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The substantial increase in grain production stimulated by traditional agricultural direct subsidies has been accompanied by a concomitant decrease in ecological quality, precipitated by excessive application of chemical fertilisers, which has generated countervailing effects that fundamentally undermine the positive effect of subsidy policies on agricultural output. Consequently, the mitigation of agricultural pollution and the elevation of ecological quality have emerged as pivotal directions for the reform of agricultural subsidies. Using both time-varying difference-in-differences (DID) models and spatial DID models in this study, we examined the effect of agricultural 'three subsidies' reform on agricultural fertiliser nonpoint source pollution (AFNSP), drawing on China's province-sector panel data from 2008 to 2022. The empirical evidence yields several salient findings. First, the three subsidies reform can significantly reduce AFNSP and improve ecological quality. Second, the large-scale operation of agricultural households and the enhancement of agricultural production efficiency serve as effective pathways for the three subsidies reform to reduce AFNSP. Third, the implementation of the three subsidies reform engenders significant spatial spillover effects, which play a crucial role in reducing overall regional AFNSP. Fourth, the efficacy of the three subsidies reform exhibits heterogeneity across diverse agroecological contexts and farming cultures. Last, the reform has resulted in notable improvements in agricultural ecological quality, thereby reinforcing food security capabilities. These findings not only offer valuable reference for refining agricultural subsidy reform but also contribute to the development of a comprehensive framework that simultaneously safeguards agroecological security and food security.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a toy on the behaviour and body weight of weaned pigs after mixing. Two groups (192 pigs in total, control: without toy; treatment: with toy placed on the floor) of weaned pigs housed in pens (1.8 m × 1.4 m, 4 pigs/pen) were This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a toy on the behaviour and body weight of weaned pigs after mixing. Two were observed with the aid of video technology for nine consecutive hours in the early (days 1 and 2) and late (days 38 and 39) period after mixing. Bodyweight of pigs at the end of the study (Mann-Whitney U-test, Z = -2.46, P = 0.01) and the average daily gain (Z = -2.75, P < 0.01) were 10% higher in the treatment group than in the control group. The presence of the toy in the pen influenced the pig behaviours. In pens enriched with toys, there was an increase in feeding behaviour and a decrease in agonistic and belly nosing behaviours. Toy supply reduced negative social behaviours and thereby improved the bodyweight of weaned pigs. The results of this study suggest that toys used as environmental enrichment are useful for enhancing pig welfare and effective for farmers.

We herein report the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in a brain meningioma in a pet rat (Rattus norvegicus domestica). A 1.5-year-old pet rat was referred for depression, ataxia, tremors and bilateral nystagmus; a brain MRI was elected suspecting an intracranial neoplasia. The study was performed with a 0.25 T scanner. The MRI revealed a well-defined oval mass with a heterogeneous appearance, hyperintense in T1 and T2, and with extra-axial localisation and severe brain compression, the mass appeared strongly and diffusely contrast-enhancing. Euthanasia was elected, with the necropsy confirming the presence of a voluminous extra-axial mass. Histologically, a well-differentiated, benign meningotheliomatous meningioma was diagnosed, with the histochemical stains allowing one to exclude a granular cell tumour. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of MRI investigations on a pet rat intracranial meningioma.

A continuous long-term field experiment (2008-2018) was conducted in Xinjiang, north-western China, to assess the impact of farmyard manure (FYM) and inorganic fertilisers on the sustainable biomass yield of sweet sorghum cultivar (Xingaoliang No. 3) and soil chemical properties. Seven treatments, associated with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), FYM, and their different combination, were compared with the control plot (CK). As a result, the treatments NP, PK, NK, NPK and NPKM significantly increased the average biomass yields by 30-48% over CK. The 12 t/ha FYM per year with NPK (NPKM) increased both the yield and total soluble solids (T_SS) by 48% and 7.9%, respectively, while the 18 t/ha/year application rate of FYM had an adverse effect on yield. Stem T_SS, soil available N and K for all treatments decreased while soil organic carbon, soil total salt and the available P for FYM applied treatments increased over the years. The soil pH stabilised at 7.8-8.2 at the end. In conclusion, the 12 t/ha/year of FYM is the most efficient rate for a single application or incorporation with inorganic fertilisers. A more reasonable application rate of N and K fertiliser to increase the yield and irrigation rate to reduce soil salt needs for further investigation.

Insect pollination is one of the most important ecosystem services. Pollinator communities are rarely studied across years and crops in the same location. The aim of this study was to investigate the pollinator community structure on five different fruit crops, as well as the activity of different pollinator groups during the day and their temperature preferences. Pollinator activity was observed across two years on apple trees and blueberry, strawberry, blackcurrant and raspberry bushes. Pollinator community structure varied by plant and year. Honeybees were the most numerous pollinators on all plants except blueberry bushes (39-95% of visits). Bumblebee numbers were high on blackcurrant (up to 28%) and blueberry bushes (up to 61%). Solitary bees visited all plants except blueberries. Honeybees, solitary bees, and hoverflies were most active in the middle of the day, while bumblebees became active earlier in the morning and remained active later in the evening. Pollinators also differed greatly in their temperature preferences. This knowledge gained is necessary for less harmful pesticide application management and the development of more sustainable agriculture to maintain pollinator diversity and thus reliable pollination in extreme weather conditions.

A tomato plant (Solanum lycopersicum Linnaeus, labelled KVE) displaying virus-like symptoms, tested negative for common tomato viruses, was subjected to high-throughput sequencing (HTS) on the Illumina MiSeq platform using ribosomal RNA-depleted total RNA as a template. The analysis has revealed the contigs mapping to Lettuce big-vein associated virus (LBVaV). The near complete LBVaV-KVE sequence of RNA1 and RNA2 revealed 95.0 and 94.9% identity with the reference sequence, the same length of translated products and a typical varicosavirus genome organisation. After initial long-term maintenance of LBVaV-KVE in the original plant, the virus could be detected by RT-PCR or nanoLC-ESI-Q-TOF in new plants generated from lateral shoot cuttings or inoculated by stem chips, although not uniformly. So far, LBVaV was reported to infect lettuce and related species. Our study expands the natural host range of the LBVaV to tomato.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of ferric carboxymaltose injection in the prevention of anaemia in suckling piglets. In group A (n = 8), piglets were administered iron in the form of iron carboxymaltose complex (Ferinject^®) at a dose of 200 mg i.m. (neck muscle) at the age of 3 days. In group B (n = 8), piglets were given iron in the form of iron dextran (Ferribion^®) at a dose of 200 mg i.m. (neck muscle) at the age of 3 days. In group C (n = 8, anaemic control group), iron was not administered until the age of 10 days. During the study, no statistically significant differences were observed in the parameters of red blood cell count or blood plasma iron concentration between the group that received iron carboxymaltase and the group that received iron dextran. The results of haematological and biochemical examinations achieved in our study show that the application of iron carboxymaltase was successful in preventing iron deficiency anaemia in piglets. The results indicate comparable efficacy of iron carboxymaltase and iron dextran.

Breeding of hybrids between wild boars and domestic pigs is in the consumer interest because of the need to ensure food security and diversification via widening the genetic basis of animals reared for meat. To expand the knowledge about their nutritional requirements, this study aimed to investigate hindgut fermentation in these animals. Caecal and colon cultures were incubated for 12 h in vitro with or without wheat bran as a supplementary substrate. Short-chain fatty acids, ammonia, methane, and total gas production were determined. The total concentrations of short-chain fatty acids in unincubated caecal and colon samples were 93.1 and 115 mmol/kg, respectively. The short-chain fatty acid profile in fresh hindgut contents was characterized by a high molar proportion of acetate (74.8-75.0 mol%), followed by propionate (18.2-18.5 mol%) and butyrate (5.4-5.5 mol%). The presence of wheat bran lowered acetate and increased butyrate, propionate, and valerate molar proportions. The ammonia level remained low (1.3-2.43 mmol/kg) regardless of the addition of the substrate. The relatively low pH and ammonia concentration in wild boar/pig hybrids may be caused by the low level of crude protein in diet of these animals. The rate of methanogenesis increased during the fermentation simultaneously with an increase in the production of gases after wheat bran addition. Methane production in the caecal and colon samples incubated with the substrate reached 15.6 and 16.1 mmol/kg, respectively. The hindgut fermentation pattern in wild boar/pig hybrids generally resembled that described earlier in domestic pigs, although some observed dissimilarities may be caused by distinct microbial activity.

The use of in vitro (fish cell lines) is a cost-effective, very rapid, and informative tool for toxicological assessments. Using the neutral red (NR) assay, we compared the in vitro acute toxicity (20hEC50) of twenty-six chemical substances on a rainbow trout gonad cell line (RTG-2) with their in vivo acute toxicity to Barbados Millions Poecilia reticulata (48hLC50, OECD 203) and crustacean Daphnia magna (48hEC50, OECD 202). The 20hEC50 values obtained by the NR assay were higher in nearly all the cases when compared to the 48hLC50 in P. reticulata and the 48hEC50 in D. magna, indicating that the sensitivity of the RTG-2 cell line was lower compared to P. reticulata and D. magna. A high (r = 0.89) and significant (P < 0.001) correlation was recorded between the 20hEC50 values of the RTG-2 and the 48hEC50 values of D. magna. The correlation between the 20hEC50 values of the RTG-2 and the 48hLC50 values of P. reticulata was lower (r = 0.65; P < 0.001), but also significant. The authors recommend use of the NR assay on the RTG-2 cell lines as a screening protocol to evaluate the toxicity of xenobiotics in aquatic environments to narrow the spectrum of the concentrations for the fish toxicity test.

This case report describes congenital ichthyosis in a Maltese dog, a condition, which has not previously been reported in this breed. The dog presented with several dry, tightly adhering scales showing a multi-focal appearance. The histology revealed severe orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis and hyperplasia with an irregular granular layer without epidermolysis. Non-epidermolytic ichthyosis (NI) has strong breed predilection in dogs, and its morphological features vary by breed while the microscopic changes are similar. It is likely to be the first reported case of congenital ichthyosis in a Maltese dog showing a different morphological appearance compared to other breeds with a higher prevalence of NI.

Taxocenosis of psocids (Psocoptera) was studied in the territory of the Drahanská vrchovina Hills in the Czech Republic. Representative research plots were selected in forest ecosystems with natural species composition and spatial structure (small-scale strictly protected areas) as well as in forest ecosystems with altered tree species composition and spatial structure. Research was conducted in three altitudinal vegetation zones (AVZ): in 2^nd communities of Fagi-querceta s. lat. (beech-oak forests), 3^rd Querci-fageta s. lat. (oak-beech forests) and 4^th Fageta abietis (beech forests with fir). Research plots are situated at altitudes ranging between 275 and 540 m a.s.l. In the 2013 growing season, totally 3,474 imagoes and 2,532 nymphs of 32 psocid species were collected. Of those, 748 imagoes of 25 psocid species were collected in Fagi-querceta. The occurrence of Caecilius burmeisteri, Caecilius flavidus and Graphopsocus cruciatus was eudominant. 2,194 imagoes of 23 psocid species were found in Querci-fageta, eudominant were there Caecilius flavidus and Caecilius burmeisteri. 532 imagoes of 18 psocid species were found in Fageta abietis, eudominant were there: Caecilius flavidus, Peripsocus subfasciatus and Caecilius burmeisteri. In respect to the species composition, 3^rd AVZ and 4^th AVZ are similar to each other while 2^nd AVZ is less similar.

Atrazine is still widely used in China. Atrazine residue (1.86-1 100 mg/kg) in the soil has exceeded the allowable limit (1.0 mg/kg), affecting soil structure and soil aggregate composition. To understand the long-term application of atrazine on soil aggregates and the binding agent, four treatments were established in cornfield planted since 1998, including without atrazine applied (AT₀), atrazine applied (28% atrazine, 1 200-1 350 mL/ha/year) once a year from 2012 to 2018 (AT₆, 167 mg/kg), from 2008 to 2018 (AT₁₀, 127.64 mg/kg) as well as from 2002 to 2018 (AT₁₆, 102 mg/kg) with three replications. Along with the increase of atrazine application time, the mass fraction of soil aggregates > 5 mm and 2-5 mm decreased significantly while the mass fraction of soil aggregates 0.5-2 mm and < 0.5 mm increased gradually, and the change of aggregate binding agents contents were the same as that of aggregates. The contents of soil organic carbon (SOC) and glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) in the aggregates > 5 mm and 2-5 mm were significantly negatively correlated with the years of atrazine application. Our results show that although atrazine residue in the soil does not increase with the increased yearly application, its concentration is still markedly higher than the permitted limit value and seriously affected the content of SOC and GRSP of aggregates > 2 mm, which can lead to a decrease of soil aggregate stability and soil quality.

Immobilisation of lead (Pb) and toxic elements in contaminated soils is of importance due to their persistence in the environment. Herein, we investigated the effects of sugarcane filter cake biochar (SFCB) and sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA) on the extractability of Pb and some toxic and potentially toxic elements (As, Cd, Cu, and Zn) in polluted mine soil samples from Lower Klity Creek, Thailand. The soil was equilibrated with the SFCB and SBA at the respective rates of 0, 1, and 5% (w/w) for 120 days at field capacity. The results revealed that both SFCB and SBA materials significantly (P < 0.05) decreased Pb extractability in the studied soil, and it stabilised after 56 days of incubation. At 120 days, the SFCB and SBA application at the rates of 5% SFCB, 5% SBA, 1% SFCB, and 1% SBA decreased the extractable Pb contents by 50.35, 40.81, 29.42, and 19.27%, respectively, compared to unamended soil. The SFCB and SBA materials also improved soil chemical properties by increasing the soil pH, available phosphorus, and extractable sulfur. At 5%, SFCB decreased As extractability and increased organic carbon in the studied soil. The Zn availability in the studied soil was also improved by SFCB and SBA addition. This study highlights the potential use of biochar and ash from the sugarcane industry to stabilise Pb and As in contaminated soils.

This research optimised the application of a hexane-methanol mixture as a binary solvent for the concurrent oil-resin extraction and separation from Calophyllum seeds on a pilot scale, in a direct stage. The optimum oil and resin yields were determined by optimising the extraction conditions using response surface methodology and a second order polynomial model. The extraction conditions affected the oil and resin yields, with the extraction time as the biggest influencing factor. Optimum oil (65%) and resin (16%) yields were predicted to be obtained at 5.2 h and 433 rpm. The model validation with these extraction conditions showed that the predicted results and actual oil (62%) and resin (15%) yields were in passable agreement. The oil was composed of 75.4% triglycerides with a density of 0.874 g.cm^-3, a viscosity of 26.4 mPa.s^-1, an acid value of 46.4 mg KOH.g^-1, an iodine value of 98.0 g iodine.100 g^-1, trace water and sediment contents, and zero ash content. The resin had a viscosity of 4 694.8 mPa.s^-1, a total phenolic content of a 4.51% gallic acid equivalent, an antioxidant activity of an 8.82 mg ascorbic acid equivalent.g^-1, and an acid value of 126.2 mg KOH.g^-1.

Electrokinetic remediation (EKR) is a powerful technique aimed at pollutant removal in soil, sludge, mine tailings, and so on. In the current work, we performed a bibliometric analysis of the research on EKR for the period of 1900-2018 on the basis of the core database of the Science Citation Index Expanded. In addition to a basic analysis of the research characteristics, keywords were analysed for four major participants: USA, China, Spain, and South Korea. The periods of 1990-2001, 2002-2008, and 2009-2018 were studied using the keyword analysis method to gain insights into the development of EKR and predict its future trends. The results revealed that the related research field in the USA was broad during the study periods. Meanwhile, China was interested in fluorine pollution and contamination in red soil. Spain paid close attention to pollution due to agricultural contamination. South Korea focused on radioactive element pollution. The number of papers published over a period of 28 years increased steadily and continued to rise after 2008. The combined techniques of EKR + phytoremediation and EKR + bioremediation were successively utilised by scholars over time, and the latter is expected to demonstrate vitality in the future.

This study was conducted to examine the epidemiological characteristics of two Pseudomonas syringae pvs. - syringae (Pss) and morsprunorum race 1 (Psm) on the sweet cherry in both field and laboratory conditions. Cycled inoculations of one-year-old branches indicated that the sweet cherry became sensitive to Psm race 1 earlier in the season (October) compared to Pss (November). The most severe infections occurred in the dormancy period (November), while the necroses formed in January and March were less in their length. Inoculations of the two-/three-year-old branches performed in November resulted in necrosis, with those induced by Pss being more aggressive. The January inoculations, however, resulted in less formed necroses in length. Laboratory tests performed on excised sweet cherry branches confirmed the results yielded by the field experiments, indicating that the dormancy period poses the greatest risk for the P. syringae pvs. infection. The isolation of Pss and Psm bacteria from naturally infected sweet cherry samples (cankers) during the summer indicated that the bacteria that persists in cankers in low numbers became active during autumn. Significant Pss and Psm race 1 epiphytic bacterial populations were noted during the spring, but decreased in the summer and increased again in the autumn, indicating the presence of inoculum reservoirs. The greater understanding of the control strategies aimed at the epidemiological factors should, thus, facilitate better disease outbreak management.

Enrichment of yoghurt with probiotic bacterial strains and prebiotic plant substrates has gained increasing interest among both consumers and food manufacturers. In this study, limited growth and fermentation activity of the commercial probiotic strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v were observed when cultured in ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk. Electron microscopy revealed the strain's ability to adhere to the surface of prebiotically active plant particles, specifically quinoa, lucuma, and baobab powders. Supplementation of these plant substrates at a concentration of 1% (w/v) slightly enhanced the growth of L. plantarum 299v in UHT milk and improved its viability over a 28-day storage period at 5 ± 1 °C. Co-cultivation of L. plantarum 299v with the yoghurt starter culture YC-381 (in a 1 : 0.5 ratio), along with the addition of 1% (w/v) of lucuma, quinoa, or baobab powders to UHT milk, was successfully achieved. These substrates positively influenced the stability of L. plantarum 299v during the 28-day storage and in the case of quinoa of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus during 21-day storage at 5 ± 1 °C. Moreover, the addition of 1% (w/v) plant powders slightly stimulated the production of lactic and acetic acids in yoghurt containing L. plantarum 299v.

This study optimised the drying process of kaffir lime leaves (Citrus hystrix DC.) to extend the shelf life and preserve the quality by reducing the moisture content. A Central Composite Design (CCD) under the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) framework was employed, with the temperature (55 °C, 60 °C, 65 °C) and drying time (5, 5.5, 6 h) as the variables. Experiments were conducted with a mechanical food dehydrator, and the parameters evaluated included the water content and drying yields. The optimal condition was identified as 60 °C for 5 h, resulting in a drying yield of 33.3% and a final moisture content of 7.153 (% w.b.), which meets the quality standards for dried products. The novelty of this research lies in the application of RSM to determine effective drying conditions for kaffir lime leaves, which are not widely used, but have good economic potential. The research proved that drying with the right conditions can greatly improve the quality and stability of dried kaffir lime leaves.

The aim of the current research was to analyze the linear type traits of Hungarian Simmental dual-purpose cows scored in the first lactation using principal component analysis and cluster analysis. Data collected by the Association of Hungarian Simmental Breeders were studied during the work. The filtered database contained the results of 8 868 cows, born after 1997. From the evaluation of main conformation traits, the highest correlations (r = 0.35, P < 0.05) were found between mammary system and feet and legs traits. Within linear type traits, the highest correlation was observed between rump length and rump width (r = 0.81, P < 0.05). Using the principal component analysis, main conformation traits were combined into groups. There were three factors having 84.5 as total variance ratio after varimax rotation. Cluster analysis verified the results of the principal component analysis as most of the trait groups were similar. The strongest relationship was observed between feet and legs and mammary system (main conformation traits) and between rump length and rump width (linear type traits).

In a time of a constant change, a company with high-quality, talented employees not only has an advantage in the competitive environment but it is also a more attractive proposition for the potential employees. It is also a 'great place to work' for the existing employees. The article therefore focuses on the approaches to implementing the strategic talent management which are taken by the agricultural and forestry companies. The paper investigates the position taken regarding the talent management in theory. It is based on the aims of a primary survey, the purpose of which was to develop a deeper understanding of the supporting theoretical concepts underpinning the company approaches to talent. The objective of the work is to identify the main components of the strategic talent management based on the primary survey of companies operating in agriculture and forestry. This is accomplished by evaluating the data obtained from the primary analysis of the methods and approaches used on 101 farms and other agricultural companies. The data comes from the manager surveys for which a single manager represented the given company. The mono-dimensional and multi-dimensional statistics were used to evaluate the data. The results indicate that in 62% of the companies examined are familiar with the principles of the talent management and that the talent management forms part of the mission of the company (48%). A deeper analysis is used to further examine the differences in the approach of the companies included in the study. The paper contains an in depth discussion of the concept of the strategic talent management, as well as identifying the main processes connected with it. Moreover, the paper presents new research findings by defining and validating the main attributes of the strategic talent management (TM); additionally the gap between the awareness of the top management of the talent management concept and its use in practice is found and discussed.

A 2-day-old calf was presented with a bilateral mass in the medial canthus of the upper eyelid. The masses were removed surgically. The morphological diagnosis was a bilateral hamartoma characterised by an abnormal mixture of tissue indigenous to that area including blood vessels, striated muscle bundles, adipose tissue, isolated cartilage and nerve bundles. No recurrence developed in the 6 months following the surgical removal. Overall, although this congenital defect is relatively rare, it should be differentiated from eyelid tumours such as haemangiomas, squamous cell carcinomas, Meibomian gland tumours, dermoid cysts and teratomas in cattle.

In most developing countries, the agricultural industry has the potential to alleviate poverty at a faster rate compared to other sectors. As such, many governments have initiated policies and programme to improve agricultural performance. However, some of these projects have not achieved success because the local agricultural markets are often controlled by a small group of stakeholders who tend to hide information in the market despite having huge market power. This paper aimed to determine the issues and impacts of the lack of market information in developing countries and to provide strategies for solving such problems. Results show that the presence of an oligopsonic market system, current information and communication technology (ICTs), the lack of market infrastructure and gender limitations are the main issues related to a lack of information. In turn, lack of information leads to an inefficient agricultural market, causes negative impacts on market participants, and ultimately leads to harmful socio-economic effects. Thus, to solve these problems, it is necessary to improve capacity building, increase access to ICTs and improve market infrastructure.

The success of forest and agricultural plant establishment program mainly depends on the quality of reproductive material. The study intends to offer engineers and farm owners a solution for small-size seed improvement before sowing. The effect of low-intensity coherent light on the seeds of various crops is theoretically and empirically hypothesized. The seedlots of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) of Russian diploid hybrid RMS-127 were germinated in a controlled environment. The germinants were produced from six seed fractions, previously irradiated with 1.274 W.m^-2 at the 632.8 nm wavelength with 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15 min exposure to a standard laser system, plus untreated control. Pine germinants were measured on day 15, beetroot on day 10 after germination. An increase in exposure time reduced Scots pine germination energy and capacity, while for sugar beet the results were not conclusive. On the contrary, increasing the exposure time had a positive effect on both the height and biomass growth of both Scots pine and sugar beet germinants. The 10-min exposure time resulted in maximum values for sugar beet height and biomass and Scots pine height, while the 15-min exposure time produced maximum Scots pine biomass.

Potential of Trichoderma harzianum IS005-12 (TH-IS005-12) to promote seed germination and seedling growth of Italian ryegrass (IRG) forage was evaluated in vitro. Non-desiccated seeds and those pre-harvestly desiccated with total herbicide were treated 25 days (freshly harvested) and 178 days after harvest (mature) with TH-IS005-12 spore suspensions at 0 (T0), 1.8 × 10⁷ (T1) and 1.2 × 10⁹ (T2) spore/mL. TH-IS005-12 promoted the early and final germination and seedling growth in all non-desiccated and desiccated, freshly harvested as well as mature IRG seeds. It was more effective in pre-harvestly desiccated freshly harvested seeds where T2 treatment increased final germination rate for 24%, root number per seedling 1.6-fold and seedling vigour 1.9-fold compared to the untreated control. Moreover, TH-IS005-12 showed an inhibitory activity against seedborne fungi Alternaria alternata and A. ventricosa suppressing their growth in vitro by 82% and 77%, respectively.

A three-year experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of Z'Fix on soil physical properties and crop status. Z'Fix is an agent recommended as an addition to animal bedding to prolong its function and to lower ammonia emissions in stables. Concurrently, a positive effect on organic matter transformation in resulting manure is claimed. The experiment involved control, farmyard manure (FYM), and farmyard manure with Z'Fix (FYM_ZF) as variants. In-field sampling was conducted for cone index, water infiltration and implement a unit draft, where the latter two showed significant differences in favour of FYM_ZF. Also, concerning crop yields, FYM_ZF consistently attained the highest values, followed by FYM throughout all three seasons. Furthermore, remotely sensed data were analysed to describe crop status via normalised difference vegetation index where significant differences were found across all variants. Based on the study, FYM_ZF demonstrated positive effects both on soil properties and crop conditions.

Gravel mulching is a characteristic agricultural technique that has been used for hundreds of years in the north-western Loess Plateau of China. However, the effects of the gravel-sand mulch on the processes of the runoff, soil erosion, and nutrient losses are neither fully distinguished nor even known in many parts of the world. This study investigated how different gravel particle sizes in the mulch affected the runoff, erosion as well as the extent of the nutrient losses in the surface runoff. The laboratory experiments were conducted using a rainfall simulator with three gravel mulch treatments: (1) fine gravel mulch (FG); (2) medium gravel mulch (MG); (3) coarse gravel mulch (CG) and a control group, bare soil (BS). The results of these rainfall simulation experiments gave estimates on how the grain size influences the runoff and losses of the soil and its nutrients. Applying the gravel mulch significantly delayed the runoff's starting time when compared with the bare soil. Both the total runoff and soil loss increased with the grain size of the gravel mulch. Compared with the bare soil, the lowest surface runoff and soil loss was observed from the fine gravel treatment. These results clearly show that gravel mulch plays an important role in the runoff and sediment generation processes, and that it significantly reduces the surface runoff and soil loss. The losses of the total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total organic carbon (TOC) from the bare soil were much higher than those under the gravel mulching. The fluctuations in these nutrient-loss processes were the most intense in the CG treatment, while the TC content, in initial runoff, was significantly higher in the FG than the other treatments. Our findings suggest gravel mulch is a useful water and soil conservation technique in the loess area of north-western China, and these results can inform one on the theoretical principles for properly utilising gravel-mulched fields.

Short storage of in vitro cultures under slow-growth conditions is included in the commercial large-scale micropropagation process. It is dictated by the organizational scheme that provides temporary stop multiplication of shoots for some months. To avoid subculturing to fresh media every 4 weeks, which is obligatory for gooseberry, they can be kept in conditions that protect them from ageing, by slowing down their metabolism. To develop a rational schedule of gooseberry micropropagation, two experiments were used to adopt a temperature and length of time for storage. The best results were obtained with storage conditions at 2 °C for two or four months for proliferating cultures. Under these conditions, the percentage of necrotic shoots was low (< 10%), and shoot proliferation in the subsequent passages was at a level similar to proliferation cultures incubated in the growth room and sub-cultured monthly. The rate of shoots > 1 cm was higher than in the control in the growth room. Storage at 4 °C increased the probability of necrotic shoots up to 80% and decreased the number of all shoots and shoots > 1 cm in subsequent passages.

Because of the Greek economic crisis, almost all businesses are facing difficult times with severe consequences for employment and the whole economy. Responding to the economic crisis, the companies cut off investments, wages and reduced personnel. However, the companies have to adapt their business strategies to cope with the crisis. This paper conducts a strategic assessment of the Greek agricultural cooperatives during the first half of 2013 using in-depth interviews with cooperative executives in order to illustrate how they have responded to the crisis and also to investigate their strategic options for the upcoming period. The results of the analysis show that agricultural cooperatives have chosen the retrenchment and cost-cutting strategies by restraining their activities while they appear eager to export their production. In addition, the cash shortage forced them to count exclusively on their members to finance any new economic activity. According to the cooperatives' executives, their adaption strategies exclude abandoning the activities and selling the equipment and their real estate properties, while they involve exports, the experienced personnel and marketing investments. These results could provide helpful directions not only for the agricultural cooperatives' management boards but also for the food industry businesses operating under a severe economic situation such as the present Greek economic crisis.

In this study, we investigated whether the mathematical formulas, which generally reveal the external quality characteristics of living organisms, yield the correct results in goose eggs. For this purpose, three genotypes and 555 eggs were studied that were grouped into Native (n = 356), Chinese (n = 163) and Linda (n = 36), which were raised in Aksaray province. The averages in the Native, Chinese and Linda geese were 5.43, 5.38 and 5.7 cm, respectively, in breadth; were 8.12, 8.03 and 8.67 cm in length, respectively; the shape index was 66.9, 67.2 and 66.7 cm, respectively; the egg volume was 142.8, 138.8 and 172.5 cm³, respectively; the egg surface area was 136.9, 134.3 and 155.4 cm², respectively; the egg weight was 159.1, 154.5 and 192.3 g, respectively; the specific gravity of the eggs was 1.11, 1.11 and 1.12 g/cm³, respectively; the shell thickness was 0.510, 0.504 and 0.555 mm, respectively; the shell weight was 14.79, 14.32 and 18.26 g, respectively; the shell volume was 70.06, 67.82 and 86.41 cm³, respectively; the shell specific gravity was 2.111 3, 2.111 0 and 2.113 5 g/cm³, respectively; and the shell ratio was 9.29, 9.26 and 9.49 g, respectively. The number of pores is calculated as 14 828, 14 502 and 17 152, respectively. Although the formulas used give compatible results, there is a need for formulas that calculate closer to the truth rather than formulas that calculate the egg weight and egg shell weight.

Currently, it is difficult to identify correct data on wood sources and their consumption in the Czech Republic. Official statistics of wood production are relatively limited to obtaining data that accurately captures the objective wood production, which would enable the observation of the direction or consumption of particular tree species or products. This uncertainty is then transferred to the wood flow for industrial and energy processing, and it is not possible to compose a detailed picture of how much wood and which sources enter into the wood processing and how large the total material flow is. The aim of this paper is to present an option for how to determine this lack of valid information that enables clear outcomes necessary for decision making by means of the recalculation of wood sources consumed in the Czech Republic, using the data of processing capacities and foreign trade. The reverse model better expressed a conversion value of roundwood into the products and allowed optimal approximation in the wood sources assessment.