| 1. |
- Andersson, Karin, et al.
(författare)
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Lean-inspired development work in agriculture : Implications for the work environment
- 2020
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Ingår i: Agronomy Research. - : Eesti Pollumajandusulikool. - 1406-894X .- 2228-4907. ; 18:2, s. 324-345
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Farmers operate in a turbulent environment that includes international competition, weather conditions and animal behaviour, for example, and is difficult for them to control. However, economy and productivity always have a high priority. As a consequence, farms have started to implement lean-inspired work systems. At the same time, health and safety are of urgent concern in the sector. This article explores how famers apply lean-inspired work processes. It identifies work environment changes during and after a lean implementation, as well as possible developments in the work environment following implementation of the lean philosophy. Data were collected from three groups: lean, lean-light and development-inclined reference farms (in total 54 farms), using a questionnaire and interviews. The results indicate that a majority of the lean farms were applying several lean principles and tools, and the lean philosophy. The lean-light farms applied parts of the lean concept, while the reference farms applied some of the more general tools, used in lean and elsewhere, such as visualisation in various forms and to various extents. The results showed positive effects of lean on the psychosocial work environment, better work structure and improved information, communication and co-operation. The physical work environment was improved to some extent by lean, where advantages such as a more structured and practical work environment with less physical movements and locomotion could be noticed. The lean concept provided a more structured and systematic approach to dealing with work and production environmental issues, for managers as well as for employees.
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| 2. |
- Kasiuliene, Alfreda, et al.
(författare)
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Influence of nitrogen fertilizer on Cd and Zn accumulation in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) biomass
- 2016
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Ingår i: Agronomy Research. - 1406-894X .- 2228-4907. ; 14:2, s. 418-427
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Diffuse soil contamination with heavy metals and Cd in particular is a matter of serious concern. Application of conventional remediation methods usually is not feasible due to the large territories and relatively low heavy metal content. Thus, phytoremediation is seen as an alternative. Rapeseed was grown on Cd and Zn contaminated as well as clean soil under the greenhouse conditions. Solid and liquid nitrogen fertilizers were applied during the pot experiment in order to test their influence on heavy metal accumulation in plant tissues. Vegetative parameters were measured four times during the pot experiment and it was concluded, that the elevated concentrations of Cd and Zn in the soil did not disrupt the development of rapeseed plants. Furthermore, plants from contaminated soil produced significantly bigger seeds in comparison to plants from uncontaminated soil. Calculated Bioconcentration factors for rapeseed grown on Cd and Zn contaminated soil in all cases were below unity, thus possibility to use this plant species for phytoextraction purposes is limited, but it can be successfully grown on contaminated land as an energy crop. Application of nitrogen fertilizers had a significant effect on heavy metal accumulation and decreased Cd and Zn concentrations in rapeseed roots and stems with leaves were recorded. Accumulation differences between the liquid and solid fertilizer applications were negligible.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Forsman, Mikael, Professor
(författare)
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The search for practical and reliable observational or technical risk assessment methods to be used in prevention of musculoskeletal disorders.
- 2017
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Ingår i: Agronomy Research. - : Estonian Research Institute of Agriculture. - 2228-4907. ; 15:3, s. 680-686
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) are still frequent, inducing verylarge costs for companies and societies all over the world. Ergonomists work to prevent thesedisorders and to make organisations sustainable. In their work it is important to identify risks ina reliable way, to prioritise risks, and then to perform interventions (participatory interventionshave shown to more often be successful), so that the risks and the disorders may be reduced. Risksare most often assessed by observation. Two projects are described. In the first project the interobserver reliability of six observational methods was found to be low in risk assessmentsconcerning repetition, movements and postures. Also the inter-method reliability was often low,i.e. when the same work is assessed with different methods different risk estimates are oftenobtained. In the second described project, easy-to-use methods for measurements of postures andmovements were developed and validated. Hence, there are now validated technical methods thatin developing tools, together with practitioners, that are attractive, easy and time efficient to use,and which should increase the reliability in risk assessments of work tasks and jobs.
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| 5. |
- Haiba, E., et al.
(författare)
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Degradation of diclofenac and triclosan residues in sewage sludge compost
- 2017
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Ingår i: Agronomy Research. - : Eesti Pollumajandusulikool. - 1406-894X. ; 15:2, s. 395-405
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Land application of sewage sludge compost is an important and efficient tool in the remediation of industrial landscapes and agricultural soils in Estonia. A number of studies have shown that, as a rule, pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are neither completely removed by sewage treatment, nor completely degraded in the environment. In this study, degradation rates of diclofenac sodium (DFC) and triclosan (TCS) were determined during sewage sludge composting. Anaerobically digested and dewatered sewage sludge was mixed with sawdust at two different ratios (1:2 and 1:3 sludge/sawdust, v:v). Then aerobic composting was carried out. These ratios were chosen on the basis of previous studies on sewage sludge composting with different bulking agents. The initial concentration of DFC and TCS was 2 mg kg-1 in relation to dry weight (dw). Low quantities of the studied pharmaceuticals were present in sewage sludge that was used for preparing the compost mixtures used in our experiments. The background concentrations of DFC and TCS were never equal to zero. The results showed that the difference between sewage sludge and bulking agent ratios (1:2 vs 1:3) in compost samples did not significantly affect temperature profiles during the experiment. The degradation of pharmaceuticals was more complete in the compost samples where the ratio of bulking agent was higher (1:3 by volume). The average degradation level (in all compost mixtures) was 95% for DFC and 68% for TCS. Pharmaceuticals entering into the soil may affect microbial activity, plant growth and development, and may have adverse effects on living organisms.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Lind, Carl, et al.
(författare)
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Shifting to proactive risk management : Risk communication using the RAMP tool
- 2016
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Ingår i: Agronomy Research. - 1406-894X. ; 14:2, s. 513-524
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ergonomic risk factors are major contributors to work-related musculoskeletaldisorders and quality deficiencies in the manufacturing industry. Due to lack of tools or systemsthat can support a systematic risk management of these production and health related factors, anew risk management tool (RAMP) was developed. In this paper, the risk communication system(the Results module) of this tool is presented along with a description of its development. Anexample of how it can be used, based on assessments performed in industry, is given. Anevaluation of its usability, which included twenty practitioners active in the industry, givessupport to the notion that the system is usable both for risk communication and as a decision base.
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| 8. |
- Merisalu, E., et al.
(författare)
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Job specific risk factors, demographic parameters and musculoskeletal disorders among military personnel depending on type of service
- 2015
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Ingår i: Agronomy Research. - : Eesti Pollumajandusulikool. - 1406-894X. ; 13:3, s. 775-785
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Current study aimed to analyse the prevalence of job specific risk factors (JSRF) and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among military personnel depending on demographic factors and type of service. An anonymous questionnaire study was carried out in five departments of Estonian Defence Forces (EDF) among local service personnel (LSP) and the Peace Corp personnel (PCP) arrived back from mission. The average response rate was 38.7% (LSP 31.9% and PCP 77.6%). In LSP group there were 44.7% male participants, with mean age 39.2 ± 11 years, length of service in present position 5.8 ± 4.9 years and work load of 37.9 ± 8.4 hours per week. In PCP group 97.4% were males, with mean age 27.5 ± 5.7 years, service length on present position 3.1 ± 2.6 years and work load of 84.3 ± 60.9 hours per week. The dominant JSRF in LSP was 'demand for constant concentration' (76.5%) and night work (57%) in PCP (group difference p < 0.0001). 'Fast movements' and 'lifting loads >40 kg' were the specific tasks most often reported in mission. 'Job insecurity' was more often reported by the female; 'night work' and 'work-rest disbalance' by the male military personnel (p< 0.001).The prevalence of MSDs was higher among women and LSP than in men and PCP group (p< 0.05). In LSP mild to moderate discomfort reported by 2/3 because of neck-shoulder strain and by ½ because of lower back pain. In conclusion, MSDs seems to depend more on demographic parameters and type of service than JSRFs. Further studies are needed to focus on predictive factors of MSDs among military personnel.
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| 9. |
- Rocha-Meneses, Lisandra, et al.
(författare)
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Second-generation bioethanol production: A review of strategies for waste valorisation
- 2017
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Ingår i: Agronomy Research. - 1406-894X. ; 15:3, s. 830-847
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper reviews second-generation biofuel production chain and focuses on its energetic, economic and environmental impacts. The biggest challenge in the production of bioethanol from lignocellulosic material refers to the biomass waste that is left over after the separation of bioethanol in the distillation process. This waste still has high energetic value and could be further utilised to add value to the production chain. Furthermore, the environmental impact of untreated waste from bioethanol production is very high, which also requires attention. Anaerobic digestion of bioethanol production waste has been proposed as a possible solution to utilise the energetic potential of this waste and lower its environmental impact.
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| 10. |
- Welc, Monika, et al.
(författare)
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Weed community trajectories in cereal and willow cultivations after termination of a willow short rotation coppice
- 2017
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Ingår i: Agronomy research. - 1406-894X. ; 15, s. 1795-1814
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- According to guidelines for willow short rotation coppice (SRC), weeding is needed during establishment, while weed populations which develop later under a well-established willow canopy do not require control. However, farmers are concerned that weeds which develop in SRC may result in long-lasting weed infestations in succeeding crops after SRC termination. We assessed the effects of two SRC-termination methods (with shallow and deep soil cultivation) on the development of the weed flora in a cereal system (CS) and in SRC during six seasons. Richness, ground cover, life-cycle strategy and composition of the weed species, and their environmental requirements (inferred from Ellenberg index) were evaluated. SRC-termination method had no effect on the weed community trajectories in the succeeding SRC and CS. However, cropping system and growing season had significant impacts on species richness, ground cover and composition of the weed flora. Differences in weed communities over time and between cropping systems were related to the impact of cropping systems on factors such as light, soil moisture, nitrogen level, and soil reaction, as inferred from the Ellenberg index. After termination of the old willow cultivation, the weed flora of the SRC and CS rapidly diverged and approached the weed flora characteristic for old willow stands and non-weeded old cereal plot, respectively. We conclude that willow stands can be converted, regardless of termination method, either into willow or cereal cultivations without additional risk of weed infestations other than those specific for their respective cropping systems. Furthermore, willow cultivations in agriculture contribute to floristic diversity at the landscape scale.
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