Fulltext search in archive

The genetic diversity of 35 yellow-seeded Brassica napus L. accessions originating from China, Czech Republic and Poland was assessed by means of Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) markers based on multiplex PCR using multi-colour fluorescent-labelled primers. Five brown-seeded accessions originating from China and France were selected as outliers. In total, 632 peaks were generated by AFLP reaction using 18 primer combinations. Only distinctly polymorphic markers among them were scored. In total, 242 polymorphic markers were detected with an average of 13.4 markers per primer combination. The AFLP analysis separated forty studied accessions into Chinese and European groups by UPGMA clustering and Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCA). The grouping of accessions based on the cluster analysis and PCA was generally consistent with known pedigree information and geographic origin. Notable geographical divergence was found between Chinese and European yellow-seeded accessions. This information is useful for yellow-seeded hybrid breeding and encouraging breeders to exchange their germplasm as to enlarge the genetic diversity of breeding accessions.

Emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccum Schübl. or also T. dicoccon Schrank) tetraploid wheat species was grown in the Czech territory till the 6th century A.D. when it was replaced by bread wheat. At present only landraces and wild forms of this species are available in collections of genetic resources. With the aim to extend the spectra of grown crops, a collection of emmer genetic resources in the Czech Gene Bank was studied. An accession later in ripeness, with a good level of resistance to fungal diseases and with a high yield potential was selected from the collection. After bulk selection procedure and three year testing it gained a certificate of legal protection as cultivar Rudico. The cultivar with high protein content and very good resistance to fungal diseases was found to be able to meet the requirements for organic growing systems as well.

In vitro study of the rumen fluid (RF) and hindgut content (HC) fermentation by microbiota taken from sheep grazing in an area atmospherically polluted from the non-ferrous metal industry was conducted and compared with controls from an uncontaminated area (UA). The experimental sheep were exposed to the prolonged intake of heavy metals by grazing in the contaminated area (CA) for one year. Soil and grass from that area and the rumen content of sheep were analyzed for heavy metal levels. Based on the levels of mercury (4.752 mg/kg), copper (232.9 mg/kg), cadmium (1.167 mg/kg), lead (92.509 mg/kg) and arsenic (74.59 mg/kg) the soil was categorized as profusely contaminated. Meadow hay (MH) from UA was used as a tested substrate of fermentation activity; it was incubated with buffered RF and HC inocula from CA and UA for 24 h. The gas volume in CA was significantly decreased by 50 and 36% in RF and HC, respectively. The methane production in CA was significantly decreased by 77 and 71% in RF and HC, respectively. The significantly decreased values of the fermentation parameters in CA in comparison with UA were accompanied by the reduced (P < 0.01) total concentration of rumen ciliate protozoa.

This experiment investigated the effect of olive cake in the feed of weaned Pramenka lambs on their daily gain, carcass traits and on the chemical composition of different groups of muscles. For that purpose, 45 male lambs were divided into three groups with 15 lambs each and fed separately for 50 days. The first group (control) was fed a commercial concentrate, while the second and third (test) groups were fed a concentrate with the addition of 15% and 30% olive cake, respectively. The results showed that the high level of olive cake inclusion (30%) decreased (P < 0.01) daily gain, final weight, empty carcass weight and (P < 0.05) dressing percentage of lambs. The olive cake resulted in a significantly higher (P < 0.01) proportion of stomach and intestines in the carcass compared to the control. The content of fat, proteins and dry matter in all the analyzed groups of muscles was lowest in the carcasses of lambs fed olive cake. The results of this research suggest that the addition of 15% of olive cake to the concentrate had no significant negative effect on daily gain, carcass weight and dressing percentage of lambs.

Sows were dried off by a traditional method (control - C, restricted feeding before, during and after weaning) or by a modified one (experimental - E, intensive feeding before, during and after weaning). On day 5-6 after weaning of the 3

Experiments were conducted on calves divided into three groups, 6 animals in each, to determine the influence of the intake of non-acidified and acidified milk replacer on the level of acid-base homeostasis in venous blood. The milk replacer was supplied at a dose of 700 g dry matter in 8 l of the liquid in two feedings. The milk replacer was acidified by adding formic acid to ensure the concentration of 0.2% in milk replacer. Venous blood was collected before feeding and 1, 2, 4, and 6 hours after feeding. The samples were analyzed for blood pH, actual bicarbonate HCO₃^- (mmol/l), base excess BE (mmol/l), partial pressure of carbon dioxide pCO₂ (kPa) and partial pressure of oxygen pO₂ (kPa). Significant changes were observed in calves fed acidified milk of albumin type. The mean daily values of acid-base parameters in these calves were significantly lower in comparison with animals fed non-acidified milk replacer and reached the following levels: pH 7.343 ± 0.032 (P < 0.05), HCO₃ 24.49 ± 2.13 mmol/l (P < 0.01), BE 1.11 ± 1.97 mmol/l (P < 0.001). A similar tendency but of a more pronounced decrease in values was recorded in the group of calves fed acidified milk replacer of casein type: pH 7.312 ± 0.022 (P < 0.01), HCO₃^- 21.73 ± 0.75 mmol/l (P < 0.001), BE 96 ± 0.86 mmol/l (P < 0.001). In relation to the time after feeding the group of calves fed non-acidified milk replacer showed a rising tendency in the level of metabolic components (HCO₃^-), compensated by respiratory regulating mechanisms (rise in pCO₂) conducive to the maintenance of optimum blood pH level. The group of calves fed acidified milk replacer (formic acid 2 ml/l) of the albumin type showed metabolic acidosis with subsequent gradual adjustment and compensation by means of metabolic (HCOHCO₃^-) rather than respiratory regulation mechanisms. The calves fed acidified casein type milk replacer displayed metabolic acidosis with insufficient metabolic regulation and more intensive respiratory compensation (decrease in pCO₂). Concurrent investigations of the abomasum acidity and blood acid-base homeostasis reflected the joint action of both the acidifying effect of formic acid and significantly lower production of bicarbonate (HCO₃^-) related to the intake of acidified milk and the tendency to the development of metabolic acidosis.

The aim of this study was to investigate milk flow patterns and milk composition in relation to pre-milking udder stimulation. The milk of one quarter of each of the sixteen cows was removed separately and in the course of milking it was divided into six fractions (P cisternal milk during milking without stimulation and the first 300 ml during milking with pre-stimulation, 0-25%, 25-50%, 50-75%, 75-100%, 75-100%, MS-machine stripping) and into five portions (25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, 100% + MS). Two milkings were performed during two consecutive evening milkings with or without manual stimulation. Pre-stimulation resulted in a reduction of milking time, duration of the increase and decline phase of milk flow, stripping yield, but it increased the peak flow rate as compared to milking without pre-stimulation (P < 0.05). In both fractions and portions the content of fat increased steadily during milking and reached a maximum at MS. Lactose increased from P to 50-75% and then it decreased to MS. Significantly higher fat contents at 25% and 50% portions and in both protein and dry matter at 25% portions were found during milking with pre-stimulation as compared to no stimulation (P < 0.05). The content of fat, protein and dry matter were also higher in both P and 0-25% fractions for milking with pre-stimulation (P < 0.05). Pre-stimulation positively influenced the parameters of milk flow and therefore the efficiency of milk removal and contributed to better distribution of components in milk fractions during milking.

The study was conducted in a dairy barn and nearby environment to determine the level of air bacterial and fungi contamination. Measurements were performed in morning, noon and evening sampling periods once a week during two autumn months inside the barn and in a 25 m distant barn environment. A Merck MAS-100 air sampler was employed with different medium and incubation combinations for the capture and identification of bacteria and fungi. The results of the study showed a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) between the bacterial and fungi counts measured inside and outside the barn, whereby total outside bacterial count was by 97.4% to 98.0% lower, and total outside fungi count by 85.2% to 99.4% lower than the respective indoor counts in various sampling periods. In 125 analyzed colonies, gram-positive bacteria, especially those of the genus Staphylococcus and Streptococcus, were most commonly identified in the air samples from both inside and outside the barn. Gram-negative bacteria were present at a low rate, predominated by enterobacteria and by the genus Moraxella and Pseudomonas. Nine mould genera were identified in 325 fungi colonies, predominated by the genus Aspergillus, Penicillium, Rhizopus and yeasts, both in the barn and in the nearby environment.

In this study, nutritive values of rapeseed (R), rapeseed meal-expeller A (RM-A), rapeseed meal-expeller B (RM-B) and extracted rapeseed meal (ERM) were compared. The trials were performed using the in sacco method with three steers of the Czech Fleckvieh breed, which were fitted with a permanent ruminal cannula. Nylon bags with samples were incubated in the rumen for 2, 4, 8, 16, 24 and 48 hours. The effective degradability (ED) of crude protein (CP) was calculated at 0.08, 0.06 and 0.04 1/h of rumen particulate outflow rates (k), and the obtained ED values were 65.4, 70.8 and 77.4% for R, 86.7, 88.1 and 89.7% for RM-A, 82.2, 84.4 and 87.0% for RM-B and 56.3, 62.1 and 69.6% for ERM, respectively. The ED values significantly differed between feeds (P < 0.05) for all rumen particulate outflow rates. Disappearances of amino acids (AA) after 16 hours of incubation in the rumen of R, RM-A, RM-B and ERM were determined. In all cases, the concentrations of AA in the feeds determined after incubation in rumen were lower than in the original feeds. A mobile bag technique was used to determine intestinal digestibility. In the experiment, three dry cows fitted with permanent large ruminal cannula and the T-piece cannula in the proximal duodenum were used. The intestinal digestibilities of rumen undegraded CP (DSI) were estimated 30.0% in R, 15.4% in RM-A, 27.6% in RM-B and 65.3% in ERM. The DSI values significantly differ between the feeds (P < 0.05), except for the difference between R and RM-B.

The objective of the paper was to analyse the influence of dairy cow management technology, milking method, predipping and summer grazing on the contamination of cow's raw milk by mesophilic (TBC), psychrotrophic (PBC), lipolytic (PLiBC) and proteolytic (PPrBC) bacteria. The values of TBC, PBC, PLiBC and PPrBC in bulk milk samples were determined by the culture method according to IDF standards. Investigations were carried out in nine stables of seven dairy farms from January 2005 to June 2006. Summer grazing has the most marked influence on the values of studied parameters. Farms with summer grazing had a lower microbial contamination of milk compared to farms without grazing and the difference was statistically highly significant in all studied parameters (P < 0.001). A positive effect of predipping on a reduction in the values of milk microbial contamination was proved while the difference between farms with predipping and those without it was on a significance leve lP < 0.05 to 0.001 except PLiBC. A comparison of the influence of dairy cow management technology indicated the lowest values of all microbiological indicators in loose cubicle littered housing, higher values were determined in stanchion littered housing and the highest in loose slatted-floor housing. A statistical difference between the technologies was proved mainly in TBC (P < 0.001). Farms with milking in milking parlours had a lower microbial contamination of milk compared to farms that used the in-stall milking pipeline system but the difference was statistically significant only in TBC (P < 0.05).

An experiment was conducted to determine effects of wheat bran (WB) phytase on production performance and nutrient utilization in laying hens. Three hundred and seventy-five Lohmann hens at 32 weeks of age were randomly allotted to treatments of fifteen hens per pen with five pens per treatment. Five experimental diets were formulated. Diet one (control) contained 0.19% inorganic phosphate (Pi) from dicalcium phosphate. On the basis of diet 1, diet 2 and 3 were formulated to contain WB 5% and 10%, respectively. In diet 4 and 5, the WB was fixed at the level of 10% with Pi level adjusted to 0.14% in diet 4 and completely replaced with 500 U/kg microbial phytase in diet 5. The results showed that treatment three improved egg yield (P = 0.142), feed conversion ratio (FCR) (P = 0.011), utilization of crude protein (CP) (P = 0.060) and total phosphorus (tP) (P < 0.001), and serum Pi concentration (P = 0.016) compared with the control. Ten percent of WB replacing 0.05% Pi did not influence either egg yield or nutrient utilization. Compared with the control, treatment five improved FCR (P = 0.011) and utilization of CP (P = 0.060) and tP (P < 0.001), but did not influence either performance or serum parameters. The current study suggests that wheat bran could be used successfully in laying hen diets and wheat bran and microbial phytase supplemented together could replace inorganic phosphate completely.

The object of an experiment was inorganic and organic forms of zinc, copper and manganese applied in mineral mixtures to dairy cows. The experiment was carried out on 90 cows with average milk yield for previous lactation of about 9 500 kg milk. The cows received mineral mixtures containing inorganic or organic forms of zinc, copper and manganese for 6 weeks before calving and during the first three months of lactation. The application of microelements as bioplexes in amounts covering 30% of daily requirements of cows had a positive effect on an increase in colostrum dry matter content from 20.9 to 23.35% as well as on the concentration of protein and fat, and the level of minerals - calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc and copper. In cows' milk in the 2^nd and 3^rd month of lactation there were no differences in contents of minerals. However in the blood serum of cows in the 1^st and 2^nd month of lactation an increase in calcium concentration from 1.96 to 2.14 g/kg was observed while the content of phosphorus also increased average from 1.76 to 2.22 g/kg in the first trimester of lactation.

In an experiment with 18 lactating Chios ewes, the replacement of barley grain, wheat grain, sugar beet pulp and lucerne meal with fermented olive wastes (FOW), maize grain and soybean meal was used to formulate diets that allowed the net energy (NE) for lactation (NE_l) density of FOW to be calculated. In the experiment, which lasted 8 weeks, ewes were allocated, after equal distribution for milk yield, body weight (BW) and lactation number, into three treatments of 6 ewes each in a Youden square experimental design with 4 consecutive periods of 14 days. Ewes in all groups were offered a concentrate mixture ad libitum (1.12 kg/ewe/day, dry matter (DM) basis) and lucerne hay (0.90 kg/ewe/day, DM basis). FOW were added to the concentrate mixture at inclusion levels (on an as-fed basis) of 0, 100 and 200 kg/t for treatments FOW0, FOW100 and FOW200, respectively. There were no differences among groups in milk protein (60.0 g/kg), lactose (53.0 g/kg) or ash (9.6 g/kg) contents, but milk fat content increased linearly (P < 0.01) with increasing dietary levels of FOW. Average milk yield (1 137 g/day) and yields of components tended (P < 0.10) to decrease with increased FOW feeding. The best estimate of the NEl density of FOW was 2.55 MJ/kg DM at 2.7×M NE intake, a value only slightly lower than that of 2.62 at 2.7×M based upon a Van Soest et al. (1984) discount from equations of Van Es (1978), who suggested 3.00 MJ/kg DM at 1.1×M of NE intake. FOW is a low protein, high fibre and low NEl feedstuff that will be of limited value in rations of high producing lactating ewes.

The distribution of Apple chlorotic leafspot virus in pear cultivars in selected orchards of three different districts in the Czech Republic was evaluated by ELISA. The same procedure of DAS - ELISA as in apple trees, was used for the detection of ACLSV in pear trees. The detection of ACLSV in pear flower petals by ELISA was more sensitive than the ACLSV detection in leaves. ACLSV was detected in pear leaves in the reliable way only in June. The presence of ACLSV was not proved by ELISA in nine tested pear rootstocks. The different distribution of ACLSV was detected in pear cultivars Lucasova máslovka and Boscova lahvice grown in different orchards. Low occurrence of ACLSV was found in cultivars Konference, Pařížanka and Dicolor. ACLSV was not detected in cultivars Madame Verté and Bohemica.

The objective of this study was to determine suitable cultivars to be used as pollinators for 0900 Ziraat. 0900 Ziraat was used as a female cultivar; Bigarreu Gaucher, Bing, Noble, Starks Gold, Stella, Van, and Vista were used for pollination in the experiments. Starks Gold had the highest values in terms of anther number, average number of pollens per anther, number of pollen per flower and the morphological homogeneity. The pollen viability rates showed significant differences according to stain tests. In vitro pollen germination in 0.5% agar + 15% sucrose + 5 ppm boric acid medium increased with increasing incubation period, and the highest germination was obtained after 48 hours for all cultivars. In orchard trials parallel to pollen tube growth experiments in the laboratory, 0900 Ziraat × Starks Gold combination gave the best fruit set results.

Registrations of crop, fruit size and fruit flavour in the plum cultivar testing programmes in Norway indicated that Souffriau, Avalon, Reeves, Excalibur and Jubileum could be valuable cultivars in commercial plum production in Norway. Norwegian plums are aimed at the fresh fruit market; hence, shelf life of new cultivars is very important. In short-term storage experiments the cultivars were compared to the standard cultivar Victoria. No significant changes in the content of soluble solids during storage were found in the cultivars tested; however, titratable acidity decreased, and as a consequence, the soluble solids:titratable acidity ratio increased. Nevertheless, these changes did not make the fruit unacceptable to consumers. The most important quality factor limiting shelf life of the plum cultivars tested was softening. Based on postharvest changes in several quality factors and susceptibility to fungal decay, Reeves had longest shelf life, Avalon, Jubileum and Victoria medium, while Excalibur and Souffriau had rather short shelf life.

Tree vigour, occurrence of mildew and scab, yields, yield efficiency, fruit weight, flesh firmness and soluble solids content of apple trees on M 9 rootstock were monitored between 1998-2005 in 42 commercial orchards situated in all the major growing regions of the Czech Republic. Altogether 50 cultivars were included into the evaluation. The characteristics of newly bred or newly introduced cultivars were compared to the cultivars of standard assortment such as Gloster, Golden Delicious, Idared, Jonagold, Melrose, Rubín and Šampion. The group of late ripening cultivars imported from France (Baujade, Early Smith, Granny Smith and Red Winter) proved to be unsuitable for climatic conditions of the Czech Republic. Cultivars of the Rubín group (Bohemia, Gold Bohemia) showed a better quality of fruits than the cultivars of the Jonagold group, but were significantly inferior regarding yields and yield efficiency. The cultivars Rucla, Pinova and Rubinstep seemed to be potential competitors of Jonagold or Rubín; their fruit quality is similar to Rubín, and their yield efficiency is comparable to that of Jonagold. Topaz, which is resistant to scab and has recently spread in the Czech Republic, is specific for its early yield and a very good productivity observed in a majority of the orchards. In addition, characteristics of other evaluated cultivars and their potential prospects for growing in the Czech Republic are briefly discussed.

In vitro experiments were conducted to study the effect of NaHCO₃ (alkalinity) stress on saplings of Morus alba (cv. Local and Sujanpuri) cultured from nodal explants. For shoot multiplication 2.5 mg/l of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) with 0.3 mg/l gibberellic acid (GA₃) were used and root formation was induced with 1.0 mg/l of indolebutyric acid (IBA). NaHCO₃ salt was added to the culture medium in three concentrations, i.e. 3.57, 20.0 and 59.0mM that increased pH to 6.2, 7.2 and 8.2, respectively. The increased salt concentration affected survival and growth parameters, subsequent cultures promoted them. The cultured biomass was analyzed for proline, protein, sugars and chlorophyll content. The results indicate an increase of proline, protein and sugars; however, they declined at higher concentrations of NaHCO₃. A decrease of chlorophyll was observed at all stress regimes.

We have developed a rapid shoot multiplication procedure for in vitro propagation of blue honeysuckle (Lonicera kamtschatica [Sevast.] Pojark). Shoot tips of two genotypes 20/1 and Altaj were successfully established in vitro and micropropagated on the Murashige and Skoog (MS) based media containing different concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). Multiplication rates varied depending on the genotype and concentration of BAP. The highest multiplication rate was obtained for the genotype 20/1 that produced 10.5 ± 0.7 shoots (longer than 10 mm) on the MS medium containing 2 mg/l BAP. The lowest multiplication rate was obtained for Altaj producing only 1.6 ± 0.1 shoots on MS medium containing 4 mg/l BAP. Moreover, in vitro rooting on the modified MS medium supplemented with 2.5 mg/l indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) was reported. Rooted shoots were transferred to the greenhouse for further evaluation.

Small towns are defined as towns with the population not exceeding 15,000 (20,000) residents. They are organisms that can be embraced visually, mostly with the clearly demarcated area. Residents know their small town very well, the majority of buildings and structures is constructed at a reasonable scale and architectonic dominants allow easy orientation. Verdure in a small town is either a separate functional space (park, landscaped area, forest, scattered green vegetation) or it is associated with another function (residential green spaces, green spaces of housing estates, line verdure, verdure of self-retained areas - sports grounds, cemeteries, schools, etc.). The verdure of a small town is formed to make up a system. It may be realised but its functionality may be diminished by barriers of different type. Verdure significantly contributes to the image of a small town and its particular spaces. From the recreation aspect it is important to create near and easily accessible green spaces that may be used for the short- or long-time recreation of residents and visitors; the good connection of the urban verdure system with suburban landscape is desirable. To accentuate the basic landscape values and to realise the potential of the verdure system of a small town it is advisable to use the system of land-use planning while the landscape plan becomes its integral part.

Natural regeneration is an important part of close-to-nature forestry. However, natural regeneration also has either natural or technological limits. Among the most important natural limits are a low sum of precipitation and site type. The study concentrates on Žatec region where the long term average sum of precipitation is only 440-450 mm per year. Dry periods during the vegetation time are quite frequent. The study was conducted on clear cut area, stand edge, shelterwood area and stand interior. The results showed the highest population densities in a shelterwood system, the lowest in the stand interior. On the other hand, the dry seedling biomass is lower for seedlings from shelterwood area than from clear cut area.

Forests have been subject to human intervention since the inception of human civilization. With enhanced knowledge, understanding and capacity humans exert an increasing pressure and influence on forests. Forests in general have undergone different ownership patterns. The requirements for forests have changed over time. The objectives of forest management are shifting from timber production to biodiversity conservation and nature protection. On the other hand, in many places the forests are dwindling due to the anthropic pressure. The management paradigms are changing in response to these triggering mechanisms. In this paper an attempt has been made to summarize the evolution of forest management practices and discuss some recent trends in forest management.

A study conducted in 1999-2000 in 6 compartments of the Chełmowa Góra forest reserve, situated in the ŚwiętokrzyskieMountains, was aimed at harmful insects infesting cones and seeds of Larix decidua Mill. subsp. polonica (Racib.) Domin. Insect rearing and seed and cone cutting yielded 1,045 specimens of insects belonging to 8 species. Resseliella skuhravyorum Skrzypcz. (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) and Megastigmus pictus (Förster) (Hymeno-ptera: Torymidae) were the most abundantly represented species. They were present in cone samples of all investigated trees. The index of infestation of cones by insects (WZS) was higher in the case of trees growing at the forest edge. The analysis by cutting showed an insignificant percent increase - 6.7% of sound seeds while 88.9% of seeds were blind. M. pictus damaged 2.6% of larch seeds, while R. skuhravyorum 1.7%. The parasitoid Mesopolobus zetterstedtii (Dalla Tore) was received from the mass rearing where its host is M. pictus.

The article investigates the socio-economic importance of collection and use of non-wood forest products (NWFP) for inhabitants in the Czech Republic (CR) in 2005 and brings a comparison with former investigations and research projects. The research project consisted of these parts in 2005: 1. Analysis of hitherto performed research projects and their results in 1999-2003, 2. Investigation of quantities and values of NWFP collected in 2004 and 2005, 3. Specific investigation of socio-economic importance of NWFP collection and use. The results of respective investigations prove NWFP collection being quite important for the inhabitants of the CR. The importance consists in the material value of picked commodities on the average annual level higher than 3,000 mil. CZK. Nevertheless, collecting NWFP is considered as a very important recreational activity. Only a small part of the population collecting NWFP (about 12%) collects NWFP to save money.

The article deals with economic aspects of sustainable forest management. The analysis stems from Plíva's typological system. Several hundreds of variants were calculated for forest silviculture profitability classified according to management intensity, target management system, proportion of ameliorating and improving species, proportion of natural regeneration, and set of forest types. The results show a possibility of labour saving and also marked differentiation of the effect of wood production function depending on natural and production conditions and management intensity.

In spruce windfalls incurred in the autumn and winter season the synusia of cambioxylophagous fauna was evaluated in the profile of a whole stem and crown branches according to the species spectrum, tree cover and intensity of attack. The fauna of windfalls in the area with the basic level of Ips typographus and in the gradation area differed by species diversity. In the gradation area, frequency of the occurrence of Ips typographus (L.) was higher by 20-40%. P. chalcographus (L.) showed decreased stem cover in the gradation area. In the area with the basic state of Ips typographus, windfalls were intensively colonized by secondary species Hylurgops palliatus (Gyll.), Isarthron fuscum (Fabr.), Monochamus sp. With the increasing dbh (diameter at breast height) of windfalls the colonization of stems by Ips typographus was positively affected, H. palliatus, I. fuscum, Polygraphus poligraphus (L.) responded the other way round.

Forest soil acidification and depletion of nutrient cations have been reported for several forested regions in North America, predominantly in the eastern United States, including the northeast and in the central Appalachians, but also in parts of southeastern Canada and the southern U.S. Continuing regional inputs of nitrogen and sulfur are of concern because of leaching of base cations, increased availability of soil Al, and the accumulation and ultimate transmission of acidity from forest soils to streams. Losses of calcium from forest soils and forested watersheds have now been documented as a sensitive early indicator and a functionally significant response to acid deposition for a wide range of forest soils in North America. For red spruce, a clear link has been established between acidic deposition, alterations in calcium and aluminum supplies and increased sensitivity to winter injury. Cation depletion appears to contribute to sugar maple decline on some soils, specifically the high mortality rates observed in northern Pennsylvania over the last decade. While responses to liming have not been systematically examined in North America, in a study in Pennsylvania, restoring basic cations through liming increased basal area growth of sugar maple and levels of calcium and magnesium in soil and foliage. In the San Bernardino Mountains in southern California near the west coast, the pH of the A horizon has declined by at least 2 pH units (to pH 4.0-4.3) over the past 30 years, with no detrimental effects on bole growth; presumably, because of the Mediterranean climate, base cation pools are still high and not limiting for plant growth.

In this study results of hydrogel application in reclamations are presented. The application of hydrogel affected the survival of pine seedlings during two vegetation periods after planting. Double application of STOCKOSORB AGRO (gel) on the root system after lifting caused an about 19% higher survival rate compared to control variants. The application of 7 g/planting hole of STOCKOSORB MICRO granules caused overdosage and plant mortality. The application of hydrogel granules is simple but it is very complicated not to cause the overdosage because of the very high swelling capacity of hydrogel. Research should be carried out to determine suitable hydrogel application rates for different environmental conditions and tree species. To design a technology with regard to the economic effectiveness of application will be a very important task.

The paper presents the results of relatively long-term research focused on spoil bank revitalization pro-cesses in the North Bohemian Brown Coal Basin after the first three years of observations. The biological activity of soil (namely catalase and phosphatase activity), indicators of basal and potential soil respiration, ammonification and growth, development and nutrition status of forest plantations were selected as indicators of this revitalization process. These parameters were determined in five localities of different age of reclamation where different technological approaches and tree species compositions were used. The results confirm the distinct time dependence of revitalization processes. From the aspect of biological activity older reclamations are close to natural forest soil. The enrichment of top soil layer with organic matter before the plantation (by ploughing in cellulose fibres and peat addition) increased some parameters of soil biological activity. The positive amelioration effect of black alder (Alnus glutinosa) was also confirmed.