Fulltext search in archive

Casein-protease activity assessed at 50°C and with adjustment of optimum pH conditions (PA), and casein-protease activity near soil pH and at field soil temperature (LPA) were studied one vegetation period in mountain meadow soils covered with moderately mown vegetation, and over which vegetation had been abandoned for thirteen years. PA peaked in the first part of the vegetation season whereas LPA increased throughout the season; in addition, LPA was not linearly related to temperature (r = 0.127 resp. 0.312; P > 0.05). The combined effect of field soil temperature and pH decreased a casein-protease activity by > 98.4%. A management of meadows had no significant (P > 0.05) effect on PA and LPA.

The paper presents the results of simulations for the Bruntál district as a remote rural area and Ostrava as an adjacent urban centre, based on the Computable General Equilibrium model. The model assesses spatial impacts of various agricultural policy and other economic conditions on the regional development of the study areas. The model utilizes a regional Social Accounting Matrix with economic inter-linkages between the rural-urban localities in the study areas. Four agricultural policy scenarios are assessed. All scenarios have negative impacts on the economy of the Bruntál district. Nevertheless, the scenario based on the switch of funds from the Pillar 1 to the Pillar 2 of the Common Agricultural Policy and on the degressive modulation of direct payments shows to be the most significant for the agricultural sector and the overall economy of the district.

Industrial wine yeasts Saccharomyces bayanus and two interspecies hybrids (S. cerevisiae × S. bayanus) were checked for their suitability for fermentation of apple musts with different L-malic acid content (4, 7 and 11 g/l). The fermentation profiles including main organic acids, acetaldehyde, diacetyl, glycerol, esters and polyphenols were presented. The results were obtained by HPLC method (organic acids, acetaldehyde, glycerol, diacetyl), GC (esters), colorimetrically (polyphenols) and enzymatically (L-malic acid, ethanol). Although the fermentation profiles of wines were characteristic for specific yeast strains, similarities in organic acid profiles of wines fermented by S. bayanus and its hybrid S-779/25 were noted. In all the tested wines L-malic, pyruvic and citric acids were dominant. Statistical analysis of all wine parameters indicates that yeast strains respond individually to different acidities of the fermentation environment. In order to choose the right yeast strain for the fermentation of acidic musts, information about fermentation profiles should be included in the collection certificate of yeast strains.

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

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

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

Net N mineralization rate (NMR), net N consumption rate (NCR), microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN), potentially mineralizable N (PMN) and mineral N (N-NH⁺₄ and N-NO^-₃) were measured in paddy soil at five growth stages of rice to determine the effect of long-term fertilization in subtropical China. The studied long-term treatments included CK (no fertilization), N, NP, NPK and NPK + OM (NPK plus organic manure). The NPK + OM treatment gave the highest values of the measured variables among all treatments. There was no significant difference in other treatments except for mineral N and PMN at early growth stages. All these variables were generally highest at transplanting stage as two thirds of fertilization was applied as basal fertilizers and the rice uptake was low. Then they decreased or leveled off with the rice growth stages except for MN in all treatments. Stepwise regression revealed that NMR was significantly correlated with MBC and N-NH⁺₄ (R² = 0.954, P < 0.01) at all rice growth stages. So, mineral plus manure fertilizer application and more mineral fertilizer as topdressing were recommended in subtropical paddy soil.

The rules of the European Union suppose the value added tax as the only general excise tax. The need for harmonization of this tax in the existing EU member states is obvious, but the results in this field are not entirely convincing. Also the provision of services is a problematic field among others in the implementation of value added tax. It is essential to examine the issue of the value added tax, in this case, both the possibilities of the use of the self assessment system of the value added tax by the recipient of the service compared to the accounting of service including the value added tax by a provider of this service, even if the provider of service from the EU member state shall have a permanent establishment in other member state of the customer, but this establishment is not involved in the provision of the service, as well as the inclusion of services within the so-called extended guarantee to the taxable or exempt fulfilment, when the subject provides the technical support and the assistance to its customers, such as in the case of failures of agricultural machinery, which the provider had supplied to a subject in other member state. On the basis of empirical research, it is needed to assess the results of the harmonization efforts, to identify and recommend the direction in which the European Union should take in this field. The comparison of the individual European Union countries is important here. Value added tax is, regarding its features, still an unsurpassed excise tax, even if it has some weaknesses. The technique of the selection of this tax enables to discover the paid tax at all stages of treatment and it is very appropriate, due to its features for the use in international trade. It is therefore necessary to ensure the sufficient clarity, lucidity and equal conditions for players from the European Union on the basis of the development and adaptation of the rules of the value added tax set at the European Union level within each European Union country.

A young speckled alder (Alnus incana [L.] Moench) stand was planted on a tract clear-felled due to air pollution and located on a summit plateau of the Jizerské hory Mts. (Central Europe, Czech Republic) at an altitude of 950 m a.s.l. The aim of the experiment was to test the suitability of Alnus incana to form preparatory stands covering the site and thus enabling the reintroduction of more sensitive target species. A potential of Alnus incana to respond to slow-release fertilizing was tested as well. The control treatment showed sufficient growth dynamics, nevertheless, the fertilization significantly promoted the growth (documented by height, height increment and stem-base diameter). If some limitations of alder such as high light requirements are respected, the speckled alder can be recommended as a suitable species for preparatory stands even in the 7^th and 8^th altitudinal (vegetation) zones, especially when fertilized.

A method was proposed for the determination of the contents of A- and B-starches in barley and for the use in plant breeding stations and brewing/malting laboratories. A combination was used of classical methods (incl. crushing of barley kernels by a roll crusher, steeping in 0.02M HCl, repeated rubbing and filtering through the sieve of 0.08 mm), and novel pieces of know-how (treatment with β-glucanase and cellulase, alkalisation at pH = 10.0 and centrifugation of crude starch suspension through the layer of CsCl). In this way, barley starch of high purity was obtained at a very low loss, using Low Angle Laser Light Scattering for the determination of the size distribution of starch granules. The boundary of the particle size between the peaks of A-starch and B-starch (7 µm) was evaluated from the distribution curves, while the contents of A- and B-starches were calculated from the cumulative curves. As a whole, the method was internally validated and for its repeatability and uncertainty of measurement the stimates of standard deviation s = 1.56 and confidence interval L_1,2 = x± 1.9% were established, respectively. Taking into account the generally well known difficulties associated with the extraction of substances from biological materials, in this case the separation of starch from barley kernels, we believe that the proposed method will bring satisfactory results in practice.

Raw chicken meat was comminuted and homogenised. There were measured water activity and pH (aw = 1 for temperature 25°C, pH = 5.8 for temperature 8°C). Input raw material was investigated for the presence of Listeria monocytogenes (negative) and the raw meat was inoculated by Listeria monocytogenes CCM 4699. Number of Listeria monocytogenes, total plate count and number of coliforms were determined in the range 0-7 days by bacteriological survey for the storage temperatures 4.9, 7 and 8.3°C. The increase of Listeria monocytogenes counts has been registered for temperature 4.9°C about log 1.5 CFU/g after 6 days, for temperatures 7 and 8.3°C about 2 log CFU/g (regarding to the starting counts). The prediction for listeria growth with the aid of Food MicroModel was also made. The best agreement between the experimentally analysed number of bacteria and prediction was received for the lowest incubation temperature 4.9°C.

This paper presents results of an experiment carried out in 2000-2003 in the mountain region (southern Poland, 545 m a.s.l.) to determine the effect of over-ground parts growth of fodder beet, winter triticale and horse bean on the intensity of soil losses. The research was conducted on the hillside with a 16% slope with the simulated rainfall (105 mm; 1.75 mm/min) applied at seven developmental stages of the plants. It was stated that soil protective efficiency of the fodder beet, horse bean and winter triticale started at about 60, 30 and 15% of covering the soil surface, respectively. The influence of over-ground parts of the plants (x) on the soil erosion (y) can describe the following regression equations: for fodder beet: y = -9.37x + 29.4 (R² = 0.677; n = 82); for horse bean: y = -8.44x + 26.41 (R² = 0.698; n = 96); for winter triticale: y = -4.98x + 15.61 (R² = 0.66; n = 112). The obtained results made possible verification of the nomograms determining the value of the C indicator (cropping factor, i.e. index of soil coverage and cultivation calculated as a ratio of soil mass eroded from the field covered with specific crop to mass of soil eroded from black fallow with a 9% slope angle) present in USLE equation (Universal Soil Losses Equation, method commonly recommended by FAO for studies on erosion) for tested plants under similar conditions.

The hitherto development of agricultural production shows that one of the characteristic attributes of the present period is great economic instability. Monitoring of the development of prices of inputs and outputs as well as climatic conditions reveals that similar problems are not limited to the Central European countries. Prosperity and competitiveness of the production is a function of mutual relations of costs, prices and yields. For the sound managerial decision-making, it is necessary to continually analyse and evaluate the rate of risk - soundness of the planned results (Rataj, Kavka 1999; Rataj 2001). For that reason, this contribution concerns the analysis of economic risks of the hop growing that takes into account statistical data in the time horizon of the last 15 years for the "Žatec poloranný červeňák" of traditional planting (further only ŽPČT) and 7 years for ŽPČ virus free (farther only ŽPČV) and the hybrid sorts (farther only HYBR).

Based on a questionnaire survey carried out among managers of medium size companies (over 50 employees) of agricultural business in the region Vysočina, it was found that the prevalently production and processing companies (86.3%) reside mostly in small and medium size towns and villages (82.4%). According to the opinion of respondents, the companies employ a too big number (9.8%) of employees while 88.2% respondents consider the situation as adequate to the requirements and possibilities. The respondents estimate (35.2%) that the level of present wages is disproportionately low. At the same time, they anticipate the growth of requirements for qualification (66.7%) with respect to the permanent technological development. However, they do not expect (82.4%) a corresponding marked increase of wages. The evaluation of working conditions has to be an indivisible part of the proper management of human resources in the companies of the region. These conditions are evaluated as satisfactory (88.2%) but in the horizon of 5 years, requirements for their improvement are expected by 78.4% managers of the monitored companies.

The collection and sale of asparagus (Asparagus racemosus Willd.) is a major source of income for Praja and Tamang castes around the Royal Chitwan National Park (RCNP) in Nepal. However, the forests where asparagus is harvested are becoming depleted threatening the livelihood of collectors. To address this issue, at sustainable harvesting practices, the research reported here applied the contingent valuation method (bidding game) and estimated the average willingness to pay (WTP) of collectors to two asparagus collection scenarios. In the first scenario, if forests under the Department of Forests jurisdiction were managed for sustainable harvesting at 1995 rates, the average WTP of collectors was 4.4 NR/kg. In the second scenario, if the forest in the RCNP is managed in such a way that both the current harvesting rate of asparagus is sustained and they are legally allowed to collect asparagus at the present rate, the average WTP of collectors was 8.35 NR/kg. Consequently, there is a good chance of earning revenue for the government and sustaining the livelihood of asparagus dependents by the sustainable management of the Department's and the National Park's forests and giving legal permissions to collect asparagus from the National Park, which would have happened anyway but with financial and legal risks to collectors.

The paper deals with the current trends in development of communication infrastructure which is, above all, represented by high-speed Internet connection (broadband). It is focused on conditions of the Czech Republic; or more precisely, on its rural areas, including possibilities of further development in the following period in context of trends in the world, in the OECD and the EU countries.

The microbiological quality of the final product and the safety of the production procedures were screened in an ice cream factory, after implementation of a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) system. We analysed 30 vanilla (IC1), 30 strawberry (IC2), and 30 chocolate flavoured (IC3) samples of ice cream; 30 of water; 90 of personnel's hands flora; 150 of plastic ice cream containers flora; 50 of sanitised equipment-surfaces flora. After HACCP introduction, Staphylococcus aureus was not further detectable in ice cream and Escherichia coli was mostly less than 10 CFU/g, while the spoilage markers (total coliforms - TC, aerobic plate counts - APC) in ice cream and the environment were reduced by 20-35%. Mean log CFU/g, for IC1: TC from 2.20 reduced to 1.57, APC from 4.58 reduced to 3.62. For IC2: TC from 2.29 reduced to 1.65, APC from 4.61 reduced to 3.49. For IC3: TC from 2.67 reduced to 1.76, APC from 5.08 reduced to 3.81.

The role of the water movement and retention during extreme runoff formation was demonstrated in the Modrý Důl catchment (Krkonoše Mts., Czech Republic). A cyclone, which moved from Hungary to Poland, caused an extreme rainfall (120 mm) and subsequent extreme runoff in August, 2002. The precipitation, discharge, air and soil temperatures, tensiometric pressure, and soil moisture were recorded. The maximum retention capacity of the catchment was evaluated (70 mm). Depending on the actual retention capacity and the precipitation amount, two situations were recorded: (1) the precipitation amount lower than the actual retention capacity where the precipitation was fully absorbed in the catchment and the discharge in to the stream was not influenced by rain, (2) the precipitation amount higher than the actual retention capacity where the precipitation caused a saturation excess of the soil profile, generating extreme outflow into the stream. Neither the soil cover in the catchment or fluvial deposits along the Modrý potok stream were able to retain the extreme rain and inhibit the catastrophic flood.

The power function was used to show the dependence of gross, final and sold output on the gross value of total fixed assets and on the ratios of this value to the productivity of these three production categories. Further elaboration included the characteristics of variable features. The system of independent variables employed in the study allowed for the estimation of both extensive and intensive utilisation of fixed assets in Polish agriculture from 2002-2005. The study showed the diminishing impact of the productivity of fixed assets and the decreasing productive efficiency of Polish agriculture from 2002-2005. This situation was caused by the relative stability in the generic structure of fixed assets and by a slow average annual rate of increase in new fixed assets (8.74%).

The contribution is focused on the analysis of barriers to the entry into fruit production. The branch is identified as a fruit growers branch and the threat to new entries in the branch will concern especially the establishment of a new firm or the expansion of an existing firm's plant production by some fruit species production. The methodology is based on the Porter model of competitive forces in the industry. In fruit production, there have been analysed the following entry barriers: economies of scale, differentiations, capital intensity, transfer, access to distribution channels, cost disadvantage independent of scale, government policy, anticipated retaliatory measures from existing firms. The analysis proves that the barriers to enter the fruit production are rather high nowadays, which should discourage the potential new firms from entering this branch.

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the contents of CF, NDF, ADF and ergosterol in the forage of Fistulolium, Dactylis glomerata and Arrhenatherum elatius from stands harvested at the end of the growing season. The contents of CF, NDF and ADF were analysed using the ANKOM Fibre Analyzer instrument. The ergosterol content was analysed by the HPLC method. The lowest CF content was in the Festulolium forage matter (26.8%). Conversely, the highest content was in the Arrhenatherum elatius forage (30.2%). The CF content gradually increased during autumn from 28.0% to 29.4%. Likewise, the NDF and ADF contents were lowest in Festulolium (58.3% and 32.3%, respectively). The highest NDF content was in Arrhenatherum elatius (60.5%). The ADF contents in Arrhenatherum elatius and Dactylis glomerata were comparable (35.9% and 35.1%, respectively). The NDF content increased during autumn from 56.4% to 62.0% and ADF content from 32.8% to 36.4%. The ergosterol content suggests a lower infestation of the Festulolium forage by fungi. While this content in the Festulolium forage was 94.9 mg/kg of dry matter (DM), in the Dactylis glomerata forage it was 136.7 mg/kg DM and in the Arrhenatherum elatius forage 139.9 mg/kg DM. Forage samples taken in December contained ergosterol on a level of 248.6 mg/kg DM. The species under study and the time of use in autumn exhibited a statistically highly significant effect (P < 0.01) on the contents of CF, NDF, ADF and ergosterol in the forage matter.

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

We tested the germicide activity of 1% Chloramin BM, 1% Incidin Plus, 1% Lysoformin 3000, 0.2% Mikasept KP, and 2% Sekusept Forte against viruses in suspension (suspension test) and dried onto a surface (carrier test). The agents of the porcine encephalomyelitis (Porcine teschovirus, strains CAPM V-86, CAPM V-37), Aujeszky's disease (strains CAPM V-166, CAPM V-327) and vesicular stomatitis (strains CAPM V-499, CAPM V-331) were used as model viruses. After 30 min contact time in both the suspension and carrier tests, the Porcine teschovirus was 4 lg inactivated only by Mikasept, which was thus the only disinfectant to meet the standard. The other disinfectants decreased the viral titre insufficiently. Under the same conditions, Aujeszky's disease virus was inactivated by at least 4 lg by all the tested disinfectants except for Chloramin BM which decreased the titre of CAPM V-166 only by 3.75 lg in the carrier test. For the inactivation of Vesicular stomatitis virus Chloramin BM and Mikasept KP were tested. Both the disinfectants reliably decreased the viral titre in both the suspension and carrier tests. Our results show that the inactivation of a surface-bound virus is more difficult than its inactivation in suspension. We confirm the high resistance of non-enveloped viruses (Porcine teschovirus) to chemical inactivation.

The review focuses on recent progress in the breeding of small grain cereals (barley, wheat, oats) for resistance to the barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV). First, the symptomatology of barley yellow dwarf (BYD) disease is briefly described and the genome of BYDV, its serotypes and mechanisms of its replication and translation in host plants are characterized. Great attention is paid to the description of resistance genes and sources of BYDV resistance that are currently used in some breeding programmes of barley, wheat and oats. In barley, the introduction of the Ryd2 gene into high-yielding cultivars is still desirable. An example of recent success reached in a European programme aimed at a pyramiding of resistance genes is the registration of the Italian feeding barley cultivar Doria, carrying resistance genes Ryd2, rym4 and Rdg1. The release of this cultivar resulted from the cooperation between EICR, Fiorenzuola d'Arda and CRI in Prague-Ruzyně in the field of virus resistance. Finally, some experiments employing transgenic techniques in the construction of resistant plants are mentioned. In conclusion, the advantages and disadvantages of classical breeding methods using crossing and transgenic techniques are compared and newly arising approaches are discussed.

Before being used for insemination, young bulls of Czech Fleckvieh (CF) are tested for growth at performance-test stations. While at stations, the bulls are weighed monthly. Evaluation included 7 448 bulls with 82 676 records of weight measured from 6 to 520 days of life. In the station-year-period (HYS), which can be prolonged up to 3 months, different groups were tested according to the beginning of growth curve and according to test-days of weighing. Weight analyses were used to handle heterogeneous variability based on age. Legendre Polynomials (LP) with 5 parameters described the average growth curve for HYS classes. Deviations from average curves were decomposed into genetic (G), animal's permanent environment (PE) and residual (RES) components. Functions of (G) and (PE) were tested using LP random regression (RR) methodology with 5 or 3 parameters and Linear Spline (SP) function with 5 knots. Variance increases with the age of the animals. From 100 to 400 days, heritability was nearly the same with a mild depression in the middle of the period. The average was h² = 0.31 and ended with h² = 0.36. Results were similar for variance components, heritability, genetic, environmental and phenotype correlations from different models with different LP and SP functions. Higher RES variability occurred only for LP with 3 parameters. For traits like live weight, the RR should have at least 3 parameters and SP function should be used.

Pollen viability and germinability in some European chestnut genotypes was assessed in this study. In 10 chestnut genotypes, percentages of pollen viability were generally high and often around or over 80%. The pollen germination percentages of the genotypes were significantly affected by media sucrose concentrations. At optimum sucrose concentrations pollen germination percentages varied between 21.97 and 43.68% in 2004, 3.95 and 31.97% in 2005 and 6.79 and 31.03% in 2006, across all genotypes. The highest pollen germination percentage was obtained from 10% sucrose concentration in all years. Although, in 2006, a highly marked positive correlation (r = 0.80) was determined for the viability and germination percentages, no significant relation between the viability and germination percentages r = -0.54 and r = -0.05, respectively) was found in 2004 and 2005. In 2005 and 2006, germination percentages declined compared to 2004.

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