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Using Moericke's yellow dishes we studied the Hymenoptera (Aculeata) fauna (with the exception of Formicoidea) in spruce (Picea abies) stands of the colder region of Northern Bohemia. We collected 103 species and the most important species in this spectrum were Vespula vulgaris (56.4%), Vespula rufa (4.7%), Dolichovespula norvegica (3.1%), Dolichovespula saxonica (4%), Nysson spinosus (1.8%), Andrena lappona (1.9%), Cleptes semiauratus (5.9%), Halictus sp. (6.7%) and Trypoxylon minus (2.2%). Comparisons made in 1990-1994 and 1995-1999 indicated a recession of species of the genus Halictus, of Andrena nitida (Apidae), Pemphredon lugubris, Trypoxylon clavicerum and T. minus (Sphecidae), and an increased abundance of Cleptes semiauratus (Cleptidae), Nysson spinosus (Sphecidae), Vespula vulgaris and V. rufa (Vespidae). Compared to closed stands, open spruce stands had a greater species diversity and lower number of captured specimens.

In Hungary, after the political and economical transition period of the nineties, the transformation of agriculture, the privatisation and the partial compensation brought about fundamental change in the land ownership structure. Recently, the private ownership of land has become dominant. As a result of the land compensation and the restoration of individual shares of the co-operatives members, unfavourable farm structures were established in a great number of cases; and consequently the redistribution of land property has become indispensable. The revival of the market is hold up, on one hand, by the present legislation of land acquisition (by Hungarian legal entities and foreigners) and, on the other hand, by the repugnance of the land acquisition of foreigners by a great number of people. The political risks, the EU accession and the changes to be expected concerning the EU subsidy schemes might also affect the land market in the long-term.

Four protein fractions: 1 - albumins and globulins, 2 - gliadins, 3 - glutenins (extracted in NaOH), 4 - glutenins (extracted in SDS) separated by SDS-PAGE were used as biochemical markers for evaluation of polymorphism level in three spelt wheat cultivars - Hercule, Altgold and Rouquin, three new-breeders' spelt lines - H92.27, H92.28 and M92.20 (originated from hybridisation between spelt and common wheat) and reference common wheat cultivar Brea. Electrophoretic phenotypes and zymograms were evaluated by means of digital image analysis and Nei and Li coefficient of similarity was used to evaluate the relation of analysed genotypes. Entire evaluation of all four-marker systems showed differences between common wheat cultivarBreaand spelt cultivars and spelt breeders' lines. Also significant differences between old spelt cultivars (Hercule, Altgold and Rouquin) and new spelt breeders' lines were found. The reality of the mutual passing of protein fractions (gliadins and glutenins), based on Osborne extraction was confirmed. In this sense it is necessary to see both fractions as dynamic overlapping structures.

Long-term field experiments conducted under different soil and climate conditions and their databases provide invaluable information and are indispensable means in the study of the productivity and sustainability of the soil management systems. We evaluated the results of the dry matter yields of the main products obtained with four variants of organic and mineral fertilisation in three long-term field experiments established in 1955. The experiments differed in the cultivated crops. The period of evaluation was 12 and 16 years (1985-2000), respectively. The productivity of nine-year crop rotation was lower with the fertilised variants than that with the alternative growing of spring wheat and sugar beets. The dry matter yields on the Nil variants, however, were higher in the crop rotation than in the alternate sugar beet and spring wheat growing, apparently due to the symbiotic nitrogen fixation. The dry matter yields of sugar beet and mainly of spring wheat declined in almost all variants of fertilisation in the alternate sugar beet and spring wheat growing, over the evaluated time period. In spite of the relatively high dry matter production, the declining yields indicated a lower sustainability of the alternate cropping system. Both organic and mineral fertilisation increased the production of the cultivated crops. The differences in the average dry matter yields were statistically significant. Both organic and mineral fertilisation enhanced significantly the N-uptake by the cultivated crops. The effectivity of nitrogen input was the highest with the alternate cropping of sugar beet and spring wheat indicating that it was more demanding for the external N-input and thus less sustainable than nine-year crop rotation.

Two methods were developed and tested for the measurement of the mowing machine material feed rate (based on the conditioner power input measured by a torque-meter, and/or on the material change in momentum measured by a curved impact plate). The measurements carried out in the year 2001 proved that a very good linear relationship existed between the conditioner power input, output frequency of the apparatus measuring the impact force by means of the impact plate, and the material feed rate through the mowing machine. The calculated R-Squared values were about 0.95. In the year 2002, the impacts of material and condition (parameters) changes on the mowing machine material feed rate measurement accuracy were measured under laboratory conditions. It was evident from the statistical evaluation that changing crop variety, crop maturity, and intensity of conditioning can have a statistically significant influence on the measurement based on the torque-meter. As concerns the impact plate measurement, it was found that it is not possible on the basis of our measurements to determine statistically the influence of the factors tested.

A pot trial was aimed to investigate the effect of different forms of nitrogen fertilizer on the aboveground phytomass yield, vitamin C content and uptake of some macroelements by Brassica pekinensis. The trial was conducted in 2000 and 2001 in pots containing 10 kg of loamy brown soil. Optimized NPK nutrition with the rate of 90.9 kg/ha N increased phytomass yields of Chinese cabbage in all treatments compared to the unfertilized control. The most marked increase (by 55.6%) of yield was obtained when N was applied in the form of (NH₄)₂ SO₄. The yields in the other treatments declined as follows: NH₄NO₃ > Mg (NO₃)₂ > KNO₃ > DAM-390. Positive effects of full NPK nutrition on vitamin C content were determined. Depending on the forms of N fertilizer, the content of vitamin C in fresh mass of cabbage decreased in the following order: DAM-390 (629.0 mg/kg of fresh mass) >Mg(NO₃)₂ > KNO₃ > NH₄NO₃ > (NH₄)₂SO₄. Optimization of NPK rates contributed to the increase in N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S uptake by the yield of final product in comparison with unfertilized control. The highest uptake of nutrients was determined in the treatment with N applied in the form of (NH₄)₂SO₄.

The paper widely introduces European experience in wild cherry breeding because it is the first one from a prepared series of articles aimed at wild cherry breeding in the Czech Republic. Beginnings of wild cherry breeding program for the Czech forestry are described. Plus trees were certified, seed orchards, clone archives, progeny and clonal tests were established. Clones were tested for fl owering of grafts in reproductive plantations. Progenies and clones were tested for growth parameters in progeny and clonal tests. Progenies and clones in every breeding plantation were tested for damage by aphids.

In the years 1999-2000, I studied damage to transplants in the planting and wildlings in the natural seeding at the locality Zamrlô in the Starohorské vrchy Mts. (750-1,000 m a.s.l., NE exposure, forest type Abieto-Fagetum). Damage to the woody plants by the mammals and birds in the planting was much higher (14%) than in the natural seeding (7%). All woody plant species were also more damaged in the planting (spruce 16%, larch 9%, fir 24%, beech 10%, and sycamore 10%) than in the natural seeding (spruce 7%, larch 6%, fir 10%, beech 7%, and sycamore 9%). There were found 8 mammals that damaged woody plants both in the planting and natural seeding (Apodemus sp., Capreolus capreolus L., Cervus elaphus L., Clethrionomys glareolus SCHREB., Lepus europaeus L., Microtus agrestis L., Microtus arvalis PALL., Sciurus vulgaris L.). Only one bird species was found to damage woody plants in the planting and natural seeding (Tetrao urogallus L.).

Models evaluating static stability (resistance to breaking or uprooting of trees caused by wind, snow or ice) of forest stands in the seventh altitudinal vegetation zone were determined. The empirical material came from 180 research plots (High Tatra and Low Tatra Mountains) established within the research project Research on methods for mountain forest management based on sustainable Development. Static stability was characterized by the slenderness ratio that was calculated from the mean height and diameter of target trees. Then the particular forest stands were categorized with regard to slenderness ratio, mean diameter and absolute site class using either tables or graphic models. Particularly, four static stability classes were made up: 1 - very good, 2 - good, 3 - sufficient, and 4 - insufficient. Practical application of the models is shown for forest stands grown in the area of Vajsková and Lomnistá valleys.

The paper is based on a special sampling survey of farms that was conducted under EU PHARE ACE research project P97-8158-R "Micro-economic Analysis of Farm Restructuring in Central and Eastern Europe" in 2000 in one of the NUTS 2 regions of the CR - in the South-East region. The region involves two administrative regions - Vysočina and South Moravian NUTS 3 and consists of subregions with different natural and market conditions (of hilly, lowland and suburban type) representing the conditions of agricultural production in the Czech Republic as a whole. The main results of the survey focused on farms of three different categories are presented: farms as legal entities (separately agricultural production cooperatives, joint stock companies and limited liability companies), officially registered individual farms of different size (formally licensed to business activities) and unregistered individual farms including small farming units - households with self-sustaining agricultural production.

The paper concentrates on analytical findings of the RIAE in the sphere of problems associated with the readiness of Czech agriculture for the EU accession. An analysis of the present situation of Czech agriculture is followed by an assessment of potential impacts of the EU conditions on the economic position of the main agricultural commodities. The predictions are conceived by variants, because the future parameters of the CAP are still under negotiations. The conclusions are oriented on the summary assessment of the readiness of Czech agriculture for the EU accession.

A high level of communicative capabilities as an integral part of social skills in managers is an essential prerequisite of success in managerial position. The paper points out an opportunity of quantifying the level of communicative capabilities, as well as the way of delimiting deficiencies in communication and planning the process of development of communicative capabilities. The testing was done on a sample of 230 students of the Faculty of Economics and Management, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, i.e. in the future agromanagers.

Parameters characterizing N mineralization and nitrification were measured in soils of ten monitoring areas of the basal soil monitoring carried out by the Central Institute for Supervising and Testing in Agriculture. A remarkable seasonal cycle was found only for nitrate concentrations that reached their maxima in the spring (April-June), and late summer and/or autumn, starting in August. Ammonium ions were nitrified immediately after fertilizer application. Anaerobic N mineralization represented a variable parameter, which was not directly affected by mineral N fertilizers. Nitrification measured by means of one-week incubation was significantly stimulated by N fertilizers confirming that substrate availability was a limiting factor of this process. Short-term nitrification activity (SNA) showed no remarkable seasonal fluctuations, which meant that the potential nitrification rate remained relatively constant during the season. Urease activity was mostly constant during the year and was only slightly related to N mineralization.

Problems concerning total dry weight and distribution of underground phytomass were studied in a pasture trial at Rapotin near Šumperk, the CzechRepublicin the period 1995-1999. The total weight of dry underground pasture phytomass (DUP) was 976 g/m² (5-year average) in a soil layer of 0-200 mm (both live and dead roots). The DUP was significantly increased by mineral fertilizers (90 kg N/ha, 30 kg P/ha a 90 kg K/ha). The weight of DUP was not significantly influenced by a grazing system, renewal or resowing of the original grassland. In unfertilized plots, DUP weight amounted to 989 g/m², i.e. 92 g/m² (8.6%) less than in fertilized plots in the period 1996-1999. In the same period, under the grassland exploited by rotational grazing 1142 and under continuous grazing 1082 g/m² DUP were determined, i.e. by 60 g/m² (5.5%) less. The highest DUP weight in the period 1996-1999 was found in autumn 1997 (1222 g/m2) immediately before achieving the maximum forage yield in May 1998. In a layer of 0-20 mm, 54.6% of the total DUP was found. In this surface layer, significant increase in the DUP weight was found in fertilized plots. In 1999, some 88.5 and 90.2% of DUP were concentrated in unfertilized (903 g/m²) and fertilized (952 g/m²) plots, respectively in a layer of 0-100 mm.

Pea (Pisum sativum L.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) plants were cultivated for 10 days in hydroponics at 1mM and 7mM nitrate or ammonium concentrations at regulated pH 6 and ambient CO2 level. Plant growth, content of total N and both ions in plant tissues, uptake of water and both N ions were evaluated, N uptake related to transpiration mass flow and to diffusion supply was calculated. Pea and sunflower preferred nitrate nutrition while maize plants used both N ions. The content of total N as well as of both N ions in plant tissues increased with N level with some exceptions. The uptake of both N ions related to transpiration mass flow was dependent on transpiration rate and N ion concentration. At a 1mM N concentration the uptake of N ions related to transpiration mass flow was low and reached in maize up to 16 times, in sunflower 11 times and in pea 2-3 times lower values in comparison with diffusion supply. At a 7mM N concentration N uptake in pea plants was totally supplied by transpiration mass flow, in sunflower plants the ratio of N supply related to transpiration mass flow amounted to 50% and in maize plants N supply through diffusion prevailed, amounting to 70-80%. These results explicate N starvation at low N supply that can intensify at elevated CO2 causing decreased stomatal diffusion.

The paper presents a method for the derivation of total timber production and of increments in value units, particularly in net financial yield for spruce stands damaged by crown defoliation after their dieback. The value production was derived by means of value growth models of undamaged stands and models for the adjustment of volume and qualitative production of damaged and died stands. Changes in timber quality after tree drying and changes in the production of damaged stands compared with undamaged ones are illustrated in tables and graphs. The changes are expressed by means of the indexes of total mean increment and total current increment. They depend mainly on the degree of stand damage expressed by crown defoliation, age and yield class of stand, the age of stand when the damage started and duration of damage. The value of damaged stands after their dieback is lover minimally by 50% than before their dieback. It is caused mainly by deteriorated quality of timber from dead trees in stand.

Soon after bark-beetle attack as well as after clear cutting, grown-up mountain Norway spruce forest cast the following mass of needles: 50-60 kg of dry matter per tree, or 18-20 tons per hectare, containing 8,800-10,000 kg/ha of carbon, 190 to 250 kg/ha of nitrogen, 13-16 kg/ha of phosphorus, 65-91 kg/ha of calcium, 9-13 kg/ha of magnesium and 56-67 kg/ha of potassium. These values were obtained by application of equations assessing needle mass from measured tree and plot parameters, and from chemical analyses of two types of needle material (from living and dead trees).

The article deals with the comparison and evaluation of the development of economic indicators, such as the costs, yields, economic result and profitability in the Czech and Slovak Republics for the period of years 1997-2000. The economic indicators are evaluated and compared on the basis of sample survey results of the RIAFE Bratislava and RIAE (Research Institute of Agricultural Economics) Prague. The first part contains the evaluation and comparison of the costs, yields and the economic results for agricultural production and its branches recalculated per 1 ha of agricultural land (a. l.). The second part contains the evaluation and comparison of the production intensity indicators (per hectare yields, utility), costs per 1 ha, 100 feeding days and per unit, and agricultural production realization prices. Based on these indicators, cost profitability of the selected plant and animal products is quantified.

The paper deals with statistical analysis of the registered regional unemployment rate in regions and districts of the Czech Republic from 1998 to 2002. Regional unemployment reaches significantly different levels; moreover, within the examined period, differences were increasing: variance between the minimum and the maximum increased approx. from 12% to 20% in the respective districts. By means of cluster analysis, regions are divided into more homogenous groups according to the registered unemployment rate by 31 December 2002. The following districts may be identified as the best ones: Praha-západ (Prague-West), Praha-východ (Prague-East), Praha (Prague) and Benešov; the following as the worst ones: Most and Karviná. Concerning regions, the lowest unemployment level may be identified in Praha (Prague); on the contrary, the highest levels were reached in Ústecký region and Moravskoslezský region. Variability, skewness and peak characteristics were calculated to evaluate the development of regional unemployment distribution. The average rose from 5.63% to 9.94%, the standard deviation rose from 2.53% to 4.15%, the variation coefficient stayed around 0.4. Thus, together with the increase in unemployment level, the absolute variability rose while the relative variability stayed approx. constant. The rate distribution was left-sided and increasing; the peak was only slightly higher than the standard peak. The development trend of the characteristics was evaluated by means of linear functions and higher order polynomials; their seasonal variation is described by seasonal indices differing in the degree of their seasonality and distribution in the course of a year. A correlation matrix demonstrates the relations between the trend of the characteristics and their seasonal indices.

As, Cd, Pb and Zn accumulation in the aboveground biomass of seven clones of Salix spp. and changes in element uptake by plants after element addition to soil were studied in a pot experiment. Unpolluted Chernozem (Suchdol) as a control and soils with addition of As (100 mg/kg), Cd (40 mg/kg) and either Pb (2000 mg/kg) (Suchdol-Pb) or Zn (2000 mg/kg) (Suchdol-Zn) were used for the experiment. Significant differences were found in the accumulation of elements between willow clones and also between different element additions to the soil. Although As and Cd uptake slightly increased in Suchdol-Zn soil compared to Suchdol-Pb soil, the element removal from soil was significantly higher in Suchdol-Pb soil due to a significant reduction of aboveground biomass yield in Suchdol-Zn soil caused by Zn phytotoxicity. The yield reduction decreased the uptake of plant-available elements by biomass, thus higher plant-available portions of As and Cd were found in Suchdol-Zn soil. Element removal from soil was more dependent on element contents in willow tissues in Suchdol-Pb soil than in Suchdol-Zn soil, where willow plants exhibited physiological symptoms of phytotoxicity.

Sewage sludge application in agriculture is the simplest method of its management. Its content of organic and inorganic toxic components is a barrier to such management. Particular attention should be paid to the content of heavy metals whose presence in sewage sludge and later in soil poses hazard for plants, animals and people. The investigations aimed to determine the effect of vermicomposts obtained from tannery sludge on development of the root system and biomass of shoots as well as heavy metal concentrations in these organs. In the first year after the vermicomposts application their effect on the maize biomass increase was equal to the farmyard manure treatment but significantly worse than the mineral fertilization. The consecutive fertilizer effect of vermicomposts of tannery sludge ted on the increase in biomass of the shoots and roots of winter rape, sunflower and oats was comparable with the farmyard manure effect but notably better than the mineral fertilization. Heavy metal concentrations in individual plants were diversified; in the plants from vermicompost treatment they were as a rule lower than in the plants from mineral or farmyard manure treatment. Absorbed heavy metals accumulated primarily in the root systems, whereas the extremely high chromium content in vermicomposts did not cause its excessive accumulation in the cultivated plants.

In the paper are presented results of grain outer quality loss investigation during its post-harvest treatment. Objective was to determine the grain damage during its transport by bucket elevators of type "SANFON" at bucket peripheral velocity 2.0 m/s and 2.8 m/sof capacity 40 t/hand 80 t/h, respectively. The damage was investigated at counter-flow and parallel-flow bucket filling. From the measured results resulted the conclusion, that the bucket elevators tend rather to grain crushing, i.e. fraction creation than to smaller damage. On basis of partial knowledge chain elevators have no significant tendency to fraction generation, but incline considerably to the transported grain total mechanical damage at performance significantly lower than is the nominal one. In that case total mechanical damage ranged from 1.78 to 1.98%. Auger conveyers tend rather to total mechanical damage of transported grain than to the fraction creation. This is caused mainly by the friction between the transported grain and transporting "trough". Total mechanical damage is in range from 1.36 to 1.73%. Belt elevators are friendly to transported grain and therefore are evitable for grain horizontal transport in lines for reception, treatment and storage of food grain crops.

The phenophase course in a group of 20 apricot genotypes was evaluated in South Moravian conditions in Lednice, Czech Republic, from 1994 to 1999. The evaluated phases were as follows: "beginning of blossoming", "beginning of picking maturity" and "end of picking maturity". The aim was to evaluate the variability of these phenophases and their relationships. The amplitude of the phenophase "beginning of blossoming" did not exceed 9 days. The amplitude of phenophases between the different years was about three times higher than the average amplitude between the genotypes. The average amplitude of the factor "beginning of picking maturity" observed in all genotypes was 39 days, but a comparison between the years showed that the largest amplitude for a given genotype was only 16 days. No statistical correlation was found between the phenophases "beginning of blossoming" and "beginning of picking maturity" in any of the six observed years. The genotypes whose maturity occurs at the beginning or at the end of picking season showed higher year to year variability of the phenophase "beginning of picking maturity" than the genotypes maturing in the middle of the season. The rate of fruit development from blossoming to picking was considerably different depending on the apricot genotype. The number of days between the beginning of blossoming and the beginning of picking maturity was characteristic of each genotype. The variability of this interval for the six years was very low and the value of variation coefficients did not exceed 10%. This amplitude observed in the control variety Velkopavlovická LE-6/2 was on average 100 days. A very high statistically significant correlation (r = 0.996⁺⁺) was observed between the intervals from the "beginning of blossoming" to the "beginning of picking maturity" and to the "end of picking maturity".

The objectives of this study are to determine a trend of the radial growth at breast height (b.h.) and to compare the radial growth of trees of younger and older generations in the XX century for fir (Abies alba Mill.), beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in the Świętokrzyski National Park. In the investigated area fir, 41 to 200-300 years of age at breast height, gradually regenerated its radial growth after a very strong decline during 1971-1990, and most likely the process of vitality reduction and death of its stands of various age is slowly coming to an end. Pine showed a systematic decrease in the radial increment during 1885-1994, and there were no distinct symptoms indicating a change of this unfavourable trend. Beech showed no significant decrease in the radial increment during 1885-1994. In the Świętokrzyski National Park the differences in the radial growth between younger and older generations were noticeable only in the case of beech. The radial growth of trees of different ages was very similar in the case of fir and pine.

The subject of this paper was to assess the effects of pulverised dolomitic limestone applications on prosperity of Norway spruce (Picea abies L.) plantation and on the soil in extreme ecological conditions of the Jizerské hory Mts. The characteristics such as plant mortality, annual height increment, diameter of root collar (stem base diameter), crown diameter, nutrient analyses and some data from soil analyses are evaluated in this paper. An eleven-year period of observations is summarised. According to the observations and measurements carried out until now, the effect of limestone applications (1 kg per tree) on the spruce plantation prosperity seems to be positive without any serious negative impacts on the soil.

The benefits arising from adoption of information and communication technology by farming businesses are explored, and the prospect of a digital divide appearing in the UK agricultural sector is discussed, drawing on results of research at the University of Plymouth. It is proposed that countries in Central and Eastern Europe will be subject to the same phenomenon, and that the potential disadvantage suffered by non-adopters of this technology will be sufficiently severe to justify both policy intervention and further research.

Agriculture is a sector in Latvia which plays an important role in the country's economy and the same time performs a significant social, environmental and ethno-cultural function. Latvia has favourable conditions for the development of organic agriculture. The aim of land reform is to reorganise legal, social and economic relationships of land property and land use to facilitate the development of infrastructure, land protection and rational land use according to the interests of society. In Latvia, the land reform is practically carried out in three directions - restitution of real estate rights, privatisation of real property and compensation for previous real estate. At the moment, the main and urgent goal concerns strengthening of the results of land reform. It means that all the information on real estates (land and buildings), uses and area of lease obtained during the previous course of land reform must be reflected into the real property cadastre.

The paper analyses the pay system in a particular enterprise in the Czech Republic and proposes a change in this system. The establishment of two scales based on pay classes per month is proposed: one scale that allows for overlaps of pay classes but does not allow for overruns into other categories, and another scale that allows for no overlaps at all.

The genetic diversity and the relationships among rapeseed germplasm, including a collection of 20 Chinese, 25 Czech, 2 German, 2 French, and 1 English cultivars and breeding materials were evaluated using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. A total of 79 different polymorphic amplification products were obtained using10 selected decamer primers. RAPDs revealed a significant level of polymorphism among the accessions. The diversity index (DI) ranged from 1.390 to 3.491, showing a sufficient potential of selected primers to differentiate among studied genotypes. Three different metrics were used to assess genetic diversity. The best fit between a priori knowledge about germplasm origin and a posteriori grouping was found using Hamman metrics. Cluster analysis based on Hamman pairwise distance comparison divided the studied accessions into three main clusters. The first group included only accessions fromChina, the second group only that fromEurope with the exception of Zhongshuang No. 2, a Chinese winter rape possessing European cultivars in the pedigree. The third group included accessions both fromChina andEurope. The results indicate the occurrence of a considerable genetic variation between Chinese and European accessions.

Four kinds of cereal crops were grown without farmyard manure application. The effect of farmyard manure was supposed to be replaced by post-harvest residues (PH treatment) or by ploughing the total by-product, i.e. straw (PZ treatment) into soil. After seven years of application, this soil farming system did not influence the contents of Cox and Nt in soil. The amount of organic carbon had declined after the first year, but in the following years it remained at the same level (1.2%). The total nitrogen content increased from 0.143 to 0.166% without any considerable difference between the treatments. The amount of microbial biomass (C_mic) in PH treatment had been varying and in 2000 it decreased approximately by a half (from 215.96 to 132.00 mg C/kg of soil dry matter). The input of organic matter due to ploughing the whole by-product (PZ treatment) into soil acted favourably and the value of C_mic in 2000 was quite comparable with the average values of the individual years of 1994-1997. This land management and cereal growing caused a reduction of the ratio of microbial biomass carbon to soil organic carbon (C_mic/C_org). In the year 2000, the values decreased from 2.59 to 1.09% and from 2.88 to 1.82% in PH and PZ treatments, respectively. The amount of the biologically releasable nitrogen (Nbiol) and the intensity of nitrification were the highest in the year 2000. There was a moderate negative correlation (r = -0.474) between the N_biol values and biomass amount values in PZ treatment, and a very close negative one (r = -0.972) in PH treatment. This relation became strong in both treatments when the values Cmic/Corg and Nbiol were compared, i.e. r_PH = -0.863 and r_PZ = -0.921. The results confirmed that the amount and the quality of organic matter influence microbial biomass and its activity which is responsible for the nutrient release.