The sowing area of faba beans (Vicia faba L. var minor) has enlarged in Latvia, and possible losses caused by diseases might increase. The aim of this study was to describe the development of downy mildew (caused by Peronospora viciae). Observations were carried out at the Research and Study farm of the Latvia University of Agriculture. The severity (0–9 point scale) of downy mildew on the leaves was assessed every two weeks after the appearance of symptoms. Obtained data was used in order to calculate the AUDPC (the area under disease progress curve). The first symptoms were observed at the beginning of pod development (BBCH 70–75). The morphology of pathogen’s conidiophores and conidia corresponded to the characteristics of P. viciae. The disease development was not influenced by the sowing rate of faba beans, but the impact of cultivars was significant. The highest development of downy mildew was observed for the cultivar ‘Isabell’ but the lowest – for ‘Laura’. Investigations proved that downy mildew can be a potentially harmful disease under particular conditions.

Oat (Avena sativa L.) grains are one of the most popular cereal grains for food production with a high nutritional value. The main objective for this research was to evaluate oat varieties recommended by grain processing companies as food oat in different countries. Tested grain indicators were thousand kernel weights, test weight, outcome of grain above 2 mm sieve, grains with two hulls and dehulling efficiency. The field trial and research in laboratory was carried out at the AREI Stende Research Centre in 2016. From 13 varieties that were tested in this research, the oat varieties ‘Peppi’, ‘Dal’, ‘Laima’, and ‘Matilda’ showed high usability as suitable for food processing. Varieties ‘OAC Woodstock’ and ‘Konkur’ also showed high adequacy; however, these varieties have high number of grains with double-hulls in yield.

Legumes can provide feed products rich in proteins. The objective of the research was to compare different narrow-leaved lupine varieties to determine the ones that are most productive and most suitable for organic farming in Latvia. The research was carried out at the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Economics in organic farming system in 2016, during which the varieties of narrow-leaved lupine (Lupinus angustifolius L.) were compared. The narrow-leaved lupine is grown in Latvia, but in limited amounts. Feed is produced from the lupines with low alkaloid content. During the research, the average seed yield of examined varieties was from 1.11 to 2.61 t haE-1. The average crude protein content for the varieties of narrow-leaved lupine was 36.83%. The highest yield (2.61 t haE-1) and crude protein content (41.45%) was obtained from the variety ‘Probor’.

Winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus ssp. oleifera L.) is the most widely grown oilseed in Latvia. Fertilization, in particular nitrogen, plays an important role in the production of high yield. However, nitrogen is one of the most dynamic elements of plant nutrition in the soil. Excessive fertilization with nitrogen can contribute to environmental pollution. The objective of this experiment was to clarify the nitrogen fertilization impact on winter oilseed rape yield under two soil tillage systems. Two year field trials were conducted at the Research and Study farm „Peterlauki” of Latvia University of Agriculture (56◦ 30.658′ N and 23◦ 41.580′ E) in the growing seasons of 2014/2015 and 2015/2016. Researched factors were soil tillage (traditional soil tillage with mould-board ploughing at a depth of 22 – 24 cm and reduced soil tillage with disc harrowing at a depth below 10 cm), and nitrogen fertilizer rate (altogether eight rates: N0 or control, N60, N90, N120 (90+30), N150 (100+50), N180 (120+60), N210 (120+60+30), N240 (140+60+40). Results showed that the yield increased with the increase of N fertilizer rate in both soil tillage variants. Seed yield mostly increased visibly until the nitrogen fertilizer rate N180. The research was carried out within the framework of „State and European Union investment for encouragement in agriculture” theme „Determination of maximal fertiliser norms for crops”.

Field beans (Vicia faba) are one of the most important legumes in the world. In Latvia, during last 10 years the sowing area of field beans has grown more than 20 times. It is important to carry out new studies about the possibility to increase field beans’ yield depending on different agrotechnical measures. Yield depends on components forming it. Field trial was carried out at the Research and Study Farm „Pēterlauki” in 2016. Researched factors were: A – variety (’Laura’, ’Boxer’, ’Isabell’), B – seeding rate (30, 40 and 50 germinable seeds mE-2), C – treatment with fungicide (with and without application of fungicide). Temperature and moisture conditions were suitable for high yield formation of field beans in 2016. Detected yield components were productive stems mE-2, pods per plant, seeds per plant and per pod. Productive stems were significantly affected by seeding rate (p is less than 0.001). Pods and seeds per plant were significantly affected by all three factors. Number of seeds per pod is a typical and relatively stable indicator for the variety, its value was significantly influenced by the variety used, and it increased when fungicide was used.

Environmental pollution with heavy metals is a worldwide problem, mainly related to the progress of metallurgy. This study was carried out at the Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia. The aim of this work was to study the impact of different substrate zinc concentrations on anatomical changes in two model objects: maize (Zea mays) and field beans (Vicia faba). While examining the anatomical differences in plants, anatomical adaptations in field beans was not observed, however, on field beans’ roots in variants with zinc there were no root nodules observed. In maize roots formation of Caspari strips were detected.

Pruning is crucial to balance productivity and fruit quality in blueberry orchards, and it stimulates the growth of new shoots. It has different goals depending on intensity applied. The best way of pruning for cultivars grown in local conditions has not been investigated. The objectives of this study were to compare the effects of pruning intensity (slight (25% of canes were removed), moderate (removed 75% of canes) and conventional) on nine blueberry cultivars; to evaluate pruning effect on yield, berry weight, and new shoots formation. Pruning stimulated the growth of new shoots for all cultivars. The higher yields from the bush were obtained at conventional pruning intensity.

Powdery mildew caused by Blumeria graminis is an obligate parasite with a high degree of host specialization. Growing less susceptible winter wheat varieties is one of the most important options for disease control in integrated plant protection. Investigations were conducted at three investigation sites of the Latvia University of Agriculture within a project of the Laboratory for Testing of Value for Cultivation and Use of Agricultural Crop Varieties (VCU) in 2016–2017. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the development of powdery mildew depending on winter wheat genotypes. The disease severity was assessed three times: during wheat stem elongation (GS 32–35), heading (GS 55–59), and development of fruit (GS 73–75). Totally, 14 different genotypes were tested. Although powdery mildew was observed in all trial places, the disease severity (%) was not similar. In Pēterlauki, average severity of powdery mildew did not exceed 1%. Comparison of the observed winter wheat genotypes revealed that only in some fields and only in 2016 the disease severity achieved an economically important level, i.e. 6–10% (‘KWS Fontas’, ‘Julius’, and ‘KWS Dakotana’). The main conclusion is that winter wheat variety, vegetation season, and location of the trial place influenced the development of powdery mildew. Further investigations are needed for a more precise detection of the influence of winter wheat genotypes on powdery mildew development.

Precision livestock farming (PLF) can be defined as the management of livestock farming associated with continuous automated, real-time monitoring of animal health, welfare, and environmental impact on cows. The use of sensor technologies can be started in the beginning of cow’s life with feeding sensors in automatic feeding stations and can be extended through all cows’ life in different aspects. The main benefits that associate with PLF are far-reaching approach to animals, improved livestock welfare, increased profitability and improved product quality. The main areas beneficiary covered by sensor technologies are cow health, reproduction, nutrition, metabolic diseases, udder health and cow activity. The use of metabolic sensors results with early detection of ketosis, acidosis and other metabolic diseases, that leads to lowered treatment costs.