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The article describes the impact of the Sectoral Operational Programme Agriculture and Rural Development and the Rural Development Plan 2004-2006 on the rural development in 2004-2007. In addition to the implementation analysis of these programming documents, the article also describes territorial distribution of direct subsidies and state aid over the monitored period of 2004-2007. A summarized overview is given for the drawdown of all types of subsidies and their proportionate amounts. The evaluation of all subsidies has shown that most of them were paid to the Northern and Eastern parts of Slovakia, due to the agroenvironmental and direct payments (mostly LFA). The article also describes, in quantitative terms, the social and economic impact of investment subsidies from the Sectoral Operational Programme Agriculture and Rural Development and the Rural Development Plan 2004-2006, based on the monitoring indicators of result and impact. The comparison of the socio-economic development of the beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of investment subsidies from the SOP and RDP has shown a faster growth in income of the beneficiaries, as well as a faster growth of labour productivity. Also, the subsidies significantly helped to reduce the decrease in employment and/or helped to maintain the employment in agriculture.

In this work the Cd, Cu and Zn accumulation in potatoes, their influence on starch, water-soluble (WSS) and water-insoluble saccharide (WIS) contents and content of heavy metals in various saccharide fractions of potatoes were determined. The fraction of WSS was isolated by Somogyi method, the WIS fraction was obtained from delipided portion of potatoes. Enhanced pseudototal Cd contents in relationship to limit value 0.7 mg/kg of soil were determined in 13 soil samples (0.72-1.06 mg/kg). Contents of Zn and Cu were lower than their limit values in all observed soil samples. Observed heavy metals have not influence on their accumulation in potatoes, the Cd content in potatoes (0.0015-0.0042 mg/kg f.m.), Cu (0.0590-0.1780 mg/kg f.m.) and Zn contents (0.1887-0.3517 mg/kg f.m.) were also lower than their limit values. The proportion of observed heavy metals in selected saccharide fractions: Cd (mg/kg): 0.017-0.140 (starch), 0.0133-0.2293 (WIS), 0.8711-109.7713 (WSS); Cu (mg/kg): 0.067-1.433 (starch), 0.2844-6.9877 (WIS), 18.0134-1070.5216 (WSS); Zn (mg/kg): 6.667-66.300 (starch), 0.7869-23.3673 (WIS), 101.4842-4020.790 (WSS)

Fast-growing woody plants that can be grown under short-rotation systems offer an alternative to food production on arable land, and serve as a potential source of renewable energy. In order to establish the feasibility of future large scale production under the conditions of the Czech-Moravian highland, a high density experimental field plantation including a range of available clones of Populus sp. and Salix sp. with the total area of 1.5 ha was established in early 2001 in Domanínek (Czech Republic, 49°32'N, 16°15'E and altitude 530 m). The clone experiment of Populus sp. covered 0.3 ha in the center of the plantation and included 13 clones in total, with hardwood cuttings of only 6 clones available in numbers allowing 4-replicate experiment. The plantation was established on agricultural land and the trees were planted in a double row design with a density of 10 000 trees/ha. The trial was weeded by mechanical methods, and no irrigation, fertilization, or herbicides were applied. The experiment site was harvested at the end of 2006. It was found that the biomass yields of the tested clones of Populus sp. were in the higher range of results from national and European studies in case of hybrid clones. The satisfactory survival rate in the first year, when mortality tends to be highest, was supported by relatively wet weather conditions after plantation establishment. At the end of the first rotation, the highest yields were obtained from clones J-105 and J-104 (P. nigra × P. maximowiczii) and P-494 (P. maximowiczii × P. berolinensis) with J-105 showing a mean annual increment of dry matter close to 14 t/ha. Additional experiments seem to suggest that well managed poplar plantation might produce even better values if higher survival rates can be achieved.

An evaluation of the effects of soil structural heterogeneity on maize (Zea mays L.) root system architecture was carried out on plants grown in boxes containing fine soil and clods. The clods were prepared at two levels of moisture (0.17 and 0.20 g/g) and bulk density (ranges 1.45-1.61 g/ml and 1.63-1.79 g/ml). Soil moisture directly affected the probability of clod penetration by maize roots. Primary roots inside the clods manifested morphological deformations in the form of bends. We observed a significant increase of bends per root length at lower soil moisture (P = 0.02). Root diameter and branching density increased, and lateral root length decreased considerably inside the clods. However, once emerging out of the clods and into free soil, values of all three characteristics remained low. While changes in root diameter were caused mainly by clod moisture (P < 0.05), length of lateral roots was related to bulk density (P < 0.01). Branching density was modified exclusively by an interactive effect of both factors (P < 0.05).

The analysis comprised purebred Charolais bull calves (CH) and crossbred bull calves born from Hereford (CH × HE) and Simmental (CH × SI) cows. Body weights and daily gains were measured in subsequent periods of the experiment and the post-slaughter evaluation was carried out. Carcass lean weight and dressing percentage were evaluated, as well as the lean content of five prime cuts. Total weight of the five prime cuts was measured and its share in the half-carcass weight was determined. The rib-eye area was also measured. The CH × SI crossbreds reached significantly higher body weights at weaning, 210-day body weights and weights at finishing, as well as significantly higher daily gains in all the periods (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and were characterized by the heaviest carcasses and most cuts, particularly the round. The crossbreds had the highest total weight of five prime cuts and total lean weight, highest weight of the round and lean weight in the round. Other relationships were found analyzing the share of each cut in the carcass. The share of tenderloin and rump in the carcass of CH × SI was significantly lower compared to the purebred bulls (P < 0.01) and CH × HE (P < 0.05). They also had a significantly lower share of the shoulder, shank and shin, as compared to the other groups, as well as a significantly higher (P < 0.05) share of the neck, as compared to the purebred bulls. The purebred bulls also achieved good results and had the highest share of the prime cuts and the largest mean rib-eye area.

The influence of growth regulators, explants and their interactions on in vitro shoot bud formation from callus was studied in Dianthus caryophyllus L. The leaf and internode explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing different concentrations of growth regulators. The highest callus induction was observed with 2 mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) and 1 mg/l benzyl adenine (BA). Out of twenty seven shoot regeneration media tested, only 2 mg/l thidiazuron (TDZ) and zeatin alone or in combination with naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and/or indole acetic acid (IAA) could differentiate calli. The highest average number of shoots was observed with 2 mg/l TDZ and 1 mg/l IAA. Significant differences were observed in calli producing shoots and number of shoots per callus in the explants of leaf and internode. The shoots were elongated and multiplied on MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/l BA and solidified with 1% agar. The shoots were rooted and hardened with 76% survival success in pots after six weeks of transfer to the pots.

The spruce-fir-beech dominated forest stands in Litschau in the Austrian part of the Bohemian Massif were converted by former forest management practices into pure Norway spruce stands and are now discussed to be reconverted into the potential natural vegetation type. The targeted potential natural vegetation type is usually defined by experts in vegetation sciences. Because meanwhile individual-tree growth simulators are a well acknowledged tool for predicting future forest stand development, in this study we investigate if PROGNAUS can also be used to predict the redevelopment of managed forest ecosystems into natural forest ecosystems regarding species composition. The development of 23 stands in Litschau has been simulated over 1,000 years under the "no-management" option. Generally, the simulated species distribution agrees quite well with the expectations of the potential natural vegetation type. However, the predicted amounts of silver fir and maple species are lower than expected, which probably is due to browsing and management effects represented in the parameterization data for PROGNAUS.

The differences between oak lepidopteran communities were studied in Slovakia in 1993 and 1994. Sampling was undertaken between April and October on 3 oak species (Quercus robur, Q. petraea, Q. rubra). Biological traits of larvae were examined in order to explain differences in seasonal guilds among oaks. Communities varied in structure and abundance. Species richness in four seasonal guilds (flush, late spring, summer and autumn feeders) had a similar pattern on each of the studied oak species. The guild of flush feeders had the richest species assemblage, followed by the late spring feeder guild and both guilds were significantly richer than the summer feeder guild and autumn feeder guild.

In this study, the circulus arteriosus cerebri of the ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) was investigated. Five ground squirrels were used as subjects. Coloured latex was injected from the left ventriculi of the hearts of all the squirrels. When the vertebral arteries of two of the animals were ligatured, it was found that there was no internal carotid artery. After careful dissection, the circulus arteriosus cerebri (the circle of Willis) was investigated. The right and left vertebral arteries gave rise to the caudal cerebellar artery before forming the basilar artery. The basilar artery formed the caudal communicans artery that was the caudal part of the circulus arteriosus cerebri on the pontocrural groove (sulcus pontocruralis). The caudal, medial, rostral cerebellar, the common root formed by the caudal cerebral and choroid arteries, the rostral choroid, the rostral and medial cerebral arteries arose from the vertebral, basilar and caudal communicans arteries and dispersed to the cerebrum and cerebellum from caudal to cranial. The termination and the branches of the rostral cerebral artery in ground squirrels varied. It was observed that the internal carotid artery does not supply the circulus arteriosus cerebri in ground squirrels.

In order to develop the quality of life in small rural municipalities, their representation faces the thoughts about the perspective of these municipalities in economic terms (the capacity to finance long-term investments) as well as in the socio-cultural terms (the development of participation in public life embedded in the local identity). This article presents the results of the pilot empirical survey in one micro-region of the Czech Republic. The results of the in-depth interviews clearly indicate the preference of the investigated communities to choose the strategy of supporting their independence (which might result in the risk of lower ability to deal with economic problems) prior to the strategy to strengthen the economy of the community through merging the municipalities (and to risk the potential loss of local identity). The conclusions consider the possible forms of municipal cooperation reinforcing the capacity to address economic problems while preserving the autonomy of small rural municipalities. However, the low ability of the partnership cooperation of these municipalities is demonstrated.

The fractionation of Cd, Cu, Mo, Ni, and Zn species in extracts of rye (cv. Fernando) seedlings (grown up in both standard and Cd²⁺-enriched medium) and rye flour was performed by SEC/ICP-MS method. The majority of Cu, Zn, and Ni in all samples were bound in the 1-2 kDa fraction. Molybdenum occurred in all samples in the fraction of 3 kDa. During five days of cultivation in a solution of 30 µmol/l Cd²⁺, the plants accumulated as much as 5 mg/kg fresh matter of Cd, but its soluble portion represented only 12-15%. The prevailing portion of Cd complexes was contained in the fraction of 3 kDa, while the minor part occurred in the fraction of 20 kDa. The speciation of elevated Cd in plants differs from that of other metals present at a physiological level. The metal-rich fractions of the extracts of all samples (i.e. those of 1-2 kDa) were refined by immobilised metal affinity chromatography. The isolated ligands of trace elements were peptides rich in dicarboxylic aminoacids.

Industrial wine yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae Syrena, an interspecies hybrid (S. cerevisiae × S. bayanus) HW2-3 and Schizosaccharomyces pombe met 3-15 h^{+>/sup> were examined to determine changes in fermentation profiles in different environmental conditions in YG medium with different concentrations of glucose (2, 6, 40 or 100 g/l), L-malic acid (4, 7 or 11 g/l) and at pH 3.0, 3.5 and 5.0. The results were obtained by HPLC method (organic acids, acetaldehyde, glycerol, diacetyl) and enzymatically (L-malic acid, ethanol). In anaerobic conditions (100 g/l glucose), the optimal parameters for L-malic acid decomposition for S. cerevisiae Syrena and the hybrid HW2-3 were 11 g/l L-malic acid and pH 3.0 and 3.5, respectively. S. pombe expressed the highest demalication activity at 40 and 100 g/l glucose, 7 g/l L-malic acid and pH 3.0. The fermentation profiles of selected metabolites of yeast were unique for specific industrial strains. These profiles may help in the proper selection of yeast strains to fermentation and make it possible to predict the organoleptic changes in the course of fruit must fermentation.}

The study aimed at evaluating and comparing changes provoked by the water deficit on water relations and nitrogen fixation in two Vigna unguiculata cultivars, as well as at indicating which cultivar is more tolerant under water deficiency. The experimental design used was entirely randomized in factorial scheme, with 2 cultivars (Pitiuba and Pérola) and 2 water regimes (control and stress). The parameters evaluated were the leaf relative water content, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, nodule number, nodule dry matter, nitrate reductase enzyme activity, ureide concentration and leghemoglobin in nodule. The stomatal conductance of the Pitiuba and Pérola cultivars under water deficit were 0.20 and 0.01 mmol H₂O/m²/s, respectively. The nitrate reductase activity of the plants under stress was significantly reduced in both cultivars. The leghemoglobin in the Pitiuba and Pérola cultivars under water stress had the concentrations of 58 and 41 g/kg dry matter, respectively. The parameters investigated in this study suggest that the Pitiuba cultivar under water deficit suffers from smaller changes, when compared with Pérola cultivar.

This paper evaluates the effect of partial root zone drying (PRD) and deficit irrigation (DI) strategies on yield and water use efficiency of the drip-irrigated corn on clay soils under the Mediterranean climatic conditions in Southern Turkey. Four deficit (PRD-100; PRD-75; PRD-50; and DI-50) and one full irrigation (FI) strategies based on cumulative evaporation (E _pan) from class A pan at 7-day interval were studied. Full (FI) and deficit irrigation (DI-50) treatments received 100 and 50% of E_pan, respectively. PRD-100, PRD-75 and PRD-50 received 100, 75 and 50% E_pan value, respectively. The highest water use was observed in FI as 677 mm, the lowest was found in PRD-50 as 375 mm. PRD-100 and DI-50 resulted in similar water use (438 and 445 mm). The maximum grain yield was obtained from the FI as 10.40 t/ha, while DI-50 and PRD-100 resulted in similar grain yields of 7.72 and 7.74 t/ha, respectively. There was a significant difference among the treatments with respect to grain yields (P < 0.01). The highest water use efficiency (WUE) was found in PRD-100 as 1.77 kg/m³, and the lowest one was found in FI as 1.54 kg/m³.

Data on 75 567 ejaculates from 1 417 boars of the breeds Czech Large White and Czech Landrace collected in 23 AI centres between 2000 and 2007 were analyzed. Fixed effects were estimated from a four-trait animal model for semen volume, sperm concentration, motility and percentage of abnormal spermatozoa and from single-trait animal models for the total number of spermatozoa and the number of functional spermatozoa. Both the total number of spermatozoa and the number of functional spermatozoa were highest in winter and lowest in summer. Boar's age had a strong influence on semen volume, the total number and the functional number of spermatozoa; these traits increased especially in the first phase. The percentage of abnormal spermatozoa also increased with age. An interval between successive collections of 7 to 10 days yielded the best values for all semen traits. As semen traits are of direct economic importance for AI centres, it can be expected that the estimation of breeding value for semen traits will become important and that AI centres will choose among top boars for production and female reproduction traits the boars with better semen production.

The possibility of peat replacement with crushed water absorbent rockwool in growing substrates in the amount of 35% vol. was verified in the experiment with perennials in containers. Three types of substrates, i.e. peat, and two mixtures of peat with alternative components - green waste compost (25% vol.) or composted spruce bark (40% vol.) were compared. A sand box in the range of -0.5 to -10 kPa was used to determine retention curves and other physical properties of the components and substrates. The addition of rockwool to the peat substrate increased content of air and easy available water, the plant growth was not affected. Plants grown in substrates with alternative organic components were smaller in comparison to peat substrate. The growth of perennials significantly decreased, mainly in substrates with bark, but the plants had good market value. The addition of rockwool to these substrates had no significant effect on the growth. Crushed rockwool in the amount of 35% vol. can replace peat in peat substrates and in mixtures with alternative components.

The water regime variability in most catchments is frequently influenced not only by the changes of the vegetation cover in the annual cycle but also by its development in the time span of decades. That means that the resulting evapotranspiration depends not only on the actual climatic situation but also on the soil moisture. The simulations of the rainfall-runoff process have been used with the intention to follow the possible role of the developing land cover. The differences between the observed and simulated flows in relatively long periods can be considered as an appropriate tool for the assessment of the water regime changes, in which the evapotranspiration demand variability is a significant phenomenon.

In order to determine the environment carrying capacity in terms of biomass production utilizable by game 360 representative sample plots (1 × 1 m) were laid out in the growing season on the basis of typological classification in forest stand of an area of 1,796.49 ha in the studied region of the Soutok Game Preserve, Židlochovice Forest Enterprise, Lanžhot Forest District. On meadows, pastures and others areas producing grass and herbs of a total area of 532.87 ha, other 57 sample plots were laid out and sample of biomass utilizable by game. Quantification of the biomass was carried out on the basis of the area cover of grass and woody undergrowth. In total, forest and non-forest land provides 14,659,851 kg grass and herb utilizable biomass. In forest stands production was found of 6,826,662 kg grass and herb biomass (on average 380 g/m²) and on meadows and pastures 7,833,189 kg (on average 1,470 g/m²). Moreover, production of 1,401,262 kg (on average 78 g/m²). Laboratory analyses were carried out of naturally dried-up samples of biomass and these values available energy were ascertained: the energy of grass and herb biomass amounted to 5.7 MJ/kg, the utilizable energy of wooody origin amounted to 4.03 MJ/kg. In view of the standardized game population size up the available food supply sufficient, because the energy requirement was fully covered by their daily quantitative consumption of biomass.

The diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi of Acacia catechu Willd. was studied. Dominant AM spores, the bacterium Rhizobium sp. along with the fungus Trichoderma viride were isolated from the rhizosphere of A. catechu and mass-produced in laboratory. The co-inoculation effect of Glomus mosseae, Glomus fasciculatum, mixed AM (Glomus spp. [except G. mosseae, G. fasciculatum] with Acaulospora spp., Sclerocystis spp. and Gigaspora spp.), Rhizobium sp. and Trichoderma viride was studied as exerted on the growth of A. catechu seedlings. All inoculated seedlings showed improved seedling growth compared to the control. Inoculated seedlings had a pronounced effect on all growth parameters such as height, fresh and dry weight of roots and shoots, AM spore count, per cent mycorrhizal colonization in roots and root nodule number in comparison with uninoculated seedlings. Phosphorus uptake was also higher in inoculated seedlings than in the control. This study provides a good scope for commercially utilizing the efficient strains of AM fungi for beneficial effects with other beneficial rhizosphere microflora in the primary establishment of slow growing seedlings ensuring better survival and improved growth.

In this study the nerves originating from the plexus lumbosacrales of porcupines (Hystrix cristata) were investigated. Four porcupines (two males and two females) were used. The plexus lumbosacrales of animals were appropriately dissected and dissemination of pelvic limb nerves originating from the plexus lumbosacrales was examined. The nerves originated from the plexus lumbosacrales of porcupines (Hystrix cristata): iliohypogastric nerve from T15, ilioinguinal nerve (on the left side of only one animal) genitofemoral and lateral femoral cutaneous nerves from T15 and L1, the femoral and obturator nerves from T15, L1, L2 and L3. The femoral nerve divided into two as the common dorsal digital nerve I and II after it branched into motor and skin nerves. The cranial gluteal nerve originated from L3 and L4 in males and from only L3 in females. The caudal gluteal nerve and the caudal femoral cutaneous and sciatic nerves originated from the common root which was formed by the union of L3, L4 and S1 in one animal, and by the union of L3, L4, S1 and S2 in the three other animals. The sciatic nerve divided into the tibial and fibular nerve. The fibular nerve divided into two as the common dorsal digital nerve III and IV, and extended after branching in one direction to extensor muscles. The tibial nerve divided into the common palmares digital nerve I, II, III and IV, and extended after branching into the cutaneous surae caudales nerve and rami muscle distales. The cutaneous surae caudales nerve divided into the common palmar and dorsal digital nerve V. The pudendal and caudal rectal nerves originated from S2 in three animals and from S1 in the remaining animal. In the point of origin from the branches of spinal nerves originating from the plexus lumbosacrales, and also in the absence of the ilioinguinal nerve (on left side abroad of only one animal), originating from T15 and L1 of the genitofemoral and lateral femoral cutaneous nerves, from T15 of the iliohypogastric nerve, the studied porcupines differed from rodentia and other mammals

The article aims at the description and assessment of strategic options for companies which have necessary resources to take the advantage of the current economic downturn. The theoretical framework is based on two predominant approaches to competitive advantage and the practical implications for actions to be adopted are derived from the recommendations published recently by the leading consulting firms. While quick fixes ensuring a short-term survival (mostly financially based cost-saving measures) are an essential first step, a longer-term success lies in the effective adoption of the scenario-planning techniques, active competitors intelligence and a proactive attitude to restructuring through a combination of mergers, acquisitions and divestment decisions.

In the food industry, the addition of flavours is used to reinforce the aroma profile of different goods. However, interactions between starch and aroma compounds can occur, and this can impact upon aroma release and perception. In the present study, we have investigated the influence of starch type on aroma release from starch-aroma systems. The food model system used was composed of an aqueous starch dispersion (1 g dry starch/100 g dispersion) and 10 aroma compounds (ethyl butanoate, ethyl 2-methylbutanoate, ethyl 3-methylbutanoate, ethyl pentanoate, methyl hexanoate, ethyl hexanoate, methyl ethyl propanoate, hexyl acetate, 3-hexenol, and phenyl methyl acetate). Different commercially available starches were used: Amilogels P, K, PDP, G, MVK, HP, OK and HPW, and carrageenan (Amilogel CAR) and guar gum (Amilogel GG). Aroma release from these starch-aroma systems into the gas phase above food (headspace) were monitored by GC-MS analysis with a solid-phase micro-extraction technique. The smell of the starch-aroma system was also evaluated sensorially by a trained panel. The release of aroma compounds from the different starch-aroma systems was statistically significant (P < 0.0001) for all of the aroma compounds, with the exception of ethyl pentanoate. A correlation between the concentration of individual aroma compounds in the headspace and the sensory evaluation (smell) was seen. Starch-aroma systems comprising corn starch (Amilogel G), physically modified starches that are soluble in cold water (Amilogels K, PDP), and hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate (Amilogels HP) had sensorially superior smells compared to the other types of starches tested. At the same time, the headspace GC-MS analyses showed ethyl butanoate, ethyl 2-methylbutanoate, ethyl 3-methylbutanoate and ethyl pentanoate to be at the highest concentrations, which are all typical aroma compounds of strawberry fruit, and which also have low perception thresholds. Dextrin-roasted starch, guar gum and carrageenan provided the lowest sensory scores, although in contrast, they more strongly retained these aroma compounds.

The investigation was carried out in 2005, on 30 plots chosen in the Central-Eastern part of the Emilia Romagna region, and cultivated with pear, grapevine and vegetable crops under the organic management system. For each crop, 5 plots with a level of calcium carbonate > 10% and 5 plots with a level of calcium carbonate < 3% were selected. For pear and vine, soil analyses were performed at the depths of 0-20 cm and 20-50 cm, for vegetable at the depth of 0-50 cm. Organic matter content was higher in pear-cultivated plots, followed by grapevine and vegetable crops. Copper application rate, from 1998 to 2004, was higher in pear and grapevine than in vegetable plots. Soil total and DTPA-extractable Cu were higher in pear and grapevine than in vegetable-cultivated plots. Soil DTPA-extractable Cu concentration was higher in the upper horizon than at 20-50 cm soil depth. The increase of total Cu in pear and vine-cultivated plots was combined with the increase of soil inactive Cu.

Simple balance of Cd input by different treatments and removal by agricultural crops was investigated in an ongoing precise long-term field experiment with application of sewage sludge (SS), farmyard manure (FYM), and mineral fertilizers (NPK). Potatoes, wheat and barley were grown in a rotation at 4 experimental sites of the Czech Republic with the aim to assess the risk of Cd accumulation in soil and plants under different soil and climate conditions. The results showed significant differences in Cd content of the input materials used, and in Cd inputs to soils under different fertilization managements. Three applications of sewage sludge during 1996-2005 resulted in total addition of 110 g Cd/ha into soil, which was by one order of magnitude higher than Cd addition in FYM or NPK treatments. From the total amount of sludge-borne Cd, only small portion was removed by harvests of crops (approximately 3.5%). Soil conditions significantly affected Cd input-removal balance. The highest Cd removals were obtained on soils with the lowest pH. The highest Cd removal was achieved by potato tubers followed by wheat and barley plants. The results showed that the risk of Cd accumulation in soils is high, especially with repeated sludge applications.

The study is a follow-up of the production potential of Douglas fir in mesotrophic sites of the Křtiny Training Forest Enterprise (TFE) (Journal of Forest Science, No. 7, 2008). Production parameters (height, dbh, volume) of Douglas fir are also evaluated, but in acid sites of the Hůrky Training Forest District, Secondary Forestry School in Písek in mature stands. In total, 17 mixed stands with the proportion of Douglas fir aged 88 to 121 years were assessed. Comparing 10 Douglas fir trees with 10 Norway spruce, Scots pine or European larch trees of the largest volume, higher and generally markedly higher production potential of the introduced Douglas fir was always found in all assessed stands. Groups where the volume of Douglas fir trees was two to three times higher than the volume of spruce, pine or larch were not an exception. For example, in stand 22B10, the mean volume of the 10 largest Douglas fir trees was 6.30 m³ but the volume of spruce trees was only 1.93 m³ and the volume of larch trees 2.25 m³. Differences between the mensurational parameters of Douglas fir and spruce (or larch) assessed by the ANOVA test were statistically highly significant. At present (based on annual ring analyses), the volume increment of particular Douglas fir trees ranges at level of 0.06 to 0.10 m³/year (i.e. about 0.6 m³ to 1.0 m³ per 10 years) in mature stands.

The article discusses economic development of Slovak agriculture in the period after the accession of Slovakia to the EU and after adopting the CAP. It evaluates agriculture as a whole and its contribution to the national economy, as well as the economic performance of the individual legal forms of business and production sectors. The results achieved by agriculture in 2004-2007 suggest that the income within the sector (except of 2005) has improved also due to the inflow of the EU subsidies. On the other hand, despite the growing aid the production output is shrinking, wages stagnate and the employment is falling. This suggests that the CAP should be changed after 2013, especially as regards the ways of subsidy payments. Economics of the individual products are largely affected by input prices, realisation prices, as well as by the volume of direct subsidies, namely in the plant production - the subsidies for crops grown on arable land, and in animal production - the subsidies per 1 Big Cattle Unit.

The absence of good agricultural and manufacturing practices in the production and postharvest handling of fresh produce, such as green asparagus or green onions increase the contamination risk by biological hazards like Salmonella. The objective of this work was to investigate the efficacy of chlorine (200 and 250 ppm), hydrogen peroxide (1.5% and 2%), and lactic acid (1.5% and 2%) sanitisers during different exposure times (40, 60, and 90 s) on the reduction of Salmonella enterica subspecie enterica serovar Typhimurium in inoculated fresh green asparagus and green onions. Washing with clean water only reduced < 1 log10 CFU/g in both vegetables. The most effective sanitiser evaluated for fresh green asparagus and green onions disinfection appeared to be 2% lactic acid reducing Salmonella growth close to 3 log₁₀ CFU/g. Hydrogen peroxide was the least effective agent for Salmonella Typhimurium reduction. No effect was observed of the exposure time of inoculated product to sanitiser up to 90 seconds. These results confirm that lactic acid could be used as an alternative for fresh green asparagus and green onions sanitation.

The problems of soil hygiene and contents of the following heavy metals: cadmium, cobalt and nickel in the productive parts of plants in the location of Agricultural Cooperative Štrba in Poprad County were discussed in the presented work. Above-mentioned location is found in the neighbourhood with a chemical factory Chemosvit Svit. The achieved results show that the soil hygiene in this region is mainly affected by the activity of this chemical factory. This factory is producing many risky substances and their results can be seen in the condition of soil hygiene and in the quality of farmed plants. The results of monitored heavy metals (Cd, Co, Ni) prove that the content of cadmium and nickel is the main polluting factor of soil in this region. The increased contents of these elements in soil produce a high risk of the uptake to plants. This further affects the technological quality along with the quality of hygiene of farmed products and finally the food itself as well. A higher attention needs to be paid to cobalt too, because it proved quite high cumulation ability in soil.

The aim of the paper was to analyse congenital disorders in the Czech cattle population in 1986-2001. The offspring of 474 sires - 215 Czech Simmental, 236 Holstein, and 23 beef - were diagnosed with congenital disorders which were unevenly distributed because only 18 occurred in the progeny of 10 and more sires, in contrast to 88 occurring in the progeny of 1 sire only. Umbilical hernia was the most frequently noted disorder, and 136 sires fathered progeny with limb anomalies. The most frequent gestational accident was schistosomus reflexus, the results suggesting a familial burden. Three sires fathering offspring with the afflicted spinal column and limbs were heterozygous for Complex Vertebral Malformation (CVM) though they had not been reported as such. Foetal defects and stillbirth were quite frequent, and the calves affected were fathered by 56 sires. In rare disorders with a low incidence, an accurate genetic analysis or even simple discrimination between inherited and acquired defects is problematic. It would be our recommendation that those sires with a higher incidence of defects among their offspring should be disqualified from fathering stock bulls, or culled.

: A glasshouse pot experiment tested the effects of 14 different combinations of substrate type, pH and nutrient treatments on the occurrence and severity of leaf chlorosis in a susceptible variety of petunia. Plants grown at optimal pH level (4.7) in peat substrate with low limestone dose were symptom-free even without added micronutrients. Severe chlorosis occurred in plants grown at high pH in peat substrate with high limestone (pH 6.7) and in peat-bark-compost (pH 6.2); it was associated with decreased Fe and Mn content in leaves. Regular application of nutrient solution with low concentration of Fe, Mn, and other micronutrients as EDTA chelates greatly reduced chlorosis in plants grown in peat-bark substrate and in peat-bark-compost, and it improved Fe uptake. An exception was peat substrate at high pH level and high limestone where chlorosis was only partially reduced by this treatment. Regular application of Fe, Mn, and other micronutrients as sulphates or citrates had no substantial effect; only application of three additional substrate drenches of 30 mg/l Mn from Mn-EDTA and 90 mg/l Fe from either Fe-EDTA or Fe-EDDHA substantially corrected chlorosis and increased foliar Fe and Mn in cases where plants were grown in high limestone peat substrate.