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Blue sticky traps with and without pheromone capsules were used to monitor and control Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande (1895) (Thysanoptera; Thripidae) in pepper crop greenhouses in Tunisia. Traps containing pheromone capsules could catch significantly more thrips than those without capsules, proving their efficiency in attracting and controlling this pest. In fact, greenhouses with traps with pheromone capsules caught 585.1, 526.7, and 668.8 adults/trap in a greenhouse with 10 traps with pheromone capsules on April 12, 19, and 26, 2012, respectively. The capture in a greenhouse with five traps with pheromone capsules was about 456.2, 412.8, and 431 adults/trap while in a greenhouse with five traps without pheromone capsules, the capture of F. occidentalis adults numbered 198, 257, and 302 adults/trap for the same three dates. Furthermore, traps with pheromone capsules captured males and females in equal numbers while traps without capsules caught much fewer males than females: 218.2 males/trap on April 26, 2012 in a greenhouse with five traps with pheromone capsules and 212.8 females/trap, 322.4 males/trap, and 342.3 females/trap in a greenhouse with 10 traps with pheromone capsules. In neither case were the differences significant. In contrast, in a greenhouse with five traps without pheromone capsules, the number of adults was about 88.6 males/trap, a significantly lower amount than the number of females/trap (213.4). This indicates that this pheromone plays a double role as a sex pheromone and as an aggregation pheromone by attracting both sexes. In fact, this double attraction approach improved the efficiency of these capsules by preventing the mating of untrapped females with males. This induced a high percentage of males and led to a decline in the thrips population on pepper flowers. Ten blue sticky traps with pheromone capsules reduced the thrips population more effectively in one week only than the use of five sticky traps, which took two weeks to achieve the control.

The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of tillage systems and nitrogen fertilization on the grain yield and quality of spring wheat and on selected chemical and biological properties of soil. The first order factor was the tillage system: (1) conventional (CT) - shallow ploughing and harrowing after harvest of the previous crop, and pre-winter ploughing; (2) reduced (RT) - only a cultivator after harvest of the previous crop, and (3) no-tillage (NT) - only Roundup 360 SL herbicide (a.s. glyphosate) after harvest of the previous crop. The second order factor was nitrogen dose: (1) 90 kg N/ha and (2) 150 kg N/ha. Higher yields were demonstrated for spring wheat sown in CT and RT systems, compared to the NT system. In addition, grain yield was increased by a nitrogen dose of 150 kg/ha, compared to 90 kg/ha. Contents of protein and wet gluten in the grain were also increased by the higher nitrogen dose. The RT and NT systems were observed to increase the content of organic C, total N and available phosphorus in the soil, compared to the CT system. They also increased the number and mass of earthworms in the soil, compared to the CT system.

To assess the effects of long-term fertilization on soil available micronutrients in farmland, this study examined diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) extractable iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in surface soil with monoculture of corn (Zea mays L.) with a 30-year filed fertilization experiment established in Northeast China. Treatments included no fertilization (CK); nitrogen only (N); nitrogen and phosphorus only (NP); NP and potassium (NPK); NPK plus cornstalk (SNPK), and NPK plus farmyard manure (MNPK). Results showed that DTPA-Fe and Mn were significantly increased with chemical N application, and DTPA-Cu and Zn were significantly increased with farmyard manure amendment, while micronutrients were not significantly different between treatment SNPK and CK. DTPA-Fe and Mn were about twice to threefold in treatments N, NP, and NPK as much as in treatments SNPK, MNPK and CK. DTPA-Cu and Zn in treatment MNPK were about 3.9 and 6.5 times as much as in CK. DTPA-Fe and Mn decreased with the increasing of soil pH and cation exchange capacity, while DTPA-Cu and Zn increased with the increase of soil organic carbon and electrical conductivity.

Here, we describe a case of a wild female badger (a sow) with disseminated serous adenocarcinoma of the ovary which corresponds to a group of low grade serous carcinomas of the ovary in humans. Beside grossly apparent dissemination of the disease we observed a scale of histological features classifiable as a precursor lesion - borderline serous tumour of the ovary with implant metastases at the peritoneum, and features of the borderline tumour transformation in the carcinoma. The latter features included invasion of some of the metastatic peritoneal implants into the adipose tissue of the mesentery, retroperitoneum, and in the muscle of diaphragm with lymphangioinvasion and with blood-borne metastatic disease in the lungs. The primary tumour and its metastases had a uniform cytological appearance without atypia of the tumour cells. Mitotic activity was exceptional. The proliferation activity as demonstrated by immunohistochemical investigation of Ki-67 protein expression (revealing all active phases of the cell cycle - G1, S, G2, M) showed a low proliferation activity of the tumour cells, comparable with findings in low grade carcinomas or borderline tumours of the ovaries in women. WT1 protein was expressed in the whole tumour cell population. All these features were diagnostic of serous carcinoma of the ovary with low grade malignant potential. Tumours of the ovaries in wildlife have been described previously but they are infrequent and are rarely classified histopathologically. This case report offers a parallel with serous carcinomas in human pathology including features of transformation from a precursor lesion of a borderline serous tumour into a serous low grade carcinoma.

The brain arteries derived from 50 adult degu individuals of both sexes were injected with synthetic latex introduced with a syringe into the left ventricle of the heart under constant pressure. After fixation in 5% formalin and brain preparation, it was found that the sources of the brain's supply of blood are vertebral arteries and the basilar artery formed as a result of their anastomosis. The basilar artery gave rise to caudal cerebellar arteries and then divided into two branches which formed the arterial circle of the brain. The internal carotid arteries in degus, except for one case, were heavily reduced and did not play an important role in the blood supply to the brain. The arterial circle of the brain in 48% of the cases was open from the rostral side. Variation was identified in the anatomy and the pattern of the arteries of the base of the brain in the degu which involved an asymmetry of the descent of caudal cerebellar arteries (6.0%), rostral cerebellar arteries (8%) as well as middle cerebral arteries (12%). In 6% of the individuals double middle cerebral arteries were found. In one out of 50 cases there was observed a reduction in the left vertebral artery and the appearance of the internal carotid artery on the same side. In that case the left part of the arterial circle of the brain was supplied with blood by an internal carotid artery, which was present only in that animal.

In northwestern Algeria, the production of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) seedlings in four nurseries is hindered by the damping-off disease. Results obtained indicated that Fusarium spp. are commonly found on diseased seedlings, in most containers and bare-root nurseries. Twenty-one isolates of Fusarium, belonging to seven species, were previously isolated from diseased seedlings, and identified based on their morphological and molecular characteristics and their sequences had been deposited in NCBI-Genbank. These isolates were tested for their pathogenicity to local Aleppo pine seeds. The highest inhibition was observed with F. redolens and F. solani, with 75 and 69.3%, respectively. The root growth inhibition of the Aleppo pine seedlings was significantly different for each isolate. The influence of various isolates of Fusarium spp. on seed germination, shoot and root length and vigour index was significantly different. The disease incidence caused by F. redolens and F. solani was 91 and 90%, respectively.

The effects of refrigerated storage on the microstructure and physicochemical properties of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) treated onion were evaluated. Onion was submitted to 100 MPa at 50°C or 400 MPa at 25°C for 5 min, and stored for 28 days at 4°C. Electron microscopy techniques and light microscopy were used for the microstructural study. Total soluble phenolics, soluble protein percentage, and shear force were also studied. HHP treatments affected the cell wall and membrane permeability, favouring the diffusion of soluble material to the apoplast. Storage at 4°C also caused important structural degradation in the HHP-treated samples, which was higher when 400 MPa at 25°C were applied and led to physico-chemical changes during the first week of storage. Interactions between phenolics and solubilised cell wall material or proteins could explain the decrease in soluble phenolics and proteins during storage.

This is the first report of Puccinia oxalidis causing leaf spot diseases on ornamental Oxalis triangularis subsp. papilionaceae cv. Atropurpurea in Moravia, Czech Republic. The macroscopic symptoms and microscopic features are described.

The purpose of the studies was to establish the quantitative composition of bacteria Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. and their antagonistic effect towards soil-borne fungi after the cultivation of oats, spring vetch and tansy phacelia as intercrop cover plants. The total population of bacteria in 1 g dry weight of the soil from the experimental combination where mulch of oats was used was larger than in the combination with spring vetch or tansy phacelia. Totally, approximately three times as much Bacillus spp. was obtained from soil samples as compared to Pseudomonas spp. Tests showed that the most isolates of antagonistic bacteria out of the enumerated genera occurred in the soil after oats cultivation, and the least in the soil after the cultivation of tansy phacelia. Antagonistic Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. inhibited the growth and development of Fusarium oxysporum, Haematonectria haematococca and Thanatephorus cucumeris in the most effective way. The greatest total antagonistic effect of Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. towards Altenaria alternata, F. culmorum, F. oxysporum, H. haematococca, P. irregulare and T. cucumeris was found out after managing the mulch of oats. The smallest total antagonistic effect of bacteria was observed after managing the mulch of tansy phacelia.

Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) is a rich source of polysaccharides (intibin and inulin), vitamins, acids and mineral salts. The present studies determined the antagonistic activity of selected bacteria of the soil environment of root chicory towards fungi pathogenic towards this plant: Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium culmorum, F. oxysporum, Thanatephorus cucumeris and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Root chicory was cultivated with using cover crops (oats, tansy phacelia and common vetch). The use of cover crops, especially oats, in the cultivation of root chicory had a positive effect both on the total population of bacteria and the population of Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. in the soil. Antagonistic Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. displayed differentiated activity towards the studied fungi. The greatest antagonistic effect was found out after the mulch of oats. After common vetch, the antagonistic activity of bacteria was more than twice, and after phacelia three times as low as after oats. In the traditional cultivation of root chicory this activity was nearly twelve times lower.

Six novel peach genotypes, designated BN-1, BN-3, BN-4, BN-7, BN-8 and BN-45, were assessed for usefulness as sources of seeds for production of generative rootstocks for peach cultivars. The genotypes BN-8 and BN-1 were the most intensely flowering, while the most abundantly and regularly fruiting genotype was BN-8, which also produced the smallest stones. The smallest fruits and the highest seed yields were produced by the genotypes BN-8 and BN-7. All of the genotypes under assessment produced seeds with higher germination capacities compared with the two control cultivars, Mandżurska and Siberian C, with the seeds of the genotypes BN-8, BN-4 and BN-3 exhibiting the most significantly elevated germination capacities. The most stones with two seeds were produced by the genotypes BN-45 and BN-3; however, produced a smaller fruit crop than did BN-8. Considering the characteristics assessed, the best as a seed source trees was genotype BN-8.

Radiographic contrast studies have been recommended to identify the thoracic duct (TD) and its branches before and after surgery for total occlusion. The macroscopic identification of the TD and its branches during surgery usually involves injection of methylene blue (MB). Radiographic contrast and methylene blue can be injected into different anatomical structures (lymph node, lymph vessel, s.c.). The purpose of this study was to compare two different techniques (radiographic and thoracoscopic) for visualisation of the TD after intrapopliteal lymph node injection in the pig. Six piglets from the same litter (two males and four females), two months of age were used. Iohexol at 245 mg/ml was injected into the left popliteal lymph node (LN) under general anaesthesia; hindlimb, abdominal, and thoracic radiographs were taken. A 0.25% methylene blue solution was injected into the right popliteal lymph node and the thoracic duct colouration was assessed thoracoscopically. The thoracic duct was visualised radiographically in one out of six pigs after iohexol injection and thoracoscopically in five out of six pigs after methylene blue injection. The difference was statistically significant (P = 0.040). Popliteal LN lymphangiography using iohexol at 245 mg/ml in piglets should not be the recommended method for TD visualisation. Intrapopliteal injection of a 0.25% solution of methylene blue is recommended as a method of TD visualisation prior to thoracic duct ligation.

The aim of this study is to identify a period of time over which smaller, less costly tree transplants can reach the height of larger tree transplants and thus offset their performance. The following Central European native tree species were used: Quercus robur L., Carpinus betulus L., Fraxinus excelsior L., Acer campestre L., Acer pseudoplatanus L., Tilia cordata Mill. and Prunus avium L. In the period after planting, the best growth was observed for small tree transplants. These transplants reached the height of the medium-sized tree transplants for all species except C. betulus. However, the large transplants of A. campestre, F. excelsior and P. avium were still significantly taller than the medium-sized transplants ten years after planting. In contrast, slow growth was observed for the large tree transplants of C. betulus and Q. robur. During the monitoring period, the height of the medium-sized transplants of C. betulus even exceeded the height of the large transplants of this species. These differences suggest that the differences in the establishment rates of individual species are reflected in the growth rates of their plantations during longer periods after planting.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of protected organic acid blends including medium chain fatty acids and different nutrient density diets on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and faecal noxious gas content in growing pigs. A total of 80 crossed [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc] growing pigs with an initial body weight (BW) of 22.61 ± 2.32 kg were used in a six-week trial. Pigs were randomly allocated into one of four treatment groups in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with two levels of nutrient density (high and low) and protected organic acid (0% and 0.1%) according to their sex and BW (five replicates with two gilts and two barrows per pen). Pigs fed high nutrient density diets had increased (P < 0.05) average daily gain (ADG0 and gain: feed (G : F) than those fed low nutrient density diets. Likewise, pigs fed protected organic acid diets exhibited increased (P < 0.05) ADG compared with pigs fed no additional protected organic acids. An interactive effect (P = 0.03) between organic acid and nutrient density was observed on feed conversion by pigs. Dry matter (DM) digestibility tended to improve (P = 0.08) in pigs fed high nutrient density diets compared with low nutrient density diets. However, nitrogen (N) and energy (E) digestibility was not influenced by the nutrient density. Likewise, protected organic acid supplementation did not influence (P > 0.05) DM, N or E digestibility. Organic acid supplementation reduced (P < 0.05) H₂S content from faeces on Day 1, Day 3, Day 5 and Day 7 of incubation. Low nutrient density diets led to a reduction (P < 0.05) in H₂S gas content on Day 1 of incubation. No interactive effect on faecal noxious gas content was observed between nutrient density and organic acid. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of protected organic acids with a high nutrient diet improved growth performance and reduced H₂S acid emission.

The aim of study was to compare the effect of farming methods on soil microbial communities and dehydrogenase activity (DHA). During 2008-2013, in the five-field crop rotation the following treatments were carried out: ORG - organic; ORGFYM - organic with cattle manure; CONFYM - conventional (cattle manure, mineral fertilizers and pesticides were used). From the treatments soil samples in three replicates were taken for microbiological tests in September yearly. Total bacteria and cellulose decomposing bacteria were determined as a number of colony forming units per g of dry soil. Soil DHA was determined in accordance with Tabatabai (1982). Solid cattle manure applied in the ORGFYM rotation increased significantly (P < 0.05) the number of total bacteria and cellulose decomposing bacteria (by 19.4% and 45.3%, respectively), and DHA by 22.7%. There appeared no clear and significant differences in effects between ORGFYM and CONFYM treatments, as an average of experiment period. In some cases, the use of certain pesticides in CONFYM treatment significantly affected the microbe numbers and soil DHA.

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

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

The investigation of foliage biomass development including LAI and the growth of spruce and beech stands in the juvenile stage (age 1 to 21 years) represents a special complementary study to long-term research of water balance components on the experimental forest hydrology area Deštné Mountainside. The experiment is located in the Orlické hory Mts. at the altitude of 900 m on a clear-felled area. In 1982 the spruce plantation was established at 1.5 ´ 1.5 m spacing (4,600 plants/ha) and the beech plantation at 1.0 ´ 1.0 m (10,000 plants/ha). According to tending programs applicable to forest stands in the Czech Republic, two improvement fellings were carried out (1995 and 2001) in spruce and none in beech. In 2002, some 1,550 spruce trees/ha (mean height 10.1 m) and 7,440 beech trees/ha (mean height 4.8 m) were recorded. At the end of the first vegetation season in 1982, the dry matter (DM) of foliage in spruce and beech amounted to 35 and 70 kg/ha, respectively. Five years later (1987), these values increased to 770 and 360 kg/ha in spruce and beech, respectively. At a stand age of 21 years, foliage DM was determined to be 11,940 kg/ha for spruce and 3,050 kg/ha for beech. At the same time, the leaf-area index (LAI) was calculated to be 5.55 and 5.94 in spruce and beech, respectively. The method of foliage biomass quantification, based on the determination of foliage DM of mean sample trees and stand density, enabled to acquire complementary data usable in long-term research of the water regime of spruce and beech and simultaneously to provide information on the potential of biomass production and LAI value of both main commercial species in mountain forests of the Czech Republic.

Phytic acid has been considered to be an antinutrient due to its ability to bind minerals and proteins, either directly or indirectly, thus changing their solubility, functionality, absorption, and digestibility. In this study, the influence of the flour type (type 500, type 850, and whole meal flour) and three different breadmaking procedures (direct, indirect, and with sourdough addition) on phytic acid was investigated. The results showed that the flour type influenced the phytic acid content. The phytic acid contents of flour type 500, type 850, and whole meal flour was 0.4380, 0.5756, and 0.9460 g/100 g dm, respectively. The dough and bread prepared from flour with a higher phytic acid content also contained higher amount of phytic acid. During fermentation and baking, degradation of phytic acid occurred. Phytic acid was also influenced by pH. Samples of lower pH had a lower phytic acid content. Dough prepared from flour type 500 and type 850 with 10% addition of sourdough had especially low phytic acid contents, and the bread prepared from the respective dough contained no phytic acid at all.

The present study was aimed at the detection and describing the lesions of akabane virus in foetal and new-born calves tissues using immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence techniques. Akabane virus lesions were evaluated in 12 foetuses and three new-born calves using serological and pathological methods and immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Macroscopically, prominent arthrogryposis and hydranencephaly (A-H syndrome) were the main symptoms. At the histopathological examination, lesions were especially localised in the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata in the central nervous system (CNS) in calves naturally infected with akabane virus. In these areas, degenerative and necrotic neurons were observed. There was prominent mononuclear infiltration in perivascular areas. While akabane virus antigen was only detected in brain using immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry against akabane virus yielded positive antigenic reactions in the cerebrum, cerebellum, liver, spleen and kidneys. In addition to these findings, there was a relationship between akabane virus infection and neurofilament (NF), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) immunoreaction in astrocytes and neurons.

The Khuzestan province in south-western Iran is the centre of Persian Arab horse breeding and training. The present study was aimed at determining the prevalence of Theileria equi in the equids of this province. A total of 165 blood samples from healthy Persian Arab horses from twenty four stables were examined for the presence of T. equi infection using molecular methods. For detection of T. equi, primers targeting the 18SrRNA gene were selected. The PCR method gave 47 (28.5%) positive results. Age (P = 0.68), sex (P = 0.88), contact with cattle (P = 0.26) and type of activity (P = 0.06) were not determined as risk factors for T. equi infection in this study. However, there was a significant geographical variation in the prevalence of T. equi infection ranging from 8.3% (2/24) in Shushtar to 55.6% (10/18) in Ramhormoz (CI, 2.46-76.82) (P = 0.003). In conclusion, equine theileriosis has the potential of posing a significant problem for Iran's Persian Arab horse industry and should remain a major concern to the horse community and regulatory agencies.

We investigate the effects of consumption of MRPs from the glucose-lysine model system heated 15°C-90 min on protein digestibility and its utilisation in young (3-week) and adult (12-week) rats. Nitrogen faecal excretion significantly increased after MRP consumption, especially during the third week. Protein digestibility was lower in both age groups studied, but the utilisation was unaffected. Parallelly, the nitrogen retention and its net utilisation for the entire experimental period did not vary. In young rats the faecal nitrogen exceeded the amount of ingested nitrogen coming from MRPs, suggesting that digestibility of undamaged nitrogen was affected. The same action is suspected in adult animals, but the results were not quantitatively conclusive, and therefore the effect should be moderate in this period.

Seedlings of Trifolium pratense L. cultivars were mechanically inoculated with Czech isolates of Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV), Clover yellow mosaic virus (ClYMV), Clover yellow vein virus (ClYVV), Red clover mottle virus (RCMV), White clover mosaic virus (WClMV), and a newly discovered member of the Cytorhabdovirus genus. WClMV infected 75.4% of clover seedlings; cv. Rezista was the most susceptible (93.3%), while cv. Fresko was the least susceptible (58.3%). RCMV infected 59.6% of plants; the most susceptible was cv. Tempus (77.6%), the least susceptible cv. Sprint (38.3%). While WClMV infected a higher number of seedlings, RCMV revealed more severe symptoms on affected plants. On the basis of ELISA and RT-PCR results, no cultivar was susceptible to mechanical inoculation with ClYMV and cytorhabdovirus. Moreover, cvs Fresko and Sprint were not susceptible to ClYVV and AMV, respectively.

To investigate the ecological safety of Beauveria bassiana in soil, we evaluated the effects of different concentrations of B. bassiana spores suspensions and acephate on paddy soil microbial flora and enzyme activities in a potted trial. Results showed that B. bassiana can increase the quantity of bacteria and fungi on day 10 and 30, while it showed inhibition on actinomycetes growth on day 10. However, acephate reduced the quantity of bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes in soil. Investigation of enzyme activities revealed that invertase activity declined during prophase, while urease activity decreased later in B. bassiana treatment groups, and there were no significant changes in alkaline phosphatase or dehydrogenase activity. Acephate showed higher inhibition rates of enzymes. B. bassiana treatment at lower concentrations showed a higher yield. Overall, compared with the acephate, B. bassiana is an effective, environmentally friendly microbial pesticide in this system.

The aim of this work is to evaluate the changes of Mehlich 3 - P, K, Ca and Mg contents in soil during a long-term field experiments with sewage sludge, farmyard manure (FYM) and mineral NPK (NPK) application, compared to the control non-fertilized treatment. The experiment was established at the Humpolec and Suchdol sites (Czech Republic). Potatoes, wheat and barley were grown in crop rotation. Fertilizing system was based on the same nitrogen dose of 330 kg N/ha per one crop rotation. Archive soil samples from the beginning of the experiment (1996) and from the end of each year's crop rotation (1999, 2002, 2005, 2008 and 2011) were analyzed. In spite of the different soil-climatic conditions of the studied sites, very similar tendencies of P, K, Ca and Mg contents changes after the fertilizing systems used were observed in the soil. In case of the same nitrogen dose (330 kg N/ha), sewage sludge appeared to be better source of bioavailable soil phosphorus compared to the farmyard manure and NPK. On the contrary, FYM was a better source of bioavailable potassium and magnesium, despite the lower total magnesium content in FYM. The NPK treatment was the best long-term source of bioavailable potassium.

In the long-term field trial on an arable dystric Stagnosols, winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain yield, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and nitrate nitrogen (NO₃^--N) in lysimeter water were compared under treatments of 0, 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300 kg/ha of mineral nitrogen (N) during the growth years 1996/97, 1999/00, 2002/03 and 2005/06. Year properties significantly influenced N availability resulting in different responses of grain yield and NUE under variable treatments. Grain yield showed strong significant correlation with the rainfall accumulated from March to May (r = 0.77). In the case of a dry year 2003, winter wheat yield and NUE were adversely influenced by unfavourable climatic conditions. The optimal response of yield and NUE to increasing mineral N rates was found at the amount of 150-200 kg N/ha. Very strong significant correlation between the total amount of leached NO₃^--N and NUE was found for periods 1999/00 and 2005/06 where, in terms of increasing N levels, lower NUE conditioned higher NO₃^--N leaching (r = 0.91 and r = 0.94, respectively). According to the shallow depth of groundwater and installation of drainage systems, there is still a risk of freshwater contamination by nitrates if the N rates higher than 200 kg/ha were applied.

A comparative analysis of reproduction parameters and hatchability results of pheasants raised under two different housing systems (cages and aviaries) was performed. In the first system the pheasants were housed in 420 cages, 3780 from the total were females. In the second housing system, 3200 pheasant hens were placed in eight aviaries, where 50 cocks and 400 hens were kept in each. The following parameters were calculated: laying rate, the percentage of hatching, small and cracked eggs, hatchability from set and fertilized eggs, dead embryos up to day 8 of incubation and, finally, dead embryos after day 8 of incubation as well as unhatched, crippled, and weak chicks. The laying rate for the whole period of reproduction in pheasants kept in cages was significantly higher in comparison with aviaries (59.6 vs 27.2%). A higher (P ≤ 0.05) percentage of small and damaged eggs ( = 13.6) was recorded in aviaries. The percentage of dead embryos for eggs derived from aviaries, up to day 8 of incubation, was also significantly higher (-x = 4.7%). There were no significant differences between the housing systems with respect to the remaining features. The results of the investigation made it possible to conclude that pheasants kept in cages were characterized by a higher laying performance with fewer eggs unsuitable for incubation. A lower mortality of embryos during the incubation process was found in eggs derived from pheasants reared in cages. Although there were no significant differences between the analyzed housing systems in terms of hatchability, a higher laying rate for pheasants kept in cages implies that more chicks could be obtained from every female.

Despite some progresses in the political situation, the effects of the economic crisis and widespread food insecurity are expected to persist. Humanitarian assistance is now needed to support the needs of the most vulnerable. In the longer term, countries have the significant goal of consolidating peace and security and strengthening the overall governance, while at the same time, reconstructing and rehabilitating their economy.

In 1986 (1987) research plots were established in a forest stands on the south-western slope of Šerlich Mt., Orlické hory Mts. (Kristina Colloredo-Mansfeld - Forest Administration Opočno), at the altitude of 950 to 970 m, to study deposition, chemistry of precipitation and soil water and development of soil chemistry. The plots were established on a clear-cut area, in a young stand and a mature stand of spruce, in a mature beech stand, and in an advanced growth of spruce and European mountain ash. The content of solutes in creek water was studied at the same time. Since 1993 the concentration of substances in precipitation water intercepted in the summit part of Šerlich Mt. has been measured. Research on water chemistry in the stands terminated in 1997. Soil analyses were done in 1986 (1987), 1993 and 1999. The load of acid air pollutants in these forest ecosystems was high in the eighties. After 1991 the deposition of H⁺, S/SO₄^2-, N/NO₃^- + NH₄⁺, Mn, Zn, Al decreased. Similarly, an increase in pH was observed in soil water, and the concentrations of SO₄^2-, and N, Al compounds decreased. But in 1993 the concentrations of SO₄^2- and Al increased again under the spruce stand for several months. The concentrations of NO₃^-, Mn, Zn and Al in the stream water also gradually decreased in the nineties. On the contrary, the average values of S-ions increased compared to those of 1987 to 1991. Strongly acid soil reaction developed in deeper layers until 1993. In the second half of the nineties the pH/H₂O value somewhat increased again, however the reserve of K, Mg, Ca available cations in the mineral soil constantly decreased. The saturation of sorption complex by basic cations in the lower layer of rhizosphere did not reach even 10% in 1999. The forest ecosystems of Šerlich Mt. were also loaded by a high fall-out of Pb, and increased fall-out of Cu. The lack of balance of N-compound transformations and consumption in the soil and increased leaching of N in the form of nitrates contribute to soil acidification on the investigated plots.

The aim of this study was to evaluate a new device for the ultrasound-guided transvaginal aspiration of follicular fluid for acid-base balance analysis (ABB set) in comparison with the original modified commercial OPU set. In the ABB set, an aspiration syringe was placed in the front part of the new tool's handle, next to the transducer, so as to enable direct collection of the sample into the syringe. To obtain a sufficient amount of testable fluid, reservoirs of urine (rubber balloons) were used for later aspiration under laboratory conditions in Experiment 1. Fifteen triads of samples (each triad with two punctures) were collected. While the first sample of each triad was taken using the ABB set (ABB sample), two samples were taken by one puncture using the original modified commercial OPU set: aerobic phase of sampling (AE sample) with air present in the tubing at the start of sampling and the subsequent anaerobic phase of sampling (AN sample). Values determined in the second sample from the triad (AE) varied from the values in both ABB and AN samples (pH 7.685 vs. 7.704 vs. 7.692, pCO₂ 11.13 vs. 10.3 vs. 10.85, pO₂ 6.87 vs. 8.67 vs. 7.02). In Experiment 2, ultrasound-guided transvaginal aspirations were carried out in 13 cows bearing ovarian cysts with diameters of at least 3 cm, using plastic aspiration syringes (Experiment 2P) and in 12 cows using glass aspiration syringes (Experiment 2G). The sequence of samples was the same as in Experiment 1. We found a significantly higher pH in AE in comparison to AN (7.357 vs. 7.348), lower pCO₂ (6.85) and higher O₂ (14.12) in samples of AE in comparison to samples of ABB and AN (pCO₂ 7.36, 7.30; O₂ 9.95, 10.63 respectively) in cystic fluid in Experiment 2P. We found a significantly higher pH (7.4), lower pCO₂ (5.98) and a higher pO₂ (12.35) in AE samples in comparison to ABB and AN samples of cystic fluid (pH 7.386, 7.385; pCO₂ 6.39, 6.35 and O₂ 10.56, 10.65, respectively) from Experiment 2G. We conclude that the acid-base balance assay was affected by air, present in the tubing during aerobic sampling in comparison to anaerobic and ABB set sampling. These pre-analytical changes can be prevented by the use of the ABB set because the results obtained with the ABB set were not different from that of the AN samples. We also confirmed pre-analytical changes in acid-base balance parameters in the cystic fluid after it had been stored in plastic aspiration syringes. Our new ABB set equipped with a glass aspiration syringe is suitable for sampling follicular fluid for both acid-base balance and gas analysis.