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International open access peer-reviewed journal published by the Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences . Original research, critical review articles, and short communications dealing with food technology and processing (including food biochemistry, microbiology, analysis, engineering, nutrition, and economy).

The journal is focused on the farm animal management. The journal publishes original scientific papers and critical reviews covering all areas of genetics and breeding, physiology, reproduction, nutrition and feeds, technology, ethology and economics of cattle, pig, sheep, goat, poultry, fish and other farm animal management.

An international open access peer-reviewed journal. The journal publishes results of basic and applied research from all areas of horticulture – fruit growing, vegetable growing, mushrooms growing, viticulture, floriculture, medicinal plants, ornamental gardening, garden, and landscape architecture. The main concern is on plants growing under the conditions of a moderate temperate zone. Original scientific papers, short communications, and review articles are published in the journal.

Plant protection, phytopathology, biocontrol, pests, weeds, funghi, herbicides, pesticides,

Agricultural Economics, scientific papers, open access journal, international

20α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20α-HSD) is a member of the aldo-keto reductase family. These enzymes play a pivotal role in regulating steroid hormones, such as androgens, oestrogen, and progesterone, and are, therefore, considered vital targets for determining whether a pregnancy is maintained. In this study, we investigated the association between 20α-HSD and apoptosis-related genes in luteal tissues (at 30, 60, and 90 days of gestation) and cells from early gestation in cattle. The corpus luteum altered the number of large lutein cells from 30–90 days. The change in the junction of the connective tissue appeared to affect the density of the corpus luteum. In addition, 20α-HSD was detected in the corpus luteum and cultured cells during early pregnancy, in contrast to the results of previous studies. The overall expression pattern of the 20α-HSD and Casp-3 proteins was lower on day 50 of gestation than on days 30 and 90. However, the 20α-HSD expression gradually increased from 30 to 90 days of gestation. When the 20α-HSD protein was increased to 0.5 μg/ml, 1 μg/ml, and 1.5 μg/ml in the luteal cells collected on day 30 of pregnancy, apoptosis was analysed after 48 hours. 20α-HSD generated in the cells was confirmed, and the concentration gradually decreased as the concentration increased. However, the expression of Casp-3 showed an overall similar expression pattern. Notably, the 20α-HSD and Casp-3 proteins were lowest at 1.5 μg/ml supplemented with 20α-HSD, with higher levels in the cytosol than in the cytoplasm. These results suggest that 20α-HSD plays a role in maintaining normal pregnancy, particularly by regulating the progesterone concentrations during luteal cell development.

This study systematically investigated the synergistic improvement of expansive soil using organic fertiliser (OF), slow-release fertiliser (SRF), and rice straw (RS) through Box-Behnken design (BBD) and response surface methodology (RSM). Key findings include: the quadratic models demonstrated high statistical significance (root density: R² = 0.765, F = 25.84; shear strength: R² = 0.885, F = 18.65; swelling rate: R² = 0.20, F = 15.23; all P < 0.001) with low prediction errors (root content: ± 0.08 mg/cm³; shear strength: ± 0.58 kPa; swelling rate: ± 0.38%); The combination of 12.30% OF + 0.7 kg/m³ SRF + 0.4% RS achieved 58% improvement in shear strength, 32% improvement in root content, 42.7% reduction in swelling rate; OF exhibited negative linear effects on root density (β = – 0.18, P = 0.002) with >10% dosage reducing root growth by 9.0%; SRF showed positive linear impacts on shear strength (β = +0.25, P = 0.001) and root density (β = + 0.12, P = 0.023); RS enhanced shear strength below 0.5% (β = + 0.08, P = 0.042) but impaired root density due to pore clogging (β = – 0.15, P = 0.008). The optimised formulation, validated by triplicate centre-point tests (coefficient of variation ≤ 2.1%), is recommended for slope stabilisation while limiting OF to ≤ 10% to prevent performance degradation. This data-driven approach provides actionable insights for balancing agricultural waste utilisation and geotechnical performance in expansive soil improvement.

Periodic waterlogging is more common due to more frequent extreme precipitation but its impact on soil organic carbon (SOC) loss is obscure in straw-return farmland. We compared soil properties and biochemical characteristics of SOC (compositions of non-cellulosic and amino polysaccharides) in adjacent periodic waterlogged farmland (PWF) and non-waterlogged farmland (NWF) in a semi-humid warm temperate region. SOC mineralization was also measured at 60% (aerobic) or 100% (anaerobic) of field capacity at 25 °C for 82 days. The negative effect of periodic waterlogging on SOC contents and soil aggregate stability were observed in the 20–80 cm depth but were offset in topsoil (0–20 cm) due to straw-return. Periodic waterlogging increased the non-cellulosic sugar content and amino sugar content in SOC and the mass ratio of (galactose plus mannose) to (arabinose plus xylose) at 40–80 cm depth except at 0–40 cm depth. By the end of 82 days’ incubation, when aeration status changed from anaerobic to aerobic conditions, total C loss as CO₂ increased similarly (123.9%) in PWF and NWF soils in the top 40 cm, but more C loss occurred under PWF than under NWF (78.9% vs. 46.9%) in the 40–80 cm depth, which was probably ascribed to its higher non-cellulosic sugar and amino sugar content. Our result emphasized the importance of straw-return for maintaining soil quality under periodic waterlogged farmland.

To evaluate the effects of organic fertilizer and microbial agents on soil water and salt distribution, microorganisms, and crop yield on coastal saline-alkaline land, eight treatments were established, i.e., two maize varieties (Dajing Jiu 26 (J) and Quchen Jiu (Q)) and four organic fertilizer and microbial agent application methods (no organic fertilizer or microbial agent application (O₀M₀), single organic fertilizer application (O₁M₀), single microbial agent application (O₀M₁), and combined organic fertilizer and microbial agent application (O₁M₁)). The soil water content in the 40–50 cm soil layer under JO₁M₁ was 3.35% greater than that under JO₀M₀ at the mature stage. The soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil total nitrogen (STN) in the 0–10 cm soil layer under JO₁M₁ were 16.69% and 21.37% greater, respectively, than those under JO₀M₀ at the jointing stage. The actinomycete content was 58.79% greater in QO₁M₁ than in QO₀M₀. The urease activity was greater in O₁M₀ than in the other management practices. Compared with that in JO₀M₀ and QO₀M₀, the alkaline phosphatase activity in JO₁M₁ and QO₁M₁ was 47.36% and 33.97% higher, respectively. Compared with those of JO₀M₀, the catalase activity and sucrase activity of JO₁M₁ were 57.62% and 22.78% higher, respectively. Compared with JO₀M₀ and QO₀M₀, JO₁M₁ and QO₁M₁ increased the grain yield by 20.69% and 16.42%, respectively, and increased the biomass by 23.36% and 26.45%, respectively. In summary, organic fertilizer and microbial agents provide a scientific model for the rational use of saline soils and the development of their potential.

Calcareous soils, typically characterized by low fertility, low organic matter and nitrogen content, and often deficient in phosphorus, zinc, and iron, as well as having low microbial activity, require the development of sustainable soil conditioners to improve fertility. To address these shortcomings and promote sustainable agriculture, biochar, especially with acidic character, may offer a promising solution. This study investigates the effects of modified biochar by H₂SO₄ and ZnSO₄ on soil properties and wheat yield under field conditions. For this purpose, biochar (B), acidified biochar (AB), Zn enriched biochar (BZn), and acidified-Zn enriched biochar (ABZn) were applied to the field at two different doses (0.5 and 1.0%) together with the control treatment (Ck) without biochar application. AB_1.0% was determined as the most effective treatment in decreasing soil pH (0.15 units), while B1.0% was determined as the most effective treatment in increasing organic carbon and cation exchange capacity, 13% and 32%, respectively. The effect of the treatments varied for specific nutrients. The highest antioxidant enzyme activities were found in acidified biochars where the lowest yields were obtained. Compared to the Ck, the highest catalase (CAT) (32%) was determined in ABZn_1.0%, ascorbate peroxidase (APX) (56%) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) (36%) were determined in ABZn_0.5%, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) (28%) was determined in AB_0.5%. The highest proline (PRO), with the least decrease in yield, was found in the AB_1.0% application, which is 205% more than Ck. B and BZn treatments all increased the grain yield, and the highest increase was 20% in B_1.0% when compared to the Ck.

Heavy metal stress inhibits plant growth, but this impact is less studied and pronounced under climate change conditions. The present study investigates the physiological, biochemical, and agronomic responses of wheat (C3) and maize (C4) exposed to varying thallium (Tl) stress (60 and 120 mg/kg) under ambient (aCO₂) and elevated (eCO₂, 710 µmol/mol) CO₂ levels. High Tl exposure markedly reduced grain yield by 58% in wheat and 68% in maize at 120 mg/kg under aCO₂. However, eCO₂ partially offset the negative effects, increasing yield by ~20% in wheat and 36% in maize at 60 mg/kg Tl. eCO₂ enhanced photosynthetic activity under eCO₂, which increased the accumulation of soluble sugars under TI stress. These provide carbon skeletons for the synthesis of primary metabolites such as amino acids, organic acids and fatty acids. Although total fatty acid content declined under stress, the metabolic crosstalk initiated by improved photosynthesis and sugar availability enables plants to maintain key fatty acids (such as palmitic, linolenic, and oleic acids) essential for membrane stability and function. Amino acids, especially proline and cysteine, accumulated significantly under Tl stress. These primary metabolites, in turn, feed into secondary metabolic pathways, promoting the formation of phenolic acids and flavonoids that enhance antioxidant defence and stress tolerance. This metabolic cascade explains eCO₂’s capacity to alleviate TI stress and improve crop performance, and underscores the value of leveraging eCO₂ environments to support agricultural productivity and food security under challenging conditions.

This study compares soil temperature data collected between 2019 and 2022 in Hrušky, South Moravia, Czech Republic. Soil temperature was measured at five depths (5, 10, 20, 50, 100 cm) in the forest shelterbelt (windbreak) and at three distances from it to investigate the impact of the shelterbelt on the climatic conditions of adjacent field plots. In particular, monthly averages, calculated from average daily temperatures, were employed to characterise the temperature course. These are calculated as averages of measured temperatures at 15-minute intervals. Absolute and relative differences and, where appropriate, base indices, were calculated to facilitate the comparison of individual measurement points (sites) and soil depths. The soil temperature values and their dynamics during the year differ between the measurement point in the forest shelterbelt (90-0) and those in the field. Additionally, the field measurement points exhibit some degree of variation, with the more distant field measurement point (180-90) displaying distinct characteristics from the closer field measurement points (90-45, 90-90). During the winter months (December, January, February), the temperature increases with soil depth, being highest within the windbreak. In spring (February and March), the temperature at different soil depths starts to equalise; however, in April, the temperature decreases with soil depth. Throughout the summer, the measurement station within the windbreak has lower temperatures than in the field, where the soil shows higher temperatures at all depths compared to the windbreak measurement station. In August, the temperature differences in depth begin to equalise again. In September, the temperature trend reverses, and from October, the temperatures increase with soil depth, especially in the lower layers of the soil. The temperature trend in November has a more or less winter character. Soil temperatures in the forest shelterbelt are lower in the summer months and higher in the winter months than in the field. The protective effect of the windbreak is more pronounced at measurement stations closer to the belt, as the temperatures at the farthest field measurement station are higher in summer and lower in winter compared to the closer field measurement stations.

This research investigates the intricate connection between indigenous knowledge and sustainable forest management, with two main objectives. It seeks to explore and outline indigenous knowledge, elements, and practices that support sustainable forest management (SFM). It aims to uncover the invaluable traditional insights and practices that have helped preserve and ensure the responsible use of forest ecosystems. Also, it investigated global environmental policies that support indigenous knowledge since the inception of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). A narrative review method was employed to review and analyse peer-reviewed contents and reports to deduce ancestral or traditional wisdom, knowledge, practices, and beliefs from existing studies. The paper extracted data from existing literature from scholarly peer-reviewed journals. It aims to provide useful information for policy-makers, forest managers, and indigenous communities, to promote SFM and the sustainable development goals related to a sustainable environment. The study found that indigenous knowledge (IK) which includes ethnobotanical knowledge and plant selection, mixed land use, seed banks, and cultural beliefs such as sacred groves and taboos are some traditional practices, beliefs, and cultural knowledge that support SFM and can be integrated into international and national environmental management policies which the two-eyed seeing framework (TESF) seeks to promote. The framework highlights the potential of implementing IK into SFM. Also, the Akwé: Kon Guidelines, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), are some global environment policies that recognise traditional people and indigenous knowledge since the commencement of the CBD in the nineties. The paper recommends, for a future study, investigating the applicability of the Akwé: Kon Guidelines in international and national projects and programs that impact traditional sacred lands, forests and rivers, and indigenous people. Also, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement need to fully acknowledge the supporting role of indigenous knowledge and people in climate change mitigation and adaptation solutions, especially in Africa, since the majority of the world's population constitutes indigenous people who inhabit healthy standing forests and ecosystems.

The paper deals with the effect of environmental factors and management on various mixed lowland forests in the Medník National Natural Monument, Czech Republic, over a 20-year period. The objectives were to evaluate the structure, production, dynamics and radial growth in relation to climatic conditions in the mixed hornbeam-oak, herb-rich beech and spruce forest stands. The tree density decreased by 8.5% (to 120-1,364 trees.ha^-1), while stand volume increased by 28.0% (to 244-767 m³.ha^-1) from 1998 to 2018. Large-leaved lime (Tilia platyphyllos Scop.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies /L./ Karst.) showed high variability and sensitivity to climatic factors in radial growth compared to stability and resistance in sessile oak (Quercus petraea /Matt./ Liebl.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). April, June and July were determined as the most significant months in relation to diameter increment. The synergism of precipitation deficit and high air temperature was a limiting factor of growth in the studied lowland area. The frequency of negative pointer years with extremely low radial growth has been increasing recently. Generally, hornbeam-oak stands are characterized by rich structure, high density and lower productivity, herb-rich beech stands represent rich structured productive forests and spruce forests are very productive stands but with low ecological stability.

In this study, the evaluation of soil quality was realised using the Analytic Hierarchy Process, and the obtained values were integrated with Evaluated Soil Ecological Units (BPEJs). Different maps of the Czech Republic were elaborated with BPEJs classified into five soil protection classes based on the obtained model values (with or without the values for production potential), the ratio of 80% (production potential values) to 20% (model values) or 60% (production potential values) to 40% (model values) and 40% (production potential values) to 60% (model values). The evaluation of BPEJs based on the mentioned criteria showed differences in their classification into individual soil protection classes and possibilities of their use or withdrawal from the agricultural land fund. Compared with the existing categorization of BPEJs into soil protection classes (according to Decree No. 48/2011 Coll.), the use of presented model (plus production potential) values, the ratio of 80 : 20%, 60 : 40% or 40 : 60% (production potential: model) caused the numbers of BPEJs increased in those soil protection classes where the withdrawal of soils from the agricultural land fund is possible only exceptionally or it is possible to use the soils for building purposes only under certain conditions.

The impact of exogenously applied glycine betaine (GB; 0, 5, 10, 20 and 50 mmol) was evaluated in preventing Vigna radiata from the adverse effects of salt (100 mmol NaCl) stress. Salinity reduced growth parameters, such as plant height and fresh and dry weight of plants, while GB application significantly alleviated the decline. Salinity stress led to a decline in total chlorophylls and carotenoids, as well as a reduction in the net photosynthetic rate and gas exchange attributes, including stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and intercellular CO₂. However, GB supplementation significantly alleviated this decline. Salinity stress increased the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide, superoxide and methylglyoxal, while as applied GB reduced their accumulation, causing a significant decline in the lipid peroxidation. Application of GB, at all concentrations, increased the activity of the antioxidant enzymes under normal and salinity stress treatments with 10 and 20 mmol concentrations, imparting the highest increase. Increase in the radical scavenging activity due to GB application was also supported by increased total antioxidant activity assays measured as percent DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging. In addition, GB-supplemented plants exhibited an apparent increase in the activities of glyoxalase I and glyoxalase II enzymes. Accumulation of osmotic compounds like proline, sugars and GB increased significantly due to GB application and showed a further increase in salt-stressed plants. More importantly, the GB-treated plants exhibited a considerable decline in sodium accumulation, causing a decline Na/K in them. Glycine betaine was effective in mitigating the deleterious effects of salinity.

The objective of this study was to find out how land use affects the soil microbial attributes in different soil types and to which depth. The study was performed in Slovakia (Europe) in three areas differing in soil type (Chernozem, Stagnosol, Cambisol). Within each area, three localities with different land use (forest, grassland, cropland), representing a gradient with different intensity of management, were chosen. The soil samples were taken along a single soil profile up to a depth of 1 m with 10 cm increments at each locality. In the soil samples, the basic soil chemical properties and microbial attributes were determined. The effect of the land use on the microbial biomass and basal respiration was mainly observed in the Chernozem in the top 30 cm, while in the Stagnosol, no difference in the trend in the microbial biomass between the different ecosystems along the soil profile was found. The N-mineralisation reflected the different management practices especially in the Cambisol in the top 20 cm. The most distinct differences in the catalase activity between the soils differing in land use were found in the Cambisol along the whole profile. The richness and diversity of the functional groups did not differ significantly between the soils with the different land use and also no uniform responses of the functional groups composition to the land use were observed. The microbial biomass and activity were mainly affected by the amount of the soil organic matter; the intensity of the impact differed according to the soil type.

The aim of this research was to evaluate the genetic uniformity of blackberry plants (Rubus fruticosus L. 'Loch Ness' and 'Chester Thornless') obtained by micropropagation. Genetic uniformity was analysed by using RAPD and SRAP markers. For the in vitro multiplication, the slightly modified Murashige and Skoog (1962) basal medium was used, supplemented with 0.5 mg/l 6-Benzyladenine (BA), prepared with tap water and 50 g/l wheat starch as the gelling agent. This culture medium ensured the regeneration of well-developed plantlets, with multiplication rates of more than 42 for both cultivars. The in vitro multiplication was carried out in 30 months including 12 subcultures. The plants obtained from the 3rd and 11th subcultures were compared with the mother plants using 64 SRAP primer combinations (eight forward and eight reverse primers) and 20 RAPD primers to check their genetic fidelity. The amplification products were monomorphic in the micropropagated plants and the mother plant. No polymorphism was detected, thus proving the genetic fidelity and uniformity of the micropropagated plants.

Seedlings of ten Lr near-isogenic lines (NIL) and four wheat lines with enhanced resistance to Puccinia triticina were treated with overdosed neonicotinoid insecticides. The enzyme of Lr 20 gene accelerated thiacloprid degradation while Lr 29 gene accelerated thiamethoxam degradation according to NILs upper plant parts lengths reduction by 6% or 10% six days after the last of three daily treatments. Lr 27 and Lr 33 effects were intermediate on thiamethoxam but only in the driest conditions. Among other NILs the growth was increased 1-5% by N faster release of S or Cl. The accumulation of Lr 20 and Lr 9 facilitated treatment in the late grain filling period when the amount of their circled residues in seed was permissible. In semiarid regions, when thiamethoxam was applied before June, respecting the adequate leaf area duration of prevalent varieties, interaction with Lr 29 could be also practical through simultaneous release of fungi reducing elements.

The seed production area (SPA) is an improved plantation managed for production of quality seeds for a large-scale plantation programme. The soil nutrient is one of several factors affecting seed production among SPAs. The status of soil nutrients and their effect on seed production are poorly understood. Hence, the present study was undertaken in 20 seed production areas located in different seed zones of Karnataka, South India. Results showed that there was a greater variation among SPAs in various soil properties like soil pH, organic carbon, available NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium). Some of the studied parameters recorded significant variations among three different depths: 0-20 (top), 20-40 (middle) and 40-60 cm (bottom). For instance, organic carbon and available potassium showed significant variations at different depths, where the highest content was recorded in the top layer, followed by middle and bottom layers. Considering associations between soil properties and tree growth, organic carbon was positively associated with dbh (diameter at breast height; r = 0.500), stem roundness (r = 0.351) and stem volume (r = 0.250). Similarly, available nitrogen positively influenced the stem volume (r = 0.250). Though the fruit yield varied among SPAs, none of the studied soil parameters showed a significant influence on fruit yield indicating that some other factors like genetic ones, phenology, rainfall overlapping with peak flowering might control it. Data on site quality showed that all existing SPAs studied were growing in poor site conditions, however, this could be one of the factors affecting overall seed yield among SPAs. Hence, it is recommended to undertake a few important silvicultural interventions like application of fertilizer/organic manure, soil working, spraying of floral hormone and others to improve the existing seed production level.