The paper reports on annual pine increment dynamics during the period of last 30 years in the Vesetnieki Station of Permanent Ecological Research with a different drainage level: transitional bog, tree stand between the drainage ditches, tree stand adjacent to ditch. The increment of basal area of annual rings has been found to be considerably higher in the site adjacent to ditch with the most intensive drainage level. The increment of annual rings of individual trees proved to be non-synchronic, therefore trees can be suggested to have different response to have different response to the influence of the same meteorological factors (amount of precipitation, for example). The annual increment data for the last four years (1997-2000) have been compared to the results of biogenous substance circulation measurements during the given period.

More and more people looking for healthy foods. Because researchers in nourishment to look for new possibilities in breadmaking. One of the possibilities is to substitute wheat flour by oat or buckwheat flour in bread products. Bread quality is characterized by sensory properties: taste, smell, flavour and texture. Hardiness, elasticity and gumminess are important indices of bread texture. The purpose of our work is to determine the changes in the bread texture of mix flour sample. Samples were prepared to substitute wheat at 10% and 15% or by at 10% and 25%. The wheat flour was used as a control. The experiments were made in the pilot Laboratory of I.A.T.A. in Spain, using AACC methods. Output data show that substitution buckwheat flour has improved the texture of bread, but substitution of oat flour has impaired the properties of texture.

The study deals with the rural landscape management in Latvia and presents a survey of the current situation in landscape planning and nature protection. It also gives a brief theoretical description of the landscape concept and its development and management. Impact of agriculture, forestry and rural tourism on landscape is analysed through the view on the state politics in these spheres. The author evaluates current situation in environmental politics, informs about environmental law, nature protection and preservation system and spatial planning. The author also draws conslusions and offers her suggestions how to improve the landscape management system basing on comparison between the current situation in landscape management and goals set by the national environment conservation plan (1995).

Salmon (Salmo salar L.) is grown and released in the estuaries in Latvia from which it goes to the feeding areas in the Baltic Sea. The research summaries data about clinical characteristics of fin necrosis and its prevalence in Latvian hatcheries before the smolt stage (complicated physiological, biochemical and morphophysiological changes resulting in migration flight). Clinically expressed fin necrosis was observed in 92.7-97.4% cases.

The algorithm is designed to improve the production of power lines, to forecast emergency situations and to recognize possible ecological risks.

The article deals with the regeneration process of water resources capacity of the wells in the Baltezers region using mechanical and chemical treatment. The methods of this treatment process are described in detail.

There are five programming regions and regional development agencies. Regional development agencies must be involved in the administration process of the EU's prestructural funds. Research is done using Richard Rhod's classification of regions and the experience and practice of Great Britain in specially supported regions. The program of specially supported areas is the main financial instrument in Latvia, which promotes territorial development in depressive regions. The administrative territorial reform will make rectification in specially supported areas and in planning regions.

The aim of the research was to find out different aspects of food environment at schools, linking them to the economic situation in the regions and comparing those to the tendencies in Riga. The research shows that there is a need for common politics concerning school meals as every schools follows its own practice that mainly depends on social budget of the local government institutions, qualifications of scool personnel and different eating traditions in different regions.

The change from large scale agriculture to private small scale farming has resulted in a severe lack of plant protection means. Fields of Latvia have become more weedy for last four years. This fact shows the necessity for a change in the strategy of weed control. The effect of inexpensive and wide-spread herbicides 2.4-D and MCPA is insignificant in weed control. From 1994 Latvian State Centre of Plant Protection has been studying the occurance of weed species in the Central part of Latvia (Vidzeme), to make use schedules of necessary herbicides. The research was carried out jointly with the Latvia University of Agriculture. During the research carried out from 1997 to 2000, 60 weed species were established, but in all the crop sowings 10 species were predominant. The number of Elymus repens, Myosotis arvensis and Viola arvensis has increased during last four years. In Vidzeme region, from 1997 to 2000, it was stated that soil infestation of weed seeds varies from 4.5 to 11.1 thousand seeds per square metre on the average. Perennial dicot-weeds have shown the lowest variation coefficient, compaered with other weed groups.