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Genetic resources are the wealth of the country and each country is responsible for their maintenance for future generations. Mismanagement of human activities have led to a rapid loss of biodiversity affected by afforestation, construction, intensive cultivation of monocultures requiring expansion of agricultural lands. Biodiversity monitoring program data suggest that natural grasslands occupied 0.7% or 47.581 ha of the country in 2013. During the period from 2000 to 2007, grassland specialists of the Research Institute of Agriculture, the Latvia University of Agriculture, together with colleagues from the Institute of Biology, the University of Latvia, in 14 expeditions collected 446 samples of wild-growing populations of 18 species of perennial grasses. The collected samples were gradually reproduced, evaluated, described and the most valuable material was deposited in the Latvian Gene Bank of Cultivated Plants or used for breeding work. 506 samples of wild-growing perennial grass populations were sown and evaluated during the period from 2000 to 2014. This article summarizes the results of the genetic resource's nursery established in 2012 where 33 populations from nature represented by 8 species of perennial grasses were sown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The LLU Agency "Research Institute of Agriculture" is carrying out an active selection research activities thanks to the support of the Ministry of Agriculture and in accordance with the contract; now the main activity is breeding of new cocksfoot varieties and hybrids of interspecies. Hybrids of interspecies can be divided into 3 groups: perennial ryegrass hybrids with meadow fescue, perennial ryegrass hybrids with tall fescue and meadow fescue hybrids with tall fescue. Selection work is being carried out in several stages: the choice and research of selection material, hybridisation nurseries, selective nurseries, nurseries of progeny evaluation. The term "perennial ryegrass hybrids" refers tofestulolium hybrids which are produced by crossing species of the genus Festuca with the species of the genus Lolium and fescue species hybrids within the genus Festuca which now are defined as hybrid fescues. Hybrids of interspecies formation are aimed at combining valuable economic and biological properties of several species in one. All hybrids can be divided into two large categories: type of Lolium and type of Festuca. The breeding of perennial ryegrass hybrids is different from usual perennial ryegrass breeding schemes with selection material sourcing which can be divided into two stages: obtaining hybrids and fertility renovation. Cocksfoot is one of the most common forage crops in Latvia, but it has several serious deficiencies as a forage crop despite suitability to local agro-climatic conditions, mainly due to lower edibility compared to other grasses. The selection work of cocksfoot is focused on creating productive cocksfoot shapes with good winter hardiness and softer leaves. Cocksfoot selection includes the research of the selection material, inbreeding of the preferable forms, individual and family selection, the combination of desired shapes in new populations and the evaluation of their economic and biological qualities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to evaluate the species and breeds of perennial grasses from the neighbouring countries and to determine more persistent and productive cultivars suitable for growing in Latvia conditions 29 cultivars from 4 countries (LT, LV, EE, SE): 6 cultivars of Lolium perenne (Lp), 3 Festulolium (FxL), 7 Phleum pratense (Pp), 7 Festuca pratensis (Fp), and 6 Dactylis glomerata (Dg) were studied by using randomized complete block design with three replications. Such characteristics as forage dry matter yield (DMY), winter hardiness, regrowth intensity of all cultivars were measured during the 5 years of use and fodder quality ofLp, FxL and Fp cultivars was determined in the 1st and 2nd cut. The results indicated that Pp, Fp and Dg cultivars were characterized by long and more stable persistence in sward in Latvia conditions. In the 5th year of use Lp cultivars disappeared greatly from the sward after black frost. Higher and more stable yields over the 5 years of use accounted for Pp cultivars; the best ones: 'Switch' (SE), 'Varis' (LV), 'Teicis' (LV) provided more than 7 t ha-1 DMY on average. During the 4 year period FxL cultivars provided good average DMY with high forage quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently the demand for biomass for bioenergy and fiber in many countries has been changing the traditional utilization of grasses for forage. Grasslands compared to other crops for agro-fuel production can be produced on marginal agricultural lands, since they do not require high amounts of fertilisers and pesticides thus having a better impact on biodiversity. Agroforestry is a perspective way of biomass production which combines simultaneous growing of woody plants with agricultural crops on the same area for different purposes. At the same time successful management of waste product enlarged amount is very important. Field trials were established in 2011 at the Research Institute of Agriculture at Skriveri in collaboration with the Latvia State Forest Research Institute "Silava" with the aim of studying various fast-growing deciduous trees species without and with perennial grasses between the trees, as well as herbaceous energy crops. The objective of this research was to evaluate the grass biomass and seed yield of Phalaris arundinacea L. (RCG), F.arundinacea x L.multiflorum (festulolium) and Galega orientalis Lam. using different bio-energy and municipal waste products as fertilisers: sewage sludge, biogas digestate and wood ash. The trial results showed a significant dry matter and seed yield dependence on used grass species and fertiliser. The greatest average dry matter yield increase for RCG and festulolium was provided using mineral fertilisers (3.92 t ha-1 and 3.81 t ha-1 respectively) and wood ash combined with mineral fertilisers (3.00 t ha-1 and 3.63 t ha-1 respectively). For galega the greatest average dry matter yield increase was obtained by using sewage sludge (1.41 t ha-1) and digestate (1.34 t ha-1.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]