AGROPEDOGENIC TRANSFORMATION OF PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS OF MEDIUM-DRY STEPPE PEDO-ECOTONE IN THE NORTHWEST OF THE BLACK SEA REGION

The anthropogenic transformation of soil physical properties of the transition stripe from the dry to the middle steppe in the Northwest of the Black Sea region is considered and analyzed on the basis of comparison of indicators characterizing the properties of the cultivable and subcultivable horizons. The signs of negative influence of agricultural use on the most important indices of physical properties of soils are investigated. Significant degradation of the physical properties of the arable horizons (in comparison with tillable and subcultivable horizons), as well as deterioration of the water resistance of the structure of the tillable horizons (compared to the arable) was revealed. The geographic regularities of agrogenic evolution of sodic and residual-sodic calcic chernozems and gypsic kastanozems are established.

THE VOLUME OF WOOD FOREST RESOURCES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES

The contributions of forests to the well-being of humankind are extraordinarily vast and far-reaching. They are an important element in mitigating climate change. The aim of the paper is to determine the influence of particular factors on the diversity of the European Union countries in terms of the amount of wood forest resources compared with the country size. Two factors affecting the variable have been analysed in the paper: 1) the growing stock per 1 hectare of forest area and 2) the quotient of the forest area and the land area without inland water. Those two independent variables are directly proportional to the dependent variable, thus the higher the growing stock density and the higher the forest cover, the bigger the amount of wood forest resources of the analysed country. The causal analysis allowed to answer the question how the two factors affect the variable considered in the twenty eight countries, namely, what the direction and the strength of their influence are. The logarithmic method was used to carry out the causal analysis. The average results obtained for the entire European Union were compared with those received for each country separately and, on this basis, final conclusions were drawn. Data for 2005, 2010 and 2015 have been used for all needed calculations.

THE TERRITORIAL MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS AS INNOVATIVE NEW GOVERNANCE OF THE TERRITORY IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE EUROPEAN UNION CLLD PROGRAMME AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES POLICY

In the world, the question of the good practice to manage of territory is a pillar of the implementations of Sustainable Development Goals 2015-2030. The authors are working in collaboration with a holistic approach at the topic. In this way, the Smart Communities and Smart Territories are the new paradigms in 21th Century to solve the question of the adaptation at the Climate Change and to guarantee, for the future generation, the conservation and promotion of all potentialities of each territory and identity of areas. Until now, they have use a deductive method to analyse and show, in the framework of the Sustainable Development, the Community Led Local Development (EU Programme for CLLD) and Ecosystem Services, the need to move from an emergency management approach to pre-emptive territory management. The results of this research have produced the original and autonomous configuration of a new and innovative strategy and governance based on a model that puts in synergy the three aspects of the framework that has been given the name of Territorial Management Contracts (TMC). The TMC, appear a possible shared and democratic model that could to combine the territory risk management with solutions of development driving and sharing by the local populations. This innovative approach is strictly linked with the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals 2015-2030 and the Europe 2020 (smart, sustainable and inclusive). The authors argue that the TMC model is now sufficiently mature to pass from the processing phase to that of the implementation that in the Payment of the Ecosystem Services (PES) finds a concrete reinforcement of the scientific analysis carried out.

BIOMASS ASH UTILIZATION OPPORTUNITIES IN AGRICULTURE

In Latvia and in the world there are problems with utilization of wood ash from large fireboxes because it is a technologically complicated, time consuming and costly process. The methods used to dispose of the ash when it is deposited in waste landfills are unsustainable. Pollution-increasing solution is needed since pure wood ash is a valuable source of plant nutrients. Ash contains the macro and microelements needed for plants and can replace some of the precious mineral fertilizers in agriculture, especially in organic. Ash use in agriculture is little explored and implemented, the use of the technology is not resolved (ash collection and screening, fractionation, drilling, evaluation, etc.). The LUA studies of ash and slurry mixing problem to prepare ash with mechanized spreaders. Cattle slurry is used as a binder that helps create solid ash fractions that are subject to dispersion with centrifugal fertilizer dispersers with a sufficiently good spreading quality. The research examines the conditions for the creation of different size fractions and their dissolution. The experimental results showed that the best used ratio of the mixtures was 1000 ml of ash and 200 ml of liquid manure or 1000 ml of ash and 300 ml of liquid manure. In this ratio, the produced granule size was very close to the size of mineral fertilizers.

GROUNDED THEORY METHODOLOGY IN THE CONTEXT OF SOCIAL INNOVATIONS FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH

Although the Grounded Theory (GT) methodology has been developed for over 50 years and is one of the most popular methodologies in the world, it is not often used in rural development research. In order to update the possibilities of applying GT in rural development research, this article is based on the analysis of scientific literature and presents the evolution of the development of GT methodology and the possibilities of its application in rural development research. The classic GT strategy is discussed in more detail, as methodology which provides the possibility to researcher to look at the phenomenon from inside without formulating the hypothesis, i.e., to “emerge” the theory, which reveals the main concern and explains how it is resolved, by conceptualizing the authentic experiences of research participants. The article aims to explain that classic GT is a “full package” approach, discusses its coding process; reveales the principles of the emerging classic GT. The GT methodology is discussed as the paradigm that can help researchers discover new insights and develop new theories, explaining the processes of social innovations for rural development.

NEW BRAND EQUITY ASPECT: THE EXAMPLE OF NEW CANDY PRODUCT CONSISTENCY QUALITY EQUITY

The methodology of study is based on a new educational thinking – to use analytics to build ideas and make them better. The article analyzes the equity of a new product in terms of consistency of the equity of a new brand. The aim of the study - to identify the new product's consistency quality importance on the new brand equity when the customer chooses a new product (the example: candy in boxes). Theoretical study was based on the analysis of scientific literature, synthesis, logical generalisation, graphic modeling and a survey (2017 (n = 416)). Analysing the equity of the new product consistency for the new brand equity structure. Recognizing that consumer choice depends on the equity of the new consistency of the product offered to him by the firm's offer, the practical test of the scientific concept has been chosen from the original study, analyzing the equity of the candys in boxes as a new product for the consumer. The results allow us to make assumptions about what elements of the new consistency of the product could influence the success of the new brand on the candy market. The consistency quality of a new food product is essential factor of a new brand equity. The results of the study lead to conclusion that new food product (candys in boxes) Lithuanian shoppers perceive the importance of consistency quality and assess the identity (as unique products) (between high and medium value), which is forming a positive image of the product (quality assurance). The results of the research can be applied to the needs of the consumers of the Lithuanian candys in boxes market.

FACTORS AFFECTING HUMAN CAPITAL FORMATION IN LOGISTICS ENTERPRISES

Due to ongoing structural changes and socio-economic transition from the production economy to the knowledge economy, human capital plays a vital role in developing and creating new ideas and knowledge. Logistics industry is the fastest growing economic activity in Lithuania. The development of human capital becomes important in securing competitive advantage and improving performance for Lithuanian logistics enterprises. Logistics enterprises themselves try to find solutions how to create, develop and share the knowledge amongst its employees and how strategically develop and manage own human capital. The aim of the research is to examine the contemporary academic perspectives on measuring human capital and the factors affecting its value. In order to provide theoretical and practical basis of the factors affecting human capital formation in logistics enterprises, a study of the correlation between internal and external factors was conducted. Based on the investigation of 30 respondents from Lithuanian logistics enterprises, the correlation between 20 factors affecting human capital value was analysed via a path and correlation analysis. The results of correlation analysis showed that there was a significant negative correlation between the factors of the external environment “Demographic” (such as migration, structure of population and others) and the factor from the environment of the individual “Family” content; the correlation coefficient was -0.671. And it was positively correlated with the factor from the environment of the organisation “Culture” and “Value of organisation” (+0,695). Taking these results into consideration, the focus should be drawn on transforming the function of human resources management as well as providing a facilitative environment for developing the necessary skills in the professional and technical field.

FACTORS INFLUENCING CHANGES OF BEEF CATTLE HERD QUANTITY AND SIZE: CASE OF LATVIA

Beef production volumes in Latvia have been different over a long period of time, beef output growth has been noted, as well as its sharp decrease, so it is important to analyze, what are the most important factors that are affecting beef production volumes, that will give an idea of the possibilities for beef market regulation. Consequently, the study objective can be defined: Identify factors affecting beef production in Latvia. For this research statistical methods, correlation analysis, induction, deduction, analysis and synthesis were used. These methods gave an accurate picture of factors that are affecting beef production volumes. According to the results, it can be concluded that beef production volumes are significantly affected by such factors as demand for beef. The results of this research indicate that Latvia beef production volumes are affected by the market demand. As an essential factor for increasing the number of beef cattle in Latvia, export opportunities are available where increasing amount of fresh or chilled beef exported in EUR is increasing the number of suckler cows, where there is a close positive relationship (r = 0.76), which indicates an increase in demand from Latvian meat beef holding output. The quality of the soil in the region and climatic conditions will affect the specialization of farms. The largest number of bovine animals is grown in regions of Vidzeme and Latgale, where average cereal production is lowest per hectare. Pierīga and Zemgale regions have high crop yields on average per hectare, so in this region the number of bovine animals is the smallest.

DAILY DYNAMICS OF MILK QUALITY INDICATORS

Dairy cattle breeding is one of the main suppliers of protein and animal fat, it is one of the most important branches of agriculture and plays a primary role in providing adequate nutrition for the population. During the purposeful work on harmonization of the national regulatory framework with international legislation, special attention is paid to scientific developments in the way of full implementation of Russian livestock production in the global trading system. The recommendations of the International Committee for Registration of Animals (ICAR) (Global Standard…, 2017; Trukhachev et al., 2017) are the methodological basis for the introduction of the generally accepted organizational principles for the recording and evaluation of the productive qualities of animals. One of the stages of this process was implementation in 2015-2017. in the Stavropol State Agrarian University of research projects, especially significant for the agro-industrial complex of the Russian Federation in the direction of ensuring import substitution in animal husbandry (genetic material), which envisage the development of a regional model for the formation and management of highly productive genetic resources for dairy cattle. The object of the research was cattle (cows) of the North Caucasian population of the Ayrshire breed (n = 550), from which, based on the analysis of the materials of the primary zooveterinary records, groups of cows with 3-fold milking were formed to study the daily dynamics of fat and protein content in raw milk samples I, II and III milking, n = 240) and 2-fold milking (I and II milking - 180 cows). In the process of performing monthly analyzes of the quality of individual milk samples obtained from pedigree cows taken for 2- or 3-fold milking, it was found that a certain pattern is observed in the diurnal dynamics of fat and protein content in milk, which probably has a general biological nature and largely depends on the technological factor - the multiplicity of milking cows, which coincides, basically, with the regularities described in the methodology of the International Committee for Registration of Animals (ICAR). The nature of the dynamics of the concentration of fat in milk at 2- and 3-fold milking has, though a different mathematical form, but they have a general tendency: the fat in milk for milking cows, as a rule, is 10.77–10.98 % lower, than II and III milking. The variability of the protein concentration in milk during the day is the same as the fat dynamics, though it is less expressed than of fat and accounts 0.88%.

POPULATION DENSITY IN RURAL AREAS AS A DRIVER OF THE HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT

Rural areas are typically characterised by uneven access to education and the resulting varying levels of pupils’ educational attainment. The inefficiency of the education system may lead to a decreased level of human capital development in the society. It is therefore vital to identify the factors responsible for the inefficiency of the education system and take steps to mitigate their negative impact. The aim of the present study is to determine the relationship between the population density in rural areas, the pupils’ average level of examination performance and the educational value added. The analyses were based on the exam results achieved by lower secondary school-leavers in 1,372 rural communes between 2012 and 2014. The original intention was to include all rural communes in the analysis. However, due to the incompleteness of the data concerning some of the communes, they were eventually excluded from the study. The final sample for analysis consisted of about 58% of all rural communes in Poland. The communes were divided into classes, based on the criterion of population density. The objects under study were arranged in an ascending order according to the value of the population density variable, and then divided into four classes (class A contained 25% of communes with the highest population density). The classes thus defined were used as a qualitative predictor in the subsequently performed ANOVA test. As a next step, contrasts were determined by applying a simple contrast to the analysed classes of communes. The analyses revealed that the highest examination results were achieved in the communes with the highest population density, while the lowest examination results were found in the communes with the lowest population density. This dependence may be indicative of educational negligence at lower levels of education, in this particular case - at the stage of primary school. The results of the analyses point to the need for expanding the network of nursery schools. To address the above problem, financial support should be provided from the state budget to social initiatives aimed at increasing the access to nursery schools, e.g. by creating an appropriate system of subsidies for nursery schools run by both local governments and private entities.