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Measurement of the ammonia emissions by two different types of sensors (PHOTO ACOUSTICS analyzer INNOVA and SOLID STATE sensor SP-53) was carried out in laboratory with one material of litter, wood-shavings (with dry or wet material). The initial ammonia concentration and humidity of material were changed. The output data of these sensors were continually saved a processed. A small difference was found out between the output data of these sensors. The difference depends not only on ammonia concentration and humidity of material but also on the duration time from the beginning of measurement. All experiments of ammonia concentration were carried out with three initial values of humidity and ammonia concentrations within used material. The decrease of ammonia concentration (its velocity) in investigated material has been measured with laboratory device and registered for twelve or more hours during each experiment.

Differences in reactions to infection and different development of Plum pox virus (PPV) symptoms were observed in leaves and fruits of one hundred sixty-five apricot and seventy-nine peach cultivars and hybrids. A very broad spectrum of reactions from high susceptibility to high resistance and immunity was proved in apricot cultivars and hybrids and the results were published (Polák et al. 1997). A much narrower spectrum of reactions was proved in peach cultivars. Relative concentrations of PPV by ELISA in flowers, intensity of virus symptoms in leaves and fruits of peach cultivars were evaluated. The relative concentration of PPV coat protein (PPV-CP) in flowers was found to be positively correlated with the intensity of leaf and fruit symptoms in most cultivars. On the basis of obtained results cultivars of peaches were divided into four groups and classified as medium resistant, tolerant, medium susceptible and susceptible to PPV. None of the investigated cultivars was immune, highly resistant or resistant to PPV. Eighteen peach cultivars were classified to be medium resistant to PPV. Nine peach cultivars were characterized as tolerant to PPV, with high relative concentration of PPV-CP protein in flowers and mild symptoms in leaves and fruits. Twenty-seven peach cultivars were characterized as medium susceptible to PPV. Twenty-five peach cultivars were rated as susceptible to PPV. It is recommended to grow medium resistant peach cultivars in the areas where PPV is widely distributed.

The work objective is to differentiate rural land of Slovakia with aspect to the possibility of effective rye growing. The differentiation is based on pedo-climatic and production economic parameters. At soil categorization, correlation relationships between the site properties (soil and climatic conditions) and crop biological and agro-technological requirements were considered. Rye requirements were included into yield databases using the software filters in the way that the given site property excluded or limited rye growing, what was reflected in predicted production. The prediction was subsequently interpolated into four suitability categories: soils not suitable for rye growing, less suitable soils, suitable soils and very suitable soils. The database was formed and each of the Bonited Soil-Ecological Units (BSEU) was added in it as well as particular category of suitability for rye growing. By mediation of the Geographic Information System on BSEU distribution in Slovakia, the map of categories of soil suitability for rye growing was also generated. In Slovakia, there is 21% of farmland very suitable for rye growing, 23% suitable, 24% less suitable and 32% non-suitable soils for rye growing according to our calculation. In the paper, these categories are characterized in details and specified from the view of geographic, soil, climatic, productivity, economic and energetic parameters.

Irrigation with saline waters is an agricultural practice that becomes increasingly common as competition for fresh water increases. In this study, three strawberry cultivars (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) were tested for their salt tolerance. For this purpose, five salinity levels in water with electrical conductivities (EC_i) of 1.1, 1.6, 2.1, 2.5, 2.9 dS/m and river water as control (0.5 dS/m) were used in a randomised design with four replications. Percent leaf damage at two dates and accumulation of salts in soil were determined for each cultivar. Considering the results, Maraline is the most tolerant to salinity. Severe effects of salt on Muir and Tudla growth were observed even at EC_i 1.1 dS/m. The higher the level of EC_i of irrigation water, the higher the soil EC_e produced. In general, the highest soil EC_e's were produced by Muir followed by Tudla experiment.

The area of vineyards has increased to 19 261.5 hectares and the number of wine producers to 18.292 by 1 May 2004. This branch needs a long-term study that will lead to the establishment of the new politics for viniculture and wine-growing, related to the needs of the region. The trends are compared to the main European producer - France, and another country from the so called "New World"- the South African Republic. The researches are focused on the consumption of wine by population, share in the gross national product, employment in this branch, areas of vineyards, and number of wine-growers.

The study deals with the problems of territorial marginality in Slovakia. It illustrates the content structure of regional marginality, its factor satiation, as well as its spatial (territorial) localization. The historical-spatial context of marginal territories in Slovakia and their position in the transformation period are pointed out. The stress is laid on social-spatial marginality of the regions, representing its central component. The study suggests the possibilities of solving the problems of marginal regions, their developmental disposabilities, as well as the necessity of application of certain demarginalization activities, as a component part of modernization processes and their dynamization in the respective territories. The existing contradictions between the intentions of the regional policy of the Slovak Republic and the actual situation in solving the problems of marginal regions have been pointed out as well.

Porcine corneas were frozen with Me₂SO, glycerol, 1,2-propanediol and PEG-400. The effects of the range of concentrations (5% and 10%) and temperature regimen (1ºC/min and 5ºC/min) were investigated. The integrity of corneal endothelial cells was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and trypan blue staining. The presence of 5-10% PEG-400 in the protective medium was the most effective in minimizing changes in the integrity of the corneal endothelium during freezing-thawing procedures.

Rare forest tree species that are necessary for the domestic processing industry, especially for the furniture industry, currently occur as scattered trees in many forest stands in theCzechRepublic. For their harvest and supply to the processing industry it is necessary to measure their dimensions and growing stock. Logging technologies are proposed that will enable to harvest and transport this scattered wood mass to buyers. These technologies and used conveyances must not cause any damage either to forest soil or to adjacent stands and they should be economic, i.e. increased costs of processing must be covered by selling price.

The contents of eight biogenic amines (tryptamine, phenylethylamine, histamine, tyramine, putrescine, cadaverine, spermidine and spermine) were determined in samples of processed cheese, either pasteurised (P) or sterilised (S), and consequently stored for either 22 or 57 weeks at the temperatures of 8°C and 22°C, respectively. Tyramine was quantitatively the most important biogenic amine (1.3-29.3 mg/kg); the highest level (P < 0.05) was found in P cheese stored for 22 weeks after processing at 8°C (P1). Regardless of tyramine, and with the exception of putrescine in S cheese stored for 57 weeks (2.2 mg/kg), the content of no biogenic amine exceeded 2 mg/kgin any tested sample. Significantly higher (by five to six orders of magnitude; P < 0.05) counts of total aerobic and facultative anaerobic microorganisms in P1 sample in comparison with all other samples were indicative of the cover leakage. No lactic acid bacteria were detected in any sample, the counts of coliforms and total anaerobes, respectively, were negligible and did not differ (P> 0.05) between samples. No sample of the tested long-term stored processed cheese was considered unsafe from the toxicological viewpoint.

Population studies and tests on the relationship between density and damage were conducted in 1999 to 2001 to determine the pest status of Empoasca dolichi on groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in the Zaria area of northern Nigeria. Analyses showed that Empoasca numbers varied significantly from one year to another, and within each year the numbers of leafhoppers observed at the different growth stages of the plant were significantly different (P = 0.01). There was an inverse and highly significant relationship between the mean kernel yield and the Empoasca damage at the different growth stages of the plant. When natural population densities were plotted against economic injury level (EIL), the densities did not reach the EIL throughout the groundnut growing seasons. The insect was thus not an economic pest on groundnut in Zaria during the period of the study.

Fifty-one crossbreed young bulls, progenies of Charolais (CH), Czech Pied (CP), Simmental (SI) and Blonde d'Aquitaine (BA) beef cattle bred at the paternal position crossed by Czech Pied at the maternal position, were reared in a typical production system and slaughtered at an average age of 578 days and live weight of 656 kg. The animals were evaluated for fattening performance and carcass quality traits (live weight at slaughter, age at slaughter, total weight gain, carcass weight, dressing percentage, net daily gain) and meat quality characteristics (dry matter, proteins, fat, ash, pH₄₈, water holding capacity, remission, collagen, area of M. longissimus dorsi and cooking loss). Correlation coefficients were determined in order to discover which of the above-mentioned characteristics influenced textural properties measured by Warner-Bratzler (WB) shear device and compression test (TPA). It can be concluded from the overall assessment of the correlation coefficients that slaughter age (r = 0.68, P < 0.001), net daily gain (r = -0.54, P < 0.001), average lifetime daily gain (r = -0.50, P < 0.001) and pH₄₈ (r = -0.51, P < 0.001) had the major influence on the textural properties measured by WB shears. Meat texture expressed by TPA was mainly influenced by live weight at slaughter (r = 0.55, P < 0.001), carcass weight (r = 0.50, P < 0.001) and pH₄₈ (r = -0.54, P < 0.001). Significant differences (P < 0.001) were found out for the age at slaughter (CH × BA) and (CP × BA), slaughter weight (CP × SI) and (CP × BA) and carcass weight (CP × BA). At the same level of significance further differences were found out for pH₄₈ and water holding capacity (CP × SI), (CP × BA) and cooking loss (CH × CP). Highly significant differences (P < 0.01) in the textural properties (measured by WB shears) were determined between the following breeds: (CH × BA) and (CP × BA). At the level of significance P < 0.05, the highest differences were identified between (CH × SI) and (CP × SI). TPA test showed statistically significant differences between (CH × CP), (CP × SI) breeds at the level P < 0.05.

The reed canary grass as a source of energy was tested in field experiments on small plots at three different sites in 1996-2003. The effects of soil and weather conditions, different times of harvest (July, November, March) and different doses of nitrogen fertilization (0, 30, 60 kg/ha) on yields of phytomass were investigated. The effects of the harvest time on the water content in harvested phytomass, loss of phytomass in different harvest period and the content of basic nutrients and heavy metals in plants were all specified. The influence of the year, site and N fertilization on yields of phytomass of the reed canary grass was highly significant. The reed canary grass responded positively to increasing doses of nitrogen by the increase of yields of phytomass. On the averages of years and sites, the N application dose of 30 kg/ha increased dry phytomass yields of the reed canary grass harvested in November by 14.6% (1.08 t/ha). The higher dosage of N 60 kg/ha increased yields of phytomass of the reed canary grass at all sites by 32.8% (2.08 t/ha) on average in contrast with variants without fertilization. By the dose of N 60 kg/ha, the dry above-ground phytomass harvested in autumn was 10.04 t/ha in Ruzyně, 8.27 t/ha in Lukavec and 6.94 t/hain Chomutov on average over the whole period. The later times of harvest resulted in a decrease of the average yield of phytomass (8.41 t/ha in July, 8.00 t/ha in November and 6.04 t/ha in March) and the average water content (64.3% - 45.2% - 21.5%); on the contrary, energy value of phytomass increased (16.93 GJ/t - 17.02 GJ/t - 17.19 GJ/t). The average content of ash in plants varied from 6.5% in Lukavec to 9.31% in Chomutov. The content of heavy metals in plants never exceeded the highest permissible values set in the Czech Republic for food and feed purposes.

The incorporation of Czech agrarian sector in the Common Agricultural Policy of the EU means also the application of so called "European Model of Agriculture" which reacts to a basic requirement of socially balanced and sustainable agriculture which contributes to maintenance and an improvement of the European agricultural cultural landscape. In connection with it, a new strategy of agrarian policy was set according to which the orientation of Czech agrarian sector changes in a principal way, which was focused up to now only on the production function and also its other functions become more important, above all in the environmental and social, so non-production area. One of the aspects of multifunctional agriculture is an organic agriculture, a system which fulfills visions of sustainable agriculture.

Possibilities of herbicide applications to the self-heal (Prunella vulgaris L.) growth were tested in 1997-1998. Experiments showed that the application of pre-emergence herbicides in the Prunella vulgaris L. growth was efficient when 3 l/ha ofherbicide with 500 g/lisoproturon as an active ingredient were used. Herbicide applications had no influence on the emergence rate of direct seeding. Among the post-emergence herbicides it is possible to use glyphosate-IPA in 50% concentration by the wick applicator to Elytrigia repens (L.) Nevski. The results of these experiments can be used as a basis for testing the herbicide biological efficacy in the framework of minority indications for cultivated medicinal plants. .

The study deals with the problems of regional development in Slovakia, with the emphasis on presentation and critical reflexion of specific features and basic developmental tendencies characterizing the regional development in the transformation period (after 1990). The regional development is presented in broader social contexts of the development of the Slovak society, with the emphasis on its modernization stage, as well as the social-economic and social-spatial changes, characterizing the society development in the transformation period. The social and social-spatial implications and impacts of this development on social segments of the society, territorial and regional units and their social potentials are pointed out. In the conclusion, the dispositions of the regions and the developmental trends of the regional development of Slovakia are confronted with the conditions for the information society development.

The effects of humic acid on feed consumption, egg production, feed efficiency, egg weight and external and internal egg quality of laying hens were studied during feeding periods. A total of 180 (Hysex Brown) layers (36 weeks of age) were used in this experiment. There was one control and two experimental groups, each containing 60 hens and 4 subgroups. The experimental period lasted 16 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the supplementation of humic acid had a significant effect on feed consumption and feed efficiency. An increase in egg production was determined when humic acid was added to the diets at 30 g/t of feeds (91.70%) and 60 g/t of feeds (91.32%). There were no significant differences between the groups in egg shell thickness, egg shell breaking strength, yolk index, albumen index and Haugh unit. It can be therefore concluded that the dietary supplementation of humic acid at doses of 30 and 60 g/t feed can be used to improve egg production, egg weight and feed efficiency.

New possibilities of oak mildew (Microsphaera alphitoides) control were tested and compared with present methods. The results of three-year experiments in 6 localities (Cikar, Budkov, Planá nad Lužnicí, Vědomice, Voznice, Zadní Bor) clearly showed that the sulphur-based fungicides registered for the control of oak mildew (Sulikol K, Sulka) had a relatively good and stable effectiveness, and that two other newly tested preparations (Systhane 12 EC, Amistar) were even more effective when the percentage of infested plants did not exceed 2% (Systhane 12 EC) or 5% (Amistar) in any experimental locality. Their registration should be extended in this way. The biopreparations with fungicidal or fungistatic effects such as Supresivit, Polyversum and Ibefungin, known and used in forestry, showed that it was not possible to use them for oak mildew control, similar results were received in tentative testing of another preparation (PFR). Testing of preparations Bion 50 WG and Neem Triact 90 EC gave interesting and promising results. Besides their sufficient effectiveness in the control of oak infestation by the mildew, our experiments also indicated their generally positive influence on the health of plants; this could compensate their economic disadvantage compared to classical fungicides.

One of the severe complications of ovariohysterectomy is the incomplete removal of one or two ovaries, which is also known as ovarian remnant syndrome. This condition is usually followed by uterine stump pyometra, which can be described as the infection of uterine body tissue remaining after the operation. However, both conditions may also be encountered separately. In this study, the clinical findings, therapies and long term postoperative conditions of five ovarioectomized bitches with uterine stump pyometra that were brought to the clinic with symptoms like lethargy, loss of appetite, purulent or sero-sanguinous vaginal discharge, polydipsia, polyuria within a four year period, were presented.

The spreading of bulldozer-formed windrows represents a second stage of the site restoration with bulldozers utilization in the Ore Mts. In the first period, bulldozers were used to create windrows for mechanized reforestation of immission-declined stands, causing profound devastation of forest sites, because removed surface humus was the only source of nutrients and environment for tree species roots. Preparatory stands have been established, and have to undergo re-construction in the coming years. Nowadays, the windrows are spread by the bulldozers again, covering 1/3 f the whole area between windrows by the rest of holorganic matter. This substratum is impoverished by the extensive mineralization and connected nutrient (especially N) losses, representing differently suitable space for tree rooting. Presented paper documents the effects of fertilization by different types of the SILVAMIX fertilizer on the growth and prosperity of new spruce plantations. Effects of fertilization are visible very soon and they are significantly beneficial for the new forest plantations.

Recent years has seen increasing interest in the genus Hypericum because it is the source of a variety of compounds and the biological activities of the genus are mainly derived from its hypericin content. The present study was conducted to determine whether this compound may be implicated as part of an inducible plant defense response in H. perforatum and H. pruinatum. Greenhouse-grown plants were inoculated with the plant pathogens Phytophthora capsici and Diploceras hypericinum. Hypericin levels of the Hypericum species increased significantly in response to inoculation with both pathogens. While up to now little effort has been made to determine whether hypericin is inducible by pathogen/herbivore attack or if it could play a role in plant defense, the present study indicates that hypericin is a component in inducible plant defense response of H. perforatum and H. pruinatum.

Land market in the Czech Republic is monitored by the Research Institute of Agricultural Economics on the sample of 24 districts (1/3 of the CR). Land prices depend on the area, culture and region of the plot. Sales of small plots (up to 1 ha) prevail. These plots are usually purchased for non-agricultural use and their prices are many times higher than prices of large plots (above 5 ha) which are usually bought for agricultural purpose. Land market is not well developed, only 0.2-0.4% of the monitored area is sold each year. But in the last years, it is increasing. Compared with land prices in the west EU countries, land market prices in the CR are low.

A rupture of one uterine horn at the region of small curvature and placentation was observed in a pregnant 8-year old Schnauzer bitch carrying a single foetus. It occurred at its second parturition. The first whelping at the age of 3 years had been without complications and the bitch reared eleven puppies. The uterine rupture occurred at the puppy's umbilical cord. An urgent obstetrical examination revealed one dead foetus in anterior presentation and ventral position. Caesarean delivery was indicated. Evisceration of puppy's intestine through its ruptured abdominal wall at the umbilical cord could be observed through the uterine wall rupture of 1.5 cm in diameter. The bitch underwent hysterectomy and recovered without complications.

Fifty one products of dried milk baby food purchased from 10 producers from seven countries available on the Czech market have been tested. IS900, the specific fragments for Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) have been detected using PCR in 25 samples (49.0 %) and fragment f57 by real time PCR in 18 samples (35.3%). These results correspond to the epidemiological situation in Europe and are not unexpected. Paratuberculosis in cattle was almost unknown in the Czech Republic until 1990. An increase in the number of cows with paratuberculosis found in slaughterhouses and the incidence of Crohn's disease in the last decade is evident. The possible risk of MAP dead cells or bacterial structures in food is discussed in respect to autoimmune Crohn's disease. The national programmes of paratuberculosis control and certification of paratuberculosis-free herds should be strongly supported to decrease the risk for children and other people under higher risk. Producers should use MAP free milk for baby food production on a voluntary basis.

Two high yielding wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties were pollinated with seven agrarian superior varieties. F₁'s thus obtained were pollinated with diverse winter maize lines/composites and treated with a solution containing 2,4-D and GA₃. The haploid embryos were rescued 13 to 16 days post pollination on MS₁ and MS₄ media. Out of 15, only two crosses viz., (UP 2338 × HD 2285) F₁ × maize and (WH 533 × PBW 343) F₁ × maize resulted in callus development and direct germination via embryo rescue.

The mortality of pupae in stems lying on the ground during hibernation was 51.7% in 2003. The emergence of adults in 2003 and 2004 was monitored from late April to early July by photoeclectors placed on fields that grew poppy the previous year. Most adult gall wasps emerged in April to early May 2004. The occurrence of females ovipositing on poppy stems varied from April to July and the degree of damage to the plants increased. Most frequently the females oviposited in the first stem internodes. The infestation of poppy cultures with the gall wasps was almost uniform, the number of infested plants increasing still in June. In late June, only seven out of 600 plants were not infested. Green sticks covered with non-coagulating glue and placed in the poppy field, indicated the stem heights frequented by ovipositing females. The gall wasp larvae were parasitised by Trichomalus bracteatus Walker and Pseudotorymus papaveris Ruschka, with T. bracteatus predominating. Most frequently, gall wasp larvae inside the seventh internode were parasitised by this species.

This contribution is oriented on the field of dynamic loading analysis of three-point hitch of tractor hydraulic pump. The hydraulic pump is placed in circuit of three-point hitch of the tractor ZTS 160 45. Obtained data from operation experiments will be applied for simulation of dynamic loading of the tested hydraulic pump. The measurements were realized during position control with ploughing sets: tractor ZTS 160 45 + plough 5-PN-30 and tractor ZTS 160 45 + plough 7-PHX-35. During the test physical and mechanical properties of soil and operating parameters of ploughing sets were investigated. Pressures of hydraulic system were in range from 3.2 to 7 MPa at aggregation with plough 5-PN-30 and hydraulic pump was loaded. Pressures of hydraulic system during ploughing with ploughing set tractor ZTS 160 45 + plough 7-PHX-35 were in range from 1.8 to 14 MPa and two times hydraulic pump was unloading in time 2 seconds.

The presented research was done in two different regions in Slovakia, characterized by different soil and natural conditions and also production and economic results. The micro-economic analysis was aiming not only at private farmers but also at other legal entities using land for production of agricultural products. The first monitored group consisted of 412 private farmers, farming in average 43.2 ha of agricultural land. The second group consisted of 150 businesses, having 1 866 ha of agricultural land in average. The paper also shows different problems of restructuring land markets in some countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

We evaluated the growth of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) seedlings on peat and bark substrates, on their mixes and on their mixes with agroperlite. We examined the basic quantitative traits (seedling diameters and heights), the number of produced seedlings per unit area, main root lengths, number of axial shoots and dry weight of shoots and roots. Besides the study of substrate influence on the biometrical characteristics of seedlings applied standard fertilisation an experiment was established as the second variant where the effect of biostimulants was tested; they were supplied by the Jaminex Company. The experiment was established with three replications by standard technologies used in forest operations. A conclusion can be drawn that in our experiments peat was found to be the most suitable substrate for production of Norway spruce seedlings. Positive effects of biostimulants were highly significant on almost all tested substrate mixes.

The condition was evaluated of tissues of declining young spruce stands in selected localities of the Orlické hory Mts. It refers to stands occurring in top parts affected by an air pollution disaster in the last century. Several types of damage of a different symptomatic character were distinguished. A high NO_x input appears to be the risk factor of spruce dieback in the Orlické hory Mts. One of the main causes in the complex of factors is the unbalanced cause of meteorological factors during the year and unbalance in mineral nutrition. The result is decrease in lignification, immaturity of tissues before the winter period and increased susceptibility of damaged tissues to parasites. Several potentially pathogenic species of micromycetes have been identified which can be considered to be significant pathogenic agents in case of declining spruce in the Orlické hory Mts., however, not a main cause.