The aim of our study was to determine to what extent cow age affects milk yield, composition and quality. For our study we used Latvian data Centre (LDC) data of 246 Holstein Black and White (HM) and 595 Latvian Brown (LB) breed cows which concluded at least 9 lactations and were culled until year 2014. We included data about cow milk productivity (milk yield, kg), composition (milk fat and protein content, %) and quality (somatic cell count, thousands mLE-1) in the data base. To analyse lactation as a significant factor, we used Bonferroni test. In our study we found that cow milk productivity has a tendency to increase until 7th lactation for HM breed cows, but analysed LB breed cows kept increasing their productivity until the 9th lactation. Milk protein and fat content was higher for LB breed cows, but they showed lower milk yield in all their productive life. Milk protein content was the lowest in the 1st lactation and it showed a significant increase until 4th lactation, however, milk protein content slowly decreased later. Milk fat content stays relatively stable until the 5th lactation, but there is a significant decrease until 9th lactation. Somatic cell count was significantly lower until the 4th lactation, and after there is a significant increase in each lactation. In 9th lactation somatic cell count exceeds quality milk requirements.

The preservation of cultural heritage has become an important component of government policies of the EU and, of course, Latvia. Along with the preservation of cultural heritage, the use of it is also important. The aim of the research is to develop scenarios for the use of cultural heritage for the development of rural tourism in Latvia. There are set the following tasks to achieve the aim: to get acquainted with the historical and theoretical aspects of cultural heritage; to analyse the international and national legal and regulatory framework of cultural heritage; to evaluate the practical use of cultural heritage in the development of rural tourism; to develop scenarios for the further use of cultural heritage in rural tourism in the regions of Latvia.

The aim of the study was to analyse an average movement correctness scores of Latvian warmblood horse breed draught type stallions’ progeny and compare with scores of the sires. The data included progeny (n=184) of 15 actual sires. The average scores varied from 6.4 to 7.6 with significant difference (p is less than 0.05) between progeny of some stallions. The average score of progeny in some cases was lower than score of the sire, but stallion Madrepors had lower score than his progeny average scores on 1.63 points. Heritability for movement correctness was 0.35.

In recent years, hull-less barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) has been included in food production in Europe due to its diverse health benefits. The main objective of this study was to evaluate hull-less barley yield and grain quality grown under different climatic conditions in Latvia and Norway. Preliminary results indicate that hull-less varieties have significantly (p is less than 0.05) lower yield potential than hulled varieties regardless cereal species and species origin. Higher content of healthy substances such as protein and β-glucan content were observed in hull-less barley genotypes in comparison to hulled ones, but these genotypes are more responsive to environmental and management changes.

Soilless cultures become more and more popular. To grow plants and get yield soil is no more needed as a growing media – only for support. In Latvia we do not have such a big problem with soil sanitary state for soilless growing to become the main technology, but going on with currently used growing technologies we can be in such situation in near future. To determine soil fertility many parameters are applied. In this study soil respiration, respiration ferment DHA (dehydrogenase) activity is determined to get an overlook of soil fertility in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) – legume intercrop. Experiment was carried out at Pūre Horticultural research centre. Measurements were made in traditional and in intercropped treatments – seven in total. Broad beans (Vicia faba), peas (Pisum sativum) and clover (Trifolium hybridum) was used in intercrop. Results showed significantly higher soil activity in intercrop with beans and clover. This growing technology may be applied and researched in other growing systems to know its impact on soil and on environment.

Legumes are important crop all over the world due to their protein content, possibility to fix atmosphere nitrogen and provide sustainable soil quality. Experiments were carried out to assess the role of symbiotic relationships on some plant characteristics (chlorophylls content, plant biomass, nodule weight, dehydrogenases activity, yield, protein content in plants and seeds). Results showed that the use of rhizobia may contribute to protein accumulation in seed, but certain strains effectiveness depends on soil properties and plant varieties. Plant and rhizobia interaction efficiency can be described with dehydrogenase activity. In order to obtain a more stable symbiotic nitrogen fixation effect, it is necessary to combine different rhizobia strains.

Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is an important horticultural crop. To contribute melon growth in Latvia, it is necessary to provide proper planting material. Valuable genetic material of Latvia’s melons has been obtained from Pure Horticultural Research Centre. The obtained genetic material was propagated from seeds of two seasons from 2014 to 2015 in Botanical Garden of Latvia University on opened field. Latgale`s melon lines 4(3), 5(2), 8, 14 were introduced from seeds in Murashige and Skoog medium and cloned two times. The main objective was to observe the morphological evolution and characteristics of Latgale`s melon clones in vitro. This method is particularly important for genetically homogenous clones reproducing for breeding needs. Line 4(3) of Latgale’s melon seeds showed the best results of all the other lines, and 2 of 10 seeds germinated. The seeds of Latgale`s melon lines 8 and 5(2) in vitro did not germinate. The more productive clone was the line 14 by releasing the 31 clone from one seed. The Latgale’s melon clones reproduce the roots without auxins and cytokinins added to the culture medium.

The main purpose of current experiments was to investigate extrusion temperature in whole-grain pasta production. Conventional rye (Secale cereale, cultivar ‘Kaupo’), triticale (×Triticosecale line 9405-23), organic hull-less barley (Hordeum vulgare line PR 3808.21) cultivated at Institute of Agro resources and Economics (Latvia) in 2014, and conventional winter wheat (Triticum aestivum cultivar ‘Zentos’) grain cultivated at LLU Research and Study farm „Peterlauki” (Latvia) in 2014 were used in the experiments. Wheat flour type 405 from JSC „Dobeles dzirnavnieks” (Latvia) was used for the flour blend obtaining. Wheat, rye, hull-less barley and triticale grain was grounded in the laboratory mill PLM3100/B (Perten, Sweden) obtaining fine whole-grain flour. In pasta production wheat flour type 405 was replaced with: (1) 30% of whole-triticale flour; (2) 20% of whole-rye flour; (3) 20% whole-hull-less barley flour; (4) 50% of whole-wheat flour. Pasta structure-mechanical properties showed that the extrusion temperature has a major influence on starch grain gelatinization process. Since the extruder temperature zones are divided into three parts, it is important to determine its proper distribution.

The influence of sous vide treatment (80 °C; 15 min) and high pressure processing (700 MPa; 10 min; 20 °C) on the sensory quality of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. ‘Fradel’) and maple pea (Pisum sativum var. arvense L. ‘Bruno’) spreads during 62-day storage at 5 °C was investigated in the research. Pulse spreads were filled in PA/PE and PET/ALU/PA/PP film pouches, packaged in vacuum and hermetically sealed. Four different pulse spreads were made of ground re-hydrated cooked pulse seeds to which salt, citric acid, oil and seasoning was added. Sensory quality (overall appearance, aroma, mouthfeel and taste) of pulse spreads during storage was evaluated by 6 experts using 5 point scale for each attribute; quality number was calculated for each sample. High pressure processing is able to ensure better sensory quality of cowpea and maple pea spreads during 62-day storage compared to sous vide treatment.

The use of different soil covers is well-known agricultural practice. All around the world people are using mulch to increase vegetable growth and yield. The use of plastic film helps to get cleaner fruits and to limit weed growth. There have been conducted studies in Latvia on the use of various synthetic mulch materials in strawberry cultivation, but there is not enough information about the effects of coloured plastic film soil cowers’ impact on cucumbers. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of coloured polyethylene mulch’s on yield of cucumbers cultivars ‘Pioneer’ F1 and ‘Madita’ F1. The research was conducted during the vegetation period of years 2014, 2015 and 2016. The experiments were established in gardening cooperative „Atpūta” owned summer cottage area in Svēte parish, Jelgava Municipality. In all experimental years, cucumbers were planted on 18 June, when the first true leave developed (BBCH 11). Six different coloured polyethylene films were used: yellow, red, blue, black and white film. A field without polyethylene coverage was a control group. The test was conducted in two replicates, including four plants. The largest harvest was obtained from the yellow mulched plots. White polyethylene film is not recommended for soil mulching due to decrease of cucumber yield in all experimental years. The effect of films’ colour depended on climatic conditions in growing season.