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The study was based on soil samples taken after the long-term fertilizer experiment (1974-2014) where different doses of nitrogen and potassium were applied. The experiment was located at the Research Station of the UTP University of Science and Technology in Bydgoszcz (Poland). The long-term application of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers leads to changes in the concentration of mercury, soil acidification, reduction in total organic carbon, total nitrogen as well as affluence of available nutrients (P, K, Mg) and increased mobility of copper and zinc. The significant positive correlation between total mercury content in the soil and the content of N-NO₃, Zn, N-NH₄ and the hydrolytic acidity value were stated.

Soil testing in the Czech Republic is based on the use of the Mehlich 3 method for determination of macronutrients and diethylentriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) and hot-water extraction for determination of micronutrients. Since inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometers have become commonly used in soil testing laboratories, Mehlich 3 extractant could be used very effectively also for a simultaneous micronutrient determination. To take full advantage of the universal Mehlich 3 extractant, new criteria for evaluation of the content of micronutrients in this extractant are needed. The criteria presented in this study were obtained by a simple calculation of criteria from the relationships between the Mehlich 3 extractant and the extraction methods for which the criteria were available (DTPA for copper, zinc, manganese, iron and hot-water extraction for boron). The first calculated estimates of the criteria were pre-validated and slightly adjusted to minimize the difference between the frequency of the samples in each category after determination and evaluation by the compared methods. Further adjustment of the presented critical values with respect to the field and pot experiments will be necessary in the future.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the levels of cis- and trans-isomers of resveratrol and piceid contained in the shoots, leaves and tendrils of six grapevine varieties and three locations processed under two different drying conditions. The highest trans-resveratrol content was found in the shoots; trans-piceid was contained in lesser amounts (7%) and cis-forms only in very small amounts (~1%). In leaves, both forms of piceid were dominant, while in tendrils trans- and cis-forms of piceid were dominant in samples dried in the laboratory oven at 40°C. Pinot Noir differed from other varieties with a high trans-resveratrol amount. Growing location affected trans-resveratrol levels. Our results suggest that the trimmed clippings might be used as a valuable and inexpensive source of stilbenes. Clippings preserved by drying might be further processed to nutraceuticals or as an additive to the feed.

The article concentrates on the changes of ownership ongoing in Polish agriculture in the period 1989-2004. Since Polish agriculture was above all private in nature throughout the period of communism, the changes in question were actually more limited than in other Central and East European Countries (CEEC). Those that have taken place have first and foremost involved the privatisation of the old State Farms, whose assets were taken over by individually-owned farms or commercial-law companies, with the intermediation of the Treasury Agricultural Property Agency established for the purpose. A major element of the assets undergoing privatisation was agricultural land. The size of the ownership change has varied from region to region. In the West and North, where more than half of all farmland was in the State Farm hands to 1989, there was a marked increase in the share of land under private ownership. On the other hand, in Central and Eastern Poland, the changes were very limited, concerning only the transfer of land between private farms. Important reasons accounting for the limited activity on the market for land in this part of Poland include the agrarian overpopulation and the widespread treatment of land as a form of the "insurance policy" against job losses. The ownership changes have further encouraged polarisation where farm size structure is concerned. Farms increased in size in the regions where the large average area has long been a typical feature. In turn, the areas characterised by the excessive agrarian fragmentation have not seen any more major changes in the size structure over the recent period. A detailed analysis of the changes in ownership over the market economy period is preceded by a discussion of the history of land ownership in Polish agriculture, with a particular emphasis being placed on the Communist era. The legal and social bases conditioning ownership change are also discussed.

Forty six Holstein Friesian repeat breeding cows (the average AI/conception was 5.2 ± 0.2) were investigated using the progesterone assay after AI to determine possible differences in plasma progesterone profiles between summer and winter seasons. Twenty eight (60.9%) and 18 (39.1%) cows were followed in summer (June-August) and winter (December-February), respectively. In the summer season, the total progesterone concentrations were higher (P < 0.05) in pregnant cows with normal luteal function compared to those in non-pregnant animals with abnormal luteal function. In contrast, in the winter season, there was no difference (P = 0.12) in total progesterone concentrations between pregnant and non-pregnant cows with normal or abnormal luteal functions. When the progesterone concentrations were compared, the pregnant and non-pregnant cows with normal luteal functions exhibited no difference (P = 0.92) in summer and winter seasons. Thus, the present study indicates that there is no effect of season on plasma progesterone profiles in repeat breeding cows; however in the summer season, the total progesterone concentrations were considerably higher in pregnant cows with normal luteal function compared to non-pregnant cows with abnormal luteal function.

Romania is also included among the European Union countries where deforested areas have radically increased in recent years, with mountain areas being the most affected. The pressure on the forest fund was analysed in the Maramureş County, as one of the most deforested counties of Romania. In view of assessing the forest area evolution, forested and deforested areas have been calculated for the period 2001-2012, using the Global Forest Change 2000-2012 database provided by the Department of Geographical Sciences, Maryland University. The economic pressure quantification was monitored by developing a database on economic activities based upon the loggings carried out in the period 2001-2012. This database comprises the number of companies, their turnover, profit and the number of employees for the economic sectors causing pressure on the forest fund. The outcomes show a dramatic increase in deforested areas, amounting to over 16,500 ha in the Maramureș County. Nearly 5,000 ha have been deforested in Borșa, the commune with the largest deforested areas in the period 2000-2012, causing major imbalances to the local ecosystem.

Epifluorescence microscopy (EFM) was used to study the biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa after 6, 24, 30, 48, 54, 72, 78, and 96 h growth in a chamber slide system. For this purpose, the biofilm was stained with the Live/Dead BacLight, wherein live and dead cells were visualised based on the cell membrane integrity. With the use of EFM we described 8- of 9-stage biofilm characteristics after 78 h of growth, since the majority of microscopic fields were fully covered with attached cells. However, the 96-h growth resulted in the cell detachment and revealed 30% of dead cells of all those cells that remained on the surface. The susceptibility testing of planktonic and biofilm cells to two disinfectants, chlorine-based and quaternary ammonium compound-based, revealed that biofilm cells were more tolerant to a chlorine-based sanitiser than planktonic counterparts. P. aeruginosa was inhibited by lower concentrations of the quaternary ammonium compound-based sanitiser than the chlorine-based sanitiser, which on the other hand was more effective in cell inactivation, as both the MIC/MBC (inhibitory/bactericidal) measurement and the CFDA/PI (carboxyfluorescein diacetate/propidium iodide) staining indicated.

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and Salmonella enterica serovar Derby are the most common serovars of Salmonella enterica ssp. enterica found in pigs in Europe. We previously observed that suckling piglets of sows vaccinated with an S. Typhimurium-based inactivated vaccine are protected against homologous strain challenge. To develop this vaccine for commercial use, potential crossprotectivity of this vaccine to challenge with S. Derby was tested. Two sows were vaccinated with an S. Typhimurium-based inactivated vaccine while two other sows remained serologically negative. Four-day-old suckling piglets from both groups were orally challenged with S. Derby or S. Typhimurium. Maternally-derived immunity against S. Typhimurium protected piglets against S. Typhimurium challenge, when a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in S. Typhimurium count was found in ileocaecal and submandibular lymph node, tonsil, ileum and ileum content. On the other hand, after S. Derby challenge, significant (P < 0.05) decrease in S. Derby count was detected only in ileum content. Although both serovars belong to the same O:4 serogroup, other antigenic structures, for example the flagellin, are different. In a subsequent in-vitro experiment, we found that serum from vaccinated sows inhibited the motility of S. Typhimurium but not the motility of S. Derby. Our results indicate that protectivity of S. Typhimurium vaccine against S. Derby infection is limited.

In the last twenty years, stone fruit production in Slovenia has considerably decreased. Acreage with peaches and nectarines has been significantly reduced. Orchard renewal has decreased for various reasons; among them, the frequent occurrence of various diseases is the most significant. These diseases make the economic feasibility of stone fruit production difficult if not impossible. This review addresses the most important stone fruit diseases in Slovenia: European stone fruit yellows, sharka, bacterial leaf spot, bacterioses caused by Pseudomonas spp., perennial canker, and Fusicoccum canker. Additionally, this review focuses on the possibilities of reducing the damage caused by these diseases.

To investigate the effects of osmotic stress on plant growth, and ions and compatible solutes accumulations of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.), in the present study, two-month-old plants were subjected to different degrees of osmotic stress (-0.5, -1.0, and -1.5 MPa) induced by sorbitol for 7 days. The results showed that fresh weight and water content in both leaf blade and leaf petiole significantly decreased by osmotic stress. With the increase of osmotic stress, Na⁺ concentration in leaf blade showed the significantly increasing trend. However, osmotic stress significantly reduced K⁺ concentration in lateral root. It was observed that osmotic stress of -1.5 MPa remarkably increased sucrose accumulation in storage root compared to control. In addition, plants accumulated more sucrose and fructose in storage root than in other tissues. Proline concentrations in leaf blade, leaf petiole and storage root significantly increased by osmotic stress of -1.0 MPa and -1.5 MPa; in leaf blade it was to a higher degree than in leaf petiole and storage root. These results suggested that sugar beet plants can adapt to osmotic stress by accumulating more osmolytes, such as Na⁺, sucrose and proline.

Two experiments conducted on laying hens, aged 50 and 52 weeks, were carried out to evaluate the effect of dietary Mg and its relationship to the Ca : NPP (non-phytate phosphorus) ratio using a various grain-size of limestone. The Ca : NPP ratio in each experiment was 12.8 and 18, respectively. Two Mg levels were evaluated in the first (1.56 and 4.0 g/kg) and the second experiment (1.52 and 4.0 g/kg). A fine-grained limestone (< 0.5 mm; FL) or a coarse-grained limestone (0.8-2 mm; CL) was used in the first experiment. In the second experiment, a mixture of both the aforementioned limestone forms (FCL) was used as the third alternative. The main parameters estimated in this study were egg production and egg shell breaking strength. In the first experiment, CL significantly increased hen-day egg production (P = 0.043) and Mg (in dietary concentration up to 4 g/kg) increased egg weight (P < 0.001). The addition of Mg to the mixed feed, together with CL, decreased yolk percentage (P = 0.008), increased egg shell percentage (P = 0.044), increased egg shell thickness (P = 0.014), and egg shell breaking strength (P = 0.003). Higher dietary Mg, together with a wider Ca : NPP ratio in the second experiment, increased egg production and egg weight (P < 0.001), but it did not influence egg shell breaking strength. CL increased egg shell breaking strength compared to the addition of FL, as well as FCL (P < 0.05), regardless of the Mg levels. Lower level of Mg with FL decreased ash content of shells (P = 0.004).

The paper deals with the possibility of appropriate measurement and evaluation of emissions of nitrogen oxides. Development of exhaust systems which captures the solid particles emitted from engine, lost an objective assessment of the emission status of the diesel engine of agricultural tractor. Therefore, it is necessary to find a new method of measuring and quantifying the emission state of the diesel engine by measuring emissions, which should be economic and time-saving, but especially universal and sufficiently precise. The selected method should also provide sufficient information on such emissions that are subject to approval but they are not controlled during periodic checks.

Individual types of retinal dysplasia - folds, geographic and detached, have different impacts on vision ability. The purpose of this study was to undertake a qualitative and comparative evaluation of retinal activity in the individual types of the retinal dysplasia - folds, geographic and detached. Dogs (n = 24) with an ophthalmoscopic diagnosis of retinal dysplasia (rd) underwent vision testing, ophthalmologic examination and electroretinography. A three-degree scale (mild, moderate and severe) was used to describe the severity of ophthalmoscopic lesions in the rd folds and rd geographic forms. Our findings indicate that retinal folds of mild and moderate severity, and the mild geographic type of the rd, have similar effects on ERG responses, while severe retinal folds give lower ERG responses than moderately advanced geographical rd. This study confirms that electroretinography may generate a more comprehensive view of an altered retinal activity in the course of rd, which is helpful in making decisions on qualifying or excluding a given individual from the breeding program.

This paper describes clinical experiences with the use of shape memory nickel-titanium (NiTi) clips in gastrointestinal surgery in dogs. Side-to-side small bowel anastomosis was performed in eight dogs where intestinal continuity had to be restored after bowel resection. Billroth's operation I was performed in one case. Compression anastomosis clips with two-way shape memory were used in all surgical procedures. Intestinal and gastrointestinal anastomoses involving shape memory clips were effective in all patients. Anastomotic leaks were not observed, and all clips were expelled 5-7 days after surgery. The outcomes of surgical procedures performed on canine patients with the use of shape memory NiTi clips indicate that sutureless compression anastomosis is a safe, effective and simple method of restoring gastrointestinal continuity, which can be widely applied in veterinary practice.

The aim of this study was to determine whether meat and bone meal (MBM) can be used as NP fertilizer for spring barley grown for fodder. A two-factorial field experiment was conducted in Poland. Experimental factor I was MBM dose (0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 t/ha/year) which was compared to the mineral fertilization (NPK), factor II was the year of the study (two consecutive years). MBM used in doses higher than 1.0 t/ha had a more beneficial influence on the grain yield of spring barley and grain plumpness than mineral fertilizers. The positive yield-forming effect of MBM doses 2.0 t/ha and 2.5 t/ha was statistically significant. The nitrogen (N) content of grain was similar in treatments with MBM and mineral fertilization. The two highest MBM doses contributed to a significant decrease in the phosphorus (P) content of grain, particularly in the second year of the study, in comparison with the remaining MBM doses and mineral fertilizers. Grain yield and N content were also affected by the year of the study, due to weather conditions and the residual effect of MBM. The optimal MBM dose was 1.5 t/ha, which allowed to produce 5.1 t/ha of the plumpest grain whose N and P content was consistent with the feeding standards for livestock.

Grain size distribution of grist is dependent on the type of grinding mill. The most widely used crushers used for malt grinding are roll grinding machines and dispersants are the disc mills. For rating of grist fineness grists made in the two-roller mill KVM 130/150 and dispersant the disk mill Skiold SK 2500 was used. The selected types of barley malt were processed: light malt, Munich malt, caramel malt and colouring malt. Rating of malt grist fineness was made with a help of sieve analysis using a "Pfungstadt sifter". Conclusions from the measurements are as follows: by using the two-roller mill the coarsest grist is got from caramel malt and the finest malt from the light malt. The dispersant was processing grist at a speed of 1,500 rpm and 2,800 rpm. For each speed, the coarsest grist was obtained from caramel malt and the finest grist was obtained by crushing colouring malt.

The aim of the paper was to evaluate the efficiency of winter rape growing which is based on the calculations and an analysis of production and economic indicators in the given branch. The development analysis of yields per hectare, costs, revenues and production profitability was carried out over the years 2003-2009 in the Agro Žlunice and it was compared with the results of the Czech Republic as a whole. In the enterprise, it deals with the traditional growing technology with a higher intensity of the intensification factors inputs in growing. Yields per hectare in the farm reached very favourable values which supported the stable position of the enterprise in the market with this agricultural commodity. It is possible to see a competitive advantage in the level of the per hectare yields. An average yield in the joint-stock company from 2003 to 2009 was 4.34 t/ha and an average yield in the CR over the last seven years was 2.9 t/ha. The enterprise's yield is by 1.44 t per ha higher compared to the average yields in the CR. In comparison of the average costs per hectare over the evaluated period in the enterprise and in the CR - in the enterprise, the costs were by 2.71% higher comapred to the CR (the enterprise 21 991 CZK/ha, the CR 21 394 CZK/ha). However, the enterprise Agro Žlunice, a.s. reached in comparison of the cost per 1 tonne of production by 31.31% lower costs than is the CR average. The amount of expenses incurred was compensated by high yields per hectare which the enterprise reached and thereby it improved the profitability of growing of this crop-plant. The highest share in the total costs belonged to direct material costs. The share of material costs in the enterprise over 7 years was 55.28%. Among the direct material costs, there are mainly seeds, fertilizers and chemical prophylactics. From the indicators of production profitability, there are expressed the profit achieved per 1 t of seedsfrom 1 ha of the area under crop and cost profitability. The profitability indicators considerably fluctuate during the evaluated years in the monitored enterprise and in the CR in dependence on the fluctuation of the seed price.

Assemblages of earthworms were evaluated in spruce and beech stands in the Kienhaida Nature Reserve (Krušné hory Mts., Czech Republic) and its immediate surroundings, where site conditions were modified by the soil preparation for forest regeneration. The beech stands of the reserve showed low diversity but higher earthworm abundance than did the spruce stands, which in turn showed the lowest Lumbricidae abundance (18 individuals.m^-2). The highest abundance of earthworms (124 individuals.m^-2) was found in the soil of mounds created 30 years prior to sampling from the organic soil of the A_h horizon. The highest species diversity and low abundance were characteristic of areas between the mounds, the soil surface of which was greatly disturbed after removal of the A_h horizon to create those mounds. The degree to which the reforested clear-cuts created due to air pollution were overgrown with weeds contributed positively to the diversity and abundance of Lumbricidae.

Information on the historical background of the present forest conditions is needed for proper decisions on forest management. Disturbances play a major role in the formation of forest structure and composition. This paper compares the present break-up of mountain spruce stands in the Bohemian Forest (in the Šumava Protected Landscape Area) with conditions during their initiation using dendrochronological techniques. On three selected localities we established two study plots within relatively old stands of unknown origin. Stands were recently broken up by a windstorm. The present situation was described by diameter and decay class distribution. To describe the situation at the stand initiation, we cored at least 40 stems on each plot to get the age structure and growth series of trees. Disturbances were marked by discovering synchronous releases on tree-ring series. Main population waves were initiated in association with severe disturbances during a relatively short period, leading to the establishment of relatively even-aged, homogeneously looking stands. The disturbances were synchronized between plots and accounted for by historically known windstorms or bark beetle outbreaks; notwithstanding, logging as a disturbance factor is also particularly possible.

The area of forest destruction as well as the annual growth loss due to road construction before constructing a road was predicted. To do this, road cross sections of 88 points along the 10 km proposed road were predicted using Multilayer Perceptron Neural Network with two input parameters of hillside slope and rock share within MATLAB software. Then according to the predicted width, the area of road earthwork as well as the area of roadside with a 10 m width was calculated in ArcGIS software. Finally, by overlaying the inventory network layer on the road map and by knowing the annual growth (m³) for each plot the growth loss of the area of road earthwork was calculated and one-third of the annual growth increment was considered to calculate the growth loss of the roadside. According to the results, for the construction of a 10 km long road in the region, 12.98 ha of forest area is destructed due to road construction, of which 5.36 ha is destructed resulting from earthwork operations and 7.61 ha occurs in the roadside and its growth is influenced by road construction. With the construction of the road, in total, 32.606 m³ of growth will be lost annually, of which 22.221 m³ is due to road earthwork that is completely removed from the forest annual growth cycle and 10.384 m³ of the growth loss belongs to the roadside which is decreased resulting from road construction.

Six adult loggerhead turtles were found stranded and were rescued near Sicily within a period of 12 months. Macroscopically apparent lesions of the shell were present. After thorough physical examination, ketamine-dexmedetomidine-atipamezole induction and tracheal tube insertion all six patients underwent computed tomographic examination under inhalant anaesthesia with isoflurane. A vertebral lesion at the level of the 3^rd thoracic-lumbar vertebra with vertebral lamina and the vertebral body being involved without compression of the spinal cord, a vertebral lesion at the level of the 7^th thoracic-lumbar vertebra and a vertebral lesion at the level of the 8^th thoracic-lumbar vertebra were recorded in the first female. Loss of the shell near the left carapace-plastron bridge, with massive haemorrhage and compression of organs were present in the second female. The remaining four turtles had only superficial lesions with no involvement of bones and organs of the coelom. Computed tomography was proved to be a valuable non-invasive method for clinical examination of stranded sea turtles.

Maximum aphid numbers on wheat are positively related to the length of the period elapsed from immigration to the population peak. We predicted that maximum abundances on late maturing cultivars would be greater than on early ones. This was tested using 8 spring wheat cultivars that differed in the length of time to senescence. In a 4-year experiment, numbers of aphids were checked at weekly intervals. Maximum abundances on late-maturing cultivars were significantly greater than those on early cultivars. However, the length of the vegetation period affected maximum abundances less than did the annual variation in aphid abundance. Genetic disposition for early ripening thus tends to decrease aphid numbers, but manipulation of this character is unlikely to become an important source of aphid resistance.

The experiments were conducted in four locations in Serbia: Valjevo, Kucevo, Nova Pazova and Surduk in 2012 and 2013. A working hypothesis that growing conditions would not affect the rutin content in buckwheat leaves was set up. The content of rutin in leaves of buckwheat was determined by the HPLC/DAD technique, using the external standard calibration method. Out of the basic biometric parameters, average value, variance, and the variation coefficient were estimated. Results were processed by the analysis of variance for the factorial experiment. The analysis of variance showed existence of significant differences in the rutin content, over locations, but only in the first year of testing. The average content of rutin in the first and the second year was 3.30% and 2.61%, respectively, and in both years of testing it amounted on average to 2.82%. The variation in the rutin content was larger in the second year of testing. On the other hand, this variation was lower in the first year (5.3-29.0%) in comparison to the second year (16.2-28.6%). Relatively lower rutin contents were recorded in samples collected at lower-altitude locations.

Every year, an analysis of economic results of a sample of agricultural enterprises farming in various production and climatic conditions in the territory of the Czech Republic is carried out by applying economic statistical methods. Based on these results, long-term trends of economic results and their influencing factors are defined. This article is based on the analysis of development of economic indicators of a sample of agricultural enterprises in the Czech Republic in the period 2003-2009, divided according to the proportion of the LFA. The year 2009 brought, in comparison with the previous years, a strong deterioration in economic results. In 2009, the economic result was the worst during the whole monitored period. The decrease in the average number of workers together with the increase in labour productivity manifests a long-term tendency. Agricultural subsidies tend also to grow in the long-term even though their growth has been slowing down.

The objective of research was, on the basis of the exactly predefined input parameters of upper soil horizons of selected forest soils, to perform accurate measurements of the impact of soil loading by tested forestry machinery using the dynamic penetration test. The measurements by the dynamic penetration test in conditions changed by the wheel traffic of forestry mechanization were performed at three localities of the Křtiny Training Forest Enterprise, Masaryk Forest, a special-purpose facility of Mendel University in Brno. The dynamic penetration test was performed with a lightweight dynamic penetrometer. The methodology of the research is based on assessing the ability of soils to resist dynamic penetration of a rod with a cone, in relation to their lithological composition and physicomechanical properties; the measurement itself is defined by the ISO 22476-2 (2005) standard. Penetrometer measurements were repeated in the period after a harvesting operation and again 6 months later, i.e. in October 2007, April 2008 and October 2008. The results of the field dynamic penetration test and the results of laboratory testing of main soil physical parameters are presented in figures and tables. Besides the naturally variable soil compaction on geologically different substrates, the obtained original results document differences in the impact of particular forestry machines. In conditions of the identical geological substrate, the results indicate that the universal wheeled tractor had a more negative influence on the compaction of surface soil horizons compared to the multi-axle harvester and the forwarder.

The study deals with differences in the growth of 2-year mix of poplar clones MAX 4, MAX 5 in the first rotation period at a site with the average moisture regime and at a neighbouring site affected by waterlogging. Average diameter at breast height (DBH) at the site without the observable water influence was 19.6 mm (average height 380 cm). Average DBH at the water-affected site was 8.1 mm (height 220 cm). The difference was statistically significant, which corroborates the hypothesis of the adverse influence of waterlogging on the growth of poplar clones. Furthermore, moisture content was ascertained in wood samples. A comparison was made of samples from the butt, middle part and top part of the stem. Differences between the respective stem parts were not statistically significant. Total average wood moisture content at the time of harvest (January 2012) was 59.7%.

This research was performed to evaluate the effect of supplementing broiler diets with a probiotic containing Enterococcus faecium on growth performance, carcass characteristics, faecal microbiota, and blood profile. A total of 384 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks (mixed gender) with an average initial BW of 39.2 g were used in a 35 days feeding trial. The chicks were allotted to pens with 16 birds per pen and eight replications per treatment with food and water provided ad libitum. Treatments were: (1) basal diet, (2) 0.25% probiotic, and (3) 0.5% probiotic. Results indicated that body weight gain (BWG) on Day 7 to 21, Day 21 to 35 and overall (0 to 35) increased (P < 0.05) linearly but feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were not affected. A linear increase (P < 0.05) was observed in the relative weight of breast muscle when comparing the 0 to 0.5% concentration of probiotic, but breast meat colour was not affected by treatments. A significant impact (linear effect, P < 0.05) was observed on drip loss on Day 1. Inclusion of probiotic decreased (P < 0.05) the count of Salmonella linearly but the counts of E. coli and Lactobacillus were not affected. There was no remarkable influence on blood profile. Thus, it was concluded that inclusion of a probiotic containing Enterococcus faecium improved growth performance and altered the intestinal microbial population, without any negative effects on meat colour and blood profile in broiler chickens.

The morphology and biology of immature stages and the distinguishing characters of generations in summer are briefly reviewed. The time of migration of the overwintered generation and the use of the median flight time are given. The longevity of overwintered adults, and the start and course of oviposition by overwintered females were observed mainly during June and July. The interval between adult emergence and flights from carrots appears to be very short, 2-3 days. Departure from developmental summer host plants culminates at the beginning of September. The sex ratio of the overwintered generation is not persistent, since it is usually female-biased. In emerged adults in summer the ratio is 50:50, with weak protandry. The systemic action of sucking for the curling of leaves was found by Láska already in 1964. Inliterature records, both subspecies of Daucus carota dominate as developmental hosts, more recently Coriandrum sativum was shown to be more suitable than Petroselinum hortense. Norway spruce, and to a lesser extent other conifers, are predominantly mentioned as overwintering shelter plants. It is not clear how overwintering occurs in regions without coniferous forests, and only undefined shrubs or trees are given in the literature. The first damage was reported inDenmark about in 1896, spreading from about 1918 over just a few years to the other Fennoscandian countries, and later in some other European countries. The spring migration is discussed, which occurs in central and northern Europe on the same date, perhaps explicable by the orientation of this pest or its particular populations to long days, despite the climate and phenology of each region. It is hypothesised that a particularly aggressive race evolved inSjaelland (Denmark) at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth century, which later spread to other regions of northern and centralEurope.

Nine different visual evaluations of Plum pox virus (PPV) presence were carried out in four nurseries during 2012-2015. Results of visual evaluation were verified by ELISA. The presence of PPV was confirmed by ELISA in all the trees showing PPV symptoms. PPV has never been detected by ELISA in trees without PPV symptoms on leaves. A very low occurrence of PPV was proved in plums in all the four nurseries. There were two cases of higher occurrence of PPV in plum cultivars, where PPV originated from infected grafts. The PPV occurrence was 0.126 and 1.59%. The average occurrence of PPV in plums was 0.075%, 93 trees out of 123 630 inspected were PPV-infected. All the PPV-infected trees were destroyed immediately. No new PPV infection was proved later in season (August-September). In comparison with the situation in the 60s of the last century, the PPV occurrence in plums was 2.48% in one nursery in 1963 and there were nurseries with PPV occurrence exceeding 5%. All growing plants were destroyed in this case. The occurrence of PPV in the Czech fruit nurseries today is more than hundred times lower in comparison with the situation fifty years ago. The incidental occurrence of PPV in nurseries cannot be excluded in countries and areas with the endemic presence of PPV (in the Czech Republic and in most European countries). Visual inspection of PPV symptoms in nurseries confirmed by ELISA testing is sufficient. Infected plants must be removed immediately.

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) fluxes from agricultural soils have been considered as one of the important environmental impact issue, due to their role in global warming and also its mitigation by carbon (C) sequestration in soils. Substantial scope of C sequestration with the application of inorganic fertilizers and manures has been reported, but the long-term effects of continuous application need to be critically examined. To study the effect of continuous differential application of NPK fertilizers and farmyard manure (FYM) in maize-wheat cropping system, CO₂ fluxes were measured via closed chambers and gas chromatography in a long-term experiment in progress for the past 42 years. The average daily CO₂ fluxes differed significantly amongst various treatments and were 55, 26 and 92% higher in NPK, N and NPK + FYM treatments over the control in the maize crop season and 43, 8 and 83% in the wheat crop season. Highly significant correlation of CO₂ emissions was found with soil organic carbon and total nitrogen in the maize and the wheat crop seasons. Although, CO₂ emissions were higher from long-term inorganic fertilizers and FYM treatments, still they are environmentally sustainable management practices, as they increased soil fertility and crop yields which consequently resulted in higher atmospheric CO₂ capture by plants and carbon sequestration in soils.