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The negative effects of the current agricultural practices include erosion, acidification, loss of soil organic matter (dehumification), loss of soil structure, soil contamination by risky elements, reduction of biological diversity and land use for non-agricultural purposes. All these effects are a huge risk to the further development of soil quality from an agronomic point of view and its resilience to projected climate change. Organic matter has a crucial role in it. Relatively significant correlations with the quality or the health of soil parameters and the soil organic matter or some fraction of the soil organic matter have been found. In particular, Ctot, Cox, humic and fulvic acids, the C/N ratio, and glomalin. Our work was focused on glomalin, a glycoprotein produced by the hyphae and spores of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which we classify as Glomeromycota. Arbuscular mycorrhiza, and its molecular pathways, is not a well understood phenomenon. It appears that many proteins are involved in the arbuscular mycorrhiza from which glomalin is probably one of the most significant. This protein is also responsible for the unique chemical and physical properties of soils and has an ecological and economical relevance in this sense and it is a real product of the mycorrhiza. Glomalin is very resistant to destruction (recalcitrant) and difficult to dissolve in water. Its extraction requires specific conditions: high temperature (121°C) and a citrate buffer with a neutral or alkaline pH. Due to these properties, glomalin (or its fractions) are very stable compounds that protect the soil aggregate surface. In this review, the actual literature has been researched and the importance of glomalin is discussed.

Sulfonamides are widely used in treatment of animals and humans but pose a risk as environmental pollutants. An analysis of 1588 publications focused on sulfonamides is presented here. The review deals with environmental pollution with sulfonamides, described in papers indexed in the database Web of Science from 1938 to 2011. More in depth details are presented regarding publication activity during the last ten years in which 1255 papers have been published by authors from 1100 institutions. Papers, published during the last three years and mainly in 2011, are listed in comprehensive tables, sorted according to five criteria: reviews, contaminated niches, risk of contamination, sulfonamide transformation and methods of analysis. Key words and shortened abstracts direct the reader to the topics of interest. Hyperlinks to full papers, published in open access journals, are another aid in knowledge dissemination. This design of the review article allows easy navigation through vast amounts of information. Finally, a case report illustrates experiences from the author's laboratory with sulfamethazine determination in pig slurry by ELISA. The reported results highlight the need for updating the legal directives for environmental protection.

Cortisol, which is produced in the adrenal glands, is an endogenous glucocorticoid hormone that delivers its hormonal message to cells by acting on glucocorticoid receptors. It is one of the main stress hormones responsible for stress responses in animals and humans, and its overproduction is characteristic of certain diseases. While acute stress disorder can be evaluated by means of measuring the cortisol concentration in blood and urine, chronic stress disorder can be detected by monitoring the cortisol concentration in fur or hair. Hair collection is simple, inexpensive and non-invasive, and can be performed easily and rapidly; thus, it appears to be a suitable method for determining the level of stress in dogs from shelters, abused dogs or dogs involved in different types of animal interactions. Since it is a relatively new method, monitoring cortisol in hair or fur requires further research in order to definitively prove its efficacy, and possibly to determine reference range values for different breeds of dogs.

Respiratory problems in cats have a multifactorial character. Therapy without the detection of pathogen is often ineffective. Our study was therefore focused on the detection of important feline respiratory bacterial pathogens such as Mycoplasma felis, Chlamydia felis and Bordetella bronchiseptica and viral pathogens such as Felid alphaherpesvirus-1 and feline calicivirus. The goal of this study was to map the occurrence of these pathogens in cat populations in the Czech Republic with the aim of introducing rapid and highly sensitive methods into routine diagnostics and to provide consulting services to animal health professionals based on the acquired data. A total of 218 cats were investigated in the study: 69 were outdoor and 149 were indoor cats. Three groups of animals were compared: up to one year of age (60 cats), one to three years of age (68 cats) and more than three years of age (90 cats). Samples were taken from conjunctiva and/or the oropharynx. Samples originated from cats with various forms of respiratory disease or from healthy cats from different parts of the Czech Republic. Real-Time RT-PCR, multiplex Real-Time PCR, nested PCR and sequencing analyses were performed. Outdoor cats were infected more often (84 detected pathogens in 69 cats) than indoor cats (110 detected infections in 149 cats). More than one pathogen was detected in a total of 38 cats, and six cats were infected with more than two pathogens. The difference was statistically significant in the case of co-infections, but not for mono-infections (P < 0.05). Kittens and young adults up to the age of one year were the most common reservoirs of respiratory infections (only 19 cats out of 60 were negative and positive cats often harboured coinfections). The difference in age groups were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Concerning the site of the sampling, feline calicivirus, M. felis and B. bronchiseptica were detected more often from oropharynx than from conjunctival swabs. M. felis was slightly more common in clinically diseased animals (39.6%) than in healthy ones (26.1%). The obtained results reveal the frequency of individual pathogens and their co-infections in cats kept on the territory of the Czech Republic, data which can be used to make the treatment of respiratory infections and breeding measures more effective. Therefore, the diagnostic methods are now available to veterinary surgeons with the possibility of consultation and discussion of the results.

Monensin has been shown to decrease mortality and morbidity in feedlot cattle by reducing the incidence of acute and subacute rumen acidosis (SARA). Lately, the technique of real-time observance of reticuloruminal temperature and pH, which involves placement of indwelling pH probes in the reticulum or in the rumen has gained in popularity. In this study, we aimed to determine, using real-time monitoring in fresh dairy cows, how monensin controlled release capsules affect the reticulorumen temperature and pH. We used a slow-release rumen preparation, which emitted daily monensin doses of 335 mg. Following the manufacturer's instructions, the preparation was administered through an oral balling gun. The following points indicate the method for determining the two experimental groups: (1) monensin-supplemented test group (TG) (a 32.4 g monensin controlled release capsule, MCRC, n = 20) and (2) a control group (CG) (capsule containing no monensin, n = 20). Both began a day after calving, and one month after calving the experiment was finished. A set of smaXtec boluses fabricated for animal care was used to measure the temperature and pH of the reticulorumen. After the first day of the study, a statistically significant difference between reticulorumen temperature in CG (38.67 ± 0.10 °C) and TG (39.08 ± 0.09 °C; P < 0.01) was found. The use of the monensin controlled release capsule, which emitted daily monensin doses of 335 mg, in the first 30 days after calving increased the reticulorumen pH by 1.89% (P < 0.001), and the temperature of the reticulorumen by 0.82 % (P < 0.001). We conclude that using monensin in the form of monensin controlled release capsules reduces the risk of SARA. Real time observation of temperature and pH levels in the reticulorumen in fresh dairy cows allows for evaluation of the risk of SARA and provides the opportunity to determine the prophylactic effect of those capsules.

This study was undertaken to create an Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus; ABB) ethogram during hibernation and to describe the time budget of hibernating behaviours in ABB. Seven captive adult ABB were included in the study and began hibernation between October and December. Data were collected for three consecutive years (2013-2015) during ABB hibernation (total 169 days) using closed-circuit television. During the study, we observed 21 distinct behaviours in hibernating ABB (4 least active and 17 active behaviours). Five bears started hibernation less than seven days after feeding cessation, and by the end of one week, all bears hibernated. The most commonly observed behaviour was "sleep curling inside nest", and "nest maintenance" was the second most common behaviour. Among the active behaviours, "sitting in the nest", "change stance", "drinking and eating" were mostly shown as documented during the observation times. Our results provide new insights into the hibernating behaviours of ABB.

Foreign bodies (FBs) retained in the subcutaneous tissues are a common reason for medical consultation. In small animals, FBs usually consist of vegetal materials, especially grass awns. Failure to remove the FBs is likely to give rise to acute or late complications. The surgical removal of the FBs can be invasive, costly and technically challenging. Ultrasound has become a mainstay in the detection of FBs and it can be used to guide the extraction of the FBs with a minimally invasive technique. This study describes the detection and extraction of soft-tissue FBs in small animals. One hundred-sixty-two patients, presenting at two veterinary clinics with suspected FBs retained in the soft tissues of various body districts, were considered. Once an ultrasound diagnosis was established, the ultrasound-guided removal of the FB was performed. A high-frequency linear transducer, a skin disinfection, sedation or anaesthesia was used when needed and a scalpel and some Hartmann forceps were also used. One hundred-eighty-two FBs were successfully removed in all the patients. In six cases, the FB was identified during a second ultrasonographic examination, after recurrence of the fistula. No complications were reported after the procedure. The extraction of the FB was performed in an echographic suite in 138 cases and in a surgery room with surgical intervention in 24 cases. In the latter situation, the surgical minimally invasive dissection of tissues under ultrasound guidance was performed before the removal of the FB. In conclusion, the ultrasound-guided removal of the FBs retained in the superficial soft tissue can be considered a good alternative to surgery. However, failure to remove a FB does not preclude the removal by traditional surgery.

A two-year-old spayed female American shorthair cat presented with a rough, circular, exophytic mass on the genital area. The clinical findings and histopathological examination revealed that the mass contained neoplastic mast cells and, thus, was diagnosed as a mast cell tumour. The anatomical location of the mass was not easily accessible for surgical intervention. We administered a targeted therapy using oral imatinib mesylate for eight weeks to reduce the size of the lesion and to facilitate the successful surgical removal. The tumour mass eventually reduced by 21% and was surgically excised. This is possibly the first study to use imatinib mesylate as a tumour reduction neoadjuvant to therapeutically address a feline cutaneous mast cell tumour located in a surgically inaccessible part of the body.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether milk consumption (MC) could be used as a simple farmer-friendly indicator for providing advanced treatment to limited fed diarrhoeic neonatal calves. Complementarily, it was evaluated whether the standard indications for veterinary care (severe dehydration and/or acidosis-septicaemia) are associated with different patterns in MC. The MC and health records of 103 calves with diarrhoeathat were fed a milk replacer at the volume of 10% of their body weight were used in the study. The MC reduction rate (MCRR) was calculated after each feeding (MC_t) during the diarrhoea course, based on the MC prior to the diarrhoea onset for each calf (MC₀) using the formula MCRR = 100 × (MC₀ - MC_t)/MC₀. The calves were assigned into the ST group (n = 58) if they only received the standard treatment (oral rehydration solutions between milk feedings) until recovery, and into the advanced treatment (VT) group (n = 45) if they needed advanced treatment (i.v. fluids ± antibiotics) directly or after the standard treatment. The calves in the VT group that only had dehydration, were further assigned into the DH subgroup (n = 22) and those with signs of acidosis-septicaemia with or without dehydration were assigned into the ASD subgroup (n = 23). The MC was practically stable in the ST group throughout the diarrhoea course. In the VT group, the MC was significantly reduced during the last 36 hours prior to the advanced treatment administration. This reduction was significantly higher in the ASD subgroup than the DH subgroup. The MCRR on the last meal prior to treatment administration was proven to be a very reliable indicator for the detection of diarrhoeic calves needing advanced treatment (cut-off: ≥ 24.5%; sensitivity: 95.6%; specificity: 98.7%) and of those with acidosis-septicaemia (cut-off: ≥ 29.6%; sensitivity: 91.7%; specificity: 99.1%). The results of the study show thatfarmers employing this feeding regimen should seek veterinary assistance when the milk consumption of calves is reduced by ≥ 24.5%.

A total of 214 cats with signs of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) were assessed in this study. There were 81.30% males (82.20% of them neutered) and 18.70% females (80.00% of them spayed) with an age range from 9 months to 17 years (mean 5.1 ± 3.7). Most of the cats (111; 51.90%) were diagnosed with feline idiopathic cystitis; in 57 (26.60%) cats, uroliths were detected. A urinary tract infection (UTI) as well as urethral plugs were diagnosed in 23 cats (10.75%). In 100 cats, a non-obstructive form of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) was present; in 114 cats (exclusively males) a urethral obstruction was diagnosed. Most of the cats (141; 65.90%) were indoor-housed. The cats with the UTI were significantly older when compared to the other cases of FLUTD. The most common clinical signs reported by the owners were dysuria (39.70%), oliguria/anuria (31.30%), and vomiting (24.80%). In the cats with the urethral obstruction, oliguria/anuria and non-specific systemic signs were dominant whereas in the non-obstructive form, signs of a lower urinary tract disease were more frequent. The urine specific gravity ranged from 1.008 to 1.080, while in the cats diagnosed with UTI, it was significantly lower than the other cats. Haematuria was the most common finding within the urinalysis which was diagnosed in 181 cats (84.60%): macroscopic haematuria was present in 94 patients (43.90%), microscopic haematuria was present in 87 cats (40.70%). Pyuria was found in 36 cats (16.80%). In the UTI cats, the most common bacterial isolate was E. coli. Results of our study are in agreement with previous reports of FLUTD in various countries, with idiopathic cystitis as the most common cause.

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of the partial or complete dietary replacement of crude protein (CP) from soybean meal (SBM) with CP from the meal of whole (trial 1) or dehulled (trial 2) white lupine (WL) seeds on the blood plasma biochemical indicators in broilers. Chickens of the control (C) group were fed diets containing the SBM as the main protein source in the feed. It results from the findings that the complete and also partial replacement of CP from the SBM by CP from the meal of whole WL seeds in diets led to a decrease in the plasma cholesterol and triacylglycerides (TAG) levels (P < 0.001). Concerning the dietary administration of dehulled WL seeds, only the complete replacement of CP resulted in a decrease in the plasma glucose and TAG levels in 35-day-old broilers (P < 0.05). In addition, when including the dehulled WL seeds into the diet, an increase in the plasma aspartate aminotransferase activity was found in both the E1 and E2 groups (P < 0.01). Based on the results found, it can be stated that the use of meal from whole WL seeds seems to be a promising protein feed component which has beneficial effects on the health of broilers.

There is an increasing interest in specialty milk products such as soymilk, cholesterol free/lactose free (CFLF) milk and organic milk. While the market shares of these milk types are still small, specialty milk consumption is one of the fastest growing consumer segments in the dairy industry. Therefore, it is of interest to producers, consumers as well as the policy-makers to identify the consumer profile of these products and to determine policies based on the consumer choices. In the article, there are utilised the actual consumer sales data to see whether the USDA's dairy policy follows the consumers' milk preferences. The results indicate that the household demographics significantly affect milk preferences. Race is by far the most striking factor in the consumers' decision process. Minority households have a much higher probability of purchasing specialty milk types than the white households. They are also loyal customers of the specialty milk types and are less responsive to the changes in factors that affect their purchase decision. Based on these findings, there is recommend an alternative policy to the USDA's one-size-fits-all type of dairy guidelines.

Liberalization of the market, as a consequence of the achieved trade agreements with the members of the European Union and the Central European Free Trade Association, had a significant effect on the foreign trade exchange of the Serbian agri-food products. In order to determine the liberalization effects on the export of agri-food products of Serbia, a gravity model of the export of these products is estimated using econometric methods for the panel data. In order to find the sections, as well as the advantageous parts of the international market, the comparative advantages of agri-food products in the particular groups of countries are dynamically analysed using the index of the revealed comparative advantages, whereas the level of specialization in the international trade exchange of these products is analysed using the index of the intra-industry trade. In relation to the main objective of the article, which was to identify the effects of the foreign trade liberalization on the performances of the foreign trade in agri-food products, it may be stated that liberalization had positive effects on the intensification of foreign trade with the analysed group of countries, as well as on the increase of the revealed comparative advantages of the agri-food sector in the world market.

Phenolic acids represent the most common form of phenolic compounds in the cereal grain and many other plants. The phytochemical ferulic acid is found in the leaves and seeds of many plants, but especially in cereals. It is the most abundant phenolic acid in common cereals, representing up to 90% of total phenolic compounds. Ferulic acid has been reported to have many physiological functions, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer activities. It is an antioxidant which neutralises free radicals (superoxide, nitric oxide, and hydroxyl radical) which could cause oxidative damage to cell membranes and DNA. Like many other antioxidants, ferulic acid reduces the level of cholesterol and triglyceride, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease.

White lupin seeds have been used in human nutrition and treatment for several thousand years. Nowadays the use of white lupin seeds is limited by a small scale of their production. However, in the last 20 years quite new properties of white lupin have been discovered for the application in the production of different kinds of functional food. Unique traits of protein, fatty acids with a desirable ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 acids, and fibre as well as other specific components, for example oligosaccharides and antioxidants or non-starch carbohydrates, make white lupin an excellent component in many healthy diets. The effects of white lupin components concern the physiological condition of the human body, including diabetes, hypertension, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, lipid concentration, glycaemia, appetite, insulin resistance, and colorectal cancer. Seeds are used among others for the production of gluten-free flour, bacterial and fungal fermented products, noodle and pasta products, as substitutes of meat, egg protein and sausages, also are cooked, roasted and ground and mixed with cereal flour in the production of bread, crisps and pasta, crisps and dietary dishes.

DNA methylation is one of the major epigenetic modifications. It is very important to the regulation of gene expression. Methylation-sensitive amplification polymorphism (MSAP) profiling was applied to a diploid apple cultivar and its derived autotetraploid in order to characterize the level and pattern of DNA methylation at the two different ploidies. The frequency of methylated restriction sites was very similar between the two types (28.0% vs 27.3%), implying that polyploidization had a low effect on the global level of DNA methylation. However, with respect to the pattern of methylation, the frequency of hemi-methylated sites was higher in the tetraploid. When the transcription level of three genes encoding DNA methyltransferase was investigated in various tissues, it was established that MET1 transcript abundance was the lowest of the three genes throughout the plant, while that of DRM2 was high in the leaf, flower and fruit, as was that of CTM3 in the fruit. Polyploidization had no discernible effect on the transcription level of any of the three genes.

Gene transformation can be done in direct and indirect (Agrobacterium-mediated) ways. The most efficient method of gene transformation to date is Agrobacterium-mediated method. The main problem of Agrobacterium-method is that some plant species and mutant lines are recalcitrant to regeneration. Requirements for sterile conditions for plant regeneration are another problem of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Development of genotype-independent gene transformation method is of great interest in many plants. Some tissue culture-independent Agrobacterium-mediated gene transformation methods are reported in individual plants and crops. Generally, these methods are called in planta gene transformation. In planta transformation methods are free from somaclonal variation and easier, quicker, and simpler than tissue culture-based transformation methods. Vacuum infiltration, injection of Agrobacterium culture to plant tissues, pollen-tube pathway, floral dip and floral spray are the main methods of in planta transformation. Each of these methods has its own advantages and disadvantages. Simplicity and reliability are the primary reasons for the popularity of the in planta methods. These methods are much quicker than regular tissue culture-based Agrobacterium-mediated gene transformation and success can be achieved by non-experts. In the present review, we highlight all methods of in planta transformation comparing them with regular tissue culture-based Agrobacterium-mediated transformation methods and then recently successful transformations using these methods are presented.

DNA methylation undergoes dynamic changes and is a crucial part of the epigenetic regulation during mammalian early development. To determine the DNA methylation levels in bovine embryos, we applied a bisulfite sequencing based method aimed at repetitive sequences including three retrotransposons (L1_BT, BovB, and ERV1-1-I_BT) and Satellite I. A more accurate estimate of the global DNA methylation level compared to previous methods using only one repeat sequence, like Alu, could be made by calculation of the weighted arithmetic mean of multiple repetitive sequences, considering the copy number of each repetitive sequence. Satellite I and L1_BT showed significant methylation reduction at the blastocyst stage, while BovB and ERV1-1-I_BT showed no difference. The mean methylation level of the repetitive sequences during preimplantation development was the lowest at the blastocyst stage. No methylation difference was found between embryos cultured in 5% and 20% O₂. Because mutations of CpGs negatively influence the calculation accuracy, we checked the mutation rate of the sequenced CpG sites. Satellite I and L1_BT showed a relatively low mutation rate (1.92 and 3.72% respectively) while that of ERV1-1-I_BT and BovB was higher (11.95 and 24% respectively). Therefore we suggest using a combination of repeats with low mutation rate, taking into account the proportion of each sequence, as a relatively quick marker for the global DNA methylation status of preimplantation stages and possibly also for other cell types.

Campylobacter jejuni is one of the most common food-borne pathogens and chickens are the main source of these bacteria. Enterococcus faecium AL41, enterocin M-producing strain (deponed to the Czech Culture Collection of Microorganisms, Brno, Czech Republic - CCM8558) is our isolate previously applied e.g. in broiler rabbits with beneficial effect. In this study it was used in a 11-day experiment with chickens (1-day-old, breed Cobb 500, n = 40) challenged with C. jejuni. Birds had free access to feed and water; they were randomly divided into four groups per 10 chicks each: control (CG), E. faecium CCM8558 (EG1), CCM8558 + C. jejuni CCM6191 (EG2), CCM6191 (EG3). E. faecium CCM8558 (10⁹ CFU/ml, 200 µl) in Ringer solution was administered daily per os to EG1 and EG2 for 7 days (from day 0-1). EG3 and EG2 were infected individually per os (day 4, CCM6191, 10⁸ CFU/ml in Ringer solution, 200 µl). For microbiota evaluation, faecal mixtures (n = 5) were sampled on day 0-1 (1^st sampling), on day 7 (2^nd sampling), and on day 11 (3^rd sampling) (day 7 of CCM8558 application, day 4 post-infection; day 4 of CCM8558 cessation, day 7 post-infection). Five birds from each group were sacrificed. CCM8558 sufficiently colonized chickens. In faeces of EG2 a tendency to reduce Campylobacter spp. (day 7 of application, day 4 of infection) was noted compared to EG2 (day 11, day 4 of cessation, day 7 post-infection; difference 1.21 log cycles), while in EG3 CCM6191 strain was not reduced. Phagocytic activity (PA) values were significantly higher in infected groups compared to CG and EG1. A significant increase in PA was also noted in EG2 and EG3 at the end of experiment compared to CG or EG1. The strain additive did not evoke oxidative stress. Biochemical parameters were influenced to the reference levels.

The objective of this study was to explore how retinoic acid (RA) attenuates oxidative injury induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMEC). Subconfluence BMEC were randomly divided into four groups with six replicates: the control group (incubated in serum-free medium without RA or H₂O₂ for 30 h), H₂O₂ group (pre-incubated for 24 h without RA, then for another 6 h with 600 μM H₂O₂), RA group (incubated with 1 mg/ml RA for 30 h without H₂O₂), and RA + H₂O₂ group (RA prevention group, pre-incubated with 1 mg/ml RA for 24 h and then for another 6 h with 600 mM H₂O₂). The results showed that the H₂O₂ treatment significantly decreased several measured traits, including the cell viability, glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and thioredoxin reductase (TRXR) activities, selenoprotein P (SELP) content, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities, total antioxidant capacity, and GPX1, TRXR1, and SELP gene expression, as well as GPX1 and TRXR1 protein expression. H₂O₂ treatment also increased the malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species contents and induced a marked increase of several measured traits, including the arachidonic acid (ARA) concentration, cytosolic phospholipase A2 and 5-lipoxygenase gene expression and activity, and 15-hydroxy twenty-four arachidonic acid and hydroxy peroxide tetracosenic arachidonic acid contents. RA pre-treatment prevented corresponding increases in parameters related to ARA metabolism and increased the activity of TRXR. Moreover, RA pre-treatment attenuated the phosphorylation levels of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase and effectively decreased the ARA content. These results suggest that RA protected BMEC from oxidative stress by elevating TRXR activity, which inhibited the MAPK signaling pathway and led to a decreased concentration of ARA.

This study investigated in vitro production of diploid (AS2) and tetraploid (AS4) cytotypes of snowdrop anemone. The effect of plant growth regulators (PGRs) on in vitro shoot multiplication and rooting was investigated. The effect of activated charcoal (AC) on root induction was also studied. Ploidy level affected growth characteristics during multiplication and rooting. Shoot induction in AS4 was higher on medium supplemented with cytokinin (3.2-3.6), while the AS2 clone formed the most shoots on PGR-free medium (3.6). The highest rooting percentage was achieved on PGR-free medium in both genotypes (AS2 clone, 100% and AS4 clone, 93.3%). The addition of AC to the PGR media largely increased root induction and root length. Rooted plantlets were successfully acclimatised in the greenhouse with 100% survival. Thus, the described micropropagation protocol represents a rapid and effective in vitro propagation method for utilisation in horticulture and conservation programmes of snowdrop anemone.

The Scots pine communities are common forest types in Central Europe, however, the general model of changes resulting from cyclical management practices is still unclear. The aim of this paper is to present the changes in species diversity during the development of managed Scots pine stands and to distinguish main stages of vegetation succession. The examined stands were divided into six age classes: ≤ 10 years old, 11-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80, 81-120 years old. Data from our study suggest a division of the stands into three main stages of succession on oligotrophic (low nutrient) sites. The first stage is associated with the youngest stands before the canopy formation (< 10 years), the second stage with young closed-canopy stands (11-40 years) and the third stage with the maturing, pre-mature and mature stands (> 40 years). The first stage was characterised by the highest value of the Shannon index, the highest number of vascular plant species, the highest cover of lichens but the lowest cover of bryophytes. There was a group of non-forest cryptogams, exclusive for that stage. In the second stage, there was a significant decline in the Shannon index, the cover of bryophytes increased and the cover of lichens decreased. Cladonia species were characteristic of that succession stage. The third stage was characterised by the lowest species richness, moreover, the cover of bryophytes was highest and the cover of lichens was lowest. Common coniferous forest species were characteristic of the final stage before clear-cutting. Generally, after stand removal the communities indicated higher species diversity than previous forest communities. The final forest plant associations were not determined solely by late-successional species.Forest management appeared to substantially influence changes in diversity and the course of succession.

We studied effects of repeated applications of nitrogen on stem growth of mature Scots pine at four sites with yield potential around 3 - 4.5 m³ ha^‑1 yr^‑1. Treatments included control (0) and fertilization with ammonium nitrate at 100 and 200 kg N ha^‑1. Some plots were supplied with corresponding doses of urea. Applications were repeated up to five times, at five to twenty years intervals. Plot size was 22 x 22 m with buffer zones of 4 m. Measurements were made on an inner plot, 14 x 14 m. Tree ring widths usually reached a maximum two to four years after fertilization, returning to about the original level after seven to ten years. Responses were larger to 200 than to 100 kg N ha^‑1. Annual volume increment over the experimental period was 1.5 to 2.0 m³ ha^-1 larger in plots provided with 200 kg N ha^-1 than in control plots, or even more as the buffer zones of 4 m did not completely exclude tree roots from growing into neighbouring plots.

Northern red oak (Quercus rubra Linnaeus) is a promising species which could help to mitigate the sanitary problems. Northern red oak is also a commercial species and offers many environmental services. Northern red oak prefers rather dry acidic sites commonly found in Bohemia. The literature confirms that the species is quite fertile but acorn production is highly variable. Northern red oak seedlings develop a long tap root during their first year, which enhances their survival and performance. Different silvicultural systems are proposed and pros and cons are discussed in this review including their influences on forest floor and soil.

The paper presents an evaluation of the growth of newly established forest stands on former agricultural land and furthermore describes the state of the upper part of the soils in these stands in comparison with neighbouring grassland in the Orlické hory Mountains. The new Norway spruce stands show an extremely high growth potential, usually significantly higher in comparison with areas forested for more generations/rotations. The formation of the surface humus layer also showed fast progress, the amount of dry mass of soil organic matter reaching values almost typical of permanently forested sites. The soils of newly afforested lands tend to resemble the status of forest soil - there was observed a process of acidification and nutrient depletion, probably connected with accumulation of the tree biomass.

The paper aims to contribute to the determination of reasons causing the irregular growth of young pedunculate oaks occurring at the margins of naturally and artificially regenerated plots neighbouring with adult stands on alluvial sites. It presents analyses of aboveground biometric parameters, mortality, root system architecture of young trees, root density in the soil profile, global solar radiation and soil moisture content in dependence on the location of oaks at the northern, southern, eastern or western margins of the regenerated area and on the distance from the stand margin. The highest impact of the neighbouring adult stand is always recorded on the margin of the regenerated plot while its effect is weakening towards the plot centre, and fading away ca. 7 m behind the crown projection of adult trees. Regardless of the oak location (northern, southern, eastern or western margin), the cause is a high root density of marginal trees of the adult stand, which induces the critical lack of water under their crown projections.

The paper analyses the growth, structure, production and soil chemistry of different tree species stands 20 years after allochthonous spruce dieback. The experiment was carried out at lower altitudes (300 m a.s.l.) at rich sites of the Central Europe region. Norway spruce (Picea abies Linnaeus) and beech (Fagus sylvatica Linnaeus) stands established by artificial regeneration were compared with silver birch (Betula pendula Roth), aspen (Populus tremula Linnaeus) and birch-aspen stands, which were regenerated naturally. Spruce stands showed a decrease of site index (site index 3), compared with the previous generation (site index 2). This leads to an expected lower production at the age of 100 years, compared to mature beech stands, which showed a site index of 1. The highest production (tree overbark volume) was found out in the aspen stand - 294 m³.ha^-1. The production (tree overbark volume) of other monoculture stands was comparable and reached 201-222 m³.ha^-1. Most of the soil chemical characteristics under the compared stands (Ca and Mg content, Al content and active and potential soil reaction) were significantly better under aspen and decreased in the following trend: birch - beech - spruce.

Careful planning of skid trails as wood extraction routes in forests is an ongoing task and necessary for minimizing the environmental damage. The main objective of this study is to find skid trails to extract marked trees from stand sites to landing sites using a GIS-based decision support system (DSS) and network analysis techniques, where environmental information is incorporated into the objective. The techniques were applied in a stand where single trees are felled in near-to-nature conditions. This system is called a single tree selection cutting method. Parameters considered for mapping the terrain stability include slope, soil and stream network. The analytical hierarchy process was used to estimate the weights of these parameters. Routing between marked trees and log landing was done using a GPS-tracking survey and then the analysis was done using new route and service area tools in GIS. The service area tool shows accessibility of marked trees by skid trails. Results showed that on average the length of the route decreased by 6.65 and 19.22% with the use of a new route tool in compartments 29 and 4, respectively. In conclusion, DSS techniques increased accessibility of marked trees and decreased the length of the route.

Crop trees are the main bearers of qualitative and value production of the stands. Although the number and production of the mentioned trees are affected by various factors, crown development by means of the thinning regime can be considered as very significant. The paper aims at the comparison of crop trees in homogeneous beech (Fagus sylvatica Linnaeus) stands, which were managed by three different management or thinning regimes for a long period (ca. 50 years): (i) heavy thinning from below (C grade according to the German forest research institutes released in 1902), (ii) Štefančík's free crown thinning, (iii) without interventions (control). Selection of crop trees was carried out at the beginning of research using the best stem quality, diameter and height dimension and regular spacing). In this paper only the last assessment of crop trees aged from 83 to 105 years including 23 subplots established across the Slovakian territory was analysed. The highest number of crop trees has been reached in forests where Štefančík's free crown thinning was applied. The proportion of these trees on subplots with the mentioned type of crown thinning was 61% out of the basal area at stand age of 100 years. A much lower proportion was found on subplots managed by thinning from below (32%) and on control ones (20%). Crown parameters (crown width, crown ratio, crown projection area, crown surface area and volume) showed the most appropriate values on subplots where Štefančík's free crown thinning was used. It was: 8.36 m (crown width), 0.50 (crown ratio), 56.84 m² (crown projection area), 289.56 m² (crown surface area), and 481.75 m³ (volume). Based on the results obtained after almost 50 years of systematic investigations, the mentioned thinning method was recommended for beech forests.

Experimental results from the first thinning in mixed stands are not broadly experienced by forestry practice. To extend the experience with the thinning of a mixed stand, we studied thinned and unthinned mixtures of Norway spruce with European beech on two study sites in the Czech Republic, which represented different conditions: Všeteč (age of 19-35 years) - originally beech dominated site at 440 m a.s.l. and Deštné (age of 17-33 years) - originally spruce with beech site at 990 m a.s.l. Spruce and beech were mixed individually or in small groups. As the for number of trees, mixtures were 35-54% beech and 46-65% spruce at a lower altitude and 7-30% beech and 70-93% spruce at a higher altitude. In the period 1997-2013, we observed annually: mortality, diameter at breast height of all trees and height of trees (minimum 30 individuals) that represented diameter distribution. Results showed that the growth and development of young mixed spruce/beech stands were positively influenced by the first pre-commercial thinning on both locations. The most pronounced effect of thinning consisted in a decreased amount of basal area of dead trees. On control plots, salvage cut accounted for 34 and 46%, while on thinned plots it reached only 7-8% (thinned from above) and 18% (thinned from below) of basal area periodic increment during the 16-year study period. In contrast, diameter distribution was still relatively wide (i.e. an important amount of thin trees was left) at the end of observations on all plots of both study sites. Thinned stands also showed the better static stability (expressed as an h/d ratio) of dominant spruces compared to unthinned stands on both locations. Additionally, thinning supported the spruce share at a lower altitude and the beech share at a higher altitude.