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Relationships between sensory variables, species, feeding systems, and panelists were examined by Procrustes Analysis. Six meat groups considering species and feeding type combinations were evaluated by ten panelists for five sensory characteristics (colour, texture, odour, taste, and acceptability). These characteristics were assessed using a nine-point hedonic scale (9 = extremely enjoy, 1 = extremely dislike). Generalized Procrustes Analysis was performed and 61.11% of the total variability was explained by the first two dimensions that correspond to Factor 1 and Factor 2. The first one accounted for 33.99% and the second for 27.12%. Results showed that pasture conditions were reflected in all sensory characteristics of meat of Hair goat as well as Karakas sheep. This study concluded that meat of sheep and goats reared in pasture conditions was more preferable as concerns sensory characteristics than that of fattening animals or those reared in intensive conditions.

Rumex obtusifolius is a troublesome weed widely spread in temperate grasslands and can be potentially used for detection of soils contaminated by trace elements. We asked how emergence and survival of its seedlings are affected by application of quick lime (Ca) and superphosphate (P) additives in soils contaminated by trace elements. We performed the pot seeding experiment with slightly acid Litavka soil contaminated by arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) and alkaline Malín soil contaminated by As, Cd, and Zn. We used a control without any additives, Ca and P treatments in both soils. Higher and quicker emergence, together with substantially higher mortality of seedlings, was recorded in Litavka than in Malín. A positive effect of the Ca treatment on seedlings was recorded in Litavka, but a negative in Malín. Small seedlings with narrow and long leaves of reddish colour were recorded in Litavka in the control and in the P treatment both with high availability of Zn, Cd, and Pb. In the Ca treatment, leaves of seedlings were more elliptic and less reddish. In Malín, seedlings were green and substantially more vital in the control and in the P treatment than in Litavka. In the Ca treatment, small and unviable seedlings were recorded. Seedlings of R. obtusifolius are sensitive on high availability of Ca, Zn, Cd, and Pb in the soil.

Using a file of economic indicators of a sample of selected agricultural enterprises, their economic results have been evaluated according to their production and climatic conditions, production orientation and the system of management since 1996. The long-term tendencies of economic results and the influencing factors shall be defined according to this analysis. The authors aim to assess the influence of external conditions on management of agricultural enterprises and how the economic result can be influenced. Next, the authors aim to analyse the influence of the accession of the Czech Republic to the EU. In 2005 the agricultural enterprises suffered a decrease in their profit compared with 2004, followed by a decrease of the profit rate. The decrease in the number of labour force and at the same time the increase of labour productivity shows a long-term tendency. Subsidies in agriculture have also been increasing in the long-term perspective. There was the first significant increase in 2004. Subsidies are one of the most important factors influencing the economics of agricultural enterprises and the dependence of their earnings on subsidies is increasing.

The paper presents selected results of the research intent No. MSM 6215648904 "Czech national economy in processes of integration and globalization and the development in sectors of agriculture and services under conditions of European integrated market". Its authors evaluate the effects of subsidies on the development of organic farming in the Czech Republic and in some selected EU countries. In the Czech Republic, the height of subsidies for the organic farming is continuously increasing. In 1998, the total amount of subsidies was 48 million CZK while in 2004 it increased to nearly 277 million CZK. Numbers of organic farms as well as the area under organic farming increased in dependence on the subsidies for this form of agricultural production.

A mathematical sector model has been formulated to optimize the cropping pattern in Saudi Arabia aiming at maximizing the net annual return of the agricultural sector in Saudi Arabia and ensuring the efficient allocation of the scarce water resources and arable land among the competing crops. The results showed the potential for Saudi Arabia to optimize its cropping pattern and to generate an estimated net return equivalent to about 2.42 billion US$ per year. The optimized cropping pattern in Saudi Arabia has been coupled with about 53% saving in the water use and about 48% reduction in the arable land use compared to the base-year cropping pattern. Comparable weights was given to different crop groups by allocating about 48.4%, 35.4%, 13.1%, and 3.2% to grow cereals, fruits, forages, and vegetables, respectively. These findings were in line with the national strategy to rationalize the cultivation of water-intensive crops in favour of highly water-efficient crops.

The paper is the 6^th report on the production potential and stability of mixed forest stands in uplands. A mixed beech/larch stand that was established by natural regeneration in 1934 to 1942 is assessed. The stand is situated at an altitude of 460 m above sea level. It has been left to its natural development since 1961. At that time, the stand was characterized as an individually mixed, diameter- and height-differentiated 25-year pole-stage stand. The proportion of larch and beech amounted to 40% and 17%, respectively. Hornbeam (25%), oak (11%) and to a lesser extent birch (5%) and spruce (3%) also occurred in the stand. In the course of 42 years, the proportion of larch in this stand without planned thinning measures decreased to 35%. On the other hand, the proportion of beech increased to 39%. During all 5-year inventories, the stand could be characterized as a stabilized one with high production potential. Its initial growing stock 63 m³/ha at an age of 25 years increased to 497 m³/ha at an age of 67 years in 2003. At present, current volume increment amounts to 9.8 to 12.5 m³/ha/year.

The operating and economical parameters of agricultural products harvesting are important aspects from production costs point of view. Profitability of the crops depends on quantity and quality of end products and efficiency of growing and harvesting operations. In case of linseeds harvesting by combine harvester statistically important impact of cutting mechanisms state on energy, exploitation and economical parameters was determined.

As a part of International Cooperative Programme on Assessment and Monitoring of Air Pollution Effect on Forests (ICP Forests), defoliation of forest stands has been assessed in the Czech Republic since 1986. Defoliation is one of the principal parameters reflecting the health of forest stands that is assessed on monitoring plots within this programme. Monitoring plots are distributed evenly according to woodiness of the area in a regular schematic network all over the Czech Republic. Even though there has been a long-term reduction of air pollution in most European countries, forest ecosystems reflect these changes with some delay. In the Czech Republic the trend of total defoliation of coniferous and deciduous forest stands has been increasing very moderately in the last 10 years. This trend appears to be partially analogous with some neighbouring countries. Compared to the whole of Europe the trend of defoliation of broadleaves is very similar, but differences have occurred in conifers in the last 10 years. There are significant differences in defoliation levels among the particular countries; in this comparison the Czech Republic is classified as one of the worst. Differences in these levels are very evident especially among the neighbouring countries. To partly eliminate these differences, regular international calibration courses are organized.

The paper deals with the analysis of price changes of roundwood (spruce, fir and beech sawlog, fuelwood) and energy wood in Slovakia, Czech Republic and Austria during the period of 2008-+September 2011. At the beginning of the article, the authors identify the major factors influencing timber price trends such as legislation regarding technical standards for the quality grading of round wood, global economic recession, incidental felling and political influence. Consequently, detailed analysis of timber price changes in selected European counties is provided by means of line graphs. The results of the analysis revealed that demand for wood and wood products began to decrease in mid-2008. The most critical situation was in 2009, primarily in the softwood market, when prices bottomed out. However, recent trends indicate a gradual rise in timber prices. In the future, a slight increase of timber prices is expected, however other factors (such as economic development, lobbyist pressure, incidental felling and many others) may influence prices, which makes it difficult to predict their trend.

The effect of thickening agents - methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, and xanthan gum - solutions on the sensory viscosity was investigated in the concentration range of 0-0.8%. The perceived viscosity was proportional to the logarithm of kinematic viscosity in the presence of citric and malic acids. The viscosity was inversely proportional to the acidity at the viscosity levels higher than 10 mm²/s. A liquid of high viscosity thus possess lower acidity than aqueous or low-viscosity solutions. No significant differences were found between the effects of different thickening agents.

Mountainous areas represent regions with specific soil cover pattern that is naturally given by an altitudinal gradient. The objective of our study was to describe the soil cover development on the altitudinal gradient under changed environment given by man-planted vegetation and acidification. The studied area is characterized by spruce monoculture planting that replaced the original broadleaf natural vegetation and high load of anthropic acidification. The common hypothesis considering the sequence of Dystric Cambisol-Entic Podzol-Haplic Podzol with increasing altitude was not proved. The results of our study indicate that the influence of spruce vegetation causes the occurrence of Haplic Podzols at low altitudes where the natural soil formation does not induce their development. Results showed that the vegetation type can overrule other altitude-related soil-forming factors. The conversion of natural broadleaf and mixed forests to spruce monocultures leads to the expansion of podzolization process to lower altitudes.

Malachite green has been used as an effective compound to control external fungal and protozoan infections of fish since 1933 but it has never been registered as a veterinary drug for use in food fish because of its potential carcinogenicity, mutagenicity and teratogenicity in mammals. The present paper reviews negative side-effects of malachite green including its accumulation and persistence in fish that have been treated and describes other alternative substances for the treatment of fish and fish eggs.

We studied the effectivity of a commercial antibiotic kit Mycokill AB for the elimination of mycoplasma contamination in virus strains. The contaminated virus strains were first filtered, treated with Mycokill AB for three hours and repeatedly passaged in its presence in the cultivation medium in pure cell lines. Three passages in the presence of Mycokill AB were invariably followed by three passages without Mycokill AB. The effectivity of purification was then checked by PCR. Twenty-four out of 28 tested virus strains became free of mycoplasma after a first or second cycle of the treatment with Mycokill AB. The other four strains remained positive even after repeated passages. In these cases of a likely resistance to Mycokill AB, we managed to eliminate the mycoplasma contamination through a subsequent treatment with the antibiotic combination BM-Cyclin. Mycokill AB was shown in the elimination of mycoplasma from virus suspensions as successful as other known most effective antibiotics.

The causative agents of respiratory diseases of turkeys represent, primarily in fattening farms, a substantial risk of economic and breeding problems. The purpose of this communication is to provide information on the prevalence of respiratory agents of turkeys and chickens in several fattening and production farms in Southern Moravia. This study was focused on pathogens causing bacterial diseases such as Ornithobacteriosis and Mycoplasmosis, as well as viral rhinotracheitis and laryngotracheitis of poultry. The laboratory diagnosis of these diseases has been performed in our institute since January 2008. We examined 249 samples of turkeys and chickens from a single rearing house and six fattening farms in Southern Moravia. The samples were examined using the PCR or RT-PCR method. The typing of isolates of Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale was done using the M13 fingerprinting method. We established the prevalence of pathogens such as Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT), Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG), Mycoplasma synoviae (MS), avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) and laryngotracheitis virus (ILT) in selected farms.

The aim of the study was to examine for the first time the various aspects of canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) presenting in a Middle Eastern country. Medical records of 164 dogs diagnosed with CAD were evaluated. Associations between signalment, lifestyle, clinical signs and allergens were evaluated statistically. Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd dog, Boxer, French Bulldog, Golden Retriever and Shar-Pei breeds were presented more frequently than the regular hospital population (P < 0.0001), and had an earlier disease onset time (P < 0.01). In 22 dogs (13%) signs of CAD were noticed at less than six months of age. Most dogs (75%) lived indoors. Most dogs (83%) had lesions on the ventral part of the body and 68% had foot lesions. After excluding flea allergy dermatitis by implementing strict flea control, 60% of the dogs presented with dorsal distribution of skin lesions. Dogs with ventral lesions were younger when clinical signs first appeared (P < 0.05). Most of the dogs were allergic to dust and/or dust mites (75.6%), with weeds and trees as the next most common allergens. CAD is similar worldwide, but geographic differences may be attributable to genetic pools and allergen loading. This study also shows that early onset of clinical signs, especially in breeds predisposed to CAD and with a dorsal distribution of skin lesions, should not rule out the diagnosis of CAD.

The efficiency of border rows to prevent the adventitious presence of GM maize in non-GM maize plots was evaluated as well as the effect of the MON 810 maize of the yield and self-protection against the European corn borer. The GM maize MON 810 event was drilled at 3 locations over the Slovakia and the grain samples were collected from the neighbouring conventional maize fields. The data obtained by Real-Time PCR indicate that coexistence between GM and conventional maize is feasible and the isolation distance of 200 m (respectively 100 border rows of conventional maize) separates GM maize from the conventional one more than sufficiently. The effective isolation distance is 3-4 times greater than the actually needed. The MON 810 revealed also the highest yield and the best self-protection against European corn borer in both growing seasons with different climatic conditions.

The effects of sex and slaughter age on growth, feed intake, carcass composition and meat quality attributes of musculus longissimus lumborum were investigated in Charolais × Simmental bulls (n = 12) and heifers (n = 12) reared and finished under identical management conditions. The animals entered the experiment at similar age (251 days) and were slaughtered at 14 or 18 months of age. Bulls gained more rapidly (P < 0.001), consumed more dry matter daily (P < 0.05), and had a higher killing-out proportion (P < 0.05). The sex × slaughter age interaction was significant (P < 0.01) for feed conversion ratio, which deteriorated markedly more in heifers than in bulls as slaughter age increased. Bulls produced leaner carcasses with a higher proportion of total meat (P < 0.001). While bulls contributed to high-priced meat by a higher proportion of meat from the shoulder (P < 0.01), heifers had higher proportions of meat from the rump and loin (P < 0.05). Older animals were generally fatter and their carcasses contained lower proportions of high-priced meat (P < 0.01) and bones (P < 0.05). Bulls exhibited lower contents of dry matter (P < 0.001), protein (P < 0.05) and intramuscular fat (P < 0.001), and a higher content of collagen (P < 0.001) in musculus longissimus lumborum than hei-fers. The meat from heifers was assessed by the sensory panel as more tender and, when aged for 11 days, more acceptable than the meat from bulls. Older animals obtained higher scores for beef flavour intensity (P < 0.01), tenderness (P < 0.001), juiciness (P < 0.05), and overall acceptance (P < 0.001).

Influence of the nitrogen injection fertilization 'controlled uptake long term ammonium nutrition' (CULTAN) on winter rape yield and seed composition was studied in 2009 and 2010 at two sites with different soil-climatic conditions in the Czech Republic. Two conventional treatments consisted of fertilization using the system of divided doses applied on soil surface. Two CULTAN treatments used injection fertilization with the whole dose of nitrogen applied once in the vegetation period, in early spring at the BBCH 26 stage (6 side shoots detectable). The trial compared conventional and CULTAN treatments. The overall dose of nitrogen was 200 kg N/ha in each treatment. The seed yield in a two-year average was 4.83 t/ha at conventional and 4.80 t/ha at the CULTAN treatment. This difference was not statistically significant. The higher nitrogen content in seed was recorded mainly at CULTAN treatments at the Hněvčeves site in 2009. An inconclusively higher phosphorus content was recorded in winter rape seed fertilized with the CULTAN method at both sites in 2010. Content of K, Ca, Mg and S did not show statistically significant differences between the two treatments during both experimental years. In oiliness no differences between conventional and CULTAN methods were observed.

Citrus Greening Disease (CGD) was critically reviewed with respect to its history, origin, symptomatology, host range, pathogenic association, identification and detection, transmission and management. It is evident that the citrus disease has emerged as a potential serious threat to citrus production in all the citrus growing countries of the world including Pakistan. It is has been proved that in Pakistan the greening disease is the major cause of citrus decline; hence it is necessary to formulate definite planning and strategies.

The paper analyses the evaluation of agricultural and farm support in the OECD countries and its differentiated development in the respective countries. This is important, because the effect of subsidies on production, trade, income as well as environment, directly depends on the way how this subsidies are disbursed to the farmers. Another object of the analysis are the differences in the level of support between different commodities that may lead to deformations.

In 2001, galls were analysed of Pemphigus spyrothecae Pass. taken in one- to three-week intervals from Populus nigra and P. nigra var. italica at 4 localities in Brno. Fundatrices matured in the first half of June and during the first half of summer produced about 50 offsprings. Virgines produced about 10 offsprings which grew up in winged sexuparae. The winged individuals started to occur in galls from the beginning of August. In galls with intact development, on average 500 aphids developed. Galls with intact development on P. nigra var. italica reached larger average dimensions and contained at least by 4% more aphids than galls on P. nigra. About 5% of fundatrices died already in the 1st instar and other 3 to 6% in higher instars by the beginning of reproduction. At localities under investigation, 7.5 to 39.0% of galls on P. nigra and 3.9 to 13.7% of galls on P. nigra var. italica were occupied by the fly Leucopis puncticornis Meig. (Chamaemyiidae). About 24.3 to 32.2% of galls on P. nigra and 23.3 to 49.3% of galls on P. nigra var. italica were occupied by the bug Anthocoris minki Dohrn (Anthocoridae). Hover flies Heringia heringi (Zett.) and Pipiza festiva Meig. (Syrphidae) killing aphids in 3.8 to 30.4% of galls on P. nigra and 6.5 to 6.8% of galls on P. nigra var. italica were an important regulator. In August (i.e. at the beginning of the formation of winged sexuparae), the majority of galls opened through primary slit-shaped or oval emergence holes. A part (7.8 to 19.5%) of galls with so far intact development, however, remained closed and all aphids contained in them died. Diseases (particularly mycoses) often participated in the accelerated dying of aphids. The effect of mortality factors on the gall size differentiation was evaluated in details. The galls do not cause any leaf area reduction. In the case of mass outbreak, they decrease decorativeness of poplars in street alleys. In August and September, liquid excrements fall out from the galls (honeydew) polluting the environment in villages and housing estates.

Phytophthora alni is responsible for a devastating disease in alder and changes in the environment of riparian and alder carr ecosystems. One of the main approaches to solve this problem is to find naturally resistant genotypes using a series of artificial inoculation experiments, to preserve and use them in programmes for resistance breeding. However, the results of artificial inoculation experiments (screening for natural resistance) can be affected by several factors. The potential effect of the social status of the host, the presence of naturally occurring P. alni infections, the season and the size of the sections of branches used were studied in a series of infection experiments. It was found out that the development of lesions was significantly affected by the year season (the largest lesions were found in summer) and by the presence of naturally occurring P. alni infections in the sampled trees (the lesions were five times larger in healthy trees and trees recovered from natural P. alni infections compared to trees with active disease development).

Combined culture of lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus brevis, L. plantarum i L. sanfranciscencis) and baker's yeasts was used in order to reduce immunoreactivity of gluten from wheat. Flour and dough samples were analysed in terms of lactic acid fermentation and thermal processing. Their immunoreactivity was determined with ELISA method using both anti-gliadin antibodies from patients suffering from coeliac disease and rabbit anti-QQQPP peptide (main epitope of flour allergen) antibodies. Also, immunoreactivity was measured in the final products after simulated digestion. The obtained total effectiveness of the fermentation and digestion processes amounted to less than 30% relative to immunoreactivity of human anti-gliadin antibodies and less than 10% relative to immunoreactivity of anti-QQQPP peptide antibodies as compared to the baking made with non-fermented flour.

A large number of resistances to powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f.sp. hordei) and their combinations are known in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). A similarity of resistance spectra between cultivars carrying the resistance Bw, designated for the winter barley cultivar Borwina, and the near-isogenic spring barley line P15, which carries the resistance Ru2, derived from the landrace Rupee, was found. The objective of this study was to test the difference between resistances Bw and Ru2. Six cultivars were tested, four with Bw and two with Ru2. Testing with 40 isolates showed identical reaction spectra between both groups. Testing of the cultivar Kompolti 4 (Bw) and line P15 (Ru2) with 300 isolates confirmed this result. Thus, the resistances currently designated Bw and Ru2 can be regarded as identical, and are determined by the gene Ml(Ru2). Both Bw and Ru2 should be designated by the earlier code, Ru2.

Sow batch management systems have become more popular due to advantages in labour planning, piglet batch sizes, all-in all-out practices and health management. The present study investigated the potential health advantages of 10 selected farrow-to-finish pig herds before and after transition from a one week batch management system to a four or five week batch management system. Five different animal categories (gilts, sows, piglets, growers and finishers) were sampled at three time points (T0, T1 and T2) before and after transition to a four or five week batch management system. Different matrices of the animals were collected: blood, nasal swabs and faeces. Several economically important diseases were monitored through serology: Lawsonia intracellularis, Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus (PRRSv), Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae; and PCR-testing: Pasteurella multocida dermonecrotic toxin (DNT) and Brachyspira species, especially the major pathogenic Brachyspira hyodysenteriae. Following serological analysis, the percentage of positive animals per category and sampling occasion were calculated. Health improvement based on serology was defined as the reduction in the percentage of positive animals for a specific disease in a specified animal category. All samples were negative for P. multocida DNT and B. hyodysenteriae. Little to no improvement could be observed for PRRSv. For L. intracellularis an improvement could be observed in piglets (71%) and growers (56%; P < 0.05). For both of the respiratory pathogens, M. hyopneumoniae and A. pleuropneumoniae, significant improvement was observed in finishers (34 and 24%, respectively). In growers, only M. hyopneumoniae showed a significant improvement (34%). In conclusion, the transition from a one week batch management system to a four or five week batch management system in the present herds resulted in a reduction of the percentage of seropositive animals for three of the monitored economically important diseases: L. intracellularis, M. hyopneumoniae and A. pleuropneumoniae.

The study was conducted to investigate the presence of Campylobacter spp. in meat sold to consumers at a retail market in Poland. Antimicrobial resistance and the presence of putative virulence genes of the isolates were also examined. A total of 558 meat samples, including beef (n = 105), pork (n = 85), and poultry (n = 368) were collected over an almost three year study period. It was found that 321 samples, all of them originating from poultry, were contaminated with Campylobacter spp. Most of the obtained isolates were classified as C. coli (189 strains, 58.9%), whereas C. jejuni was identified in 132 (41.1%) samples. All Campylobacter strains were susceptible to gentamicin and all but one C. coli isolate to erythromycin. On the other hand, the highest level of resistance among Campylobacter tested was to ciprofloxacin (91% for C. jejuni and 86.1% for C. coli) and nalidixic acid (89.3% for C. jejuni and 85% for C. coli). Furthermore, resistance to two or more classes of antibiotics was found in the majority (60.9%) of Campylobacter spp. and among them one C. coli strain showed resistance to four different classes of antimicrobials. Identification of virulence genes in the isolated Campylobacter showed that all of them had the flaA and cadF genes. The iam marker was found more often in C. coli strains (88.8%) compared to C. jejuni isolates (53.8%). On the other hand, the virB11 gene was identified only in 4.2% of C. coli and in 6.1% of C. jejuni strains, respectively. Furthermore, the prevalence of the cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC genes among C. jejuni strains was 97.7%, 93.2%, 96.2%, respectively, and was significantly higher than for C. coli regarding the cdtC (66.7%) gene. The obtained results showed that the presence of Campylobacter in retail meat may represent a threat to public health.

In experiments with winter rape during 2004-2008, we examined the effectiveness of fungicides containing active ingredients based upon triazoles and SBI inhibitors (group A): flusilazole 250 g/l a.i., flusilazole 125 g/l a.i. + carbendazim 250 g/l a.i., and cyproconazole 120 g/l a.i. + carbendazim 300 g/l a.i. Fungicides based upon older and newer triazoles, strobilurins, and SDH inhibitors (group B) were also used: cyproconazole 80g/l a.i. + azoxystrobin 200 g/l a.i., prothioconazole 250 g/l a.i., prothioconazole 125 g/l a.i. + tebuconazole 125 g/l a.i., and boscalid 200 g/l a.i. + dimoxystrobin 200 g/l a.i. The application of group A fungicides against S. sclerotiorum during BBCH 65-69 growth stage had demonstratively higher effectiveness, while for group B the application date had no effect. The greening (or "stay-green") effect only occurred with group B. The correlation coefficient for greening effect and yield was R = -0.3033 for applications during BBCH 61-65 while it was R= -0.3542 for BBCH 65-69 stage, thus indicating a relatively weak relationship.

Soil arsenic (As) levels are particularly high in parts of China, where wheat and rape are widely grown. Understanding the effects of As concentration on the growth of these two major crops is of significance for food production and security in China. A pot experiment was carried out to study the uptake of As and phosphorus (P), and the soil As bioavailability at different growth stages of wheat and rape. The results indicated that winter wheat was much more sensitive to As stress than rape. Wheat yields were elevated at low rates of As addition (< 60 mg/kg) but reduced at high rates of As concentrations (80-100 mg/kg); while the growth of rape hadn't showed significant responses to As addition. Phosphorus concentrations in wheat at jointing and ear sprouting stages increased with increasing soil As concentrations, and these increases were assumed to contribute a lot to enhanced growth of wheat at low As treatments. Arsenic did not significantly affect P concentrations in rape either. The highest As concentrations in wheat shoot and rape leaf were 8.31 and 3.63 mg/kg, respectively. Arsenic concentrations in wheat and rape grains did not exceed the maximum permissible limit for food stuffs of 1.0 mg/kg. When soil As concentration was less than 60 mg/kg, both wheat and rape could grow satisfactorily without adverse effects; when soil As concentration was 80-100 mg/kg, rape was more suitable to be planted than wheat.

The adverse effect of the application of phosphorus (P) on arsenic (As) adsorption by soils can result in increasing mobility and availability of As. However, in different soils, P might influence As adsorption differently. In this study, the arsenate [As^(V)] adsorption capacities of six soils with different properties and the effects of P application were studied. The results indicated that the adsorbed As^(V) contents all increased as a function of the As^(V) content in equilibrium. When analysed using the Langmuir and Freundlich equations, the maximum As^(V) adsorption capacity of 0.72 mg/g was found for an Alumi-Plinthic Acrisol, while the minimum capacity of 0.09 mg/g was observed for an Epigleyic Cambisol. The adverse effects of P application on As^(V) adsorption by the six soils were observed to be variable. When the P/As molar ratio in a culture experiment was increased from 0 to 10, the maximal and minimal decreases in the As^(V) adsorption capacity of 0.086 and 0.014 mg/g were found in the Alumi-Plinthic Acrisol and Epigleyic Cambisol, respectively. P was relatively more effective in competing for adsorption sites with As^(V) in the Alumi-Plinthic Acrisol and Luvi-Endogleyic Phaeozem due to their higher A/P values (decrease in adsorbedAs/added P) of 1.143 and 1.135, respectively. These results will help decrease the environmental risk of some As-contaminated agricultural soils through the controlled application of P.

This work presents results of a qualitative empirical study on practices of farmers participating in the Czech system of organic agriculture (ecological agriculture). Growth of this sector has been seen almost solely in positive terms, without questioning its content. However, Czech organic agriculture does not stem from the organic movement as is the case in Western Europe and therefore it is necessary to ask what it draws on and to discover, with regard to its nature, whether it can meet the expectations stated in official policies. This paper briefly describes the development of organic farming in other countries and the current problem of its conventionalization. The research study then shows evidence that organic farming is not adopted only because of state's subsidies, but also due to the specific value orientation of farmers, despite the history and the lack of tradition of these specific practices in the Czech Republic.