Grain after enzymatic treatment, which is a starch-containing raw material, is used for ethanol production. Bioethanol production in Latvia began in 2006. Extraction of biofuels is a clean process, because the byproduct is used in various sectors of the economy. The bioethanol in Latvia was derived primarily from winter wheat, winter rye, and winter triticale. The objective of the research is to determine the different nitrogen fertiliser rates required for winter cereal crop yields and bioethanol outcome. The trials were carried out from 2005 to 2008 in Agricultural Science Centre of Latgale (Latvia). The method (ethanol outcome) is based on fermentation of saccharified cereal samples by yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae followed by the calculation of ethanol outcome and speed of fermentation. The highest starch content was in winter wheat and winter triticale grain, but the lowest - in winter rye grains. A close negative correlation (p is less than 0.05) was found for winter triticale and winter wheat between the ethanol outcome and thousand grain weight. Production of bioethanol from rye starch content is used with full utilisation of grain. The winter wheat has the largest ethanol outcome from one hectare.

Bioethanol can be used for food production and to partially replace fossil fuel. Bioethanol is mainly produced from renewable biomass that contains sugars, starch or lignocellulose. The main raw materials for production of bioethanol are cereals, maize (Zea mays), sugarbeets (Beta vulgaris sacccharifera) and other plant species. During the trial that took place in State Stende Cereals Breeding Institute during a three year period (from 2009/2010 to 2011/2012) we examined the suitability of grain from winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), triticale (×Triticosecale Wittm) and rye (Secale cereale L.) for the production of bioethanol. Three varieties of each species were used in the trial. During the trial period the grain yield, the ethanol outcome (L tE-1) and the ethanol yield (L haE-1) were determined. It was established that during three years wheat and triticale provided the highest starch content (more than 700 g kgE-1) of the grain as well as the highest ethanol outcome (L tE-1). These species provided both high grain yield (more than 9 t haE-1 on average) and the highest ethanol yield (3300 – 4665 L haE-1). The choice of variety was also important as both the grain starch content and the grain yield depend on the genotype of the variety.

The field studies were conducted in the years of 2011 and 2014 at the Experimental Station in Osiny, Poland. Triticale (Triticosecale) is a valuable fodder cereal with a high nutritional value of grains. It can also gain importance as a consumer cereal, providing the body with the necessary amino acids. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of precipitation and temperature conditions in the harvest year, agronomic factors (intensive or integrated type of production) and the percentage of cereals in crop rotation (50, 75 and 100%) on the amino acid content of two winter triticale cultivars (‘Pizarro’ and ‘Pigmej’) as well as to determine the nutritive value of the protein: chemical score (CS) and essential amino acid index (EAAI). Our studies have shown that although the amino acid content of winter triticale is strongly genetically determined, it also depends on weather and agrotechnical factors. Precipitation and temperature factors had the biggest effect on the tyrosine (Tyr) content. The contents of essential and non-essential amino acids in triticale grains and EAAI value were higher under intensive technology, with 50% of cereal grains in the crop rotation, and in the traditional cultivar ‘Pizarro’ as compared to the dwarf one ‘Pigmej’. The most important amino acids that limit the quality of protein in the grain are lysine (Lys) and tryptophan (Trp). Using intensive technology, reducing the cereal percentage of cereals in the crop rotation and selecting a proper cultivar, it is possible to maximize the content of the desired essential and non-essential amino acids in the triticale grains, and thereby improve their feed and consumer value.

The most important reason for growing field crops is food consumption. Only some of the total amounts of field crop species are mostly used for cultivation in the largest part of arable land. These crops ensure high economic income. This is the reason why biological diversity has decreased. Crop rotation is considered to be an instrument of sustainable cropping system and this is confirmed again nowadays. Higher cereal yields have been gained by including oil crops or pulses in the rotation. Each field crop has its own calorific value (MJ kgE-1). Grains/seeds and above-ground biomass may have different calorific values because of their chemical composition. Research results from literature confirm that the average net calorific value of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) and triticale (Triticosecale) grain and straw are ~17 MJ kgE-1, but the net calorific values for oilseed rape (Brassica napus ssp. oleifera) seeds and straw are – 25.70 MJ kgE-1 and 16.37 MJ kgE-1, respectively. Oilseed rape is also known as energy rich crop. It is reported that diversified crop rotations also have greater energetic productivity from above-ground biomass (grain/seed yield and by-products) if compared with crops grown in repeated sowings or in monoculture. Crop rotation in combination with different tillage methods (conventional tillage, reduced or minimum tillage and no-tillage) is the way to improve soil quality, but it is not clear whether the soil treatment method has a significant impact on the overall crop rotational energy productivity.

Heat is one of the most important types of energy at northern latitudes. In 2013 the total consumption of renewable energy resources (RER) in Latvia was 68 PJ. The heating systems can function on plant or other organic material, for example, wood chips or agricultural residues. By using local biomass resources it is possible to reduce the pollution of atmosphere caused by greenhouse gas emissions. Different variety of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum), triticale (Triticosecale) and rye (Secale cereale) were used in the research. The following aspects were determined during the research: dry matter yield, chemical composition and the higher heating value of grains and straw. The evaluation of grains and straw of winter cereals showed that the higher heating value (MJ kgE-1) was acquired from the straw of winter cereals, whereas the grains had the highest dry matter yield, thus the grains of winter cereals had the highest heating yield from one hectare (GJ haE-1).

The spread of thrips was observed in winter rye, wheat and triticale crops during the growing season of 2001 at the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture in Dotnuva. Thrips started to spread in winter cereals of the end of tilling - beginning of stem elongation stage (DC 29-30). In winter rye and triticale the spread of thrips was similar. There were two well-defined peaks of thrips occurrence. The highest incidence of thrips was on winter rye. There were 100% infested stems and 15.4 thrips per infested stem in rye, 90% infested stems and 6.9 thrips per infested stem in triticale and 84% infested stems and 2.9 thrips per infested stem in wheat.