ASSESSMENT OF ORCHARD LAND FOR ALTERNATIVE ENERGY DEPLOYMENT

Abstract

The quality of agricultural land (including orchards) describes the productivity of the land, or the benefit that the soil can give to the owner if it is properly cultivated and used. It depends on the type of soil, the mechanical composition of the soil, the reaction of the acidity of the soil, the condition of the drainage system, the contour of the plot of land, the area, rockiness, terrain, and other factors. Alternative energy sources are types of energy resources which the use causes no or only minor damage to the environment. Alternative energy resources are wind, water, solar radiation, biomass, geothermal energy or earth's energy potential, tidal processes, and water waves themselves. There are two options - how to use alternative energy resources. Direct use when fossil energy resources are completely replaced by alternatives and co-use when both fossil and alternative energy resources are used. The main result of the research is to find out which would be the best places in orchards for alternative energy sources, such as solar panels, by evaluating the orchard land. The main problematic of research is that many agricultural lands, including orchards, are left uncultivated and unused, but by weeding the land, it would be possible to determine the place where alternative energy sources can be better placed. Thus, farmers would get an additional benefit from their land - energy that can be used for their own. In the research are included 4 orchards in different places in Latvia, with different soil composition, relief, composition of fruit trees and other factors.