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Planting grasses that require low maintenance is a good option for reducing the management input required. The objective of this study was to obtain information about turfgrass characteristics based on spaced-plant characterization and turf performance in turf plots of two selections (Paula hard fescue and Casero colonial bentgrass) recently released for public distribution by the Plant Production Area of the University of Oviedo. The plants were grown under conditions of no irrigation, no fertilizer, no pesticide application and minimal mowing over a 3-year period (2012-2014). The following morphological measurements were done in a spaced-plant nursery: heading date, plant height, inflorescence length and flag leaf length and width. The turf plots were evaluated for several traits including overall turfgrass quality (turf score), leaf texture and genetic colour. In both the spaced-plant nursery and turf trials, hard fescue genotypes displayed better morphological characteristics (narrow leaves, reduced plant height) and performed better (overall high turfgrass quality, fine leaf texture, dark green colour) than bentgrass genotypes under conditions of low maintenance. For areas in which climate, soil characteristics and management conditions are similar to those encountered in this trial, the selection of Paula hard fescue is recommended for use in low-maintenance turf settings because of the good turfgrass performance and morphological characteristics of this selection.

The presence of seed-borne viruses in winter squash landraces in the Black Sea region of Turkey were detected. The seed samples of landraces were tested by ELISA for Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV), Squash mosaic virus (SqMV), Tobacco ring spot virus (TRSV), and Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV). Based on the ELISA results, 11.3% of the samples were infected with the viruses; ELISA, CMV was found at the rate of 5.1% in the winter squash samples, while incidence of ZYMV was determined as 6.2%. Moreover, none of the plants germinated from seeds were found to be infected with SqMV, TRSV, and CGMMV. This is for the first time that seed-borne viruses of winter squash landraces have been identified in the Black Sea region of Turkey.

Several multivariate methods including partial least squares (PLS) regression, principal component regression (PCR) or multiple linear regression (MLR) have been applied to predict wine quality, based on the definition of chemical and phenolic parameters of grapes and wines harvested at different ripening levels. Three different models including grape phenolic maturity parameters (grape), wine phenolic parameters (wine) and a combination of grape and wine phenolic parameters (grape + wine) were analysed for each of the wine sensory attributes. The grape parameter model has been presented as the best test to predict wine quality based on sensory scores. On the other hand, wine models showed lower accuracy. The combination of grape and wine parameters presented intermediate results showing sometimes good predictability. Moreover, PLS and PCR appeared as more accurate multivariate methods compared to MLR. Although MLR showed higher correlation coefficients, lower RPD values were observed, displaying thus its lower prediction accuracy. Multivariate calibration statistics appeared as a promising tool to predict wine sensory quality in an easy and inexpensive way.

The investigation of the hydrothermal exposure effect on the glue-line strength is obvious when outdoor application of wood products is in option. In our research the bonding quality of oak (Quercus L.) and beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) wood was tested in different conditions according to EN 205. After each exposure the lap joint test specified the shear strength of wood bonded with PVAC and PU adhesive. In our research different behaviour concerning both types of adhesives and selected wood species was observed. The most significant decrease (-80%) of the shear strength was found when the PVAC was used to bond oak wood. Therefore the PVAC adhesive is most likely less suitable for the bonding of the block board in outdoor conditions. On the contrary, the best results in the same conditions were obtained by the oak when the polyurethane adhesive was used. It indicates that the PU adhesive is more suitable for the bonding of oak wood. Considering results of beech wood, there were not found this interaction.

The field experiment with different soil tillage treatments has been carried out in Prague-Ruzyně locality (Czech Republic) since 1995. Data of two growing cycles in the years 2007-2010 and 2011-2014 were evaluated. Tillage technique was decisive for changes in soil characteristics and crop yields. Bulk density, organic carbon (C_org) and microbial biomass C (C_mic) were more equilibrated throughout all tested soil layers (0-0.1; 0.1-0.2 and 0.2-0.3 m) in conventional tillage (CT). In reduced tillage (RT) and no-tillage (NT) treatments significant accumulation of C_org and increase of C_mic in the surface layer were found, compared to CT. No significant differences in C_org and C_mic between two growing cycles were determined; however, mostly higher values were obtained in the top layer of NT during the second growing period. Higher bulk density under conservation tillage techniques did not negatively affect soil characteristics and should be taken in consideration for data evaluation as it can alter interpretation of their changes in the soil profile. Crop yields were comparable in CT and RT. Yield decrease in NT was mostly observed for winter wheat and pea. Beneficial effects of RT and NT conserving soil moisture on crop yield were not observed in dry years.

The aim of this study was to establish reference intervals for the haematological profile of alpacas on the basis of a large population of clinically healthy animals, and to determine the influence of sex, age and season on these indicators. Blood samples were collected from 243 alpacas (53 males and 156 females over six months of age and 34 crias - 12 males and 22 females - under six months of age). The selected farms were located in Central Europe (Czech Republic and Germany). We determined 13 haematological indicators. Comparison of the results was performed with respect to the sex of animals and for the older group also with regard to the season and to the feeding period. We found no highly significant (P > 0.001) differences between males and females. We did find highly significant differences (P < 0.001) between the group of crias under six months of age and the older alpacas (mean corpuscular volume - MCV, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration - MCHC, red cell distribution width - RDW, white blood cell count - WBC, neutrophil count). Based on our findings we suggest that for some indicators different reference intervals (esp. WBC and differential cell counts) be used for the two above mentioned age groups. We found some highly significant differences (P < 0.001) in haematological indicators in the older group of alpacas between the summer and winter feeding period (haemoglobin concentration, MCHC). Clinical laboratory diagnosis may be improved by the use of age-based and season-based haematological reference values.

The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of pathogens and pesticide residues in rapeseed samples depending on integrated and organic cultivation systems and cultivars. No pesticide residue was detected in seeds coming from the organic production system. However, trace amounts of pesticide residues admissible in rapeseed protection were detected for samples from integrated pest management. Seeds from both cultivation systems were most frequently infested by fungi Alternaria brassicicola and A. alternata. The greatest number of Leptosphaeria spp. cultures was obtained from seeds from organic cultivation.

The aim of the study was to verify the hypothesis that the crypto-tobiano horses which do not exhibit the full tobiano white-spotting pattern nonetheless transmit the dominant To gene to the progeny. The study was conducted on the Hucul population. Seven horses with white patches on their limbs, and with or without a small patch on the head, neck or trunk, were selected. At least one of the parents of the horses had to be tobiano or crypto-tobiano. Occasionally such horses produced a tobiano foal from a crossing with a solid-coloured horse. The white patches of the horses used in our study were divided into categories. To identify the To gene, DNA was tested in the Animal Genetics Laboratory (UK). The ratio of non-tobiano, crypto-tobiano, and tobiano foals born from 36 matings of the studied horses was analyzed. The study substantiates the occurrence of crypto-tobiano horses in the Hucul breed. Horses that have patches on their limbs as well as a small white or intermingled patch on the head, neck or trunk, are crypto-tobianos, although crypto-tobianos may have no white on the head, neck, and trunk. The crypto-tobiano pattern occurs in horses which have a tobiano parent or grandparent. The results suggest that the activity of an inhibitor gene suppresses the To allele penetrance in the crypto-tobiano horses. As in the case of many white-spotting patterns, the presence of the To gene in a horse's genotype should be documented by DNA testing or test matings.

The Alpine ecosystem is very sensitive to climatic changes, which have an influence on glaciers, snow, vegetation and soils. The aim of this review is to illustrate the effects of global change on the Alpine soil ecosystem, which is an optimal marker to record them. The manuscript enhances our understanding of the global change effect on the Alpine environment: on morphology, on ice, on vegetation and points out how the cycles of soil nutrients equilibrium have been changed with a direct effect on soils that support plant species. The changes in cryosphere, glacier reduction and periglacial environment as glaciers retreat, decrease in the snow cover extent and earlier snowmelt, determine an effect on soils (on the structure, organic matter and humus forms, soil processes and soil types) from the top of the Alpine horizon to the bottom. The processes induced by climate change (such as erosion and tree line shifting) have a direct effect on water balance that can be observed on soil profile characters with an effect on upward migration, change in phenology, extensive losses of species. The equilibrium of the biogeochemical cycles has been changed and this has a direct effect on soils that support plant species.

Aneurysmal bone cysts are expansile osteolytic bone lesions that can manifest clinically as lameness, pain and swelling. In humans, aneurysmal bone cysts are considered benign tumours that have been classified as primary or secondary to a previous coexisting lesion. Local recurrence after treatment or malignant transformation has been reported in both humans and in a dog. Different treatment options have been proposed. This report describes the treatment of an 11-month-old Irish wolfhound with an aneurysmal bone cyst with a combination of computed tomography-guided cementoplasty and radiation therapy, 30 Gy delivered in 10 fractions. The dog recovered completely, with no lameness observed 30 months after treatment.

Soil water and heat transport plays an important role in various hydrologic, agricultural, and industrial applications. Accordingly, an increasing attention is paid to relevant simulation models. In the present study, soil thermal conditions at a mountain meadow during the vegetation season were simulated. A dual-continuum model of coupled water and heat transport was employed to account for preferential flow effects. Data collected at an experimental site in the Šumava Mountains, southern Bohemia, during the vegetation season 2009 were employed. Soil hydraulic properties (retention curve and hydraulic conductivity) determined by independent soil tests were used. Unavailable hydraulic parameters were adjusted to obtain satisfactory hydraulic model performance. Soil thermal properties were estimated based on values found in literature without further optimization. Three different approaches were used to approximate the soil thermal conductivity function, λ(θ): (i) relationships provided by Chung and Horton (ii) linear estimates as described by Loukili, Woodbury and Snelgrove, (iii) methodology proposed by Côté and Konrad. The simulated thermal conditions were compared to those observed. The impact of different soil thermal conductivity approximations on the heat transport simulation results was analysed. The differences between the simulation results in terms of the soil temperature were small. Regarding the surface soil heat flux, these differences became substantial. More realistic simulations were obtained using λ(θ) estimates based on the soil texture and composition. The differences between these two, related to neglecting vs. considering λ(θ) non-linearity, were found negligible.

The main aim of the paper is to consider the question whether a higher specialization and a bigger economic size class of farms determine a higher technical efficiency at the same scale for the farms from the new and old countries of the EU. This study is based on the data contained in the Farm Accounting Data Network and covers the first four years following the extension of the European Union in 2004. The adopted units comprised average farms representing 80 regions belonging to eleven countries of the EU-15 and four new EU member states. The estimation of technical efficiency was conducted using the data envelopment analysis, separately for each of the two types of farms taking into account their economic size. The main findings indicate that the highest efficiency is achieved by the biggest farms, but those from the regions belonging to the new EU members at the same time had a low efficiency of scale, while those belonging to the countries of the EU-15 were operating at a scale close to the optimal. Moreover, it is confirmed that a longer period of farming under relatively stable conditions promotes a higher efficiency independently of the type of farm production. On the other hand, contrary to the relatively common opinion that a higher specialization promotes a higher efficiency, it was found that field crop farms in average are less efficient than mixed farms, although the difference between efficiencies decreases with an increase of their economic size.

The proportion of variance for service sire effect was estimated for three litter size traits (numbers of piglets born, born alive, and weaned) in Czech Large White (89 231 litters) and Czech Landrace (28 320 litters) pigs. Each trait in the first parity was considered as one trait and that trait in the second and subsequent parities was treated as a repeated trait. Consequently, three two-trait animal models were evaluated for each litter size trait: (i) the service sire effect was included and the complete relationship matrix for all the animals (service sires and sows) was taken into account; (ii) the service sire effect was included as a random effect without inclusion of the relationship matrix; (iii) the service sire effect was omitted from the model. Using the residual variance as a criterion, both models including the service sire effect were slightly better than the model without this effect. Estimates of genetic parameters were very similar for the two models including the service sire effect. The proportion of variance for service sire was in the range from 2 to 3% (standard error approx. 0.2%) in Czech Large White and 2% (standard error approx. 0.3%) in Czech Landrace for all three litter size traits and all models. Models without service sire effect or models including service sire as a simple random effect and without inclusion of the genetic relationship matrix are recommended for genetic evaluation of litter size traits.

A set of fifty samples were taken from soil surface layers of an anonymous vineyard in the Bohemia region of the Czech Republic. Samples were analysed for basic soil parameters including pH and humus content and quality and for potentially toxic elements Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd and Mn. When compared to soil guideline values, mean Cu exceeded the limit by 280%. Although other elements did not exceed the guideline value, Zn and Cd surpassed background concentrations by 108 and 187%, respectively. Mn did not occur in concentrations that are considered excessive with respect to common natural soil levels. A statistically significant correlation was observed for Cu and C_ox, but no significant correlation could be made between Cu and humus quality, suggesting that in this case, Cu retention in surface soil is more dependent on quantity of humic substances rather than humus quality. The unnaturally high accumulation of Cu in the surface horizon is certainly of anthropogenic origin; most likely due to long term application of copper-based fungicides. High observed values of Cd are probably a result of the soils parent material and application of fertilizers which may have contained cadmium compounds. Distribution maps illustrated a common trend of potentially toxic element accumulation in the western section of the study area plot. However, many variables which were unmeasured in this study could account for the distribution and therefore more detailed study is required before conclusions can be made regarding this occurrence. An analysis of wine produced at the vineyard showed that although the end product beverage contained insignificant amounts of Cu in both red and white wines, the white wine contained 0.026 mg/l of Cd; a value which could contribute considerably to exceeding the dietary allowable intake of cadmium. The investigation should be extended to analyse a wider range of wines produced from the vineyard with a focus on soil-plant-fruit-wine transfer of cadmium and/or production processes.

Research of degradation medium occurring in agrocomplex at the current interaction with bonded joints strength and lifetime is desired owing to the possibilities of bonding applications in this dynamically developing field. The bonding technology is used in construction of machines, lines and devices of agriculture, forestry and food industry. Among the perspectives of bonding technologies the adhesive bonding can be considered thanks to its predominant pluses. At the bonding technology or more precisely adhesive bonding technology application the limits must be characterized, which occur in the process of application in the concrete medium. On the basis of characteristics and analyses the countermeasures eliminating the negative factors can be taken. Published results set themselves the goal to know degradation processes taking place in bonded joints contemporarily with taking account of adhesive/adherend interaction with accent on application in agriculture. Experimentally found results confirm the presumption of a significant portion of the adhesive layer on the adhesive bond strength decrease in the practice due to the degradation processes.

Intercropping of grain legumes and cereals is a promising theme in organic farming for its potential for increasing and stabilizing yields, reducing weed pressure and sustaining plant health. On animal husbandry farms, pea-cereal mixtures may be an interesting crop harvested for green fodder as well as for feed concentrates. Increasing self-sufficiency with fodder is in agreement with the principles of organic agriculture, and it reduces the risks related to the import of soy protein that may be admixed with GM soya. In 2008-2011, plot trials (PT) with intercropped peas and spring cereals (wheat, barley) were conducted. Varieties and pea-cereal combinations were examined to find suitable varieties for intercropping, and the best pea to cereal ratio in the seed intercrop (pea to cereal ratios 80:20, 60:40, 40:60, 20:80). Results show that intercropping peas and spring cereals may be advantageous compared to monocultures. Pea-cereal intercrops produce high yields of green matter and concentrates especially when intercropped at the pea to cereal ratio of 60:40 and 40:60. In 2009, on five certified organic farms, controlled field trials (FT) were conducted with field pea (leaf type), spring barley and spring wheat in monocultures and intercrops (pea to cereal ratio 60:40). Forage yields were evaluated at pea growth phases BBCH-scale 79 and 83. Fresh yields of monocultures and intercrops were evaluated at grain harvest.

A seven-month old common myna with a history of ingesting a wire was transferred to the Iranmehr companion animal clinic in Mashhad, Iran. The bird's symptoms included anorexia, retching, intermittent vomiting, a lack of vocalisation, fluffing, and nervousness lasting for two days. X-rays confirmed a radiopaque foreign body in the proventriculus. Initial attempts to remove the wire thorough the oral route were futile; however, surgical removal using ventriculotomy (ventral midline celiotomy) under general anaesthesia proved successful. Slight haemorrhaging occurred when the incision was made in the caudal aspect of the ventriculus, but overall, the procedure was performed with no serious complications. A follow-up after three month revealed no complications. Despite the negative views associated with this technique, our study shows that ventriculotomy can be recommended for the removal of ventricular and proventricular foreign bodies, at least in this species.

The inter-related causes of food insecurity in these countries are mainly the long lasting civil wars, a limited access to land, environmental degradation, climatic shocks and the rapid population growth resulting from the high birth rates and the return of refugees.

Dark discolorations of the vascular vessels of 3-year-old potted plants of Asturian grapevine cultivar (Northern Spain), were observed during pruning. These symptoms can be associated to fungal trunk diseases that, in the last decades, are affecting young vineyards all over the world. Cross sections from root, trunk and canes of 19 young grapevine plants were analyzed for the presence of pathogenic fungi associated with these diseases. Non-pathogenic fungi were isolated from both asymptomatic and symptomatic samples, showing that dark discolorations, in some cases, were a consequence of abiotic causes. Regarding pathogenic fungi, Cylindrocarpon spp. colonies were the most frequent, isolated mainly from roots and from asymptomatic tissue. Botryosphaeria spp. colonies were mostly isolated from trunk and from sections with dark discolorations generated by pruning. Phaeoacremonium spp. was isolated from all the organs (roots, trunk and canes). Only one colony of Libertella spp. was isolated. These results suggest the need of a standard protocol, combining treatments and management activities, to be performed in nurseries to limit the spread of these diseases.

Schmallenberg virus (SBV) infection is an emerging infectious disease of ruminants first described in Germany in November, 2011. Since then it has spread very rapidly to several European countries. The disease is characterised by fever, reduced milk production and diarrhoea in cattle and abortions, stillbirths and foetal abnormalities in sheep and goats. SBV is an enveloped, negative-sense, segmented, single-stranded RNA virus, classified in the genus Orthobunyavirus of the Bunyaviridae family, and is closely related to Akabane, Ainoa and Shamonda viruses. As of now there is no vaccine available for SBV, which poses a serious threat to naive ruminant population. Owing to its recent discovery, our understanding of Schmallenberg viral disease and its pathology and pathogenesis is limited. This article reviews the data reported so far on this emerging disease with regard to aetiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, pathology, diagnosis and control and discusses the future scenario and implications of the disease.

Influenza is a serious infectious disease, which is life-threatening especially in children, seniors and immunocompromised patients. In addition to vaccination, the development of new anti-influenza agents represents a crucial defence strategy to combat seasonal and pandemic influenza strains. At present most attention is paid to the development of inhibitors of influenza neuraminidase, which has been established as a key drug target for the prophylaxis and treatment of influenza infections. However, the emergence of drug-resistant influenza variants highlights the need of continuously innovative strategies for the development of new drugs with improved antiviral effects, higher safety and increased tolerability. In this review article, an analysis of publications describing anti-influenza agents indexed in the Web of Science^® database has been carried out. The most important publications are presented in tables and are characterised by several key words, abstracts and references. The presented publications have been sorted according to five basic criteria: (i) review articles, (ii) design, synthesis and evaluation of new anti-influenza drugs, (iii) major classes of anti-influenza drugs, (iv) combination therapy of influenza infections and (v) influenza drug resistance. The design of this review article allows us to offer a complex overview of known antiviral agents targeting influenza viruses, facilitates easy and rapid orientation in numerous publications written on this subject, and aids the gathering of required data.

Ectopic ACTH secretion is provoked by extra-pituitary tumours that secrete ACTH, constituting an infrequent type of Cushing Syndrome in the dog. Neuroendocrine tumours (NET) are characterised by the synthesis of peptides with hormone activity. A dog with clinical diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome and presenting an abdominal tumour located in the area of the left adrenal gland was sent to the hospital. Cortisol was not inhibited at four and eight hours after the application of low-dose dexamethasone and the cortisol/creatinine ratio was elevated (93 × 10^-6, referencevalues < 10 × 10^-6). Plasma ACTH measurements were high (28.6 pmol/l, reference values 5.5-14.3 pmol/l). On computed tomography, the tumour was found in the meso-epigastrium, with both adrenal glands hyperplasic and no alteration of the pituitary image. The tumour was located between the two layers of the meso-colon and was removed using laparoscopy. After surgery, ACTH concentrations became normal and clinical signs remitted. The histopathological diagnosis was NET, with positive ACTH immunostaining.

The contribution follows the development of Czech wine exports to Slovakia, depending on the development of the wine industry attractiveness in Slovakia. Wine export from the Czech Republic to Slovakia in the terms of volume and value of exports, both globally and in the division of export bulk and bottled wine, is confronted with the development of factors influencing the wine sector attractiveness in Slovakia. The Slovak wine market is a market in the phase of growth, the wine consumption per capita in 2011 reached 14.7 Lt.; the domestic production covered only 46% of the domestic consumption. The level of the industry concentration is high, the 6 largest companies produce more than 18.5 mill. Lt. of wine - 50% of the total domestic production. Wine legislation is comparable to the Czech legislation, the purchasing power of the customers shows a positive development, but the cheap table wine imports still represent more than 50% of the total domestic consumption. The opportunity for Czech exporters is the factor represented by the size and growth of the market and the legislation, too. The situation is rather more positive for the re-export of cheap wine from other countries than the direct export of Czech wine to Slovakia in case of other analyzed factors.

We calculated high-power forwarder productivity in regeneration felling with the objective to set long-term work plans. Based on the time studies of the forwarder operator's work operation the operation time consumption was calculated and operation standards for the studied type of forwarder were designed. The standard values were determined based on the volume weight of harvested timber and the forwarding distance. The resulting time consumption required for forwarding 1 m³ of timber, whose mean tree volume is 0.30-0.99 m³.stem^-1, and upon forwarding distance of 100-1,000 m ranges from 0.05-0.09 Nh.m^-3.

The application rate of a nitrogen fertiliser is one of the most important factors that affect the nitrous oxide (N₂O) flux. Calk ammonium nitrate with 27% nitrogen content was spread by a fertiliser spreader VICON RS-L connected with a tractor Zetor 16145 and incorporated into the soil by a power harrow Pöttinger Lion 301 six hours after spreading. Monitoring points were selected based on the size of application rate 0, 100, 200 and 300 kg/ha and were measured 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after fertiliser application and incorporation into the soil. Nitrous oxide emissions were measured by a photoacoustic field gas monitor INNOVA 1412 with a multipoint sampler INNOVA 1309. Based on the data obtained, there were found statistically significant differences among time intervals and among the size of the application rate at a 95.0% confidence level. Results have shown impacts of the size of fertiliser application rate and time interval after fertilisation on nitrous oxide flux.

The article focuses on selected aspects of risk management in agricultural business with the aim to discuss and compare different hedging methods which are relevant for managing the commodity risks associated with agricultural production. The article provides a broader context for understanding the risks and possible responses to it and analyses four basic hedging strategies - commodity futures, forward contracts, options and option strategies. The substance, advantages and disadvantages of each hedging technique are pointed out and compared to each other with the conclusion that there is always some kind of trade-off between the advantages and disadvantages of the particular strategies. The farmers shall, therefore, consider both all aspects of the relevant strategies and their expectations, before they make the final decision which instruments to use.

Results of all public consumer preference testing sessions included in this study were to be divided into 3 time periods. During the oldest period (1979-1990), with regard to overall qualities and appearance of fruits, the cv. Rubín was the most preferred. Next, it was followed by the cvs Fantazie, McIntosh, Gloster, and Melrose. In the subsequent period (1991-2001), the cv. Bohemia was in the first position in all respects including taste and fruit appearance. Following it in downward sequence were the cvs Rubín, King Jonagold, Jonagold, McIntosh and Melrose. In the latest period (2002-2013), again both in the total scoring and fruit appearance, Bohemia was the most preferred. It was followed in descending order by cvs Orion, Meteor, Jomured, HL 623 and Gold Bohemia. Considering fruit taste alone, however, the most preferred cultivar was Orion. According to the overall results of studies from thirty-three years, in which a total of 198 cultivars or genotypes were included, the most preferred was cv. Bohemia, followed by cvs Meteor, Rubín, HL 623, Andera, Gold Bohemia, King Jonagold and Jomured. Regarding fruit taste itself, the top cv. Bohemia was directly followed by cv. Gold Bohemia and by the selection HL 1834.

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of used technology and environmental condition on lucerne dry matter yield in the regional conditions. During a three year period (2011-2013), the investigation was based on management survey in 27 farms in the Czech Republic. Climate conditions significantly influenced yield in some interaction with soil where only combination of dry climate and less fertile soil conditions reduced forage yield. The single soil effect was not significant for forage yield. Applied technology was influenced by both environment and farm characteristic (such as farm size and cow's milk performance) which together significantly explained about 40% of variability of used technological properties. From all investigated technological properties, only cultivation of lucerne in mixture with grasses consistently increased forage yield therefore should be considered as important factor for modelling forage farm yield in the regional conditions.

The objective of the study was to estimate the heterozygosity and phylogenetic relationship between horse breeds in Poland, according to erythrocyte antigens and protein polymorphisms. The study included 15 434 horses: Polish Coldblood, Małopolski, Wielkopolski, Hucul, Polish Konik, Biłgorajski, Felin Pony, and ponies of Shetland origin. A total of 14 loci were studied: seven blood groups and seven protein polymorphism systems. Phylogenetic trees obtained for the erythrocyte antigens and protein variants were mostly alike which suggests that both kinds of markers may be equally used in estimating the similarity of animal populations. The lower polymorphism of the structural and enzymatic proteins, as compared with the erythrocyte antigen, resulted in a lower number of alleles per locus, lower heterozygosity, and closer genetic distances. The level of heterozygosity and phylogenetic trees of the breeds turned out to be mostly concordant with the known history of the populations. Małopolski and Wielkopolski horses are the most homozygous, the Huculs, Polish Koniks, and Biłgorajskis have a middle position, while the Polish Coldbloods and the ponies are the most heterozygous. The Polish Koniks are the most related to other breeds which shows that all the breeds studied, Polish Coldbloods included, have many indigenous ancestors. The Huculs, Polish Koniks, and Biłgorajskis are closely related. In spite of different histories, the Małopolski and Wielkopolski horses have the closest relationship. The Felin Ponies cluster together with the Shetlands. According to the blood groups and protein variation, the genetic diversity of the studied horse breeds is low and mainly due to individual differences. The low genetic variability of the breeds suggests reconsidering the long-term strategies of horse breeding in Poland, particularly of the conserved breeds.

This study aimed to separate the respective contributions of root and microbial respiration to soil respiration in a rape field in Southwest China. The soil respiration was measured with a closed chamber technique and a regression method was used to apportion root and microbial respiration. Microbial and root respiration ranged from 70.67 to 183.77 mg CO₂/m²/h and 21.99 to 193.09 mg CO₂/m²/h, averaged 127.16 and 116.66 mg CO₂/m²/h during the rape growing season, respectively. Root respiration coefficient ranged from 0.41 to 5.39 mg C-CO₂/g C/h and was negatively correlated with root/shoot ratio, aboveground and belowground biomass, but positively correlated with root N content. The contribution of root respiration to soil respiration averaged 44.2%, ranging from 14.5% to 62.62%.