Grain samples of 51 spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genotypes, including two-row, six rows, covered and hull-less were used for investigation of endosperm beta-glucan content. A significant difference (p-value is less than 0.001) between genotypes in beta-glucan content was observed. On average, the six-row barleys had slightly higher beta-glucan content. Far six-row genotypes it ranged from 35.9 to 47.1 mg kgE-1 with the mean value of 41.4 mg kgE-1, but for tw0-row barleys - 38.0 mg kgE-1 within the range of 33.2-44.9 g kgE-1. Six-row genotypes had a higher coefficient of variation in comparison with two-row genotypes. Hull-less genotypes had significantly higher beta-glucan content than the covered ones (49.3 mg kgE-1 and 38.9 mg kgE-1 respectively). The standard deviation of the mean values of beta-glucan content for covered genotypes was lower than for the hull-less ones. The mean values in 2005 were well plotted against data from the previous season for genotypes included in the two years trial. There were two distinct clusters of covered and hull-less genotypes. Beta-glucan content for varieties bred in Latvia ranged from 33.2 mg kgE-1 for two-row variety 'Malva' to 46.0 mg kgE-1 for six-row variety 'Druvis'.

The research was done to observe open-field cultivation potential for growing melons Cucumis melo L. without covering in two regions of Latvia: Tukums and Cesis. Three varieties of melons 'Zolotistaya', 'Galiley' and 'Kolkhoznica' were used. In all, 15 individuals of each variety were grown at each place - Tukums region and Cesis region. To evaluate growth and development intensity for each variety in each region, the following parameters were measured parameters were measured: length of the main shoot, number of leaves per plant, time of appearance of the first male and female blossom, and number of perished plants. The most suitable variety for the Cesis region was found variety 'Kolhoznica', but for Tukums region - 'Zolotistaya'. The research suggests that variety 'Galiley'is the least suitable for growing in both regions. It was established that successful open-field cultivation of melons in Tukums and Cesis regions is possible only in case of favourable weather conditions. In the year of the investigation, 2004, insufficient sum of effective temperatures limited successful development and yielding of melon.

Genetic evaluation of dairy cattle for milk production based on 305-day lactation yields was compared to the evaluation based on the corresponding test day (TD) yields from the first lactation. The heritability estimates were 0.19, 0.13 and 0.15, respectively for milk yield, fat yield and protein yield, and these parameters are lower than the corresponding ones for the routine genetic evaluation with the lactation model in Latvia. The results of estimated breeding values (EBV) and relative breeding values (RBV) showed relatively high variance for all traits: higher for fat yield and lower for protein yield. The calculation of reliabilities showed that the use of test day model gives higher reliabilities of the estimated breeding values. The reliabilities are higher (about 2 - 4 %) for all traits using TD model on average for all animals and cows. For bulls group with calculated reliabilities of breeding values of at least 50 % for all traits, the measure of accuracy is higher with TD model from 7% for protein yield to 17% for fat yield. The ranking of the best Top 10 sires by TD model is similar to the lactation model. A total of 3 bulls for fat and protein yield are included in rankings of Top 10 both by TD and lactation models. TD yields could be used instead of 305-day yields for the genetic evaluation of dairy cattle. It helps to improve the accuracy of genetic evaluation and does not change ranking of the best sires drastically.

Relevant resources for renewable biomass fuel production are wood, cereal straw residues, and emergent vegetation from wetlands. Peat is an important slowly renewable biomass fuel too. Using blended peat and woody or herbaceous biomass, sulphur content of the fuels is increased and, if the mixture is burned, sulphates are formed instead of chlorides, and the risk of high temperature corrosion is avoided. The loading, storage container discharging, mixing and automatic feeding process depends on internal stresses acting in the biomass volume. To estimate vertical stress in silos, a mathematical model was built. Vertical stress in the opening of the silo hopper reaches 1.4 kPa if the diameter of a silo is 0.4 m, but for the diameter of 2 m it is possible to obtain even 7.2 kPa. Increase of the coefficients lambda and mu to the maximal values (lambda = 0.6; mu = 0.5) decreases vertical stress for more than 70%.

The paper presents the investigations performed by Water Management Institute of Lithuania University of Agriculture on the pollution and treatment efficiency of wastewater formed in an up-to-date slaughterhouse built in 2003. Wastewater is canalized from the slaughterhouse by red and green sewerage systems. Initially the wastewater is pre-treated in a fat separator, further treatment process is performed in physical-chemical treatment facilities and settling ponds. After primary treatment, the wastewater is directed into two-stage constructed wetlands of horizontal flow. The wastewater in slaughterhouse is about 4-5 times more polluted than domestic wastewater containing even 20 times higher for concentration. During the primary treatment process (fat separator + physical-chemical treatment device + settling pond), from 73.1 to 98.9% of pollutants are removed. After primary treatment, indices of wastewater are similar to those of domestic wastewater: pH - 8.5, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) - 98 mg lE-1 of O2, Ntotal and Ptotal - 46 and 8.9 mg lE-1 respectively. After biological treatment in two-stage constructed wetlands of horizontal flow, the wastewater satisfies the environmental protection requirements according to organic (BOD5) and biogenic (Ntotal and Ptotal) pollutants and thus may be realised into the environment. Regression dependencies of medium and strong relation (R**2=0.503-0.893) of pollutants BOd5, SS (suspended sediments), Ntotal and Ptotal in treated wastewater on the total of constructed wetlands have been determined.