On the development possibilities of Estonian agriculture

• Published in: Transactions of Estonian Agricultural University (Estonia) no. 212
• Main Authors: Roostalu, H, Suigussaar, M. (Estonian Agricultural Univ., Tartu (Estonia). Dept. of Soil Science and Agrochemistry)
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Estonian
• Published: 2001
• Subjects: ABONOS; CARNE; CROPS; CULTIVOS; ENERGY RESOURCES; ENGRAIS; ESTONIA; ESTONIE; FERTILIZERS; LAIT; LAND USE; LECHE; MEAT; MILK; PLANTE DE CULTURE; RECURSOS ENERGETICOS; RENDEMENT; RENDIMIENTO; RESSOURCE ENERGETIQUE; UTILISATION DES TERRES; UTILIZACION DE LA TIERRA; VIANDE; YIELDS
• ISSN: 1406-4049

Owing to the inadequate application of fertilizers and pesticides, the yield of major field crops has decreased by 3-7 per cent per year after the re-independence of Estonia. At present, average annual plant production of metabolizable energy is 24 GJ per hectare. During the last ten years the production of milk and meat has decreased by 5 per cent and 7 per cent per year, respectively, while the deficit of local-produced meat is approximately 39 per cent. The deficit of cereals is about 25 per cent. The amount of fodders employed in animal production, recalculated for metabolizable energy, is 16.3 thousand TJ, from which concentrated fodder accounts for 36.5 per cent, coarse fodder 14.3 per cent, succulent fodder 21.3 per cent and other forage 27.9 per cent. In order to satisfy Estonia's need for meat and to ensure a 900x10 (3) tons annual milk production, the yield of forage crops should be amounted to 33-35 GJ per hectare, while the yield of cereals should be 2.5-3 tons per hectare and the yield of grasslands can be increased 2-3 times with appropriate fertilization