võõrutamisega kaasnevad mitmed
stressifaktorid, nagu eemaldamine emisest, üleminek kuivsöödale ja järsult muutunud
keskkond, mis võivad põhjustada stressi ja omakorda soodustada seedehäirete tekkimist,
kasvu pidurdumist ja suurendada vastuvõtlikkust haigustele. Seetõttu otsitakse pidevalt
uusi lahendusi, mis aitaksid leevendada võõrutusjärgset stressi ja toetada põrsaste arengut.
Käesoleva magistritöö eesmärk oli uurida lehmade üleminekupiimast eraldatud IgG-rikka
söödalisandi mõju võõrdepõrsaste ööpäevasele massi-iibele. Töö raames viidi läbi
kontrollitud söötmiskatse, kuhu kaasati 40 juhuslikult valitud emise pesakonda. Katsesse
kaasati igast pesakonnast 5 juhuslikult valitud võõrdepõrsast. Kokku moodustati kolm
rühma: IgG rühm, kontrollrühm (vadak) ja võrdlusrühm (ilma lisandita). Tulemused
näitasid, et põrsaste ööpäevane mässi-iive oli enim mõjutatud kindlate perioodiliste ja
individuaalsete tegurite kaudu. Kuigi antud uuringus leiti, et IgG-lisand ei avaldanud
märkimisväärset mõju võõrdepõrsaste juurdekasvule, võib IgG-rikaste söödalisandite
kasutamine anda uusi perspektiive võõrutusjärgse stressi leevendamiseks.The master's thesis is part of a broader research project that aimed to evaluate the effect
of immunoglobulin-rich (IgG-rich) feed additive on the daily mass increase of weanpiglets.
Weaning piglets is one of the most critical periods for pig farms, which has a
significant impact on animal health, welfare and performance indicators. Weaning is
accompanied by a number of stress factors, such as removal from the sow, switching to
dry feed and a sharply changed environment, which can cause stress and in turn promote
the development of digestive disorders, growth retardation and increased susceptibility to
diseases. Therefore, new solutions are constantly being sought to help alleviate postweaning
stress and support the development of piglets. The aim of this master's thesis was
to investigate the effect of an IgG-rich feed additive extracted from cows' transitional milk
on the daily mass gain of weaning piglets. As part of the work, a controlled feeding
experiment was carried out, involving 40 randomly selected sow litters. 5 randomly
selected weaned piglets from each litter were included in the experiment. A total of three
groups were formed: the IgG group, the control group (whey) and the control group
(without supplementation). The results showed that the daily increase in piglets was most
affected by certain periodic and individual factors. Although this study found that IgG
supplementation did not have a significant effect on weaning piglet gain, the use of IgGrich
feed additives may provide new perspectives for relieving post-weaning stress
Risk Assessment and Development of Safety Guidelines for a Vehicle Test Laboratory
No full textBakalaureusetöö
Tehnika ja tehnoloogia õppekavalEesti Maaülikooli tehnikamaja autode katselabori tööprotsessiga kaasnevad mitmesugused füüsikalised, keemilised ja füsioloogilised ohutegurid, mille hindamiseks ei ole varem läbi viidud süsteemseid mõõtmisi ega koostatud põhjalikke juhiseid. Käesolev töö tugineb olemasolevale ohutuseeskirjale ning jätkab labori töökeskkonna ohutuse analüüsi praktiliste mõõtmiste ja riskihindamise kaudu.
Töö eesmärk on koostada Eesti Maaülikooli autode katselabori riskianalüüs ja ohutusjuhend. Uurimistöö käigus viidi läbi müra-, valgustus- ja mikrokliimamõõtmised (CO₂, temperatuur, õhu suhteline niiskus), analüüsiti tööprotsesse ning koostati tegumianalüüs ja riskimaatriks.
Tulemused näitasid, et CO₂ tase ja temperatuur jäid normi piiresse, kuid õhu suhteline niiskus oli alla soovitusliku taseme. Müratase ületas hetkeks lubatud piirväärtust, ent tööaja keskmine jäi normi. Töökeskkonna füsioloogilised ohutegurid ilmnesid sundasendite ja käsitsi raskuste teisaldamisega seotud tööülesannete puhul. Labori üldine ohutase on võrreldes varasemate sarnaste uuringutega aktsepteeritav, kuid esineb parendusvõimalusi.
Soovitatud meetmed hõlmavad õhuniiskuse jälgimist, ergonoomiliste abivahendite kasutuselevõttu ja töötajate teadlikkuse tõstmist. Töö tulemused loovad aluse edasisteks töökeskkonna hindamisteks ja praktilisteks ohutuse tõstmise tegevusteks.The work processes in a vehicle test laboratory involve various physical, chemical, and ergonomic risk factors, for which no systematic measurements or comprehensive safety guidelines had previously been developed. This thesis builds upon the existing safety regulations and continues the assessment of the laboratory’s work environment through practical measurements and risk analysis.
The aim of this study is to compile a risk assessment and safety manual for the vehicle test laboratory at the Estonian University of Life Sciences. The research included measurements of noise, lighting, and microclimate (CO₂, temperature, relative humidity), observation of work processes, and the preparation of a task analysis and risk matrix.
The results showed that CO₂ levels and temperature remained within standard limits, while the relative humidity was below the recommended range. Noise levels temporarily exceeded the permissible limit, although the average daily exposure remained within acceptable bounds. Ergonomic risks were identified in connection with awkward working postures and manual handling of heavy loads. The overall safety level of the laboratory is considered acceptable compared to similar previous studies, though improvements are needed.
Recommended measures include regulating air humidity, introducing ergonomic aids, and raising worker awareness. The results of this thesis provide a foundation for further assessments and practical projects aimed at improving occupational safety
The effect of peat-reduced substrates on the yield and mineral element content of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)
No full textMagistritöö
Aianduse õppekavalAedsalati (Lactuca sativa L.) kasvatamine hüdropoonilistes tingimustes sõltub suuresti kasutatava substraadi omadustest. Traditsiooniliselt on kasutusel turbasubstraat, kuid selle kasutamine avaldab keskkonnale negatiivset mõju. Uuring toetub varasematele teadustöödele, käsitledes turbakasutuse vähendamise vajadust ning sellega seotud keskkonnaprobleeme Euroopa Liidu kontekstis. Töö eesmärk oli selgitada, millised vähendatud turbasisaldusega substraadid sobivad aedsalati kasvatamiseks hüdropoonikas kasvuhoone tingimustes.
Katse viidi läbi NFT hüdropoonilises süsteemis AS Grüne Fee Eesti kasvuhoones kevadel 2024, kus võrreldi 10 erinevat substraadivarianti. Mõõdeti taime märg- ja kuivmassi ning mineraalelementide sisaldust lehtedes ja kasvusubstraatides.
Tulemused näitasid, et substraadil oli oluline mõju saagikusele ja toiteelementide sisaldusele. Parimad tulemused saadi Bioon 20 ja Ecoboost substraatidega, mis võimaldasid turbakogust vähendada. Vill ja tatrakestad ei andnud rahuldavaid tulemusi. Töö näitab, et teatud alternatiivsed substraadid on sobivad ning neid saab rakendada keskkonnasäästlikus tootmises.The cultivation of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) under hydroponic conditions is highly dependent on the properties of the substrate used. Traditionally, peat-based substrates have been used, but their utilization has a negative impact on the environment. This study relates to broader environmental concerns and EU peat-reduction goals, building on previous research into alternative substrates. The aim was to identify the suitability of various peat-reduced substrates for lettuce cultivation in greenhouse hydroponic systems.
The experiment was conducted in spring 2024 using an NFT hydroponic system in the Grüne Fee Eesti greenhouse. Ten substrate variants were tested, and plant fresh and dry weight as well as mineral element content in leaves and substrates were measured.
Results showed that substrate type significantly influenced yield and mineral element content. The best performance was achieved with Bioon 20 and Ecoboost, which allowed peat reduction without yield loss. Wool and buckwheat hull substrates produced unsatisfactory results. The study demonstrates that certain alternative substrates are viable for sustainable production