Fulltext search in archive

Estimates of the effects influencing the economics of pig production are of primary importance for breeders. For this purpose, costs, revenues and profitability were determined on the basis of individual parameters of the efficiency of tested pigs and of average commodity prices. The calculation was the result of the efficiency of actual animals and of the average and simulated prices of inputs received by producers in large-scale production operations. 136 animals, 64 of crossbred combinations (LWs × D) × (LW_D × L) and 72 of PN × (LW_D × L) were used. The total cost of 1 pig represented the costs per weaned piglet, feed and other costs; the revenues represented the actual price of a pig at slaughter. Multivariable hierarchical models were constructed to assess the relationships between the following factors: crossbred combination, nutrition and sex, ADG, number of piglets bred, CFM price and carcass price with the outcome variables: costs, revenues and profitability. The results demonstrated that the total cost of fattening pig is considerably influenced by the price of a piglet and feed, not by the price of the carcass and the growth intensity. There was no proof of a relationship between the price of a pig and reproduction and/or the price of feed. Profitability is significantly influenced by the reproduction rate, price of feed, growth intensity and revenues. The results also showed that the intensity of nutrition and the sex considerably influence the total cost of 1 fattened pig, which represents an increase in the total cost by 3.80 € in the application of ad libitum feeding techniques, and 5.39 €/pc in the fattening of barrows. The choice of a suitable combination represents a decrease in the total cost by 1.49% and an increase in revenues by 2.93%. Profitability is significantly associated with the intensity of nutrition, sex and breed. With unrestricted feeding it is reduced by 4.1%, for barrows by 6.6%, and in the use of four-breed combinations of crossbreds it increases by 4.13%.

The article describes natural, combined and artificial regeneration on 38 permanent research plots in both Czech and Polish part of the Krkonoše Mts. The attention is paid to species composition, spatial (horizontal and vertical) and age structure of forest regeneration according to different stand and site conditions. Concerning the structure and dynamics of forest stands and their regeneration, the potential and prospects of regeneration according to particular developmental stages and stand types (beech stands; mixed stands: spruce-beech, fir-beech, spruce-fir-beech; spruce stands, stands in the ecotone of the upper forest limit and relict pine woods) were evaluated. In many aspects the plots show several similarities, nevertheless the regeneration in different site and stand conditions show clear differences in dynamics of development. The main differences are result of different ecological conditions, environmental limits and biological characteristics of dominant tree species.

The continued use of waste water for irrigation of agricultural fields in Egypt may lead to accumulation of heavy metals in soils and adverse effects on soil-living communities. We investigated responses of oribatid communities to heavy metal contamination in mango plantations irrigated by the Ismailia canal in the Suez region. Mean concentrations of heavy metals determined in irrigation water were considerably above the recommended levels. Concentrations of metals in agricultural soil were however below the permissible levels. A comparison with concentrations of a typical uncontaminated soil in this area revealed that the Ismailia water canal used for irrigation of agricultural land has elevated levels of heavy metals. The results of our ecological survey showed that the abundance and structure of the soil oribatid communities were not influenced by levels of heavy metals in the soil. We also showed that the diversity index can be a valuable tool for assessing the possible impact of pollutants on different species of oribatid mites. The oribatid species appeared to be accumulating different amounts of heavy metals when characterised by their bioconcentration factors. Most species were poor zinc accumulators. The accumulation of heavy metals in the body of oribatids was not strictly determined by their body size or by the trophic level. In conclusion, our study showed that mango plantations impacted by waste water from the Ismailia canal are accumulating heavy metals in their soils above the background concentrations, but ecological effects on soil-living communities are not apparent yet.

The use of antimicrobial growth promoters has been banned in the EU. This has created an interest in alternative strategies to prevent an imbalance in the intestinal microbiota and the potential development of intestinal disorders in livestock. Essential oils (EOs) have been known to exhibit antimicrobial activity against specific microbial species and could therefore be considered one such alternative in controlling the intestinal microbial population. Under anaerobic conditions, the tested Clostridium perfringens strains were found to be sensitive (P < 0.05) to carvacrol, cinnamaldehyde, citral, limonene, thymol, particularly at the higher concentration tested (500 mg/l) and to oregano oil, rosemary oil and thyme oil. Streptococcus epidermis was sensitive (P < 0.05) to most EO's tested, also mainly at the higher concentration. The tested Salmonella serovars were found to be sensitive (P < 0.05) only to high (500 mg/l) concentrations of the tested EOs. Escherichia coli was sensitive (P < 0.05) to most of the tested EOs, also at lower concentrations (5 and 50 mg/l). Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium breve and Lactobacillus reuteri were less sensitive (P < 0.05) to most of the tested EOs, while Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis and L. fermentum were relatively sensitive also at lower concentrations (5 and 50 mg/l), although growth reduction by EOs of these bacterial species was less then with the antimicrobial growth promoter avilamycin. With the exception of Salmonella and E. coli, all tested microbes were sensitive to avilamycin. Selected EOs seem to have the advantage of inhibiting the growth of potential pathogens while only moderately influencing beneficial members of the intestinal microbiota. This difference in sensitivity may strengthen the microbiota and contribute to improved animal health.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the carcass weight and the level of skatole in boar back fat samples with descriptive sensory profiles (trained sensory panel) immediately after heating the fat samples (warm). A weak correlation was found between the carcass weight and skatole level in fat (P > 0.05). Between skatole levels in the fat of boars, whose carcass weight was below 70 kg, and of those with the carcass weight equal or above 70 kg, there was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). The average content of skatole in the fat tissue of the boars < 70 kg, (0.18 ± 0.09 mg/kg fat, respectively) was below the commonly used respective thresholds for tainted meat (0.20 mg/kg fat), 53% of the samples showed the values of ≤ 20 mg/kg, and 73% of the samples the values of ≤ 25 mg/kg. In the group ≥ 70 kg (0.40 ± 0.39 mg/kg fat, respectively), 80% of the samples revealed the values of ≥ 20 mg/kg, and 66% of the samples the values of ≥ 25 mg/kg. Our results show that a positive, compelling and statistically highly significant correlation exists between the skatole level and the sensory assessment of skatole intensity in fat.

Dioszeghyana schmidtii (Diószeghy 1935), is forest species protected by European Union. Its distribution has been studied essentially by the use of light traps. However, its biology and habitat preferences are not sufficiently known and thus its habitats may be damaged by forest management. We suggest the beating method in order to collect larvae as an useful way to record and to survey D. schmidtii. Larvae of the species can be collected by beating branches of its host plants (Quercus and Acer species) in the lower canopy (below 3 m). Optimal survey time would be the second half of May and the first half of June. Differences between the larvae of D. schmidtii and 16 similar moth larvae, as well as, Tenthredinidae (Hymenoptera) species living at the same time on the same trees are described and figured in a key to identification. The method described in the paper allows one to identify larvae in the field. Results are discussed.

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.

A study was conducted (I) to determine rumen degradability (in sacco) of dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) of the most important grass species grown in the Czech Republic, (II) to compare grass species (n = 5) according to calculated degradation parameters, and (III) to establish prediction equations for degradation parameters from chemical composition. Forty samples of the most important grass species (Dactylis glomerata, Phleum pratense, Lolium perenne, Festuca arundinacea, Felina hybrid) were harvested in 2004 and 2005 and analyzed for chemical composition, and DM and NDF in sacco degradability. Results from the in sacco method were used to calculate DM and NDF degradation parameters. Linear and stepwise multiple regression analyses were used to develop prediction equations for DM and NDF degradation parameters from nutrient concentrations. The highest DM and NDF degradation parameters were found for Lolium perenne. DM and NDF rumen degradation parameters were successfully predicted from chemical composition, with a single predictor adequate for most parameters. For all parameters R²-values increased with addition of more predictors into regression equations. Effective degradability (ED) of DM calculated at a rumen outflow rate (k) of 0.05 h^-1 was the best predicted by NDF (R² = 0.878), and ED of NDF at k = 0.02 h^-1 by crude protein (CP) (R² = 0.653).

In case that the climatic or farming conditions have changed in a region, it is possible to anticipate that the core parameters of drainage constructions will not be adequate for the current needs. Some of these constructions might be over-dimensioned, which would be inconsistent with current terms of nature and water resources protection. On the other hand, the valuable contribution the regulation of the water regime of originally waterlogged lands and swamps indisputably brought along and thus enabled the agricultural use of drained lands would be depreciated to a certain extent. In this paper, some scenarios of probable climatic changes in the Czech Republic's territory and the anticipated effect of these changes on the components of the hydrologic water discharge from drained agricultural and forest catchments are studied. The function of drainage systems on selected experimental lands is examined. However, not only probable changes in precipitation, temperature and water runoff should be taken into account, but also changes in the way of farming, i.e. changes in the agricultural conditions and data that played a decisive role in the calculation of the basic parameters of these construction projects, for instance, the spacing of parallel drains or trenches or the depth of their laying. In the Czech Republic about 1.1 million ha of total agricultural land was drained by the end of the twentieth century. In some localities of Eastern and Southern Bohemia up to 80% of agricultural land was drained. To what extent the above-mentioned climatic changes and the changes in the way of farming influence the drainage system and whether adjustments of these systems are required are the questions we tried to answer at least partly in this contribution. The effect of climatic changes on the hydrologic balance and/or on the runoff from the catchments significantly varies up to ± 150% provided that we compare average runoff. The influence of changes in the way of farming on the hydrologic balance manifests itself in a more concrete, but negative way, and that demands a concrete reaction on the part of the water management control. It is therefore vital to take such measures of regulation of the water regime of soil for the existing drainage systems that will ensure both the drainage phase and the phase of runoff retardation. Single-function and obsolete drainage systems should be converted into systems with controlled drainage and irrigation functions - the double-function control systems.

Contact handling with wild or semi-domesticated animals requires limiting animal stress to minimum. In this respect, single administration of drug should be preferred in contact therapy of mouflon (Ovis musimon) infected by lancet fluke (Dicrocoelium dendriticum). We tested single administration of albendazole (ABZ) (30 mg/kg of body weight) in a form of oral suspension and investigated to reach anthelmintic effects and to modulate biotransformation enzymes in liver and small intestine. Two weeks after ABZ administration coprology and necropsy findings document the adulticide effect in liver. The activities of éight biotransformation enzymes and ABZ biotransformation were tested in hepatic and intestinal subcellular fractions from control and ABZ treated animals. The highest inductive effect of ABZ was detected on cytochromes P4501A (CYP1A) activities. Increased amount of CYP1A proteins was confirmed using western blotting. In hepatic and intestinal microsomes, velocity of albendazole sulfoxide (ABZSO) formation was unaffected, but a shift in ratio of individual ABZSO enantiomers was observed. The second step of ABZ biotransformation corresponding to the formation of the pharmacologically inactive albendazole sulfone, was significantly accelerated both in liver and intestine of ABZ treated animals. The increase of ABZ deactivation could facilitate the development of anthelmintic resistance in parasites. Although single ABZ dose is therapeutically effective, its potential to induce CYP1A should be taken in account for controling helmithoses.

Green areas and urban forests represent important factors of urbanized environment which attracts more and more attention of forest management and silviculture. Recreational load and its types are the most important driving variable for the management framework in which basic silvicultural methods should be applied. The problem of the required combination of natural and social limits is resolved by a matrix which takes into account forest ecosystem quality and recreation. The matrix defines 9 or 27 units (their number depends on the fact if we take into account the age of stand or not) for which basic management rules could be prepared. The basic rules concerning biological aspects are described in a general way in the article.

Based on NIRS (near infrared reflectance spectroscopy) measurements carried out in a collection of 262 samples of winter oilseed rape with a different content of fatty acids (FA) in oil, calibration equations for the laboratory instrument Foss-NIRSystem 6500 were developed. Calibration was focused on the possibility of screening seed samples of different composition of oleic acid (C18:1), linoleic acid (C18:2) and linolenic acid (C18:3) using NIRS analysis. The reference method was gas chromatography (GC). The content of FA in segregating F₂ generations after crossing between lines with different contents of FA and lines with standard content of FA in oil ranged from 32.3 to 82.0% for C18:1, 10.2-26.8% for C18:2 and 3.3-11.8% for C18:3. The verification of a validation equation in 50 randomly selected samples of F₂ generation in the year 2006 proved high correlation coefficients (r) between NIRS analysis and GC values, r = 0.86 for C18:1, r = 0.82 for C18:2 and r = 0.85 for C18:3. Non-destructive NIRS analysis enables rapid and reliable selection of materials with different composition of FA in the seed of oilseed rape (lines with desirable high content of C18:1 and low content of C18:3).

The sensitivity of oomycota, saprophytic and pathogenic fungi to urea, ammonium nitrate and UAN (urea plus ammonium nitrate in equimolar solution) was studied in laboratory trials. The compounds were applied in agar in concentrations of 0.06, 0.19 and 0.6M. The most toxic was urea. Ammonium nitrate inhibited the growth of fungi only in higher concentrations. In contrast, the growth of Gaeumannomyces graminis was stimulated by even the highest concentration of 0.6M ammonium nitrate. The fungi most sensitive to urea and UAN were Alternaria tenuissima, Botrytis cinerea, Cladosporium cladosporioides and Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides. No synergistic effect between the two compounds in UAN was found. Urea was toxic also to Colletotrichum acutatum which does not produce urease. Likewise, the urease inhibitor NBPT did not decrease the toxicity of urea to fungi; the urea degradation product ammonia should, therefore, not be assumed to be the only toxic agent. Application of urea in agricultural practice can decrease the population of a pathogen not only by the stimulation of antagonists, but also by the direct toxic effect. The tested concentrations of 0.06-0.6M correspond to 0.36-3.6% (w/w) solution of urea and to 0.64-6.4% UAN used in agricultural practice as a 75% water solution. If the dilution and metabolisation under natural conditions is taken into account, the concentration of urea 0.06M (0.36%) was too low to have an effect of practical importance on fungi. While after application of urea on plants or on plant debris its concentration is increasing due to water evaporation, the concentration of the extremely hygroscopic UAN is decreasing. Therefore, the control effect will depend more on the applied rate than on the concentration.

In central Europe, floods are natural disasters causing the greatest economic losses. One way to reduce partly the flood-related damage, especially the loss of lives, is a functional objective forecasting and warning system that incorporates both meteorological and hydrological models. Numerical weather prediction models operate with horizontal spatial resolution of several dozens of kilometres up to several kilometres, nevertheless, the common error in the localisation of the heavy rainfall characteristic maxima is mostly several times as large as the grid size. The distributive hydrological models for the middle sized basins (hundreds to thousands of km²) operate with the resolution of hundreds of meters. Therefore, the (in) accuracy of the meteorological forecast can heavily influence the following hydrological forecast. In general, we can say that the shorter is the duration of the given phenomenon and the smaller area it hits, the more difficult is its prediction. The time and spatial distribution of the predicted precipitation is still one of the most difficult tasks of meteorology. Hydrological forecasts are created under the conditions of great uncertainty. This paper deals with the possibilities of the current hydrology and meteorology with regard to the predictability of the flood events. The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute is responsible by law for the forecasting flood service in the Czech Republic. For the precipitation and temperature forecasts, the outputs of the numerical model of atmosphere ALADIN are used. Moreover, the meteorological community has available operational outputs of many weather prediction models, being run in several meteorological centres around the world. For the hydrological forecast, the HYDROG and AQUALOG models are utilised. The paper shows examples of the hydrological flood forecasts from the years 2002-2006 in the Dyje catchment, attention being paid to floods caused by heavy rainfalls in the summer season. The results show that it is necessary to take into account the predictability of the particular phenomenon, which can be used in the decision making process during an emergency.

In the present development of a knowledge society and with the increasing impact of knowledge on economic growth, case studies have become vehicles of knowledge which can both store and transfer it. Knowledge based case studies describe the best practices as well as solutions of complex problems. Knowledge in case studies is described in both written and symbolic form. The content and form of knowledge based case studies should be in mutual equilibrium. Knowledge based case studies are both descriptions of methods and algorithms as well as narratives. As narratives, they should have a relevant literary quality. Case studies can involve mass media into their structure and use simulation techniques as well as techniques of entrepreneurial games. Case studies can thus be both dynamic and flexible. Users can personally influence the behaviour and evolution of the process. They can choose their role in the process and can also change it whilst performing the solution. Social, cultural and traditional values are respected during all steps leading to solutions of problems. Ecological aspects and conditions of sustainable development are taken into account when solutions are analysed, recommended and accepted. Case studies present the best practices which enable users to provide benchmarking examples of their own solutions. Data bases of case studies should provide more dimensions containing descriptors which characterize the studies. In the following article, six descriptors will be recommended: domains, objectives, critical success factors, indicators, the best practices explanations and case characteristics. These enable to sort out, categorize, classify and stratify studies in a data base and are helpful in assessing their quality. A vertical structure of the data base facilitates classification and ordering of studies according to subject areas. A horizontal structure of the database enables classification of case studies from the user point of view.

The paper is focusing on the analysis of some aspects of changes in the economic performance of the farm sector in Slovakia during the first period after the accession to the European Union, as measured by the Economic Account of Agriculture. Authors find that the growth of agricultural goods output was the main element of the improved income generation within the sector during the first year of the EU membership. This was induced by the growth of physical crop output and new subsidies to products. Price alignment played only a minor role in the income growth within the sector. Price increases were limited to some few livestock products. The scope and range of the horizontal price transmissions might have also been influenced by the constraints on the domestic market demand, insufficient functioning of the market support institutions and shortages of marketing infrastructure.

A study of labour productivity was conducted in fully mechanised harvesting technologies. The study revealed that the productivity of harvesters was particularly affected by the average tree volume of the felled trees, and the productivity of forwarders was affected mainly by two factors - haulage distance and machine payload. Dependences of other factors such as natural and site conditions, technical parameters and skills of operators could not be demonstrated. Regression equations of dependences were created for all these three significant criteria and costs per cubic meter of processed timber were calculated for them according to the cost function. A regression function was then developed for the forwarder that takes into account both significant criteria influencing the forwarder productivity.

A wheat marketing system established the primary classification of hexaploid wheat based on the endosperm texture, i.e. hardness or softness of the grain. Hardness affects a range of characters including the milling (tempering, milling yield, flour particle size, shape and density of flour particles), baking and end-use properties. Wheat grain hardness is largely controlled by genetic factors but it can also be affected by the environmental and other factors. The endosperm texture is primarily associated with the Hardness (Ha) locus on the short arm of chromosome 5D. It is regulated by friabilin. This 15 kDa starch surface protein complex is present in larger amounts in soft wheats compared to hard ones and consists of three major polypeptides: puroindoline a (Pina), puroindoline b (Pinb) and grain softness protein 1 (Gsp-1). The soft grain texture in wheat is a result of both puroindoline genes being in the wild type active form and bound to starch. When one of the puroindolines is either absent or altered by mutation, then the result is a hard texture. Gene sequence variation and mutation of both puroindoline genes account for the majority of variation in the wheat grain texture. The latter may serve as the potential for improvement of milling and baking wheat quality. However, many wheat varieties have the intermediately (mixed) hard endosperm and there is a wide variation between soft and hard grain texture. Grain hardness is affected by a number of factors beyond genetics including N management, tillage system, pest infestations, environment (location of growth, temperature and rainfall during the growing season) and their interactions, and factors such as moisture, gliadin composition, and content of lipids, starch and pentosans.

The reduction of ammonia and greenhouse gases emissions resulting from the livestock breeding is conditioned by the performance of many experiments for the reducing technologies verification. The utilisation of biotechnological agents in the livestock breeding enables to reduce not only ammonia but in many cases also the principal greenhouse gases. In the paper is presented the system and methodology of the measurements, the choice of more than eighty authorised measurements, and the determination of the emission factors for methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide, and nitrogen oxide from pig and poultry breeding.

This paper will focus on the development trends of enterprise information infrastructure which will take into account an effective management of institution as well as integration of the existing technologies and systems. A special focus will aimed at the new Smart Enterprise Suites (SES), which should provide for convergence and integration of the originally single systems as portals, content management and collaboration. The author presented part of these results also at the Agrarian Perspectives Conference 2005 in the applied informatics session.

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.

6 508 bulls of dual-purpose cattle at performance-test stations were weighed at intervals of 30 days from birth to 420 days. After all editing a total of 74 558 weight records were available. Live weight was evaluated by orthogonal Legendre Polynomial (LP) of degree 4 and by Linear Spline function (SP) with 5 knots. The fixed effects of test-day-year-station of weighing (TDS) and LP within station-year explain together 97% of variability. Variance components were estimated by REML (REMLF90 programme) taking into account heterogeneous variance during growth. The basic model included fixed effects: TDS, and fixed regression on age (LP_F), and random regression for additive genetic (SP_G) and permanent environmental of the animal (SP_PE) effects. Variability of all components increases with age. During the 50-400 day period the heritability is 0.28 on average. Heritability increases with the age of the animal; it is the highest at the end of the period. Correlations for body weights between different ages of the animal are high.

Two species of edible honeysuckle were studied in the trial established in the autumn 1994. The spacing used was 2.0 × 1.5 m and the experiment included irrigated as well as non- irrigated variants. The aim of this study was to provide a summary of nutritional values of Lonicera kamtschatica and Lonicera edulis berries under the Nitra conditions during the period 2001-2003. The berries were examined for the content of dry mater, sugar, organic acids, ascorbic acid, mineral substances - K, Ca, P, Mg, Na and anthocyanins from pomace and juice. The results of our experiments refer to the exceptionally high content of ascorbic acid ranging from 28.56 up to 86.96 mg/100 g, potassium 10,175 to 14,764 mg/kg and anthocyanins from pomace 6.245-17.36 g/kg. The values of ascorbic acid varied and they were statistically significantly depending on the year; similarly, only year can be taken into account as a statistically significant factor for forming content of sugar, magnesium and sodium. The content of dry mater, organic acids, potassium, calcium and anthocyanins in juice was influenced not only by year but also by species. The interaction species - year as a source of statistically significant differences is evident in the case of phosphorus and organic acids. A significant influence of irrigation on all evaluated nutrients was not confirmed.

The paper deals with an analysis of selected equations used for the determination of a stable longwise slope calculation of torrential rivers. Irregularity of the gradient, accompanied by heavy bed-load experiencing abrupt changes of the flow as a result of heavy rainfalls of short duration and high intensity, these are typical features impacting the behaviour and characteristics of torrential rivers. The determination of the stable bottom slope, when the river bed is kept unpaved but still provides resistence against harmfull effects of rapids, becomes an essential objective of the study. Three methods are used to determine the stable slope: the first is based on tangent tension (shear stress theory), the second observes a (critical) non-scouring cross-sectional velocity (critical mean channel velocities), and the third applies the bottom layer velocity, (the critical bed velocities). The mathematical hydraulic model HEC-RAS v. 3.1.3 has been used for the verification of the methods in the Jindřichovický creek case study in the Krušné hory.

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 the present study, the main purpose was the selection of antagonistic starter cultures for pickle and olive fermentation processes. The chemical and microbiological properties of fermented 70 pickle and 16 olive samples collected from the province of the west part of Turkey were analysed. Subsequently, lactic acid bacteria strains producing bacteriocin-like metabolites were isolated and identified. From 86 samples, 16 isolates were chosen, depending on their partial antimicrobial activity against at least one selected indicator. 13 out of this 16 isolates were identified as Lactobacillus plantarum whereas 3 of them proved to be Lactobacillus pentosus. Moreover, all the relevant isolates were found to be potent acid producers. All these results obviously suggest that the isolated Lactobacillus plantarum 9 and 25 were appropriate for them to be proposed as starter cultures in fermented pickle and olive production.

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.

The growth and survival of rudd Scardinius erythrophthalmus (L.) were evaluated in a laboratory at 25°C. In 20-day Experiment 1, first-feeding larvae at the age of 4 days post-hatch (initially: TL = 5.7 mm, BW = 0.9 mg) were fed live Artemia nauplii or commercial dry feed (Aller Futura Larvae, AFL) or combinations of both. Even the longest period of initial feeding of nauplii (6 days) was insufficient to obtain satisfactory larval growth after weaning to AFL (TL = 12.4 mm and BW = 17.7 mg vs. TL = 18.9 mm and BW = 68.5 mg for the nauplii-fed fish, significant differences). Nauplii-fed older larvae (24 days post-hatch) were then used in Experiment 2, in which they were fed AFL or Ewos AgloNorse (EAN) dry feeds for 40 days. The EAN diet proved to be significantly (P ≤ 0.05) superior to AFL regarding the final fish growth (TL = 36.5 mm and BW = 506.8 mg vs. TL = 33.4 mm and BW = 392.0 mg ), final survival rates (97.6% vs. 100%) and the incidence of spinal deformities (0% vs. 13.5%).

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.