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This review describes sources of structures of non-microspore origin observed in anther and microspore cultures. Various characteristics of these structures may cause a wrong diagnosis of these structures as embryos or cell/tissue clusters of microspore origin. Here we suggest such structures to be named as pseudo-embryogenic structures. The introduction of pseudo-embryogenic structures and their origins could be helpful to distinguish them from true microspore-derived structures. Prompted by certain environmental cues, somatic cells existing as a contamination in immature pollen (microspores) cultures can lead to the formation of 'pseudo-embryos' commonly known as embryoids. The pseudo-embryogenic structures may be classified in the following groups: (i) pseudo-star-like structures; pseudo-multicellular structures; (ii) pseudo-embryos with pseudo-suspensors; (iii) contaminating bacteria appearing as callus colonies; (iv) calli and embryos of somatic origin; (v) giant tetrad-like structures; (vi) anther wall cells. The exact origin of these structures is discussed in this paper, and some recommendations are proposed in order to avoid misinterpretation.

Choke of grasses caused by Epichloë typhina occurred in 2008 and 2009 in more than 25% of grass seed stands of timothy (Phleum pratense and P. nodosum); a lower incidence was reported in orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata). A decline in disease incidence in 2010 was caused partly by a reduction in the total area of grasses grown for seed production and partly by a decrease of older grass seed stands. The incidence of choke in timothy varieties Odenwälder and Pampas was very high; they differed statistically from the other 24 grown cultivars. No difference was found among 21 varieties of orchard grass. The highest incidence of choke was observed in varieties Comer and Dolina (timothy) and Amera (orchard grass). The incidence of choke in cultivated varieties of Phleum spp. and D. glomerata was affected by stand age (the incidence of the disease in timothy was recorded in 13% of stands in the first cropping year and in 50% of stands in the fifth cropping year). Choke disease occurred in all regions where the species were grown for seed.

In present days composite materials are the indispensable part of many branches. They make a foray into the branch of agricultural production, where they are getting to intensive development of systems utilized e.g. at soil processing. Composites can be defined as materials which synergically combine properties of matrix and filler. One of possibilities of polymeric particle composites preparation is the application of suitable filler together with some types of epoxy resins. This application extends the usable properties of resins. For the exact definition of these materials use it is necessary to map their behaviour. In the paper the problems are described, which concern the composite hardness changes as a consequence of the filler particle sedimentation in the course of the resin curing. The composite matrix was the two-component epoxy resin and the filler were chips of materials cutting process. The use of waste filler suggests itself the ecological possibility of recycling, which should be preferred in consideration to the environment friendliness.

This report deals with the problems of the status of rural households in the stratification system of the post-socialist Slovak society. The authors take as the basis the concept of associated classification and knowledge about the trends in the development of the social structure of Slovak society in the transformation period. The processing of empirical data from the survey research of rural households in three districts served as an example to compare the classification of households within the economic and socio-cultural lines by the means of the selected indicators. The analysis refers to the inconsistency of the stratification of rural households according to the economic and income statuses as well as education, population and socioeconomic qualities which are significantly conditioned by the regional position and situation. The representative types of rural households for the individual social strata are characterized in the conclusions. They are characterized with regard to the used criteria.

The aim of this study was to investigate the wood density of Turkish hazel (Corylus colurna L.), an introduced species in the Czech Republic. Sample trees coming from a Czech site were tested for basic wood density and oven-dry density according to Czech national standards. Four sections were taken from each tree to evaluate the variability of wood density along the stem height and along the stem radius. The mean values for the basic density and the oven-dry density were 544 kg.m^-3 and 627 kg.m^-3, respectively. The results show that the highest density can be found in the bottom part of the tree, followed by a decline with the increasing height of the stem. For the radial direction from the pith to the bark, the pattern of density variability was more complex, reaching its highest value close to the cambium. Practically no correlation between annual ring width and density values was found out.

Chlorpropham is employed worldwide as an anti-sprout chemical to the harvested potato tubers during storage. A simple and precise analytical technique is developed for routine estimation of the sprout suppressant from a large number of potato samples supplied from commercial stores demanding quick analysis. Chlorpropham is extracted completely from potato tubers by intelligent reflux extraction followed by quantification using GC-FID (Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detector) equipment. In this article, the performance of the technique is compared with the lengthy extraction/cleanup process, and the results are validated as per one-way analysis of variance. The recommended technique is found to offer rapid, accurate, and reliable analytical results with ease in handling a large number of samples constituting a wide range of residual chlorpropham levels often found in a complex structural commercial potato stores.

Ten-year results of the practical immunity investigation of apricot cv. Harlayne are presented. Two-year-old trees of cv. Harlayne were inoculated by chip-budding with six different strains and isolates of Plum pox virus (PPV). PPV inoculated trees grew in the field and were evaluated from 2001 to 2011. No PPV symptoms appeared in the leaves of cv. Harlayne within ten years (2002-2011), and within eight years (2004-2011) in the fruits and stones. None of the six isolates of three different PPV strains was detected in the leaves and fruits by ELISA. Suckers of the rootstock Prunus myrobalana developed around cv. Harlayne trees in 2005-2011 were symptomless and ELISA was negative within seven years. New trees of cv. Harlayne obtained from tested trees by budding on PPV susceptible apricot rootstock MVA-2 in 2007 were PPV free from 2008 through 2011. The presence of PPV was proved by ELISA neither in leaves of cv. Harlayne nor in rootstock MVA-2.

Allometric growth of body macrominerals was examined in slow-growing laying-type cockerels (SG) and in fast-growing male broiler hybrids (FG) during the growing period from hatch to day 22. Allometric coefficients for dry matter, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, and potassium in relation to body weight were 1.091, 1.427, 1.383, 1.284, 0.843, and 1.097 for SG chickens and 1.075, 1.276, 1.233, 1.216, 0.943, and 1.144 for FG chickens, respectively. Allometric coefficients describing the relationships of Ca, P, Mg, Na, and K with dry matter weight were 1.302, 1.260, 1.172, 0.772, and 0.998 for SG chickens and 1.185, 1.143, 1.127, 0.878, and 1.059 for FG chickens, respectively. High allometric coefficients for Ca, P, and Mg in both genotypes likely indicate a rapid growth of skeletal tissues which requires an adequate mineral nutrition during this period of growth. The deposition of Ca and P relative to dry matter was higher (P < 0.05) and that of Na lower (P < 0.01) in SG chickens thus suggesting that the relative growth of these minerals may be affected by genotype.

The present study was conducted to verify the effect of Ceylon cinnamon on experimentally induced excision wounds in rats. Thirty-two rats were divided into four groups of eight rats each. Group A received a placebo containing 1.5% of cinnamon and Group B a placebo containing 3%. Group C, as the control group, didn't receive any treatment and finally Group D received a blank placebo as the reference standard group. Wound healing was monitored on Days 3, 6, 9 and 14 and histological evaluation was carried out on the samples. The results show that cinnamon extract served to accelerate the wound healing process and specifically increased epithelialization in treatment groups compared to the other groups. Thus, this study demonstrates that Ceylon cinnamon may be effective in stimulating the enclosure of wounds.

Numerous studies show the slaughter yield and also basic chemical composition of pheasant meat. The results reveal a higher biological value of the meat of pheasants which were fed naturally, in comparison to the meat of pheasants fed with commercial mixtures. In many countries, the pheasant is selected with the aim of producing high quality meat with very desirable nutritional values. There are only few publications on amino acid composition of pheasant meat. The knowledge of amino acid composition of pheasant meat can be used to determine its potential nutritional value. The amino acid compositions were compared of the meats of wild and farm pheasants. In the study, the following amino acids were determined: Asp, Thr, Ser, Glu, Pro, Gly, Ala, Val, Ile, Leu, Tyr, Phe, His, Lys, Arg. An improved amino acid profile was found in the breast muscle of pheasants kept at the farm in comparison with that of wild pheasants.

Water and nitrogen managements are both very important to increase crop yield. An experiment was carried out in split plot design to study the effects of urea types (normal urea and coated urea) and irrigation on soil and fertilizer nitrogen use in maize (Zea mays L.) field in 2006 and 2007. Irrigation was used as main plot, and urea types were used as split-plot. Two irrigation levels, no irrigation in the whole growth duration and 85 mm irrigation at the blister stage, were designed. There were five nitrogen treatments, which were no nitrogen used as control (N0), normal urea 75 kg N/ha (N1), normal urea 150 kg N/ha (N2), coated urea 75 kg N/ha (C1) and coated urea 150 kg N/ha (C2). The results showed that, at the same level of irrigation and nitrogen, the soil nitrogen contents of the treatments with coated urea (CU) applied were higher in 0~40 cm soil layers, but lower in deeper soil layers, than those with normal urea (NU) applied. Irrigation increased the nitrate losing, but the nitrate loss of CU was lower than those of NU. Using CU with irrigation could increase the nitrogen uptake by maize, and more nitrogen was transfered to grain. At the same nitrogen level, CU had higher N recovery efficiency but lower soil N dependent rate than NU. When applied with CU, the nitrogen release rate was lower and the nitrogen was quickly absorbed by maize, which reduced the risk of nitrogen loss and increased the use efficiency of soil and fertilizer nitrogen. These results suggest that coated urea combined with deficit irrigation should be applied for high yield and nitrogen use efficiency of maize on the North China Plain.

Sugarcane plant samples affected by the disease pokkah boeng were collected from the major sugarcane producing areas in Iran. Fifty isolates of Fusarium verticillioides were recovered from diseased sugarcanes. Results of pathogenicity tests revealed that all isolates were pathogenic to sugarcane. Four hundred and eighty-five nitrate non-utilising mutants were generated from F. verticillioides isolates. Media used for nit mutant generation included potato dextrose agar, minimal medium and Czapeck agar amended with 1.8%, 2%, 2.5%, and 3% potassium chlorate. Nit mutants were divided into three phenotypic (nit1, nit3, and nitM) classes based on their growth on different nitrogen sources in the culture media. Among the isolates tested, 280, 115 and 90 nit1, nit3, and nit M were generated, respectively. Nit mutants were used to force the heterokaryon formation to determine the distribution of VCGs and their relation to pathogenicity and geographic origin. Forty-eight VCGs of F. verticillioides were isolated from sugarcane. Forty-six of the VCGs were represented by a single isolate, whereas the remaining two comprised two isolates. None of the VCGs was common.

The core objectives for rural development support for the period 2007-2013 are: (1) improving the competitiveness of agriculture and forestry, (2) improving the environment and the countryside, and (3) improving the quality of life in rural areas and encouraging the diversification of economic activity. The Council Regulation (EC) No. 1698/2005 includes an unambiguous targeting of smaller and micro-enterprises to sustain job opportunity in rural areas. For this scheduled period, a minimum funding of 10% of the total EU contribution has been withheld by the Council Regulation for the measures connected with the quality of life and diversification of the rural economy outside agriculture and forestry. In spite of this, the EU Court of Auditors has concluded that rural development policy in Europe is ineffective because it continues to allow member states to adopt a predominantly sectoral approach with the primary focus on the agricultural sector (Special Report No. 17/2006). This paper deals with the possible impact of one RDP measure - the reduction of LFA payments according to farm size. Taking into account the variety of regions in Europe and the different situations at national level, it is difficult to provide a single guideline to solve the problem. Implementation without a deep analysis could lead to undesirable consequences. A specific adjustment to the situation of the given country will be advisable.

This paper reviews hypertrophic osteopathy and describes one case report. Hypertrophic osteopathy is a rare pathologic disease process and is observed secondary to a mass in the thorax. In response to the presence of a mass(es), nonoedematous soft tissue swellings and a diffuse periosteal new bone formation develop in all four limbs. The result is mild to severe lameness. A twelve-year-old sexually intact female Cocker spaniel had undergone radical mastectomy on both sides in another veterinary hospital about two years before presentation in our hospital with lameness of both hind limbs. Pain and soft tissue swelling on the distal parts of extremities were determined in clinical examinations. Radiographs revealed periosteal new bone formation on all the long bones of all four limbs, pelvis and sternum; additionally, intrathoracic masses were observed. Euthanasia was performed five months later. Macroscopic examinations of the lungs revealed diffuse and exuberant masses with grizzled whitish cross-sectional colour and with necrotic and haemorrhagic foci. The radius-ulna, tibia, metacarpal and metatarsal bones of both limbs were examined and collected after the necropsy examination. Bone specimens were thicker and the outer surfaces seemed to be rough. At the histopathologic examination of the lung tissue, ovoid or round shaped and hyperchromatic nucleated diffuse anaplastic mammary gland epithelial cells were observed. According to these findings, these masses were diagnosed as the metastasis of malignant mixed tumours.

Transmissible venereal tumours (TVT) are normally seen on the genitalia of both male and female dogs, and at times may be observed on extra-genital sites such as lips, oral mucosa, and peritoneum, or in organs such as the tonsils, eye, liver, spleen, kidney, lung, and musculature. The present communication deals with two rare cases of primary extragenital TVT involving the mammary glands of dogs and their pathology and immunohistochemistry. The study indicated that apart from routinely used markers such as vimentin, p53, PCNA, Ki-67 and c-myc, the oncogenes Rb and cyclin D1 proved to be novel markers of TVT in dogs. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of extra-genital mammary TVT in canines.

There is a sufficient global potential to produce the food required to feed the world population on the global level. Despite this, the number of hungry people worldwide was 925 million in 2010. Developing countries account for 98% of the world undernourished people and have a prevalence of undernourishment of 16%. Food security increasingly depends on non-agricultural factors like energy, trade and finance. The negative economic and social impacts of food, energy and the global economic and financial crises showed the vulnerability to poverty. High and rising food prices further undermined the food security and threatened the livelihoods of the most vulnerable by decreasing their already limited purchasing power. The main step in reducing poverty and hunger in developing countries is to invest in agriculture and rural development. Scaled-up investments in social protection that focus on nutrition and health are also crucial for improving the lives of the poorest people.

The parasite load of brown hares (Lepus europaeus) is of great interest to hunting ground managers and veterinarians. We compared the prevalence and intensity of parasitic infections in 362 hares from Austria and the Czech Republic with respect to age and body weight. Samples of the entire gastrointestinal tract, liver and lungs were collected during autumn hunting events in 2007. The parasite spectrum of hares included Protostrongylus pulmonalis, Graphidium strigosum, Trichostrongylus retortaeformis, Trichuris leporis, Eimeria spp. and tapeworms. The most prevalent gastrointestinal nematode was Trichostrongylus retortaeformis, while only individual specimens of tapeworms such as Andrya rhopalocephala, Mosgovoyia pectinata, Cittotaenia denticulata and Ctenotaenia ctenoides were found in subadult hares. A single hare was infected with Cysticercus pisiformis in Austria. Lungworms Protostrongylus pulmonalis and findings of pneumonia were significantly less prevalent in subadult than adult hares (P < 0.01) from both countries and were much less prevalent overall in the Czech Republic (P < 0.01). Graphidium strigosum, Trichostrongylus retortaeformis, Eimeria spp. and enteritis were more prevalent in subadult hares. The nematode Trichuris leporis, on the other hand, prevailed in adults. The body weight of adult hares was negatively correlated with the intensity of infection by Protostrongylus pulmonalis (r = -0.67) and Trichostrongylus retortaeformis (r = -0.73) and the parasite loads served as significant weight predictors in multiple regression equations. This study revealed that parasitic infections of the lungs and intestines influences the health and decreases the body weight of hares in Austrian and Czech hunting grounds.

The Pinus mugo complex (P. mugo Turra sensu lato, and/or species aggregate or group - P. mugo agg., including its internal as well as external aggregate hybrids) is an important fragment of European dendroflora. For its high variability this complicated group has not been solved in taxonomical terms satisfactorily yet. Most problems are mainly caused by a large amount of taxa of uncertain value described in the past, which often more or less overlap or are based on insufficiently researched and unsuitably interpreted characters. Such facts coincidently cause further problems in applied disciplines. Specialized European literature already contains a large amount of information referring to individual taxa of this complex. Much information is listed under various, often commonly not known or not used scientific names. In order to make the information available and useful, it was necessary to collect the most frequent names used in the past and to assort them in a tabular manner into a convenient synoptic schedule respecting the present concepts of the complex and assign them with the present most commonly used names.

Many chemical changes in beer aroma occur during storage (aging), and monitoring these changes could give guidelines to the brewers how to manage and control the brewing process to obtain the final product with a high stability in flavour after packaging. In this regard, our laboratory aimed at a research into the application of an electronic nose in order to get the fingerprint of the change of non alcoholic beer aroma during aging. Th discriminatory power of the sensor array of this system was evaluated. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Soft Independent Modelling of Class Analogy (SIMCA) techniques were used for this purpose. The results obtained can direct us to performing other parts of our project. Considering the discriminatory power of the sensor array used, we can develop the application of a specific electronic nose system by picking up the most effective sensors or ignoring the redundant sensors.

The Bruks mobile chipper was tested for chipping extracted non-merchantable stemwood at the roadside in Pine plantation in Victoria. The elemental time study method was used to evaluate the system productivity. The productivity, cost, biomass yield, remaining slash, chip quality (size classification and energy content), and fuel and energy consumption were analysed. Chipping extracted small logs at the roadside yielded a productivity of 43.88 GMt.PMH₀^-1 (19.4 BDT.PMH₀^-1). The average cost was about 16.96 USD.GMt^-1 (38.36 USD.BDT^-1).

This study aims to explore the optimum nitrogen (N) application method by analyzing effects of variable N application stages and ratios on the N absorption and translocation of high-yield summer maize (DH661). The study included field experiments and ¹⁵N isotopic dilutions for pot experiments. Results showed that the yield was not increased in a one-off N application at the jointing stage. The uptake of fertilizer-derived N in the grain increased with the increasing of N applied times. Compared to a single or double application, total N uptake (N_up) and biomass increased significantly by supplying N at the six-leaf stage (V6), ten-leaf stage (V10) and 10 days after anthesis in ratios of 3:5:2 and 2:4:4. The fertilizer-derived recovery rates were 67.5% and 78.1%, respectively. The uptake and utilization of fertilizer-derived N was enhanced by increasing the recovery rate of N supplied after anthesis, and reducing the absorption of soil-derived N. Therefore, the 2:4:4 application ratios was the optimal N application method.

Relatively little is known about potassium leaching losses following harvest of silage maize. While direct negative impacts on the environment are unlikely, losses of K with leaching need to be known for accurate balancing, especially on coarse textured soils, where K can be a critical element. In a four-year field experiment the effects of fertilizer forms (inorganic, cattle slurry and pig slurry) and four levels of N input (0, 80, 160, 240 kg N/ha) with corresponding amounts of K on the nutrient balances and leaching of K from silage maize grown on a sandy soil were investigated using suction cups. After four years, surplus of K from cattle slurry led to higher lactate-soluble K in the topsoil. Potassium leaching differed between years with different amounts of rainfall during winter. Annual leaching losses of K increased with N and K input and amounted to 38 kg K/ha, while fertilizer form had no significant effect. Losses of K increased with increasing N leaching (R² = 0.69). We conclude that in maize production on coarse textured soils and under conditions of high N leaching (86-152 kg N/ha), K leaching can be large (6-84 kg K/ha) and constitutes a relevant part of K balances (-84 to +127 kg K/ha).

32 experimental plots were sown at Borovce (district Trnava) in Slovakia during 2008 with 8 maize hybrids, including coleopteran-protected MON 88017, the lepidopteran-protected MON 89034, the stacked product, MON 89034 × MON 88017, that same hybrids isoline that did not have the Bt trait or traits, and 4 commercial hybrids. Part of the fourth repetition was unexpectedly infested and damaged with the Western corn rootworm (WCR). High numbers of the WCR adults were found in the damaged plots on July 8. Adult WCR abundance remained concentrated in this area until August 12-19. The beetles apparently began to disperse during August 19-September 2, and after September 2. The trap captures increased in the uninfested areas up to September 16, no significant difference having been found in the adult WCR captures between the infested and uninfested plots, including the plots with MON 88017. Bt-maize hybrids containing MON 88017 strongly influenced the level of the WCR damage as assessed by lodging of the maize plants, and they also influenced the numbers of the WCR adults before maize flowering. We found that intensive movement of the WCR adults from the place of their origin started later in the vegetation season.

The dynamic coefficient of friction of single potatoes was determined on mild steel, rubber and plastic, for tubers in each of four conditions: dry and dirty, wet and dirty, clean and wet and clean and dry. Steel had the lowest overall mean coefficient of friction. The highest value was recorded for plastic, but this material also had the largest coefficient of variation. Overall, rubber was considered to be the most suitable all-condition material for tubers in a range of conditions.

The study was conducted to evaluate the potential cryoprotective effect of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) through post-thaw evaluation of canine semen and its optimal inclusion level. Ejaculated canine semen was extended in TRIS-glucose egg yolk extender containing various concentrations of BHT (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5mM). Semen was frozen at -196°C using 200 × 10⁶ spermatozoa per 0.5 ml straws and post-thaw evaluation was carried out in terms of sperm motility, viability, plasma membrane integrity, and acrosomal integrity through phase-contrast microscope, supravital staining, hypo-osmotic swelling test, and normal acrosomal ridge, respectively. BHT was found to improve (P > 0.005) all post-thawed semen quality parameters at an inclusion level of 1.0mM in the extended semen. However, higher concentrations than this were found to have detrimental effects.

One of the key goals of the Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection is to maintain and improve soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. A decline of SOC stocks is politically perceived as a serious threat to soil quality and functions. A suitable tool for acquiring the information on SOC stock changes is modelling. The RothC-26.3 model was applied for long-term modelling (1970-2007) of the SOC stock in the topsoil of croplands of Slovakia. Simulation results show a gradual increase in the SOC stock in the first phase of modelling (1970-1995) mainly due to higher carbon input in the soil. A significant linear correlation (r = 0.4**, n = 275) was found between carbon input and the final simulation of SOC stock. A close relationship between the SOC stock and soil production potential index representing the official basis for soil quality assessment in Slovakia was also determined and a polynomial relationship was found which describes the relation at the 95% confidence level. We have concluded from the results that balanced or positive changes in the SOC stock dynamics that are important for sustainable use of soils could be influenced positively or negatively in Slovakia by political decisions concerning the soil management. Moreover, the soil production potential index can be used as soil quality information support for such decision-making.

Wild service tree belongs among rare woody plants tolerant to higher temperatures and low soil humidity. There are available data from analyses of 34 wild service tree localities in Slovakia. The majority of analyzed localities (70%) were on south-exposed stands (SE, S, SW); 97% of these were in altitudes up to 600 m. Wild service tree prefers biotopes of the oak-hornbeam forests. The highest frequency of this woody plant was found in group of forest site types Fageto-Quercetum. According to altitudinal vegetation stages, the majority of stands (85%) were in the 3^rd and 2^nd vegetation stage, where potential evapotranspiration is higher than the sum of precipitation. From March to September the water deficit is approximately 100-150 mm. The most frequent are stands with mountain climate (62%) with prevalence of moderately warm (38%) and warm (15%) climate. Wild service tree grows mainly on soils with favourable physical characteristics and adsorbing complex (65% of stands). The soils are fertile and well supplied with nutrients (Luvisols, Cambisols). Some localities (35%) have soils rich in minerals; however, their soil chemistry is one-sided, so they are mostly little fertile (Rendzinas). Regarding the water content in soils, Cambisols have generally sufficient water supply; Luvisols have lower water supply with a possibility of their aridization; Rendzinas are mostly loose soils with good permeability, regarding their shallow profile with lower water capacity they have usually less water supply. According to the obtained data, it is possible to evaluate wild service tree as a light-demanding woody plant with requirements for higher temperatures and higher contents of nutrients in soil, able to grow on drier soils with infrequent occurrence of water deficit. With regard to the expected changes of global climate, wild service tree should substitute some tender woody plants with higher sensitivity to drought in landscape as well as in forestry.

This paper analyses the enforcement of the 2003 CAP reform in 5 countries of the West European Union: France, Germany, Italy, Spain and United Kingdom. The reform gives multiple possibilities of adaptation at a national or regional level. Two standard strategies are foreseen: that of the States which mobilized to the maximum the innovations that the reform allowed, and that of the States which have chosen the option of a minimal application, to limit the effects of reorientation of the productions (maximum sectors remain coupled) or of the redistribution of the payments (historical references). The great diversity of the conditions of agricultural production is one of the main explanations of the differences of enforcement of the reform. We analyse the first impacts of the reform. One can generally expect that the market of entitlements will be a priori limited, because of the links of the entitlements to land. The regionalisation of the calculation of the entitlements is incontestably the mechanism, which introduces the most redistributive effects, compared to the individual historical references. We examine also the consequences of the Single Payment System (SPS) on land rent and land market.

The uniqueness of limestone soil-forming substrate was assessed with respect to the classification of forest ecosystems. 50 soil profiles from the Bohemian Karst were studied and the results were confronted with previously published works from other karst areas. The evaluation of soil profiles was based on a macroscopic description, on the results of chemical and physicochemical analyses, and on a micromorphological study. The carbonate bedrock was a cause of specific genesis of soils in these sites - both recent and relict ones (terrae calcis). However, it does not always condition the unique characteristics of these sites whose differentiation would call for an a priori special edaphic category. Unique geochemical characteristics of the substrate are modified on the gradient of advanced pedogenesis (Holocene up to mid-Pleistocene soils were assessed) by a very intensive soil-forming process connected with the impact of allochthonous, mostly aeolian material. Two possible approaches were designed for the classification of these sites: (i) wider conception - distinction of the basic edaphic category with small limitations for the quality of soil-forming substrate, (ii) narrower conception - limestone edaphic category with a number of limitations to distinguish this edaphic category.