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Current efforts are focused on the search for efficient methods of pathogen management that will not result in damage to the environment or cause an imbalance in the existing biota. One of the strategies for this is the use of nanoparticles in agriculture for disease management. This review presents a summative view on the various applications of nanoparticles in conferring disease resistance to crops and the possibility of using nanoparticles as carriers of genetic material for the generation of disease resistant crops. Nanoparticles are directly being used for the control of pathogens. Nanoparticles have been used as antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial agents. The nano-encapsulation of pesticides in controlled release matrices is one of the most promising research areas for the future. Nano-encapsulation has been shown to increase the efficiency of pesticides, reduce their volatilisation and decrease the toxicity and environmental contamination in crops. Nano-encapsulated agrochemicals or biomolecules can be engineered to be released in a controlled manner and in a target-specific location. Nanoparticles also have great scope in the field of transgenics vis-à-vis pathogen resistance. The field of agriculture can be revolutionised by the use of nanoparticles for imparting disease resistance in crops. The field is so versatile that the possibilities are endless.

The aim of this study was a clinical and radiographic evaluation of the minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) method for treatment in dogs with tibial fractures. Ten dogs of different breeds, ages, and sex with tibial fractures were used as the subjects. A medial approach to the tibia was used in all the cases. The tibial tuberosity was palpated proximally and a short incision was made along the midline. After reduction of the fracture, proximal and distal insertion incisions were made to approach the tibia. The mean times for the MIPO operations were 21 minutes. The patients were able to stand and walk postoperatively on the first day and recovery was rapid for all of the dogs. The fracture healing was completed on day 45 based on the radiographic evaluations of these cases. Dogs with tibia fractures treated by MIPO healed rapidly without any complications (90%). Correct fracture selection is important for the use of MIPO to be successful. Further studies with a larger group of dogs should be considered to compare the efficacy of MIPO and other fixation techniques and for the long-term evaluation of the repaired tibial fractures.

Technology has made it possible to achieve the very efficient use of water resources in agriculture. However, there are a set of practices that could increase both the availability and quality of the water resources, but which are not yet widely used. In view of the scarcity situation mainly produced by the consequences of climate change, the objective of this work is to analyse the adoption of sustainable irrigation management practices in agriculture. To this end, the aim is to identify and evaluate the variables involved in adopting sustainable practices in agriculture through the use of different qualitative research tools in successive phases (literature review, in-depth interviews, Delphi method and workshop). The results indicate that the sustainable practices to be adopted to improve water management in the study area are rainwater harvesting (RWH) and pond covering (PC). The main barriers are the costs, some farm characteristics and lack of research, while the facilitators include easy access to technology and the existence of farmer-to-farmer networks. Furthermore, the most influential stakeholders for these practices are the farmers, policymakers and researchers. Proposals for the adoption of sustainable water use practices have also been made consensually with all the involved agents.

Blast disease caused by Pyricularia oryzae is one of the most destructive fungal diseases of rice in Malaysia. Utilisation of resistant varieties is the most efficient management approach towards reducing yield losses. The line IRTP21683 with the Pi9 gene has shown strong resistance against the isolate MPO988.3 of pathotype P_0.0, the most prevalent P. oryzae pathotype in Malaysia. Crossing of IRTP21683 was undertaken with the recurrent parent MR220, a susceptible elite Malaysian rice variety, using a marker assisted backcrossing technique with two simple sequence repeat markers, RM19776 and RM7311, as the tag for the Pi9 gene. Twenty BC₃F₄ lines with the Pi9 gene were resistant when challenged with MPO 988.3. The cluster analysis based on seven agronomic parameters showed that the resistant BC₃F₄ lines could be divided into four groups, of which the members in group 1 and 2 have shown comparable or better performance than MR220. Five lines in group 1, B220PI9-3-48, B220PI9-3-76, B220PI9-3-77, B220PI9-3-79 and B220PI9-3-82 showed outstanding yield performance with early maturation.

To assess the response of two safflower genotypes to auxin foliar application under late-season drought stress using a factorial split-plot experiment with the randomised complete block design, a two-year experiment (2016-2017 and 2017-2018) was conducted in Iran. The watering regime as specified in two levels including, regular irrigation and drought stress in main plots and two safflower genotypes and auxin foliar application in two levels including non-foliar application (control) and auxin foliar application at a concentration of 30 ppm were categorised in subplots. Drought stress at the seed filling stage reduced the safflower seed and oil yield. Moreover, a significant drought-induced decrease in linoleic acid, palmitic acid and behenic acid content, as well as an increase in oleic acids, was observed in two safflower genotypes. Among two safflower genotypes, the early maturing genotype less affected by drought and Goldasht had higher seed yield than the Padideh by 814 kg/ha, respectively. Auxin foliar application alleviates the adverse effects of drought, which led to an 18% increase in seed yield and components. However, the auxin application had no effect on the safflower seed oil content but palmitic acid content was affected by auxin foliar application. Generally, safflower along with auxin application can be recommended to develop safflower cultivation in semi-arid areas.

The aim of the study was to assess the current state of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) stands in Ukrainian Polissya, as well as to identify optimal composition resulting in productive and resilient mixed birch forests. It was found that in forests managed by the State Forest Resources Agency of Ukraine, birch stands grow on an area of 352 800 ha, covering 5.6% of the total area of forests in Ukraine. Within the study region of Ukrainian Polissya, birch stands cover 294 900 ha making 12.3% of the total forest area. Naturally originated birch stands were found to dominate in the study region, with 65.4% of vegetative stands and 25.2% of those grown from seeds. However, planted stands significantly prevail in terms of growing stock as compared to natural ones. In Ukrainian Polissya, silver birch trees grow as a part of mixed pine and birch forests on 632 400 ha. Our study found that mixed pine and birch stands with 80-90% of Scots pine and 20-10% of silver birch in the composition are the most productive.

The issue of afforestation of non-forest land (e.g. agricultural land use) is currently a significant trend in land management. Sustainable development and maintenance of its ecological stability are among the reasons. The paper compares the 30-year development of the beech stand originated from artificial regeneration on former agricultural land in the area where the Ipeľ River rises in central Slovakia. Two methods of tending were used on three long-term research plots (LTPs) established at the age of 20 years: negative crown thinning, free crown thinning and the third LTP was left to its spontaneous development. The results confirmed the positive impact of tending on the development of these stands. Compared to naturally regenerated stands under comparable site conditions, their higher quantitative production was found. Regarding the qualitative production expressed by the number of trees of selective quality, the worst results were obtained on the control plot. Based on these results, it is recommended to pay more attention to the planting stock quality used for afforestation.

Balance of potassium (K) was observed in long-term stationary field experiments (21 years) at two sites with different soil and climatic conditions (Luvisol, Cambisol). The following crops were rotated within the trial: potatoes- winter wheat-spring barley. All three crops were grown each year. The trial comprised 6 treatments: (1) no fertilization; (2) farmyard manure; (3) half dose of farmyard manure + nitrogen (N) in mineral nitrogen fertilizers; (4) mineral nitrogen fertilizers; (5) NPK in mineral fertilizers; (6) straw of spring barley + N in mineral nitrogen fertilizers. The recovery rate of potassium from farmyard manure by crops was 24-26%, from mineral fertilizers it was 27-52%. Different fertilization intensities were manifested by significant differences in the content of exchangeable K in soil. Changes in non-exchangeable K (K_ne) were recorded only at the Luvisol site (850 mg K_ne/kg), but not at the Cambisol site (3000 mg K_ne/kg). The maximum negative balance (-2376 kg K/ha/21 years) was recorded at the mineral nitrogen fertilization treatment.

The aim of this study is to describe the changes of bioavailable phosphorus content in soil in long-term 18 years field experiments with different fertilizing systems. The field experiments are located at three sites with different soil and climatic conditions in the Czech Republic (Červený Újezd, Humpolec and Prague-Suchdol). Same fertilizing systems and crop rotation (potatoes (maize) - winter wheat - spring barley) are realized at each site with following fertilizing treatments: (1) unfertilized treatment (control), (2) farmyard manure (FYM), (3) and (4) sewage sludge (SS 1 and SS 3), (5) mineral nitrogen (N), (6) mineral nitrogen with straw (N + straw) and (7) mineral nitrogen with phosphorus and potassium (NPK). The long-term fertilizing effect on available P content changes in soil was observed. Bioavailable phosphorus content in soil increased in treatments with organic fertilization after 18 year experiment at all sites. The treatments SS 3 had the highest increase at all sites. The highest bioavailable P content increase compared to control (258 mg/kg) was determined at site Červený Újezd. On the contrary, available phosphorus content decreased at treatments with mineral fertilization and control treatment among all sites. Bioavailable P content decrease in the treatment NPK was observed, although phosphorus was applied. The lowest differences in available P content among all fertilizing treatments were observed at the location Prague-Suchdol.

QKI, a KH domain containing RNA binding, is an RNA-binding protein that is involved in cell proliferation and apoptosis through binding to the QKI response element (QRE) site of its target mRNA. And Caspase 8 (CASP8) and Caspase 3 (CASP3) play important roles in the pathway of apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of QKI-5 on the apoptosis of Sertoli cells. The experimental results show that pig tissues contain QKI-5, QKI-6 and QKI-7. Overexpression of QKI-5 significantly decreased the mRNA expression of CASP8 (P < 0.05) and the protein expression of CASP8 (P < 0.05). On the contrary, inhibiting QKI-5 increased the expression of CASP8 significantly. Overexpression of QKI-5 significantly reduced the apoptosis of Sertoli cells and promoted cell growth (P < 0.05). Furthermore, QKI-5 specifically reduced the stability of CASP8 mRNA by binding QRE sites on CASP8. Our experiments provide preliminary evidence that QKI-5 induces Sertoli cells proliferation by inhibiting apoptosis, and this may be one of the factors promoting testicular development.

A field trial with plum cv. HoneySweet was established in 2003 in an experimental plot near Crop Research Institute in Prague-Ruzyně, Czech Republic, on the basis of a permission issued by the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic. In addition to the evaluation of resistance of plum cv. HoneySweet to Plum pox virus, the field trial was used to evaluate gene flow of the inserted transgene. Sampling of blackthorn and myrobalan trees outside the field test site occurred at distances ranging from 544 m to 845 m from the test site and showed no gene flow, testing both plants and seeds collected from blackthorns and myrobalans. Similarly, seeds from plums cv. Jojo growing directly at the field test place did not show any presence of the transgene after seven years of evaluation.

Farmers' markets have been booming in recent years and are becoming an important alternative food network. They enable farmers to sell their products directly to customers and thus shorten the supply chain. Market organisers must meet the needs of both consumers and vendors by ensuring customer satisfaction while maintaining profitability for vendors. The present study identified four basic segments at farmers' markets, as follows: (1) product-oriented customers; (2) personal social responsibility-oriented customers; (3) entertainment and emotional-oriented customers; (4) alternative food-oriented customers. These segments were analysed using Structural Equation Modeling in relation to the amount of money spent on average at a farmers' market. The results indicate that most money was spent at farmers' market segments that are oriented at entertainment and emotional-oriented and product-oriented customers. This indicates that farmers' markets are no longer just a place to purchase fresh, high-quality food, but also a place that people visit for its atmosphere, for the food that can be eaten on-site, and to buy products not for direct consumption (e.g. flowers). It also proved the negative moderation effect of entertainment-oriented motivation on the amount of money spent with connection to product-orientation, which suggests that entertainment-orientated customers spend more than product-oriented customers.

In three-year field experiments, the effect of genotype, flesh color, site conditions and storage on chlorogenic acid content (CAC) in tubers of potato cultivars with purple or red flesh was compared to yellow-fleshed cv. Agria. The results confirmed the significant effect of genotype on CAC. The highest CAC was characteristic on a three-year mean for the purple-fleshed cv. Vitelotte (769.5 mg/kg fresh weight (FW)), i.e. 1.19-2.6 times higher than in the other cultivars. In regard to the effect of flesh color, significantly higher mean CAC levels have been shown for the red-fleshed (2.8 times) and purple-fleshed (3.16 times) cultivars in comparison with cv. Agria (148 mg/kg FW). At the Uhříněves location with a warmer climate and frequent dry periods as compared to the second Valečov location, a higher CAC (1.18 times) was found. Cold storage (4°C, 6 months) resulted in a significant CAC increase varying from 33.2% in the Blaue St. Galler cultivar to 210.6% in the Vitelotte cultivar among all eight evaluated color-fleshed cultivars. On the other hand, the effect of storage on CAC was not evident in the yellow-fleshed Agria cultivar (inconclusive difference against CAC after harvest).

The transformation process of even-aged forest stands to irregular forest stands on waterlogged sites after 20 years effort was analysed. Data from two 1-ha PRP was analysed with special focus on structural (Shannon Evenness Index, Simpson Index and Gini Index) and species (Shannon Evenness Index and Simpson Index) diversity. Different development on study plots confirmed that the highest structural diversity is not often compatible with the concept of species diversity. On PRP 1 high diameter differentiation has led to lower values of species diversity, while on PRP 2 rather moderate diameter differentiation supported higher species diversity in lower DBH classes. The Gini Index was confirmed to be the best indicator for monitoring the diameter differentiation in the course of stand transformation.

Soil properties and foliar chemistry of Douglas-fir stands were evaluated in four regions with historical cultivation of this introduced species in the Czech Republic. All the localities are on acidic sites with pH (KCl) ranging between 4 and 5, low in concentrations of base cations particularly at the soil depth between 10 and 40 cm and also low in phosphorus. Sufficient to increased content of nitrogen and, on the other hand, the deficiency of phosphorus, potassium and occasional deficiency of magnesium were found in foliage. Studied Douglas-fir stands are apparently proximate to the acidic limit of convenient site conditions, however, neither the foliage discoloration nor the growth suppression has been observed. Sensitive management to ensure the nutritional balance sustainability is proposed.

The goal of this study was to analyse the effects of percutaneous application of platelet rich plasma (PRP), autologous bone marrow concentrate (BM) and chitosan gel (CHI) on bone consolidation following minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) of the fractures of the tibia in dogs. Client-owned dogs (n = 30) with tibial fracture were divided into four treatment groups - Group 1 (control), Group 2 (BM), Group 3 (PRP) and Group 4 (CHI). The biomaterial specific to each group was injected at the fracture site immediately after the MIPO procedure. Serial radiographs were used to determine the fracture line and the development of periosteal callus immediately after surgery and at 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 days post-surgery. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the degree of oedema or grade of lameness between the groups. Grade 4 (minimum) or 5 lameness (absent) was observed in 70% of animals from all groups at 15 days post-surgery. The biomaterials PRP, BM and CHI combined with MIPO contribute to bone consolidation of tibial fractures in dogs and do not cause adverse reactions or fracture complications. Bone marrow concentrate results in shorter bone consolidation time.

Genome editing technology can make specifically target genomic modifications, resulting in site specific DNA insertion, deletion or replacement in the genome of an organism. We have recently produced genetically engineered (GE) Meishan pigs containing a ZFN-edited myostatin (MSTN) loss-of-function mutation that leads to a clear "double muscle" phenotype as observed for Belgian cattle. In this study, whole genome resequencing was used as an approach to evaluate the safety risk, if any, associated with the introduction of a ZFN-edited myostatin (MSTN) loss-of-function mutation in a local pig breed, the Meishan pigs. The results of resequencing analyses show that the effective data from pigs of wild-type group and MSTN-edited GE group is greater than 99%. The 1× coverage rate is > 98%, and the 4× coverage rate is > 96%. The genetic variation on each chromosome is close to 1. From this whole genome resequencing study, our results demonstrated that 99.7% of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are the same in the same genetic variation from both wild-type group and MSTN-edited GE group, implying genomic sequence variations are highly similar between the two groups of pigs.

Site-specific weed management (SSWM) methods allow spatially variable treatment of weed populations according to actual weed abundance, thus offering the opportunity for herbicide savings. However, SSWM's effect on weed population dynamics is not sufficiently understood. In this study, SSWM was conducted based on various application thresholds to analyse the effects on crop yield and weed infestation in the succeeding crop. SSWM was used on a 3.07 ha experimental field in winter wheat (2011) and winter oilseed rape (2012). The whole area was split into application cells of 6 × 10 m and abundance of all weed species was evaluated manually in each cell. Four different herbicide treatments were tested. Standard whole-field herbicide application (blanket spraying) was treatment 1. Treatments 2, 3 and 4 comprised SSWM using different thresholds for post-emergent herbicide application. SSWM resulted in savings of post-emergent herbicides ranging from 71.9% to 100%, depending on the application threshold. Differences in winter rape yield among treatments were generally small and statistically insignificant (P = 0.989). Although some minor changes in weed abundances were observable, the experiment showed that none of the site-specific herbicide treatments caused a significant (α = 0.05) increase of weed species abundance compared to the standard treatment.

Nineteen new strawberry breeding clones, bred at the Institute for Breeding Research on Fruit Crops in Dresden-Pillnitz, Germany, were evaluated for their suitability for organic production at a Verticillium-infested site in Vienna, Austria. Soil cover, plant vitality, resistance to leaf spot diseases as well as flower damages by the strawberry blossom weevil (Anthonomus rubi) and by spring frost were recorded. In two consecutive years, marketable yield and fruits infested by Botrytis cinerea were assessed. Three breeding clones, P-7189, P-8043 and P-8071, were considered as suitable for organic strawberry production. P-7189 and P-8043 showed high tolerance to Verticillium wilt. The breeding clones P-8155 and P-8166 performed well under organic management but had very soft fruits that were not acceptable for commercial fruit production. The rest of the breeding clones were low-yielding, however, some of them could be of interest for home gardens due to their good flavour and high plant vitality.

The aim of this research is to estimate the influence of a bioeffector (BE) application on dry matter yield and nutrient content (P, K, Ca, Mg, S) in maize (Zea mays L.). Between 2014 and 2016, a field experiment with silage maize as a testing plant was realized on sandy loam Cambisol. The application of Pseudomonas sp. in combination with phosphorus (rock phosphate (RP) or triple superphosphate (TSP)) and nitrogen fertilizers (ammonium nitrate with urea, ammonium nitrate with limestone, calcium nitrate or ammonium sulfate with a nitrification inhibitor) and with different application strategies was studied. The effects of a bioeffector application on the increase of dry matter yields were not confirmed. An important influence on the BE application and its activity was probably those of soil and site conditions and competition of the researched microorganisms with other present microorganisms. Higher yields of dry matter were shown in treatments where P fertilizers were applied. There was almost no difference between the application of RP and TSP. This could be caused by the fact that the soil had a slightly acidic pH value. In this case, the RP showed similar results to the TSP. The application of bioeffector significantly increased Mg, K and S contents in maize above-ground biomass. An increase of the Ca content was almost significant and a tendency towards a higher average content of phosphorus was also recorded.

European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) represents the major climax tree species in the forests of Central Europe growing at many sites. The reintroduction of this species is an important silvicultural topic because of stability and diversity of forest ecosystems and vitality of forest soils in this region. The present study documents the growth, quality of growth and vitality of beech plantations in two positions at the same site (580 m a.s.l., forest habitat type 5K8 - acid fir-beech site, soil type Cambisol): underplantings at 50% of the light intensity of open space and clear-cut. Plantations were established in 1994 by bare-root plants on the same day of April, at a 1 × 1 m spacing, the shelter at the underplanted locality was removed in 2010. In 2017, the plantations showed very different characteristics (underplanting/clear-cut position): density 5,900/3,750 trees.ha-1, mean DBH 6.8/7.0, mean height 8.7/6.9 m, basal area 21.41/14.42 m2.ha-1. Underplanting was documented as a very proper way of beech reintroduction into the species composition of Czech forests. The reintroduction of beech at the newly originated clearcuts should be done with the use of ecological shelter of the mature stands.

Cattle slurry is commonly used to fertilize grasslands, so its impact on plant composition and herbage properties is important. Cattle slurry at annual rates of 60 (S1), 120 (S2), 180 (S3), and 240 kg nitrogen (N)/ha (S4) was applied to Arrhenatherion grasslands in moderately wet (WS), slopy (SS), and moderately dry (DS) sites cut three times a year over six years, to assess its effects on plant functional types, the Ellenberg N indicator value (Ellenberg N), herbage dry matter (DM) yield, herbage N content and offtake, N nutrition index (NNI), and N use efficiency (NUE). The site-specific changes in an increase in graminoid cover, Ellenberg N, herbage DM yield and N offtake, and NNI along with slurry application rates revealed, while cover of legumes, short forbs, and NUE decreased. In more productive sites (WS and SS), slurry application in the amount of 180 kg N/ha could be suggested as a slurry dose ensuring beneficial agronomic objectives. However, nature conservation requirements via maintaining plant biodiversity were not met. On the contrary, short-term slurry application up to 120 kg N/ha ensured on permeable DS not only sufficient agronomic objectives, but also plant biodiversity conservation requirements.

For the treatment of chylothorax, the most common procedure is a thoracic duct ligation; however, recurrence of the issue is often common, generally due to the incomplete ligation of all thoracic duct tributaries. Therefore, accurate localisation of the thoracic duct tributaries is required to determine the ligation sites in each patient. The concept of the perirectal injection of the imaging materials, which provides a simple and minimally invasive approach, is investigated for computed tomographic (CT) lymphography and near infrared fluorescent thoracoscopy in cats. Three clinically healthy cats were used for the CT lymphography, and two clinically healthy cats were used for the near infrared fluorescent thoracoscopy. Iodine contrast agent for the CT or indocyanine green for the thoracoscopy was injected subcutaneously into the peri-anal tissue. The injection site was massaged for 5 min post-injection. However, in the indirect injection of the imaging materials, in three iohexol-administered cats, the abdominal lymphatics, cisterna chyle, and thoracic duct could be depicted by the CT lymphography; and in both indocyanine green-administered cats, the thoracic duct was depicted running alongside the aorta by the near infrared fluorescent thoracoscopy. The ideal imaging procedure for the thoracic duct ligation involves the pre-operative CT lymphography of the entire pathway of the lymphatic vessels in advance, followed by the direct visualisation using a thoracoscopy. A combined CT lymphography and thoracoscopy could be a reliable method for successful surgeries. Crucially, the subcutaneous peri-anal injection of a contrast/dye provides a simple and minimally invasive method for the pre-operative and intra-operative depiction of the lymphatic pathways.

Precision agriculture is increasingly used where in-field spatial variability exists; however, the benefits of its use in humid climates are less apparent. This paper reports on a cost-benefit assessment of precision irrigation with variable rate technique (VRI) versus conventional irrigation, both compared to rainfed production, using a travelling hose-reel irrigator fitted with a boom on onions in eastern England. Selected environmental outcomes including water savings and CO₂e emissions are evaluated. The modelled precision irrigation system, which responds to soil variability, generates better environmental outcomes than the conventional system in terms of water savings and reduced CO₂e emissions (22.6% and 23.0% lower, respectively). There is also an increase in the 'added value' of the irrigation water used (£3.02/m³ versus £2.36/m³). Although precision irrigation leads to significant financial benefits from water and energy savings, these alone do not justify the additional equipment investment costs. However, any changes in yield or quality benefits, equipment costs or greater soil variability than on this site would make investment in precision irrigation more viable.

Over the course of the last few decades, many countries across the globe have experienced mass desiccation of spruce plantations. The subject of our research was the spruce forests of the Russian Perm Krai's mixed forest zone. Spruce is a shade-tolerant tree species and low plantation density may adversely affect the spruce health. The aim of this research is to establish how influential the spruce stand density is on causing desiccation in mixed zones in the Perm Krai. The results of an on-site survey which had recorded spruce desiccation in 2017 were analysed. Within the boundaries of the aforementioned forest areas, 2017 saw the desiccation of spruce trees in 301 forest allotments covering an area of 5,343.7 ha. The value of the weighted average category of spruce forest health in Prikamye varies from 2.7 (severely weakened) to 4.2 (desiccating), and the percentage of the volume of spruce deadwood varies from 17% to 59.5%. When the spruce stand density rises from 0.4 to 0.8, spruce stand resilience to desiccation increases.

This work is focused on evaluating the effects of site-specific weed management (SSWM) on weed populations over a 4-year period. SSWM was used on a 3.07 ha experimental field during 2011-2014 in a rotation of winter wheat and winter oilseed rape. The area was split into application cells of 6 × 10 m and weed abundance was evaluated manually in each cell. Four different herbicide treatments were tested. Standard whole-field herbicide application (blanket spraying) was treatment 1. Treatments 2, 3 and 4 comprised SSWM using different thresholds for post-emergent herbicide applications. SSWM resulted in herbicide savings of 6.3-100% for Galium aparine, 0-84.4% for other dicotyledonous weeds, and 31.3-90.6% for annual monocotyledonous weeds. SSWM led to significantly increased density of G. aparine and Tripleurospermum inodorum in the final experimental year when compared to the blanket treatment. Negative correlation coefficients between 2011 and 2014 plant densities found in SSWM treatments (-0.237 to -0.401) indicate that Apera spica-venti does not establish a long-term soil seed bank.

Slow-release nitrogen fertiliser can potentially increase crop production and improve fertiliser nitrogen use efficiency. However, it is unclear that are suitable for different regions and crops in the northeast of China. Therefore, according to different soil and climate characteristics, we investigated the synchronised relationships between nitrogen slow release fertiliser and nitrogen maize requirements. Experiments were conducted at Shenyang Agricultural University, Liaoning province, Northeast China, from 2016 to 2017. Stabilised fertiliser treatments increased grain yield, nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen accumulation at each maize growth stage. Grain yield increased by 2.32% and 11.33% (2016), and 1.55% and 7.87% (2017), respectively, when compared with the urea CK1 (233 kg N/ha) and CK2 (210 kg N/ha) treatments. Additionally, during the growth period of the stabilised fertiliser treatment, the stability of the synchronisation relationship between nitrogen absorption and absorption of spring maize was significantly higher than other treatments, and the effect was the best. Therefore, we conclude that the stabilised fertiliser is the most suitable option for promotion and application in spring maize in Northeast China.

The effect of crop sequences (CR - continuous winter rye; CropR - three-field crop rotation of winter rye-spring barley-bare fallow) and fertilisation systems (unfertilised control, mineral fertiliser (NPK), farmyard manure (FYM)) on crop yield, energy efficiency indicators and land demand were analysed in a long-term experiment under Pannonian climate conditions. Due to lower fuel consumption in the bare fallow, the total fuel consumption for CropR was 27% lower than in CR. It was for NPK and FYM fertilisation by 29% and 42% higher than in the control. Although the energy output was lower in CropR than CR, the energy use efficiency for grain production increased by 35% and for above-ground biomass production by 20%. Overall crop sequences, the NPK treatment had higher crop yields, energy outputs and net-energy output with a lower energy use efficiency than the unfertilised control. CropR increased the land demand just by 20% in comparison to CR, although one-third of the land was not used for crop production. The land demand could be decreased with fertilisation by 50% (NPK) or 48% (FYM). A bare fallow year in the crop rotation decreased the crop yield, energy input and increased the energy use efficiency and land demand.

Soils that contain rock fragments (particles > 2 mm in diameter) are distributed all over the world. The presence of these small rock fragments can have a great impact on soil water retention properties, as well as on the soil-water infiltration and vegetation restoration in semi-arid regions. To quantitatively describe the transport of water in stony soils, repacked soil cores were used to determine the infiltration rates for different rock fragment contents (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%) and rock fragment sizes (2-5, 5-8, 8-11, and 2-11 mm). The results showed that both the content and size of the rock fragments and their interaction significantly affected the infiltration process. The infiltration rates over time and the saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_s) decreased with an increasing rock fragment content to an observed minimum value for a 40% rock fragment content. The soil-water infiltration processes were accurately described by the Kostiakov model. The measured and calculated K_s values decreased with an increasing rock fragment content, which was in accordance with the published data and in accordance with the K_s obtained by five empirical methods. The variations in the measured K_s were likely due to the variations in the soil properties caused by the soil sample repacking. The results of this study may improve the understanding of the effects of the rock fragment content and size on the infiltration processes in arid and semi-arid desert steppes.

Control and supervision activities in the field of forest management are a type of activity of state authorities to detect, prevent forest violations. The purpose of this study is to analyse the dynamics and nature of violations in the forest sector on the example and in comparison of such regions of Russia as the Krasnodar territory and the Republic of Bashkortostan. The research methodology is selected taking into account the characteristics of the object under study. With the assistance of employees of the environmental inspectorate, search operations were organized in the areas where the greatest amount of forest damage occurs in the studied regions. The authors concluded that one of the reasons for the existing problems is the lack of interest of the state in the development of this sector of economy. The paper focuses on specific types of forest violations and the problems of their prevention. The authors believe that illegal logging belongs to the most common and socially dangerous forest violations. The article concludes that when adopting new regulations for control and supervisory activities in the field of forest management, the legislator must take into account requirements of administrative reform, regulatory guillotine, and risk-based approach.