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In the present study we aimed to compare the arterial and venous plasma ammonia in dairy cows with fatty liver and hepatic failure. 75 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows were used in the investigation. Clinical examinations revealed liver failure in 14 cows (group LF). Diagnosis of hepatic failure was based on the clinical signs of hepatic encephalopathy, including anorexia, depressed consciousness, ataxia, somnolence, and coma, and on venous plasma ammonia >35 µmol/l. The other cows were divided according to their liver triglyceride content (wet tissue) into the following groups: low triglycerides (LT) < 30 mg/g (n = 24), medium triglycerides (MT) 30-100 mg/g (n = 31), and high triglycerides (HT) >100 mg/g (n = 6). Both arterial and venous plasma ammonia levels were highest in cows with hepatic failure (93.0 ± 44.9 and 70.4 ± 34.1 µmol/l, respectively). We observed that arterial ammonia was significantly higher than venous ammonia (p < 0.01) only in the dairy cows suffering from liver failure, implying a higher informative value of arterial ammonia in detection of liver function damage in cattle demonstrating signs of hepatic encephalopathy.

The flow properties were determined for two groups of food powders used in industry: cereal powders and non-starch powders. Materials were different in mean sizes of particles d* ranging from 0.033 mm for potato flour to 4.449 mm for oatmeal. Experiments were performed in 60 mm in diameter direct shear tester (Jenike shear tester) for four values of consolidating stress _r: 30, 60, 80 and 100 kPa. The highest values of flow function (FF) and the widest range of its variability (ranging from 0.5 kPa to 35 kPa) were found in the case of pearl barley groats. For the non-starch powders values of FF were more stable and did not exceed a limit characteristic for easy flowing materials. The highest values of FF in the group of the non-starch materials were obtained for icing sugar (from 19 kPa to 24 kPa) while the lowest found were values of FF for salt (from 3 kPa to 7 kPa). Powdered milk and potato flour showed the widest variability of FF values within the non-starch materials.

A five-year study was conducted to study the correlations between chemical analyses and sensory properties of wine during bottle aging. Chardonnay grapes were harvested as a normal and late harvest. After separate vinification, bottles were put in an underground cellar at12°Cand 75% of humidity. Chemical and sensory analyses were carried out after bottling (0), after 12, 24 and 36 months of bottle aging. The results of chemical and sensory evaluation show a strong correlation between a young wine bouquet and decrease in the concentration of isoamyl and 2-phenethyl acetates, and between an increase in diethyl succinate and bottle bouquet.

The present study was designed to compare the efficiency of bovine embryo production for cryopreservation between oocytes collected from donors in the growth phase of follicular development (GPFD) and those recovered from donors in the undefined phase (UPFD). Cyclic cows, Czech Siemental or Holstein dairy breeds, 4-6 years of age, slaughtered at the local abbatoir were used. They were divided into two groups based on ovarian morphology: I. GPFD donors with ovaries corresponding to the growth phase of the first follicular wave (estrus cycle days 3-4; n = 52), and II. UPFD donors with ovaries in any other phase of follicular development (undefined estrus cycle days; n = 89). A total of 3 771 oocytes were collected and 1 134 embryos were prepared as two separate populations by standard protocol. In total 352 excellent or good quality embryos at the early, advanced or expanded blastocyst stage from both donor groups were pooled and used for cryotolerance assessment. They were frozen on day 7 (D7) or day 8 (D8) after fertilization by the standard procedure. After thawing, the embryos were cultured for 72 h to the hatching stage. The percentages of both D7 embryos and advanced blastocysts were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.01) for oocytes collected from GPFD donors than for oocytes collected from UPFD donors (33.7 vs 28.6% and 43.0 vs 29.5%, respectively). The percentages of excellent or good quality embryos obtained from both D7 embryos and fertilized oocytes were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.01) for oocytes collected from GPFD donors than for oocytes collected from UPFD donors (63.6 vs 49.4% and 21.4 vs 14.1%, respectively). The post-thaw survival rates were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.01) for D7 than D8 embryos (80.4 vs 66.3%). In relation to the developmental stage, the development and hatching rates were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.01) for D7 than D8 early blastocysts (75.0 vs 41.2% and 50.0 vs 5.9%, respectively) and for D7 than D8 advanced blastocysts, (73.7 vs 57.1 and 52.6 vs 28.6%, respectively). No differences were found between D7 and D8 expanded blastocysts after freezing-thawing. In conclusion, the collection of oocytes from donors in the growth phase positively influenced the in vitro production of bovine embryos for cryopreservation. The development of embryos produced with oocytes from GPFD donor group was accelerated and more excellent and good advanced blastocysts with greater cryotolerance were produced on day 7 after fertilization, as compared to embryos produced with oocytes from the UPFD donor group.

The aim was to determine the conversion of alimentary substances of laying hens (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) into the production of eggs and to determine the emission of nitrogen, air pollution by dust and microorganisms in accordance with different technologies of layer rearing. The studies were conducted in 6 poultry houses. The birds were kept in premises in cage batteries BKN-3, "Spech", OBN-1, OBN-3 or on littered floor. It was found out that there was 1.6 times more dust in the air of poultry house where laying hens were kept on litter and the total number of bacteria was 2.4 times higher than in the bird cages (P < 0.001). The laying hens assimilated 21.95-28.42% of nitrogen, 19.63-31.25% of phosphorus, 6.04-8.33% of potassium for egg production and weight gains when feed is balanced. If cage technologies are applied, over a year, there is a loss of 6.7 ± 1.4% of nitrogen through the excrements because of nitrogen emission. When the technologies of littered floor are used, there is a loss of 18.5 ± 4.8% of nitrogen extricated with the excrements (P < 0.025). When the birds were kept in cages, 0.059 ± 0.011 kg of nitrogen per each bird evaporated because of ammonia emission, while in the case of littered floor - 0.227 ± 0.126 kg of nitrogen.

Citrus is grouped under the salt sensitive crops. Mycorrhizal fungi, a symbiotic relationship between plant roots and beneficial fungi, are supposed to impart the stress tolerance in the host plants. The stress tolerance improved due to Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi (AM fungi) colonization can be attributed to enhanced mineral nutrition. In the present study the efforts are made to evaluate the effectiveness of AM fungi with two citrus genotypes under salt stress. Three-month-old seedlings of Karna Khatta (Citrus Karna) and Troyer Citrange (Poncirus trifoliata × Citrus sinensis) were inoculated with the indigenous soil based AM inocula (mixed strains). The salinity gradient was developed by frequent irrigation with NaCl (0, 50, 100, 150 mM w/v). The results indicated that all the physical parameters were affected with increasing salinity. The proline accumulation increased while the chlorophyll, calcium and magnesium contents decreased significantly with increasing salinity. In general, the decreased AM colonization did not show any significant effects under salt stress.

Dothistroma needle blight Mycosphaerella pini E. Rostrup and its anamorphic stage Dothistroma septospora (Dorog.) Morelet was detected for the first time in the territory of the Czech Republic in a consignment of imported plants of Austrian pine Pinus nigra Arnold in 1999. In 2000, it was also found on Pinus nigra in an open planting in a plantation of Christmas trees by the village of Jedovnice near Brno in South Moravia. In the Czech Republic, Dothi-stroma needle blight was identified on 13 species of pine. Pinus nigra Arnold and Pinus mugo Turra are the most frequent hosts. In addition to these species, Dothistroma needle blight was observed on Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex Lawson, Pinus jeffreyi Grev. et Balf, Pinus banksiana Lamb., Pinus contorta Douglas, Pinus rotundata Link, Pinus leucodermis Ant. and Pinus sylvestris L. Finds on Pinus aristata Engelm., Pinus rigida Mill., Pinus heldreichii H. Christ. and Pinus cembra L. var. sibirica (Du Tour) G. Don. are a certain rarity. These species are not mentioned anywhere as potential hosts of Dothistroma needle blight. As for the species of other genera Picea pungens Engelm., Picea abies L. Karst. and last but not least Picea schrenkiana Fisch. & C. A. Mey were also observed as hosts. The host range of Dothistroma needle blight recorded in papers is noted as well.

In 2001-2005, the effects of game on the condition and development of natural regeneration of a floodplain forest were studied in three permanent transects in the Vrapač National Nature Reserve (NNR). Fraxinus excelsior, Acer pseudoplatanus, Acer campestre and Acer platanoides predominated in the regeneration. The species were markedly damaged by roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and fallow deer (Dama dama) browsing, the most affected being Acer pseudoplatanus. In spite of always newly occurring trees from self-seeding, the abundance of trees decreased during the studied period, self-seeding did not grow up from a height of 30-40 cm, the proportion of Acer pseudoplatanus decreased and that of Fraxinus excelsior increased. In addition to browsing, in 2003 and 2005 browsing damage to bark was noted in some places and in 2005 also the breaking of trees with subsequent browsing of terminal shoots, the causal agent of both types of damage being fallow deer. The development of natural regeneration is limited in principle by trophic preferences of game and by the tolerance of particular species to repeated damage. On the basis of these conditions it is necessary to consider the present game stock to be contradictory with objectives of area protection and preservation.

Fertilization represents a measure, used as exceptional treatment managing forest stands and ecosystems as a whole. It is used since the beginning of the 20^th century worldwide, starting in the Central Europe. The beginnings were on empirical basis, later on, the scientific background was developed profoundly. Several forms and methods, as well as aims are topical at present: - Since the beginning, restoration of degraded sites and amelioration of primarily extreme soils was the aim. In the poorest regions, e.g. in the NE Germany, different means were used to increase site productivity and stability. Also in the Czech countries, amelioration played important role restoring degraded and devastated localities. - To increase site productivity, commercial fertilization was used worldwide, as well as it was applied in all continents with intense forestry practices. It became a part of the "silviculture" sensu stricto in the commercial, industrial forestry. - Supporting the growth and prosperity of forest plantations, on sites of different characters, was a broadly intended target of fertilizers application. - Since the air pollution calamity, fertilization is one of the main counter-treatments for improvement of the situation, lowering and preventing the soil acidification and nutritional degradation. Both direct as well as indirect methods are used. At the direct fertilization, nutrients in the fertilizers increase and improve the nutrient cycles over the degraded or natural level. This causes an increase in the forest ecosystem production as the main aim of such a treatment. In the indirect way, the amelioration material accelerates the bio-cycles by improving biological activities of the soil - liming is the best example of these activities. Nutrients are mobilized by enhanced activity of the soil biota, increasing organic matter mineralization and decay. This also represents the main ecological risk of these activities: the enormous and non-natural organic matter decay. Different types of fertilizer can be used: liquid, firm, powdered, pelletized, based on natural substances such as carbonates or silicate nutrient-rich (basic) rocks. In all cases, the uses of all these treatments have to be based on the detailed ecological analysis of the locality, of the site and of the forest stand. Only in this case, fertilizer effects can be optimized and the risks minimized.

The paper analyzes the development and the prospects of organic farming in the Czech Republic with particular emphasis on organic beef farming. The background information on organic farming in the Czech Republic regarding the structure of land use, legislation and support payments as well as a short description of the market for organic beef is provided. An analysis of the economic performance and of the impact of payments on the economic situation of organic beef farms follows. Grazing livestock farms, mostly cow-calf systems, are the most widespread farm type in the Czech Republic. Five typical farm models were set up with the aim of giving an overview of the diversity of organic beef production systems. The results indicate that organic beef farming is in most cases economically viable. Nevertheless, organic farming payments, as well as other payments, account for a high share of economic success, so that it can be stated that organic grazing livestock farms are highly dependent on support payments.

In 16 male dogs who suffered from perineal hernia, polypropylene mesh was used to close a defect in the pelvic diaphragm. Pelvic bone was drilled on the pelvic floor and mesh was sutured through holes by polypropylene suture. Strong pelvic diaphragm, good long-term results and time-sparing by this technique was achieved. Suture sinuses were developed in two dogs one month postoperatively. Objectives of this study were to describe a new alternative technique of perineal herniorraphy and postoperative possible complications. Weakness of internal obturator muscle flap is complication which can be observed during transposition of internal obturator muscle flap. This technique can be used when internal obturator muscle flap is weak like the operation of the first choice.

An outbreak of tuberculosis among bovines and pigs caused by Mycobacterium caprae is described in this paper. After tuberculin skin tests with bovine purified protein derivates (PPD) six cattle and one sow, own by a small family farm, tested positive whilst three pigs were suspected in 2004. All animals were euthanised and checked for gross pathological lesions. Generalised lesions were found in five cattle and two sows; however one calf and two gilts had lesions that were localised in the submandibular lymph nodes. Mycobacteria were isolated from tissue samples of six cattle and four pigs. Mycobacterial isolates were identified using classical biochemical tests and molecular methods (PCR, GenoType MTBC) as M. caprae. Mycobacterial Interspersed Repetitive Unit (MIRU) typing of isolated mycobacteria showed an identical number of repeats in 12 different loci. Results of the research confirmed the domination of M. caprae among infected cattle in Croatia; however this paper was the first to confirm a case of M. caprae in pigs. The source of the infection was not found.

Three groups of Brown fattened young bulls were studied, comparing the effects of rearing method (suckled vs. bucket reared) and of slaughter weight (400 vs. 480 kg). Suckled animals had higher fatness scores (2.2 vs. 1.3), more dissectible fat (14.5 vs. 9.1%), and higher intramuscular fat content (7.8 vs. 4.6%DM), accompanied by better scores in sensory tenderness (5.2 vs. 3.8) than did the bucket-reared ones. Animals slaughtered at a heavier weight showed a higher dressing percentage (57.5 vs. 53.8%), conformation score (9.2 vs. 6.2), and fat content (fatness score, dissectible fat and intramuscular fat). The meat from animals in the heavier group had lower a* (12.4 vs. 14.2) and higher b* (10.8 vs. 12.9) indexes, as well as higher scores in most sensory traits than the lighter ones.

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

Soils of reclaimed dumpsites after coal mining are considered as typical anthropogenic soils. These soils are at the beginning of their development and have certain specific characteristics. The aim of this study was to describe a soil survey performed on anthropogenic soils of a reclaimed dumpsite, to analyse spatial variability of selected properties using geostatistical methods, and to evaluate the development of reclaimed dumpsite soils. It has been shown that geostatistical methods are suitable for a description of anthropogenic soil properties and their variability. However, characterization of soil properties on the border between areas with different types of reclamation can be difficult due to sharp discontinual transitions caused by human activity. Properties of these soils vary profoundly greatly dependent on the properties of the soil substrate and the type of reclamation. The average content of organic carbon in the topsoil (0-20 cm) was 1.92% on the area covered with a layer of natural topsoil and 0.92% on the area covered by a layer of loess. An initial A horizon can develop even in 10 years under favourable conditions.

The article presents original results of research on the humus form dynamics in a semi-natural European beech stand in the National Natural Reserve Voděradské bučiny, in the area of Training Forest Enterprise at Kostelec nad Černými lesy (Czech University of Agriculture inPrague). The accumulation and soil chemical characteristics of particular humus forms were studied: dry matter amount, pH, soil adsorption and exchangeable acidity characteristics as well as plant available and total nutrient contents. The humus form samples were taken in four replications from the particular humus form layers (L, F, H, Ah), and the analyses were performed individually. Samplings were done in the parts of the stand with closed canopy, and they were compared with the state in gaps formed during natural and semi-natural forest regeneration (the stage of stand breaking up left to spontaneous development). The results confirmed marked changes in the quantity and quality of surface humus in the gaps. The amount of dry matter decreased by ca. 25% several years after canopy opening, especially in the H horizon, the pH, base content and base saturation increased, as well as the content of macronutrients (with the exception of total calcium). The results proved considerable changes in the humus forms during the natural and semi-natural forest cycles connected with the stand regeneration.

The effects of soil conditioners Frisol, TerraCottem, Bi-algeen, and fertilisers Silvamix Forte and Cererit on the welfare of Austrian pine were observed in a seven-year experiment on Loket spoil bank. Simultaneously the economic aspects of growing the Austrian pine until the stage of established plantation were examined. The application of products one year and a half after planting did not cause seedling mortality. The elongation growth of young plants conditioned by the application of Silvamix Forte and Frisol was statistically significant whereas these effects manifested themselves in the second year: they persisted till the end of the experiment for Silvamix Forte, and for three years in total for Frisol. The other products - TerraCottem, Bi-algeen and Cererit - also showed generally better, though statistically insignificant results as compared to those of the control plants. The elongation growth for all products culminated in the fifth year and then declined. The stem diameter growth for the best products reached its maximum in the second year. Regarding the overall height growth after seven years, the average number of the highest plants on the experiment location was on plots treated with Silvamix Forte; these plants exceeded the control plants by 46.2 cm. Pines treated with Frisol were higher by 23.4 cm. However, the application of soil conditioners and fertilisers to the given location proved economically ineffective because there was no need to improve the soil at the location, the same applies to mowing and hoeing since almost no forest weed grew there and the substrate surface remained well-aerated and porous.

This paper deals with the analysis of the trends in costs and revenues of selected agricultural products grown and bred under the conditions of organic agriculture. The analysis of the trends in revenues and costs is performed for the cattle breeding, beef cows and for the plant production of spelt, oat and potatoes. Costs are evaluated in the relationship with the direct and indirect costs. Revenues are traced with the help of per hectare yield, efficiency and market prices. Data of the selected file of the organically farming companies for the controlled commodities are compared with the same commodities of the selected file of the conventionally farming companies worked by the Research Institute of Agricultural Economics (RIAE) in Prague.

Carbon and nitrogen transformations in soil are microbially mediated processes that are functionally related. The fate of C and N was monitored in a clay-textured soil (Typic Haplocambid) which was either unamended (control) or amended with various plant materials at the rate of 10 g residue C/kg soil. To evaluate C mineralization, soils were incubated for 46 days under aerobic conditions. Nitrogen mineralization/immobilization was evaluated at the end of eight-week incubation experiment. All CO₂ evolution data conformed well to a first-order kinetic model, C_m = C₀ (1 - e^-Kt). The product of K and C₀ (KC₀) was significantly correlated with some chemical and biochemical properties of the plant residues, including N concentration (r = 0.83, P < 0.001), C:N (r = -0.64, P < 0.05) and lignin:N (r = -0.81, P < 0.001). Among the plant residue composition characteristics, N concentration (r = 0.96, P < 0.001), C:N (r = -0.69, P < 0.01) and lignin:N (r = -0.68, P < 0.01) were significantly correlated with the net rates of N mineralization/immobilization (N_m/i).

Uptake of mineral nutrients in chickpea cultivars might be an important response in drought tolerance. An experiment under controlled conditions was carried out to study the genotypic response of 11 chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivars to drought and its relations with N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn and B uptake and uptake efficiency. Plants were grown either optimal or drought stress implemented at pre- (early drought stress, EDS) and post-anthesis (late drought stress, LDS) stages. Growth reduction of the cultivars as a response to drought significantly differed. The results of the study indicated that EDS had less detrimental effects on growth and nutrient uptake than LDS conditions. In general, drought tolerant chickpea cultivars accumulated more N, P, K, Ca, Zn, Mn and B in both drought stress treatments except for Zn and Mn uptake in LDS treatment. The total nutrient uptake efficiency of the cultivars were also very significantly correlated with the growth reduction ration (GR) both in EDS and LDS treatments giving correlation coefficients (r) of -7859 and -0.7678, p < 0.01, respectively.

The amelioration of aflatoxicosis in broiler chickens was examined by feeding two concentrations of yeast component (esterified glucomannan; EG). EG, incorporated into the diet at 0.5 and 1 g/kg, was evaluated for its ability to reduce the detrimental effects of 2 mg total aflatoxin (AF; 82.72% AFB₁, 5.50% AFB₂, 10.20% AFG₁ and 1.58% AFG₂) in diet on growing broiler chicks from 1 to 21 d of age. A total of 240 male broiler chicks (Ross-308) were divided into 6 treatment groups [control, AF, EG (0.5 g/kg), AF plus EG (0.5 g/kg), EG (1 g/kg), and AF plus EG (1 g/kg)]. Compared to the control, AF treatment significantly decreased body weight gain from week 2 onwards. AF treatment also caused significant decreases in serum total protein, albumin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, inorganic phosphorus, creatinine levels and alanine-aminotransferase (ALAT) activity but increased the aspartate-aminotransferase (ASAT) activity. Red blood cell, haematocrit, haemoglobin, thrombocyte, and lymphocyte counts and tibial crude ash levels were significantly reduced by AF treatment, while significant increases were seen in heterophil counts. The addition of EG (1 g/kg) to an AF-containing diet significantly improved the adverse effects of AF on haematological parameters, total protein, albumin values and ASAT activity. EG (1 g/kg) also partially improved body weight gains (59%) and the other biochemical parameters influenced by AF treatment. The addition of EG (both 0.5 and 1 g/kg) to the AF-free diet did not cause any considerable changes in the investigated values. These results clearly indicated that EG (1 g/kg) addition effectively diminished the adverse effects of AF on the investigated values. Also, the higher dietary concentration of EG (1 g/kg) was found more effective than the lower concentration (0.5 g/kg) against the adverse effects of AF on the variables investigated in this study.

The aim of this study was to reveal the branches of the descending palatine artery, and its relation to the vomeronasal organ inAngoragoats. For this purpose, ten heads of adultAngoragoats obtained from a slaughterhouse were used. The ramifications of the latex enjected descending palatine artery and their vomeronasal organ-related findings were revealed by fine dissection and transverse sections. Arterial blood reached the caudally vomeronasal organ primarily via the sphenopalatine artery, and also cranially via a fine branch of the major palatine artery by crossing the palatine fissure. The average diameters of both the descending palatine artery and its branches were thicker on the left side than on the right, and its ramifications were not variable in this species.

A total of 842 wild boar of differing ages, originating from 29 (37.7%) of the 77 districts in the Czech Republic, were examined during the hunting seasons from 2002 to 2005. Of them, 274 (32.5%) of the animals were wild specimens and 568 (67.5%) from game parks. Out of 786 animals, the following were included in the study: 668 piglets, 61 juveniles, 32 adult males and 25 adult females. A total of 2 704 samples from various tissues and faeces were examined: 309 separately collected faecal samples from 309 (36.7%) animals, 2 332 samples from various tissues and 63 faecal samples from 533 (63.3%) animals. Mycobacteria were isolated from 75 (8.9%) animals from 11 of the districts. Neither a causative agent of bovine tuberculosis, nor any other members of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex were isolated from any of the animals. From one (0.1%) animal, M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis of IS900 RFLP type A-C10 was isolated from intestinal lymph nodes, which was also isolated within the same district during other studies of cattle and free living ruminants. The causative agent of avian tuberculosis, M. a. avium (IS901+ and IS1245+), was isolated from 7 (0.8%) animals; among them tuberculous lesions were detected in intestinal lymph nodes, with gross tuberculous lesions visible on two animals. The causative agent of avian mycobacteriosis M. a. hominissuis (IS901- and IS1245+) was detected in lymph nodes without gross lesions in one (0.1%) animal. From 45 (5.5%) animals without lesions, atypical mycobacteria of the following nine species were isolated from pulmonary lymph nodes, small and large intestine, intestinal mucosa and faeces: M. fortuitum, M. chelonae, M. scrofulaceum, M. triviale, M. terrae, M. phlei, M. abscessus, M. flavescens, and M. smegmatis. Due to a high density of wild boar and their large migration radius, they can be viewed as a potential source for mycobacterial infections as well as other infectious agents.

The effect of partial and total replacement of soybean meal (SBM) with extruded chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) and partial replacement of SBM with raw chickpeas on pig growth and carcass characteristics was determined in a 17 week experiment. Sixty growing-finishing pigs were allocated to five dietary treatments: CKP0, ECKP100, ECKP200, ECKP300 and CKP100 of 12 animals each, and received a diet ad libitum. The diet for CKP0 treatment had no chickpeas (control), while those for treatments ECKP100, ECKP200 and ECKP300 included 100, 200 and 300 kg/t of extruded (at 120°C for 20 s) chickpeas, respectively, and for treatment CKP100 it included 100 kg/t of raw chickpeas. Body weight (BW) gain linearly increased (P < 0.05) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) linearly decreased (P < 0.05) with the inclusion of increasing levels of extruded chickpeas during the growing period. However, in both the growing and finishing period, there were no differences between extruded chickpea inclusion treatments in final BW, BW gain, daily feed consumption (DFC), FCR, and carcass yield traits. Partial replacement of SBM with raw chickpeas negatively affected (P < 0.05) BW gain and DFC during the finishing period. Extrusion offers a practical method for the heat processing of chickpeas for use in pig diets. Thus, extruded chickpeas can be used as an alternative protein source to SBM at inclusion levels up to 300 kg/t of diet.

In three test years an assortment of 15 varieties of vegetable pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) were grown in field conditions to study experimentally some of their morphological and biological properties. Mean plant height ranged from 435.7 mm (cv. Lastočka) to 636.7 mm (cv. Srbská). The smallest fruits had cultivars Čerešňová and Kecskeszarv with the weight of 4.86 g and 17.68 g. Average weight was the highest at varieties Pola kapia (92.23 g) and Melišor (91.92 g). The biggest length of mature leaves over 100 mm was measured at varieties Dolmy, Podarok Moldavy and Tuba; the smallest leaves according to length and width had variety Čerešňová. The mean vitamin C content in fruits about 2,000 mg/kg at green mature stage was found in cv. Bohatýr, Čerešňová and Podarok Moldavy. The highest vitamin C content in red fruits was analyzed at cv. Čerešňová (2,551.0 mg/kg) and Lastočka (2,422.2 mg/kg). Other observed characteristics were colour, shape and taste of fruits, colour of leaves and fruit wall thickness.

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

The second part of the paper summarizes results of an institutional research aimed at the determination of physical and mechanical properties of different sets of plywood sheets pressed under different conditions. The first part dealt with the determination of compressibility or values of decreasing the thickness of pressed plywood sheets. In this second part, results are summarized of the analysis of physical and mechanical properties of the set of whole-beech plywood sheets of the nominal thickness of veneers amounting to 1.5 mm. The plywood sheets were manufactured as seven-ply and urea-formaldehyde resin DUKOL S was used for their production. The sheets were pressed using a pressure of 1.5 and 1.7 MPa. Following parameters were analyzed: moisture, density, bending strength, MOE in bending and shear strength.

Norway spruce yellowing and defoliation caused by Mg deficiency was frequently recorded on many sites of the Šumava Mts. (Bohemian Forest Mts.) since 1980's. A forest experiment aimed at investigation response of spruce to Mg application (commercial fertilizer SILVAMIX^® Mg NPK) was set up in 1998. Fertilizer was applied manually in a dose of 96.5 kg Mg/ha in spruce (S) and beech-spruce (BS) vegetation altitudinal zones in spring 2000. Immediate decrease of yellowing was revealed in fertilized plots in both vegetation zones and yellowing almost completely disappeared at the end of the investigation in 2005. Further, fertilization resulted in stabile foliation while marked defoliation was reported from control plots in both vegetation zones. Mg deficiency can be effectively eliminated by appropriate fertilizer application. Balanced nutrition contributes to long-term vigour and stability of forest stands.