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The increasing demand for natural alternatives to chemical preservatives and antibiotics has intensified interest in probiotic microorganisms with intrinsic antimicrobial properties. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, a well-characterised species within the family Lactobacillaceae, is widely recognised for its broad‑spectrum antibacterial activity and its long history of safe use in fermented foods. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of recent advances in the antimicrobial functionality of L. plantarum, covering its taxonomic classification, genomic features, and the diverse array of antimicrobial metabolites it produces, including bacteriocins, organic acids, hydrogen peroxide, lysozyme, siderophores, and short‑chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The mechanisms of action of these compounds, strain‑specific variability in antimicrobial efficacy, the role of biofilm formation, and synergistic interactions among different metabolites are discussed in detail. Key application domains, such as food preservation, medical therapy, and agricultural biocontrol, are critically evaluated. The primary objective of this review is to systematically consolidate current knowledge, identify core scientific questions and technical bottlenecks, and provide a theoretical foundation for the development of safe and effective natural antimicrobial agents based on L. plantarum. Furthermore, the review outlines strategies to bridge the gap between laboratory research and industrial implementation, thereby facilitating the translation of this probiotic into practical applications.

Land reforms can create tenure insecurity for farmers, a critical issue in developing countries with a dominant role of the state in agriculture. Our study focuses on Uzbekistan, characterised by a state-led transition from a more collective and socialist to a more individualistic and market-based approach to land allocation and management. To understand how farmers normalise tenure insecurity under land reallocation in Uzbekistan, we examine farmers' perceptions of tenure security under ongoing risks to their land tenure. We conducted a farm survey (n = 153), employing a novel approach to explore farmers' perceptions of tenure security and to elicit their preference patterns for key attributes of the land contract through a discrete choice experiment. We find that despite the institutionalisation of tenure insecurity, most farmers do not perceive it as a normal phenomenon. The choice model results show that farmers have the highest mean willingness to pay for contract security compared to other contract attributes. Our findings suggest that understanding and incorporating farmers' strong preference for secure land tenure is a crucial consideration for the design and implementation of land reform policies. Theoretically, our findings challenge the need for a dominant role of the state in agriculture.

The primary sector plays a key role in any country, from both economic and social perspectives, as has been underscored by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In Europe, this sector is highly dependent on the aid provided under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Therefore, the distribution of this aid among the various recipients is crucial to maintaining a strong primary sector throughout the European Union (EU). This is especially true in light of the new funding for the period from 2021 to 2027 and the United Kingdom's departure from the EU. In this sense, the 93.5% of the first pillar of CAP aid consists of direct aid to farmers. The related literature has shown its effect on aspects such as sustainability and farmers' income, among others, and its distribution in specific geographical areas. In this vein, the present paper conducts a longitudinal and cross-sectional analysis of the distribution of aid across EU countries. The results show that the CAP reforms and the incorporation of countries into the EU influenced the distribution of aid. Moreover, there is a clear division between Eastern and Western EU countries, with a more equitable distribution of aid in the West.

The correlations between water state and the key factors affecting sourdough quality, including cell activity and acidification capacity of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), were established in this study. Results revealed that with the increase of frozen storage time, the cell density (CD), total titratable acidity (TTA), and organic acids content declined, whereas the pH value rose. Further, the freezable water content (FWC) and free water quantity (FWQ) decreased, but the total water loss rate (WLR) and immobilised water quantity (IWQ) increased. The CD showed a highly inversely correlation with WLR, and the pH value was strongly inversely correlated to the FWQ. The confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) observed that the ice crystals had larger volumes during frozen storage. Our data, for the first time, disclosed that the total water content and the FWQ may play a crucial role in maintaining the viability and acidification capacity of LAB in frozen sourdough.

Two new waxy winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars, Eldija and Sarta, were developed at the Institute of Agriculture, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry and released in Lithuania in 2021. The cultivars were developed using waxy wheat material from Nebraska, the United States of America. The mean yield of Eldija and Sarta at five locations over three testing years was 7.56 and 7.21 t/ha or 79.63 and 75.95%, respectively, compared to the yield of the standard cultivars. Eldija and Sarta should be grown under high input conditions due to the relatively low resistance to leaf spot diseases and Fusarium head blight and medium tolerance to lodging. An amylose content of 0.68% and 0.36% of Eldija and Sarta, respectively, a very low falling number (about 60 s), a lower flour yield and higher water absorption compared to common wheat and the reaction to iodine staining (brown colour) characterised the new cultivars as fully waxy wheats. These cultivars are intended for the potential demand from commercial companies for special use in the food industry.

A magnetic pulse treatment led to an increase in the Raspberry bushy dwarf Idaeovirus-free microplants' output and their phenolic composition change. The greatest output of the virus-free raspberries microplants (80-82%) was marked after complex treatment with pulsed and rotating magnetic fields with a time-changing frequency from 3.2 to 51 Hz, as well as with a pulsed magnetic field with a frequency from 1 to 10 Hz. The pulsed and rotating magnetic fields' complex effect resulted in the gallic and salicylic acid content increase by 14 % and 71%, respectively, compared to the untreated variant. The chlorogenic, salicylic and gallic acids' active synthesis was observed 72 hours after the magnetic treatment with a frequency from 3.2 to 51 Hz. There was a tendency for the amount of the phenolcarbonic acid to decrease 14 days after the magnetic treatment, except for the variant with the pulsed and rotating field treatment.

Central Anatolia is one of the semi-arid regions of Turkey that does not offer very suitable conditions for the growth of trees. Tree growth is a process controlled by genetic, environmental and climatic factors. Trees record these signals, which provide valuable scientific data for dendrochronological research. We used raw annual tree-ring width (taken from trees under the age of 100 years) as one of the dendrochronological parameters to compare Juniperus foetidissima and J. excelsa in terms of affecting factors. We compared the annual tree-ring width of both species considering species, locations and research sites of the altitude range of 677-1 400 m a.s.l.. Environmental signals (longitude and latitude, altitude, slope, exposure, human impact and nearest settlement distance), as well as climatic factors (precipitation, temperature, moisture) affecting growth were examined. Results indicate that there is an obvious difference in raw annual tree-ring widths depending on species. J. foetidissima differs from J. excelsa in wider annual tree-ring widths and preferences to a low slope and altitude. While the annual tree-ring width of J. excelsa did not respond to the environmental signals, the annual tree-ring width of J. foetidissima was notably correlated with longitude, latitude, altitude and slope. The most remarkable variables affecting the growth of both species were summer temperatures and moisture.

The antifungal effect and mucolytic activity of a newly screened biocontrol strain Chaetomium subaffine LB-1 were researched in this study. The results found that LB-1 has good antifungal effects on the test plant pathogenic fungi Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex Fr., Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum Owen and Alternaria solani (Ellis & Martin) Sorauer in dual culture assay, with the inhibition rates of 61.39, 50.34 and 51.22%, respectively. Flocculated and dissolved hyphae of the phytopathogenic fungi were observed at the interaction zone on a dual-cultured PDA plate, but the hyphae of LB-1 were normal. The LB-1 cell-free filtrate has significant inhibitory effects on the three tested fungi in the poison plate assay; dissolved colonies, vesiculated and flocculated hyphae of the test pathogenic fungi were also found on the PDA plates supplemented with the LB-1 cell-free filtrate. Clear halo zones around the LB-1 colonies were found on the protease test plate, pectinase test plate and cellulose test plate, indicating that LB-1 could produce mucolytic enzymes of protease, pectinase and cellulase. However, the activities of chitinase and β-l,3-glucase were not detected on their test plates from LB-1. An obvious oil-displaced circle was formed in the oil spreading test, indicating that a surface-active substance might be contained in the LB-1 cell-free filtrate. These results proved that the biocontrol agent of C. subaffine LB-1 could exert its antifungal effects via living competition and mycolysis, and the latter may be obtained by production of mycolytic enzymes and surface-active substances. .

Cultivating crops influences soil organic matter (SOM), but the effect of different crops remains unclear, particularly under long-term monocropping. The objective of this study was to identify how different crops influence the content and chemical structures of SOM under long-term monocropping. Here, soils were sampled (0-20 cm) under 27-year soybean and maize monocropping and separated into different physical fractions. The content and chemical structures of SOM in all fractions were determined. SOM contents were higher under soybean than maize in bulk soil and macroaggregates and their light-fractions instead of microaggregates and silt and clay. The difference in SOM chemical structure was observed in aggregates and density fractions rather than bulk soils and supported by the result of principal component analysis. The proportion of O-alkyl C in macro- and microaggregates and all free light fractions and that of aromatic C in mineral-associated fractions were higher, while that of carbonyl C was lower under maize than soybean. These results demonstrated that different crops monocropping influences the content and chemical structures of SOM, and the variations were mainly in the light-fraction SOM and highlight a higher sensitivity of physical fractions than bulk soil to different crops.

White root disease is a significant disease of cashew caused by Rigidoporus sp. Five endophytic fungal isolates, namely AR31D (Fusarium proliferatum), AR42D (Penicillium citrinum), BR32C (Trichoderma asperellum), VNTB1 (Chaetomium sp.), and EAGS14 (Curvularia lunata), were assessed as the biocontrol agents against Rigidoporus sp. in vitro and in planta. The research objective was to obtain endophytic fungi that effectively control Rigidoporus sp. and their mechanisms. The in vitro test results showed that all isolates could inhibit Rigidoporus sp. and promote plant growth by producing volatile organic compounds, chitinase enzymes, and indole acetic acid. Meanwhile, only four isolates could solubilize phosphate with low-medium solubilization efficiency. The isolates successfully colonized the root of cashew saplings in 10–65%. The effectiveness of endophytic fungal isolates in controlling white root disease was determined by the mechanisms involved, such as resistance induction (increased activity of defense enzymes like polyphenol oxidase), chitinase enzyme production, indole acetic acid production, phosphate solubilization, and suppression of plant stress which observed from decreased malondialdehyde concentrations in saplings’ roots. Trichoderma asperellum and Chaetomium sp. were the best isolates with the highest control effectiveness and stimulating plant growth.

To achieve the coveted objectives of sustainable development, the Bangladesh government has devised a comprehensive strategy to promote the adoption of innovative agricultural practices capable of addressing the critical challenges at the intersection of food, energy, water, and ecosystems (FEWE). This plan prioritises the increased uptake of solar irrigation and recommended fertiliser application (SIRFA) technologies to enhance sustainable food production while effectively managing energy and water resources, and fostering ecological balance. Thus, this study analysed seven years of panel data (2015–2021) to assess the long-term impact of SIRFA technology adoption on production costs (PC) and return on investment (ROI) among Bangladeshi farmers cultivating the BRRI-dhan29 rice variety in the water-scarce, acidic soils of Dinajpur. Utilising the generalised estimating equation (GEE) with a population-averaged model, we investigated the determinants of adoption. Additionally, we applied a two-stage residual inclusion (2SRI) method alongside six linear panel-data models to analyse the impact of SIRFA adoption. Our findings revealed that adopters experienced reduced production costs and enhanced ROI through SIRFA technology adoption. These results emphasised the urgent need for region-specific policy interventions to facilitate the broader adoption of SIRFA technologies.

Old plant communities are of utmost importance for nature conservation, carbon sequestration, as well as gene pool maintenance. Shrub populations occurring in extreme environments beyond abiotic tree-lines provide diverse ecosystem services and have potential as proxy archives because they often inhabit areas with scarce and short instrumental records. We provide dendrochronological insight into one such population made up of prostrate Juniperus communis shrubs in the northern Scandinavian tundra (Norway), growing on a competition-free boulder field. We dated and provided a growth chronology of the oldest living shrub population (190 ± 148 years) from Scandinavia with the oldest individual being 683 years old. This is a conservative estimate, as shrubs in extreme environments do not form even a single row of cells in some years. The cross-dating issues of poorly growing shrubs do not fully allow to rely on climate sensitivity of the juniper population studied, although the species' potential for dendroclimatological reconstructions is generally considered high, also because the common juniper is an abundant woody species distributed globally. Old populations present an important gene source in plant recruitment, particularly in the context of the present environmental change.

Indigenous chickens play a significant role in food security, income growth and socio-cultural life of rural households in Vietnam. This study was conducted to assess the genetic diversity as well as the phylogenetic relationships of Vietnamese indigenous chickens (Gallus gallus) to support the conservation of their genetic resources for sustainable rural farming.  In this study, the genetic diversity and the phylogenetic relationships of 10 Vietnamese indigenous chicken breeds were analyzed using complete sequences of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) displacement-loop (D-loop) region. The average nucleotide and haplotype diversities of Vietnamese chickens were 0.006 3 ± 0.000 22 and 0.918 ± 0.010, respectively. A total of 39 polymorphic sites and 29 haplotypes were identified. The maximum likelihood tree classified these haplotypes into seven haplogroups (A, B, C, D, E, G and V), with haplogroups A and B being the two predominant maternal lineages of Vietnamese indigenous chickens, while haplogroups C, D, E, G and V were found in the remaining chickens. Several haplotypes from different haplogroups were shared among some chicken breeds. These results suggested that Vietnamese indigenous chicken breeds have multiple maternal origins, mainly from Chinese, Southeast Asian and Indian chickens, and that these breeds share common maternal lineages. The high level of genetic diversity in Vietnamese chickens demonstrates significance of conservation for future use.

Phytophthora blight of pepper, caused by Phytophthora capsici Leonian, is a destructive disease in pepper production. Extracts of the plant species Stellera chamaejasme Linn, previously known in China as a source of herbal medicine, were also used in former years as a toxin against aphids, mites, and plant-pathogenic fungi. Extracts of S. chamaejasme (SC) and seven commercial fungicides were investigated for their inhibition of mycelial growth and germination of cysts of the pathogen in vitro. The SC alone, infinito (fluopicolide + propamocab + hydrochloride), fluazinam, dimethomorph, and their mixtures with SC strongly inhibited both mycelial growth and germination of cysts of P. capsici. Tests were conducted in a commercial field in Fenggang County, Zunyi City, Guizhou Province, China, in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 to validate these results for growers. A soil application (7 days before transplanting) and three foliar sprays at 7, 10, or 15 days were tested. One soil application of SC followed by three successive foliar sprays of infinito, fluazinam, and dimethomorph at 7- or 10-day intervals, as well as tank-mixed applications of these synthetic fungicides with SC at 15-day intervals, limited Phytophthora blight incidence to < 10% on the non-treated control treatment. Disease incidence was limited to < 3% to < 5% when alternating SC, SC + infinito, SC + fluazinam, and SC + dimethomorph three times at 7-, 10- or 15-day intervals, plus one soil application of SC. When treatments were applied from early April to May, disease incidence was < 10% in the non-treated control during June and July. The optimal concentration of SC was determined to be 0.25 g/L, which effectively controlled Phytophthora blight and protected marketable yield. SC also significantly (P < 0.05) outperformed treatments in a nearby commercial pepper field that relied on applications of a single synthetic chemical fungicide. The findings of this study provide a foundation for guiding growers to implement an efficient and environmentally safe spray program against Phytophthora blight of pepper in Guizhou Province.

The European Union (EU) provides both financial and expert support for sustainable forest management initiatives and also boosts compliance with such initiatives in Africa. Thus, there is a need to monitor the progress of implementing such initiatives. The objective of this paper is to describe the role of timber harvesting entities in environmental impact discussions, and to also identify the role of EU institutions in promoting forest sustainability in Sierra Leone. Data were collected in a controlled survey from four communities, using a questionnaire formulated according to guidelines recommended by Babbie and Mouton (2010). The reliability test shows a 0.68 internal consistency among the latent variables (Cronbach alpha test). The selected four communities were Bambawo, Dia, Basara, and Menima, with a population of 6 000, 5 400, 7 500, and 5 600 inhabitants, respectively (Stats SL 2021). A Confirmatory Factor Assessment (CFA) was used for a descriptive statistical analysis of the data. The results showed that the environmental impact has an eigenvalue of 1.08, where only variables with a factor loading exceeding 0.5 were used. The paper concludes with discussions and relevant recommendations on mitigating the impacts of timber harvesting on the environment within the study area.

To better understand the influence of altitude on fruit characteristics of bog bilberry (Vaccinium uliginosum L.), here we investigated the adaptation of its fruit morphological and chemical traits to the environment at six growing positions along an altitudinal gradient (706, 957, 1 226, 1 315, 2 000 and 2 190 m) on the northern slope of Changbai Mountain, China. Fruit longitudinal diameter, fruit transverse diameter and fruit weight decreased significantly with increasing altitude. Vitamin B1 content reached its highest at 2 190 m, while both vitamin B2 and vitamin C contents reached their highest and lowest at 1 226 and 706 m, respectively. Anthocyanin content and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging ability initially decreased and then improved with increasing altitude. We observed a highly significant (P < 0.001) negative correlation between external fruit quality traits (fruit length, diameter and weight) and internal fruit quality traits (vitamins B1, B2, C and anthocyanin), and found that environmental factors significantly influenced fruit characteristics. Taken together, we concluded that on the northern slope of Changbai Mountain, bog bilberry fruits were larger at low altitudes, fruits at mid altitudes contained higher vitamins B2 and C, while high altitude (especially at 2 190 m) was beneficial for vitamin B1, anthocyanin, and DPPH free radical scavenging ability.

This article focuses on the occurrence of powdery mildews in the Lamiaceae family in the Czech Republic. A comprehensive analysis of morphological characteristics supported by molecular analysis of partial ITS sequences and analysis of host species gained important insights regarding the occurrence and diversity of powdery mildews. Thirty-four plant samples of the Lamiaceae family infected by powdery mildew collected in the Czech Republic between 2015–2022 were analysed. In these samples, the occurrence of all newly described species within the former Golovinomyces biocellatus complex was confirmed (G. biocellatus, G. salviae, G. neosalviae and G. monardae), and Neoërysiphe galeopsidis was also verified. Moreover, our study expands the already reported host species list of G. biocellatus complex within the Lamiaceae family.

Most studies of agroforestry system biodiversity focus on assessing visible, aboveground biodiversity, largely ignoring soil biodiversity. To fill this gap, a preliminary assessment of soil biodiversity in an agroforestry system was undertaken based on changes in soil enzyme activity. The study was conducted in the village of Maziarnia, Lubelskie Voivodeship, Poland, Europe. Arable fields with spring wheat, mid-field trees and perennial mixed forest were selected for the study. Soil material for physicochemical analyses (pH_H2O, pH_KCl, sorption properties, total carbon and total nitrogen) and biochemical analyses (activity of acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, urease and dehydrogenases) was collected in the spring and autumn of 2022. The present study showed that the biochemical properties of the soils of the selected study sites varied depending on the type of ecosystem determining habitat conditions. Each ecosystem that makes up the agroforestry system studied is characterised by a distinctive microbiome composition and its own level of enzymatic activity. The obtained results support the thesis that agroforestry systems significantly increase the functional diversity and overall biodiversity of agricultural landscapes. However, a full, objective characterisation of the processes taking place in agroforestry systems requires long-term monitoring.

Drunken horse grass (Achnatherum inebrians (Hance) Keng) is a toxic perennial bunchgrass native to Northwestern China. Epichloë endophytic fungi infection could enhance the stress tolerance of drunken horse grass. However, there is a scarcity of literature regarding the effects of intraspecific competition. As a result, we anticipated that the intraspecific competitive dynamics between endophyte-infected (EI) and endophyte-free (EF) plants would become more transparent for four years by planted as the proportions of 2 : 1, 1 : 1, and 1 : 2. The results showed the EI plants exhibited more biomass, seed yields, and survival rates than EF plants. Endophyte infection also facilitated a competitive advantage by enhancing photosynthesis and soil nutrition. Our findings constituted the inaugural investigation into the influence of the intraspecific competitive ability of grass infected with Epichloë endophyte fungi. EI plants caused them to become stronger and stronger, while EF became weaker and weaker by timing and planting proportion increasing, and EF drunken horse grass could be replaced by EI. These conclusions were instrumental in elucidating why the endophytic fungal infection rate of drunken horse grass is 100% observed in natural wilderness. Epichloë endophyte could reduce plant diversity and enhance the dominance of EI plants in intraspecific competition; drunken horse grass may be threatening the persistence of native plant species.

Nanotechnology, an emerging field, holds significant promise with applications across diverse sectors, including medicine, agriculture, and the biological sciences. To address environmental concerns, the green biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using plant extracts is favoured. This study focuses on the formulation and characterisation of AgNPs using extracts from Withania coagulans (Stocks) Dunal, a medicinal plant that holds a unique phytochemical profile. The AgNPs derived from W. coagulans root (WcAgNPR) and fruit (WcAgNPF) extracts were characterised using ultraviolet and visible light (UV-Vis) spectral analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectroscopy. The findings reveal that both WcAgNPR and WcAgNPF exhibit substantial antioxidant potential, with robust iron reducing capabilities and potent 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity. Additionally, they demonstrate strong hydrogen peroxide scavenging abilities. Notably, WcAgNPR outperforms WcAgNPF in the phosphomolybdate assay for antioxidant potential. Both AgNPs display remarkable antimicrobial efficacy, with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) below 10 µg·mL^–1 against gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and noteworthy activity against gram-negative Escherichia coli (WcAgNPF with a MIC of 30 µg·mL^–1 and WcAgNPR with a MIC of 60 µg·mL^–1). These findings highlight the silver nanoparticles' significant antioxidant and antimicrobial potential, suggesting their potential for in vivo use as antimicrobial agents with minimal oxidative damage.

We compared the biological and economic effects of simultaneous artificial regeneration of mixtures of pioneers (birch – Betula pendula Roth or aspen – Populus tremula L.) and beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) with plots of monospecific beech. During the period of two years, the height of young beech trees, their mortality, and the regeneration cost were analysed in the following treatments: monospecific beech (9 000 pcs·ha⁻¹), monospecific beech (5 000 pcs·ha⁻¹), beech/birch (5 000/2 500 pcs·ha⁻¹) and beech/aspen (5 000/2 500 pcs·ha⁻¹). Four plots (differing in soil and altitude) were established in the region of the Czech Republic in autumn 2021. The positive biological effect of these pioneers was detected only in the treatments where the initial planting stock of the pioneers was substantially higher than in that of beech (on average 39 cm vs. 100 cm, respectively). However, the expenses of simultaneous regeneration were about 15% lower compared to plots with monospecific beech in densities like 9 000 pcs·ha⁻¹, and around 35% higher than in the monospecific beech plots with a density of 5 000 pcs·ha⁻¹.

Agribusiness is currently faced with the challenge of providing sufficient quality food for a growing population with limited natural resources. Egg production, as an important source of nutrition, is a dynamically developing sector of livestock production on a global scale. Simultaneously, the increasing public and legal considerations of animal welfare affect egg-producing operations. This paper aims to provide insight into missing evidence in the trade-offs between animal welfare and efficiency in egg-producing farms in the Czech Republic and the European Union. Detailed data were gathered on the extent of the enriched cage and indoor cage-free housing systems (aviaries/barns) among the main 30 Czech table-egg-producers. Original micro data enlarged the information on table-egg producers collected using the Orbis database. For the efficiency analysis at the EU level, data on the housing systems were obtained from Eurostat and combined with aggregated data from the Orbis database. A robust data envelopment analysis was applied which benefits from including animal-welfare variables directly into the efficiency evaluation. The results showed a negative, but statistically insignificant, relationship between the animal welfare and efficiency of the egg producers for the Czech Republic table-egg producers as well as those on the EU-country level.

This study compares soil temperature data collected between 2019 and 2022 in Hrušky, South Moravia, Czech Republic. Soil temperature was measured at five depths (5, 10, 20, 50, 100 cm) in the forest shelterbelt (windbreak) and at three distances from it to investigate the impact of the shelterbelt on the climatic conditions of adjacent field plots. In particular, monthly averages, calculated from average daily temperatures, were employed to characterise the temperature course. These are calculated as averages of measured temperatures at 15-minute intervals. Absolute and relative differences and, where appropriate, base indices, were calculated to facilitate the comparison of individual measurement points (sites) and soil depths. The soil temperature values and their dynamics during the year differ between the measurement point in the forest shelterbelt (90-0) and those in the field. Additionally, the field measurement points exhibit some degree of variation, with the more distant field measurement point (180-90) displaying distinct characteristics from the closer field measurement points (90-45, 90-90). During the winter months (December, January, February), the temperature increases with soil depth, being highest within the windbreak. In spring (February and March), the temperature at different soil depths starts to equalise; however, in April, the temperature decreases with soil depth. Throughout the summer, the measurement station within the windbreak has lower temperatures than in the field, where the soil shows higher temperatures at all depths compared to the windbreak measurement station. In August, the temperature differences in depth begin to equalise again. In September, the temperature trend reverses, and from October, the temperatures increase with soil depth, especially in the lower layers of the soil. The temperature trend in November has a more or less winter character. Soil temperatures in the forest shelterbelt are lower in the summer months and higher in the winter months than in the field. The protective effect of the windbreak is more pronounced at measurement stations closer to the belt, as the temperatures at the farthest field measurement station are higher in summer and lower in winter compared to the closer field measurement stations.

Erratum in: Soil & Water Res., 20: 69. Doi: 10.17221/2/2025-SWR

Soil organic matter and pores distribution within aggregates were studied using X-ray computed tomography (XCT; Nikon XT H 225ST and GE Phoenix L240) and advanced 2D/3D measurements by the digital Keyence VHX-6000 microscope (Japan). A new methodological approach with computed tomography involvement for studying the spatial arrangement of pores, porosity, and soil morphology is presented. Changes in studied parameters are documented along the transect of intensively used Haplic Chernozem. Soil disturbance due to erosion and colluvial soil profile formation is reported. Moreover, soil organic matter quality and aggregate stability were evaluated. Obtained results showed statistically significant differences between the control and eroded sites and between eroded and accumulated sites. The correlation coefficients were the highest for soil organic carbon (SOC) and humic substances C_HS (r = 0.805) and C_HS and C_HA/C_FA (r = 0.764). The highest porosity, aggregates stability and coefficients stability were confirmed on the eroded site. The computed tomography measurements also document the high disturbance of Haplic Chernozem on the control site and the newly formed profile of Colluvisol. Despite excellent complementary technique further research is necessary to improve micro-XCT resolution and capacity for the soil micromorphological study.

Natural regeneration is a crucial factor in improving the economy of forest estates. The presented study analysed the economic parameters of three different approaches to forest regeneration: (i) artificial regeneration with Norway spruce, (ii) a 25% admixture of soil-improving and stabilising species (SSTS), and (iii) natural regeneration. The expenses for these specific operations related to individual regeneration methods were derived. These variants were investigated before the bark beetle calamity (2014) and after the outbreak (2023) for management sets (MS) 531, 551, 571, and 591, i.e. for acidic, nutrient-rich, gleyed, and waterlogged sites of higher elevations. In all cases, natural regeneration decreased expenses by approximately 2 000 EUR·ha^–1 (50 000 CZK·ha^–1) to 6 000 EUR·ha^–1 (150 000 CZK·ha^–1). The 25% admixture of SSTS increased the expenses. The proportion of natural regeneration subsequently decreased due to the bark beetle calamity from roughly 40% to 10% in recent years, which is comparable with the Czech Republic as a whole.

Owing to its role in mitigating CO₂ in the atmosphere, the total organic carbon (TOC) stock of soil, a key component of the terrestrial carbon cycle, is of significant interest as regards climate change. To determine TOC stock, it is first necessary to determine the soil's bulk density (BD), determined through intact soil sampling; however, in forest soils, it can be difficult to determine BD in soils with high levels of stoniness and/or tree root coverage. Furthermore, the method is time-consuming and labour-intensive, making it impractical for studies over large areas. In such cases, BD can be determined using a pedotransfer function (PTF) expressing the relationship between forest soil TOC and BD. The aim of this study was to determine a forest soil PTF using actual data obtained from 777 soil pits dug as part of the Czech Republic's National Forest Inventory (NFI). Within the NFI, BD is assessed from undisturbed core samples, while TOC is assessed from mixed samples from the same soil genetic horizons. Both generalised linear (GLM) and generalised linear mixed-effects (GLMER) models were used, with the final GLMER model best expressing the relationship for individual natural forest areas within the NFI dataset. The GLMER-based PTF described in this study can be widely applied to accurately estimate soil BD via TOC concentration at temperate forest sites where stoniness and/or root cover previously made it technically impossible to take undisturbed samples using standard methods.

Many companies depend on debt sources; they use them to finance their needs. Bank loans are the main debt sources to which companies have access. However, financing only with this source is associated with many risks. The paper’s main goal is to assess and quantify the indebtedness of wineries in Slovakia for 2013–2021 through individual debt ratios. The influence of financial leverage on return on equity (ROE) was tested. The data were drawn from the Register of Financial Statements. From the point of view of the total debt ratio, wineries show values higher than 65%. The presence of short-term debts, especially short-term liabilities, prevailed. The average share of equity reached a very low value of 11%. The average share of bank loans on financing operating activities was very low at the level of 8.53%. The return on assets (ROA) was lower than the cost of debt in most wineries, which means that increasing indebtedness had a negative effect on ROE.

This paper analyses the distribution of CAP subsidies between primary beneficiaries (farms) and final beneficiaries (farm owners) in Slovakia in 2021, using unique micro-level data. The results show a significant inequality in the distribution of CAP subsidies between primary and final beneficiaries in Slovakia. The majority of CAP payments (92% for primary beneficiaries and 89% for final beneficiaries) are concentrated among the top 20% of beneficiaries, with a higher concentration among primary beneficiaries than final beneficiaries. However, there is a reversal at the top stratum of beneficiaries. The top 1% of primary beneficiaries receive 26.2% of CAP subsidies, compared to 31.0% for final beneficiaries. For the remaining 99% of beneficiaries, the distribution of CAP subsidies is more concentrated at the level of primary beneficiaries than at the level of final beneficiaries. The analyses suggest that the implementation of the CAP in Slovakia has not been sufficient to address the unequal distribution of CAP subsidies.

Northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) is an important introduced tree species in Hungary, particularly in the Nyírség region. This study investigates its diameter growth (DBH) in six forest subcompartments, with stand ages ranging from 20 to 71 years. 5- and 25-year diameter increments were calculated. The distribution of diameter and diameter increment values was also determined. The results show significant growth across all sites. For example, quadratic mean diameter (QMD) increased from 16.4 cm to 30.4 cm over 25 years in the forest subcompartment Encsencs 12A, and from 20.3 cm to 38.4 cm in Ófehértó 2A. Five-year DBH increments ranged from 1.8 cm (± 0.8) in older stands to 4.2 cm (± 0.5) in younger or middle-aged stands. The findings confirm Q. rubra's capacity for steady diameter growth in northeastern Hungary and contribute valuable growth data for future yield modelling and forest management strategies.

Forest headwater streams serve as critical interfaces between terrestrial forests and downstream aquatic ecosystems, playing essential roles in the storage and movement of carbon (C) and nutrients. However, despite their importance, our understanding of the dynamics of plant litter calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) stocks within these streams remains limited. In this study, we conducted a quantitative analysis of the spatiotemporal dynamics of plant litter Ca and Mg concentrations and stocks in a subtropical forest headwater stream from March 2021 to February 2022. We found that: (1) the average concentrations of litter Ca and Mg were 9.9 and 0.7 mg/g, respectively, with mean stocks of 8 792.3 and 620.8 mg/m², respectively; (2) significant variations in litter Ca and Mg concentrations were observed among non-woody debris (13.1 and 0.9 mg/g), fine woody debris (9.0 and 0.5 mg/g), and coarse woody debris (6.1 and 0.4 mg/g), though plant litter type did not significantly affect the stocks of Ca and Mg; and (3) the stocks of Ca and Mg were positively correlated with factors such as rainfall amount, rainfall frequency, water temperature, flow velocity, water depth, electrical conductivity, and discharge, while negatively correlated with stream water alkalinity and dissolved oxygen levels. These findings highlight the critical role of plant litter in headwater streams as a component of forest nutrient stocks and provide empirical support for incorporating headwater streams into the assessment of nutrient stocks and fluxes in forest ecosystems.