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In recent years, the agri-food sector and consumers have begun to look at food not only for basic nutrition, but also for health benefits. The purpose of this study was to investigate the variations in the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in head cabbage according to the used type of fertilizer. Commercial brands of alternative, organic fertilizers were compared with conventional, mineral fertilizers in culture of head cabbage. There were seven different treatments: Agormin, Agro, farmyard manure, horticultural compost, Dvorecký agroferm, mineral fertilizer, and an unfertilized control. All the treatments assured approximately the same level of nutrients. The level of TAC was measured by the FRAP assay and the effect of storage on TAC was also studied. Average value of TAC in fresh cabbage was 236 ± 60 mg GA/100 g in the year 2005 and 295 ± 27 mg GA/100 g in the year 2006. The TAC value decreased in the course of storage. The average value of TAC after a five-month period of storage was 56 ± 18 mg GA/100 g in the year 2005 and 33 ± 5 mg GA/100 g in the year 2006. This study shows that alternative, organic fertilizers have similar or even better qualities than farmyard manure and that they can contribute to the improvement of nutritional values of vegetable.

The small, fully forested watershed Červík (CE) is situated in the part of the Beskydy Mts called the Zadní hory Mts Since November 1953, water balance has been measured in this place with the goal to find out experimentally the changes of the outflow sums during and after the intensive renewal of the forest with a partly changed wood species composition. The measured data were statistically evaluated by the method of double mass curve. In 1962, the decision was made to divide the watershed area into two separate parts A and B. The research started there in 1966 after a twelve-year long calibration period without timber cutting. The stands in the sub-watershed CE-A were cut down in three times shorter intervals than it is common and were immediately renewed. In the CE-B part, the stands were not tended in order to observe visible differences in the sums of outflow in comparison with those in the CE-A part. The measured data were analysed by double mass curve and revealed only very small differences while influence of the environment appeared to be more significant.

Five types of stand stages (clearings-samplings, plantations, thinnings, thickets, and mature forests) of spruce forests were examined at the foothills of the Jizerské hory Mts. in summer 2005 and 2006. The presence of ants was surveyed by catching them into pitfall traps and observing on baits. Higher numbers of Formica fusca ants were found in clearings-samplings and in plantations. Their activity was higher at the soil and air temperature of 20-30°C. The peak of activity was observed in July. Most specimens were trapped at lighter habitats and in the sites with more than 50% herbaceous and gramineous vegetation cover. F. pratensis was trapped in plantations and thickets. It was active at the soil temperatures 12-21°C and air temperatures 16-25°C. It occurred both in dark and light areas. F. sanguinea most commonly occurred in thinnings. This species was the most active at the soil temperature 20-30°C. Its activity depending on air temperature grew almost linearly. It occurred both in dark and in light stand stages with at least 60% vegetation cover. F. truncorum was observed only in thinnings. The activity of F. truncorum was the highest at the air and soil temperatures 15-25°C. The peak of activity was recorded in July. It was observed only in stands with the quantity of incident radiation 1,030 lx and with 20-80% of undergrowth cover.

Like in other types of forests the greatest changes in the soil of floodplain forest stands occur during their regeneration. These changes are manifested as changes in the content and dynamics of organic matter in the soil. Research was conducted in oak and ash floodplain forests in the eastern part of Croatia and in southern Moravia in the Czech Republic. The results showed that the type and extent of these changes depended, in addition to environmental factors, also on the technology of forest regeneration. The natural regeneration of oak in floodplain forests of Spačva (eastern Croatia) protects soil from dramatic changes in soil by successive regeneration felling and that it retains the plant cover permanently. The weight of organic matter on the soil surface is increased after regeneration till the period when the effect of thinning becomes evident (about 70 years). In the surface mineral layer of soil the pH value increases after shelterwood felling. Stand regeneration with clear-cutting results in a rapid change in the conditions of surface humus accumulation and decomposition. The process of organic residue accumulation is interrupted in the clearings. In the preparation of soil/site by ploughing, the concentrations of nitrogen and carbon slightly decrease. The management impact depends on the method of site preparation for the establishment of a new stand. The selection of a method of the floodplain forest regeneration (particularly of oak) is markedly dependent on actual ecological conditions and on ecological and historical experience of the given region.

The mineral content of cheese depends on the origin of the milk (cow, ewe, goat) and its ripening. In this work the effect of different factors on the mineral composition and the correlation between minerals (Ca, Fe, Mg, K, Na, and Zn) and the type of milk used are studied. The One-Way ANOVA procedure revealed that the effect of cow's milk was statistically significant on Fe, K, P, and Zn; goat's milk was statistically significant for Fe and Mg, and ewe's milk was statistically significant for K. The effect of the ripening time was statistically significant in all cases, except for Zn; the effect of the season was statistically significant for K, Mg and P and the effect of the year was statistically significant in the case of K, Na, P, and Zn. The percentage of cow's cheese was positively correlated with K and P; the percentage of ewe's cheese was negatively correlated with K, Mg, Na, and P and the percentage of goat's cheese was negatively correlated with Na, and P.

Citrulline has been recently shown to behave as a novel compatible solute in the Citrullus lanatus (Cucurbitaceae) growing under desert conditions. In the present study we have investigated some aspects of the relationship which might occur in leaves of melon seedlings, also known to produce citrulline, between the capacity to accumulate this ureido amino acid and salt tolerance. With this end in view, salt-induced changes at the citrulline level have been compared in two melon genotypes exhibiting contrasted abilities to withstand the damaging effects of high salinity. Progressive salinization of the growing solution occurred at 23 days after sowing. The final 250 mmol/l external NaCl concentration was reached within 5 days and further maintained for 16 days. In response to this treatment, it was found that the citrulline amount increased in fully expanded leaves of both genotypes according to different kinetics. The salt tolerant genotype Midyat was induced to accumulate citrulline 4 days before the salt sensitive Yuva and as a consequence the final amount of this amino acid was twice higher in the former than in the latter. Compared with citrulline, the free proline level was found to be relatively low and the changes induced in response to the salt treatment exhibited different trends according to the genotypes under study. Thus at the end of the treatment mature leaves of the salt sensitive Yuva contained higher amount of proline than those of Midyat. The changes in the calculated molar ratio between citrulline and free proline suggested that salt tolerance might be associated with high values for this ratio and vice et versa for sensitivity. The interest of citrulline as a biochemical marker for salt tolerance of melon genotypes is discussed.

The effects of putrescine (a polyamine), low temperature and their combinations on the activities of apoplastic antioxidant enzymes were studied in the leaves of two wheat cultivars, winter (Dogu-88) and spring (Gerek-79). Fifteen-day-old wheat seedlings were treated with putrescine solutions (0.1, 1 and 10mM) prior to cold treatment (5/3°C). The activities of apoplastic catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase were determined in the leaves both under normal and cold conditions at 1, 3 and 5 days. The results indicate that cold treatment significantly increased the activities of apoplastic catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase in winter wheat while not generally affecting spring wheat. Under control conditions, the putrescine treatments were more effective in increasing the enzyme activities in winter wheat than in spring wheat. However, under cold conditions, the putrescine treatments surprisingly induced enzyme activities in spring wheat while generally reducing those in winter wheat leaves. The results show that putrescine may act as an agent inducing primary changes in the apoplastic antioxidant system of wheat leaves during reactive oxygen species-mediated damage caused by low temperature stress.

Through data analysis of 7 571 883 pig carcasses slaughtered from 2004 to 2007 the means of quality classes (QC) 2.32, lean meat percentage (LM) 55.83%, carcass weight (CW) 87.21 kg, muscle thickness (MT) 61.95 mm and fat thickness (FT) 15.95 mm were determined. The highest correlation coefficients are between QC and LM (r = -0.920), LM and FT (-0.900) as well as QC and FT (0.828), the lowest between FT and MT (r = -0.084). Quality class as the dominant indicator is influenced mainly by LM, which explains from 77% to 89% of variability in the case of linear regression. Among the eight methods of pig carcass classification the FOM apparatus was used the most frequently (46.5% carcasses) followed by the ULTRA-FOM 300 apparatus (15.6%), another apparatus (13.2%) and by the IS-D-05 unit (9.8%). In the statistical models used all effects (differences) are statistically significant because of the large size of the data set. The results from the separate evaluation of each cross-classified effect are that EV has the largest influence and year-season and methods have a smaller influence. The time trend (42 months) documents stable CW and MT, a slight increase in LM and improvement of QC. The estimated results indicate the successful introduction of pig carcass classification in the CR after accession to the EU.

The paper deals with the use of European beech in the reconstruction of substitute species stands and in the regeneration of existing spruce stands in the air-polluted region of the north-eastern Krušné hory Mts. (air-pollution damage zones A, B, forest altitudinal vegetation zones 6 and 7, acidophilic sites). Twenty stand situations were analyzed during the study. The study objective was to compare the growth of European beech plantations in the Krušné hory Mts. with the growth of plantations of the same age in similar sites in the unpolluted region of the Bohemian-Moravian Upland (air-pollution damage zones C, D, forest altitudinal vegetation zone 6, acidophilic site). Each plant was assessed for eight growth and visually classified parameters and traits. Results of the survey showed that in the existing air-pollution and climatic situation, it is possible to switch to normal (shelterwood) beech management of higher elevations in the north-eastern Krušné hory Mts. The stands of substitute species and the current stands of Norway spruce may effectively eliminate injuries caused by late frost.

The level and structure of cigarettes taxation are considered to be very discussed field in these days by the effect of preference trends of taxation of consumption at the expense of direct taxation, stressing the health risks of consumers of tobacco products, externalities caused by this consumption and by the effect of existence of distortions in the market with the tobacco products in the EU states. It is possible to achieve various aims in the field of fiscal and agricultural policies of state, consumption of cigarettes, protection of national market and in the other field by the regulation of excise duty imposed on cigarettes in the EU states. The question is, in frame of excise duty imposed on cigarettes in the EU member state, whether this tax should be imposed through specific rate, ad valorem rate, or by their combination. The choice between these options depends on the laid down aims of tax policy in each EU member states.

Within the framework of the research project ELISA methods for the quantitative determination of allergenic substances in foodstuff and raw materials were developed. ELISA kits for allergenic proteins of milk (casein, beta-lactoglobulin and BSA) egg white proteins and mustard proteins were validated and collaborative studies were performed to prove the validation of the ELISA methods developed. Various methods of extraction were tested. The parameters as a limit of detection, as a limit of quantification, robustness, repeatability and accuracy were determined. A broad range of zero matrices for allergens were tested as well. The ELISA kits are suitable for the determination of allergens according to EU legislation Directive 2005/26/EC and Directive 2006/142/EC in the laboratories focused on this topic.

Plant root and shoot dry weight, leaf relative water content (LRWC) and chlorophyll content were reduced by 30%, 21%, 15%, 34%, respectively, at 40mM NaCl as compared to non-salt stress conditions. However, membrane permeability (MP) of plant increased (85.0%) with increasing salinity. Foliar nutrient application (FNA) alleviated deleterious effects of salinity stress on growth and this effect was statistically significant. The highest alleviation effect of FNA at 40mM salinity stress was observed in the case of 10mM foliar KNO₃ and Ca(NO₃)₂ application, resulting in increase in plant root dry weight (50%), shoot dry weight (50%), LRWC (8.2%) and MP decrease (27.4%) at 40mM NaCl. Phosphorus, Fe and Zn contents in shoots and roots of plants also increased with FNA treatments, but they were still much lower than those of non-salt stress treatment. Sulphur, P, Fe and Zn contents of shoots reached similar values as in non-salt stress treatment when KNO₃ was applied, whereas Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu contents of roots reached the values of non-salt stress treatment when Ca(NO₃)₂ was applied.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of organic (cattle manure) and inorganic fertilizers [composite NPK (15:15:15)] and natural zeolites on soil properties, vegetative growth and yield of apple plants grown on vertisol under Cacak conditions (Western Serbia). The results showed that the combined fertilization induced a decrease in acidity, an increase in humus content, a partial increase in total nitrogen (NTOT), and, primarily, a rise in available phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) levels. A highly significant (P < 0.01) interactive effect of the apple cultivars and nutrients on one-year-old shoot length and trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA) and a significant effect (P < 0.05) on yield per tree and yield per hectare were determined.

Psocid (Psocoptera) taxocoenoses were studied in forest ecosystems of the Western Carpathian Mts. in 1997-2001. As a study frame, vegetation tiers (VT = altitudinal vegetation zones) of geobiocoenological or forest-typological system were used. Lower units of forest typological system (forest type complexes) were used for the classification of ecological conditions and the material found in forest ecosystems of Abieti-fageta s. lat. communities (5^th fir-beech VT) was evaluated in detail. This VT is the most widespread in the regions under study (the Moravskoslezské Beskydy Mts., the Vsetínské vrchy Hills and Javorníky). 2,023 adults comprising 28 species were found in the 5^th VT. Caecilius burmeisteri was found as eudominant species; Philotarsus picicornis, Caecilius flavidus and Peripsocus subfasciatus were found as dominant species. In natural geobiocoenoses with the level of naturalness 1 or 2, the following species were found: Mesopsocus unipunctatus, Caecilius flavidus, and Caecilius burmeisteri as eudominant and Caecilius despaxi as dominant. Taxocoenoses of psocids were evaluated by Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) and Divisive Cluster Analysis (DvClA). The axes were interpreted in DCA-analysis as follows: the x-axis denotes the influence of VTs and the q-axis refers to the influence of hydricity. This material was compared with other material obtained from various vegetation tiers in the Western Carpathians Mts. The characteristic species composition of psocids in the 5^th VT was as follows: Caecilius flavidus - C. burmeisteri - C. despaxi - Metylophorus nebulosus - Philotarsus picicornis.

The aim of the study is to evaluate the role of the Grand fir (Abies grandis [Dougl. ex D. Don] Lindl.) as a soil-improving species in the area of the University Training Forest in Kostelec nad Černými lesy, Jevany district. The state of humus forms in the stand part with Grand fir was compared with the mature Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) without regeneration, with young beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) and oak (Quercus spp. L.) stands (all of pole stage). The site is characterized as 4P1 - acid oak-fir site with Luzula pilosa, the geological bedrock is formed of cretaceous sandstone with loess overlays, the soils are Luvisols, the terrain is flat at the altitude of 420-440 m a.s.l. The humus form samples (L, F, H, Ah horizons) were taken in 4 replications, quantitatively for the holorganic layers. The dry mass amount and total nutrient contents were analyzed for holorganic horizons, the basic pedochemical characteristics (pH, soil adsorption complex characteristics, exchangeable acidity and exchangeable nutrients) were determined for all horizons. The results confirmed marked and positive effects of the Grand fir litter on the surface layer characteristics. This tree species supports the litter of good composition, transforming easily and forming humus forms of higher quality compared to coniferous as well as studied broadleaved species.

The aim of the paper is to present a developed spreadsheet tool for the formulation of a daily dairy cow ration. It is constructed on the basis of two linked sub-models developed on the MS Excel platform. It merges the common linear programming model and the weighted-goal programming model with a penalty function. The first sub-model is included in the tool to make an estimate of the least-cost magnitude that might be expected. The obtained result is entered into the second sub-model as the goal that should be met as closely as possible. The tool was tested at two different values of preferential weights for dairy cows with a 25 kg daily milk yield. The results obtained confirm the benefits of the applied approach. In contrast to the common linear program tools, which terminate at formulation of the least-cost ration, our tool provides more efficient rations (in both economic and nutritive terms) by fine-tuning the nutritive goals and by allowing for harmless deviations from these goals by application of penalty functions.

Colour and texture are very important quality properties of all foods. In this work, the influence was investigated of different types of pectin on colour and textural properties in strawberry jams and low-calorie strawberry jams containing fructose and aspartame or fructose syrup and aspartame. The highest anthocyanin content and total phenol content were detected in strawberry jam samples prepared with low methoxy amidated pectin. During storage, after 4 and 6 weeks at both storage temperatures, room temperature and 4°C, anthocyanin content and total phenol content decreased. Also, free radical scavenging activity decreased during storage. As far as the texture parameters are concerned, namely firmness, consistency and cohesiveness, the highest values were found in strawberry jam samples prepared with high methoxyl pectin.

Pears cv. Pituralka are autochthon old cultivar from west Slovenian region and northern part of Italy, that were traditionally consumed as cooked or baked meals. In our study we developed new products and defined their nutritional value. Different thermical treatments (cooking and baking) were used for preservation of these products in sugar solution with or without an ascorbic or citric acid and packed in vacuum in a thermostable polyamide/polypropylene (PA/PP) foil. The products made from pears cv. Pituralka were sensory evaluated. The results show that Pituralka pears can be consumed only if they are thermally processed. Containing high amount of total fiber (6-7 g/100 g) products have functional perspective as prebiotics. Having low acidity level (total amount of acids 12.9-15.3 mg/100 g) products from pears cv. Pituralka have very acceptable sensory properties, especially for people with dyspepsia. However low amount of vitamin C (0.5 mg/100 g) has affect on higher sensitivity to oxidation, that needs to be taken into consideration during processing and storage.

This paper addressed the spatial distribution characteristics of organic matter, total nitrogen, extractable phosphorus and extractable potassium in agricultural soils of Northeast China. The related factors were explored using geostatistics and geographic information systems. The results showed that the log-transformed data of the four soil nutrients followed a normal distribution. Soil extractable phosphorus had a higher coefficient of variation. The experimental variogram of the log-transformed data of soil organic matter, total nitrogen and extractable phosphorus was fitted with an exponential model, while soil extractable potassium was fitted to a spherical model. Soil samples from smaller slope gradients had higher organic matter and total nitrogen. Soil type affected the four soil nutrients significantly. Soil samples from dry farming land had significantly higher total nitrogen and extractable potassium than soil from paddy fields, while the contrary was found for extractable phosphorus. Along the Yinma River, soil samples from the western part have statistically higher values for organic matter, total nitrogen and extractable potassium than those collected from the eastern part.

Sulfur (S) regarded as the fourth key element is mainly taken by the plant roots. However, some plants can also absorb atmospheric sulfides, which may be of great importance for ameliorating the environment and for farming as a green organic S fertilizer used to balance insufficient soil S content for intensive cultivation in China; H₂S and mainly SO₂ are emitted to air as a result of the rapid industrialized and economic development. Globe amaranth (Gomphrena globosa L.) might be one of the plants that can use atmospheric sulfides for its growth. Therefore the effects of sulfate deprivation from root on its growth, S status and other elements concentration under hydroponic culture were explored firstly. Based on measurements of plant growth, biomass, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), S, iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), boron (B), and molybdenum (Mo) concentration, the results showed that S concentration in flower, shoot and root of plant without root sulfate supplied was increased with plant growth and development, symptoms of S deficiency disappeared and other elements concentration in plant tended to be nearly the same as the root sulfate-supplied plants. The interesting results might imply that globe amaranth may be able to live on the atmospheric sulfides as sulfur source.

The objective of this study was to determine some cultivars suitable for their antioxidant constituents, which can further be used in breeding programmes to breed superior varieties and F1 for higher quality attributes. Thirty cultivars of domesticated capsicums were grown and analyzed during 2006-2007; they showed significant variation in their ascorbic acid and capsaicinoids contents. On the basis of ascorbic acid, the rank order of cultivars was PBC-926 > Chilli Long Black > HC-201 > KT OV > Local D-2. On the basis of capsaicinoids content, five top cultivars were selected, namely DARL-210 > Naga Jalokia > Red Sabina > CO-6-1 > Chilli Long Black.

In this paper is presented the comparison of the selected hydrometeorological data from two experimental micro-scale catchments Modrava 1 (0.1 km²) and Modrava 2 (0.17 km²) in upper parts of Bohemian Forest. These catchments differ mainly in the vegetation cover - a dead forest with very young trees (Modrava 1) and primary forest clearings with 10 to 15-year old young forest (Modrava 2). For comparison were used the data monitored close to the catchments outlets during the hydrological year 2007. Average hourly rainfall and runoff data were analysed. During the winter season, snow water equivalents were measured and the maximum value was added to the rainfall amount measured during the vegetation season for the estimation of total year precipitation on each catchment. The data of the air temperature and water conductivity measured in hourly time intervals were also compared. For the estimation of differences between the monitored data sets the cumulative values of the characteristics observed during whole year were computed. It follows from the comparison of the time series that the time rainfall distribution was similar during the year on both catchments with a higher total year precipitation and hour intensities on the catchment Modrava 2. The time distribution and total runoff depth were similar on both catchments. On Modrava 1 a faster recession of hydrographs could be seen which might relate to a lower retention capacity. The value of the water conductivity on the catchment Modrava 1 depended more on the changes of the runoff depth. The maximal values occurred during the peak discharges or in time of hydrographs rising. This fact can be the result of a lower stability of the soil profile in the catchment with dead forest cover.

: The study evaluates production parameters (height, diameter at breast height, volume) of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco) at mesotrophic sites of the Křtiny Training Forest Enterprise in mature stands. In total, 29 mixed stands were assessed with the registered proportion of Douglas fir at an age of 85 to 136 years. Comparing the 10 largest Douglas firs with the 10 largest spruces or larches higher, and as a rule markedly higher, production potential of introduced Douglas fir was found in all assessed stands. There were also groups of trees where the volume of Douglas fir was twice to 3 times higher than the volume of spruce or larch (see Tabs. 5 to 10). For example, in stand 177B11, the mean volume of 9.12 m³ was recorded in the 10 largest Douglas fir trees but the volume of spruce reached only 3.17 m³ and the volume of larch was 3.70 m³. Differences in mensurational parameters of Douglas fir found on the one hand and of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) or European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) on the other hand compared by ANOVA tests were statistically highly significant. Annual ring analyses have shown that at present the volume increment of particular Douglas fir trees ranges from 0.12 to 0.16 m³ per year in mature stands (i.e. about 1.5 m³ every 10 years).

The mycological conditions on study plots established in forests growing on former agricultural farm lands were studied. In young spruce stand (8-10 years) reduced and unstable spectrum of macromycetes was found. After approximately 50 years of forest growth the situation became stable and spectrum of macromycetes together with development of mycorrhizal status were similar to a situation found in stands on forest soils. Slightly increased occurrence of saproparasitic species of fungi (e.g. Heterobasidion annosum at others) was observed in older growths.

This paper addresses (ex ante) the issue of the potential impact of the modulation of direct payments on a sector and regional scale in the Czech Republic. The ultimate version of the compulsory modulation measure adopted under the Health Check of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) assumes the reduction of direct payments if the total individual claim exceeds 5 thousand € or 300 thousand € level. The Czech agricultural sector will be impacted by this measure substantially, given the large scale farming enterprises. In 2013, the total farmers' direct payments will be cut by more than 10% (€ 91 million). Moreover, there are regional differences in farm structures (the average farm size and the extent of collectivization) which will bring about various effects of policies in the heterogeneous regions. The analysis further shows that the regions that are least affected are at the same time more environmental sensitive and are mostly situated in the mountainous or sub-mountainous parts of the country or more urban areas than the average. Hence the effect of the modulation, from a purely environmental perspective, may not contradict the objectives of other environmental policies. That is to say the regions that need support the most will be reduced the least. However, the picture is less obvious in the regional economies where more rural regions (potentially more vulnerable with socio-economic problems) tend to be more affected.

Improvement in leaf hydraulics is directly related to the improvement of plant tolerance to drought stress. Therefore, a field and pot experiment was carried out to determine the type of genetic variability and selection of parental types on the basis of combining ability for leaf hydraulics. Genotypes showed similar performance in both experiments; higher values were shown by drought tolerant genotypes in all traits except for osmotic potential, which drought tolerant genotypes maintained lower. Osmotic adjustment in pot experiment showed the highest magnitude of additive type of genetic variability. Female showed a higher and significant contribution of general combining ability effects as compared to male; it suggests that within genotypes female rather than male mostly contribute for additive genes. AMES-10103 showed the highest general combining ability effects for traits such as turgor pressure and osmotic adjustment.

A study was conducted on the effect of two single practices, including soil tillage and returning straw to soil, and their interaction on soil porosity of maize-wheat cropping system. Field experiments involved four tillage practices, including conventional tillage (C), zero-tillage (Z), harrow-tillage (H) and subsoil-tillage (S), with straw absent (A) or straw present (P). Total porosity, capillary porosity and non-capillary porosity of soil were investigated. The results showed that the soil total porosity of 0-10 soil layer was mostly affected; conventional tillage can increase the capillary porosity of soil, but the non-capillary porosity of S was the highest. Returning of straw can increase the porosity of soil. Through the analysis of affecting force, it can be concluded that interaction of soil tillage and straw is the most important factor to soil porosity, while the controlling factor to non-capillary porosity was soil tillage treatment.

The afforestation of agricultural lands was carried out under different site and ecological conditions, including lower and medium elevated localities. The present study documents the rapidity of accumulation of surface layers and their characteristics in stands of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), Norway spruce (Picea abies), birch (Betula verrucosa) and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) in the territory of the Training Forest Enterprise in Kostelec nad Černými lesy, at the altitude 430 m a.s.l., on the site of nutrient-poor gleyed soils. The plots were compared with the neighbouring continuously forested site covered with old pine-spruce stand and with near-situated arable field. During the first roughly 40 years, considerable changes were documented on the afforested plots. Forest-floor humus layers in the coniferous stands have already been formed, the humus forms being more favourable compared with the old forest site. Acidification and loss of nutrients run in the upper mineral horizons. These processes were also responsible for the less favourable character of the forest soil in the old stand. Birch showed minor shifts of soil properties in the mineral horizon compared to the conifers; the surface humus accumulation was not observed there yet. The lowest degradation among conifers was shown in Douglas fir, intensively taking up deficient nutrients on the other hand.