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The ownership of land has always been the important precondition for lasting socio-economic situation and the development of the country. Despite that, there is a process of learning going on in practically all the new member countries, which are still learning that productive ability of the agriculture depends in a big degree on the stability of ownership of land and its tranquil farming. Despite many fundamental and substantial differences, we can say that hitherto development in land law was tremendous. But it also follows that significant social and economic divergences have not made full liberalisation of the land market possible without "yes, but".

The paper evaluates the growth, structure, production, quality, leaf area index and dendrochronology of 100 years old Austrian pine (Pinus nigra ARNOLD) monoculture situated in the forest type group Fageto-Quercetum in the locality Horné Lefantovce (Nitrianska Streda Forest District, Topoľčianky Forest Enterprise). Codominant trees, trees with stem of high quality, with medium-sized crown, medium dense and straight crown are the most abundant in the stand. The tree number in the stand is 1,024 trees/ha, basal area 51.75 m2/ha, growing stock 571.56 m3/ha, aboveground biomass stock 348.76 t/ha and leaf area index 21.85 ha/ha. Dendrochronological analyses examined the response in individual sample trees and minimum annual ring width was found in 1920, 1922, 1925, 1929, 1933, 1938, 1944, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1954, 1963, 1968, 1976, 1982, 1990, 1993, 1998, 2001. Marked maximum values of annual ring width in the years 1919, 1923, 1926, 1930, 1936, 1937, 1941, 1948, 1951, 1955, 1959, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1997 were found as a positive productive feature. Beginning in the year 1993, dry Austrian pine trees occurred in the stand as a result of the fungal infection by Sphaeropsis sapinea (Fr.) Dyko et Sutton.

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.

Phyllactinia corni, a powdery mildew on Cornus mas, is reported for the first time from Slovakia. The conidial state and mature cleistothecia found at two locations in Slovakia are described and illustrated.

The effects of three doses of vitamin C (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg) added to the feed of reproductive pheasants on egg production, egg fertility and parameters of hatchability were investigated. In experiments I (1999) and II (2000) birds were kept in outdoor aviaries. In 2000, air temperatures recorded on the farm during the experiment were high (25-30^oC), differing considerably from those recorded in the preceding years. In experiment I no statistically significant differences were shown between the control pheasants and those supplemented with 100 and 200 mg/kg vitamin C in terms of egg production, egg fertility and parameters of hatchability. The poorest results were found in the group of birds receiving a feed supplemented with 300 mg/kg vitamin C. In experiment II, statistically higher egg production and egg fertility were noted, compared to the control group, in the groups supplemented with 100 and 200 mg/kg vitamin C. Compared to the control group, pheasants from these groups were also characterized by higher hatchability from set eggs (by approx. 15 percentage units) and fertilized eggs (by approx. 9 percentage units) and smaller number of unhatched chicks and dead embryos after day 10 of incubation. In experiment II, the beneficial effect of 100 and 200 mg supplements of vitamin C on the studied parameters could result from the soothing action of the vitamin on the effects of heat stress. The present results justify the prophylactic use of vitamin C supplement at 100 mg/kg feed in the nutrition of reproductive pheasants reared in aviaries. Under heat stress (high air temperatures) increasing the dose of this vitamin to 200 mg/kg feed seems beneficial.

The Czech agricultural policy after the EU accession is the set of both the EU and national measures related to the Czech agro-food sector. The paper defines possible scenarios of the agricultural policy developments in 2004-2013 and presents expected impacts of the policy scenarios on the Czech farm structure and land usage.

The yield, cluster drop and nut traits of the hazelnut cultivars Tombul, Palaz and Çakildak in Turkey were examined during 2001-2002. The cluster drop ranged from 7.5 to 17.0%. The highest yield per shrub with 2,930 g in 2001 and 3,190 g in 2002 was found in cultivar Tombul. This cultivar was also better in terms of the studied fruit traits compared with the other cultivars. In this cultivar (in 2001 and 2002), nut numbers per cluster were 3.87 and 3.46, nut weights were 1.53 and 1.70 g, kernel weights 0.93 and 0.99 g, and kernel proportions were 50.9 and 53.8%.

In the past ten years, meat and meat products consumption has changed dramatically. It has been caused by price and non-price factors. This article gives a brief recapitulation of the development of the consumption of meat and meat products and identifies the key factors which, in the past ten years, have had a major impact on this development. This article presents results of the secondary data analysis and the results of an inquiry into meat and meat products consumer behaviour carried out in the late 2004.

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.

A decline of macromycetes, especially of ectomycorrhizal species, has been described in the last decade in various parts of Europe. These changes are attributed to direct or indirect effects of air pollution. In Central Europe these changes correlate with visual damage of forest. Many ectomycorrhizal fungi seem to be very suitable bioindicators of the disturbance of forest ectotrophic stability. Stages of this disturbance can be linked directly to particular phases of impoverishment of ectomycorrhizal mycocoenoses. These conclusions have been obtained from long-term research on permanent plots (1,000-2,500 m²) in spruce and oak forests in the Czech Republic, but it seems that they are valid generally. For the quantification and study of mycorrhizal activity a special method has been developed and applied. The analyses of mycorrhizas from the same plots in the period 2000-2002 indicate large mycorrhizal dynamics. These data correlate with data obtained from a fruiting bodies survey. Both the percentage of ectomycorrhizal species and the ratio of active mycorrhizas are highly sensitive to outer impacts (air pollution, acidification, fertilization). Their decrease is in correlation with the strong defoliation of trees and can be used for the prediction of further development in comparable stands.

The aim of this study was to explore the use of NIR spectroscopy of laboratory milled flour to predict the milling characteristics of wheat. Quantitative traits of the milling process of wheat were predicted by analyses of NIR spectra of six sets consisting of 94 samples. Reference data were obtained by grinding the samples on the laboratory mill Chopin CD1-auto (France), spectral data were measured on spectrograph NIRSystem 6500. Commercial spectral analysis software WINISI II was used to collect spectra, develop calibration equations and evaluate calibration performance. The quality of prediction was evaluated by coefficients of correlation between the measured and the predicted values from cross and independent validation. MPLS/PLS regression and ANN methods were used. A statistically significant dependence (at the probability level of 99%) was determined for all traits studied in the case of cross-validation. Satisfactory accuracy of the prediction models by independent validation was achieved only for semolina extraction rate, models for other characteristics did not show acceptable precision.

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.

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 bacterium Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. nerii was identified as the causal agent of parenchymatous galls on leaves of potted oleander plants grown at Brno, Moravia, in 2004. The plants had originated from cuttings made from firm shoots of a supposedly asymptomatic plant grown in and introduced from the Mediterranean region. The Biolog GN microplate system was used to identify the isolated bacterial strains. Successful inoculation of Nerium oleander seedlings proved the pathogenicity of the isolates. This is the first record of P. savastanoi pv. nerii in the Czech Republic. :

The evaluation of effects of some non-genetic factors (sex, litter size, age of dams and year of study) on the growth of 85 kids of the Brown Short-haired breed was carried out in a period of two successive years. The analysis of the growth of all kids revealed that in the time interval from birth to Day 90 of age daily gain and final body weight were 181.3 g and 19.52 kg, respectively. As far as the effect of sex was concerned, the intensity of growth was significantly higher in males than in females (P ≤ 0.01) in all periods under study. From birth to Day 90, the respective daily gains of males and females were 200.6 g and 162.0 g. As far as the litter size was concerned, it was found out that daily gains of singles and triplets were higher than those of twins and that the differences between single kids and twins were significant (P ≤ 0.01) in all periods under study. Specifically, daily gains of single kids, twins and triplets in the time interval from birth to Day 90 were 201.4 g; 167.1 g and 175.6 g, respectively. The analysis of the effect of age of dams on daily gains revealed significant effects of this factor on daily gains in the time intervals of Day 30 - Day 60; Day 60 - Day 90; Day 30 - Day 90 and from birth to Day 90 (P ≤ 0.05). With the exception of the period from birth to Day 30, the highest daily gains were recorded in kids of four-years-old dams in all other periods under study. In both years of study, all kids were reared under nearly identical conditions but the effect of year of study on the growth was significant.

The evaluation of conditions for farming of agricultural enterprises in sub-mountain and mountain areas of South Bohemia results from the analyses of material and physical indicators and characteristics. The analyses of farmland fund and its exploitation, plant and animal structure and physical results converted into money enable to identify and assess the state and development of relations which affect the economic results of these agricultural enterprises.

The paper deals with the analysis of current situation in sales of selected bio-products in the conditions of the Czech Republic. It is focused on the structure of plant and animal products, sold quantities, product prices, conditions of sale, common distribution channels and so on. Selected organic products are divided into two groups for the purpose of this analysis - products coming from producer to consumer through distributor and products coming to consumer through processor and distributor.

The article presents the analysis of regional distribution for the approved and completed projects by 2004 under the SAPARD programme in the Slovak Republic. The distribution of funding strongly favoured powerful (innovative) business subjects which increased their competitiveness and gained the "advantage of technology advance" (which, in time may change into the rent of technology advance) associated with growth in labour productivity and high probability of investment return. The implementation of the SAPARD programme provides a strong impetus to the restructuring of businesses in agrifood industry, it accelerates and improves the selection among the businesses and economical differentiation. The bulk of the approved funding for projects under the individual measures for agriculture and processing industry within the SAPARD programme was distributed among western and southern regions of Slovakia. The implementation of the SAPARD programme, on one hand, has helped to reduce regional disparities in the vertical spatial approach by the diversion of the bulk of funding to the economically less favoured southern areas of Slovakia lagging behind in terms of infrastructure. On the other hand, though, it has increased the regional disparities in the horizontal spatial view with regard to the fact that most of the funding is spent in the developed regions of western Slovakia. Eastern Slovakia thus has become a disadvantaged and minority recipient of the financial assistance under this programme.

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 tree species composition of forests in the Czech Republic has changed due to the human impact over the time. Nowadays, the idea of reducing the area with spruce stands and of increasing the area with broadleaved stands is widely discussed. The paper compares the target species composition with the presentone and creates four groups of areas with the largest and/or negligible differences between the target and the actual tree species composition using the Czech typology school.

During the construction of model logging costs for valuation of forest stands, by accident I found out differences between some species included in the groups of tree species. Differences within the groups of species may cause errors in logging costs of some species, for example with hornbeam, all species of linden, all species of rowans and horse chestnut. With the help of simple calculations it was proved that the differences could be very large, that they were more than forty per cent, it means they were significant. On the basis of my further research it is envisaged to increase the number of groups of trees from 13 to 16. The purpose is to give the most accurate background to make up a model of logging costs. In the second step it is expected that the model can provide the results for more or fewer groups of trees more easily if statistical methods are used. But this problem is not a part of this paper.

The paper summarises main ideas concerning the structure of natural forest ecosystems at middle altitudes and documents the changes of humus forms and their chemistry in the natural forest of Žákova hora National Nature Reserve, in typical selected parts with different tree species composition: European beech - Norway spruce. The species composition, age and spatial structure are discussed and analysis of the uppermost soil layer is done in particular parts of the natural forest regeneration cycle, of different stages respectively. We compared the amount and layer composition of surface humus and basic pedochemical characteristics of holorganic and upper mineral horizons. The results document changes in the character of humus forms as a consequence of the tree species change. On the contrary, a high portion of uncertainty as for the species, age and spatial structure follows from discussion about the structure of natural forests at middle altitudes.

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.

ESFY phytoplasma (European stone fruit yellows phytoplasma) is nowadays one of the most important plant diseases, especially on apricots and peaches, and it belongs to the list of organisms for which quarantine is required in the Czech Republic. The aim of this study was to determine the best period for tissue extraction and the best technique for ESFY detection. It was also to investigate the possibility of isolating DNA for use in ESFY detection from the leaf-stalks of randomly chosen symptomatic and asymptomatic apricot trees. Results of the amplification of DNA extracted from leaf-stalk and phloem sampled from 2-year old woody shoots during the years 2003 and 2004 were statistically analysed and compared, and visible disease symptoms were simultaneously evaluated and compared to the results of molecular detection. DNA isolation from leaf-stalks can be considered as less significant and reliable than isolation from phloem sampled from 2-year old woody shoots.

Chrysopogon gryllus and Festuca vallesiaca are components of a number of meadow-pasture communities in Serbia. We performed the analyses of phenolics that influence quality and digestibility of grasses to a great extent. Total phenolics were measured spectrophotometrically and phenolic acids by HPLC analysis. The aboveground parts of C. gryllus contained 10.6 mg/g whereas F. vallesiaca of 21.6 mg/g total phenolics. Bound phenolics dominated over free ones in both species. The content of both free and bound p-coumaric, ferulic, p-hydroxybenzoic and syringic acid was higher in C. gryllus (6.34 mg/g) than in F. vallesiaca (3.96 mg/g). Derivatives of cinnamic acid prevailed in both species compared to the benzoic acid derivatives. Low quality of C. gryllus is connected with its high tissue phenolic acids and mediocre quality of F. vallesiaca with the high content of total phenolics that act unfavourably on digestibility of such grasses.

The present study deals with the use of high-grain diets with a low proportion of fodder for fattened cattle, and with the evaluation of their effect on the growth intensity and metabolic profile of the animals. Thirty Holstein × Czech Pied bulls were given diets containing from 86.69 to 88.54% concentrates based on crushed cereals in the period from 216^th to 327^th day of age. The growth intensity of bulls was high, with the average daily weight gain of 1.64 kg in the course of the whole experiment. When the average body weight of animals reached 343.67 kg and 450.93 kg, blood samples were taken from the vena jugularis of 10 randomly selected animals for the assessment of acid-base balance and selected biochemical parameters. Slightly decreased pH values and increased pCO₂ were detected by the assessment of acid-base balance. The calculated values of base excess and standard bicarbonate were in the reference range; however in samples of the second collection a highly significant decrease was found (P ≤ 0.01). By a biochemical analysis of blood increased levels of plasma phosphorus were detected in samples of both collections in comparison with the accepted reference range. A statistically highly significant increase (P ≤ 0.01) in plasma urea concentrations was detected in samples of the second collection. Other investigated parameters ranged within the accepted reference values. The results of the experiments show that high-grain diets produced intensive growth with high daily weight gains, without adverse effects on the health status of the investigated bulls. Although some depletion of compensatory mechanisms maintaining the acid-base balance was recorded, no serious disturbance of metabolic profile was registered in the animals.

Sustainable development in regarded as the issue and method of solution of a number of global problems, which origined namely in relation to dynamic industrial development and the prominent growth of world population. Sustainable development is, above all, the concept closely related to human attitudes and values. The contribution presents the definition of sustainable development, its modern concept, sustainable development dimensions.

Virtual portal (VIPO) is designed to provide users with a single-point access to information, and tools to support their decision-making. VIPO illustrates the best practice presented in terms of case studies coded along three dimensions: field, domain and objectives. The second major source of knowledge is based on software packages made available to users including tutor support. The third part of the portal provides useful links to the existing databases which have the potential to facilitate decision making in agribusiness. All three pillars of the VIPO are complemented by on-line consultancy services.

Cultivars, homozygous sources and lines of pea (Pisum sativum L.) resistant to Erysiphe pisi had recently been attacked by another powdery mildew species, Erysiphe baeumleri, in the field and in glasshouse conditions. Inoculation with E. baeumleri was carried out in the glasshouse to evaluate the level of resistance of 16 pea genotypes. Susceptible pea lines produced abundant conidia and cleistocarps on petioles and leaves. Only the genotype Tudor (Cebeco 4119) was found to be completely resistant to E. baeumleri. Nineteen pea genotypes (with gene er-1) were tested to natural infection by E. baeumleri in field screening trials. Only few of them demonstrated a high level of resistance (Fallon, AC Melfort and Joel). Consort R, SGL 2024, SGL 1977 and Franklin were very susceptible to E. baeumleri. Cleistocarps with 1-4× dichotomously branching apices of appendages were formed only on susceptible and very susceptible plants of genotypes SGL 444/2185, Consort R, SGL 2024, SGL 1977, LU 390-R2, Lifter, Highlight, Cebeco 1171 and Carneval R in the field and glasshouse. Susceptible control genotypes without gene er-1 (Komet, Adept and Gotik) were attacked in the trials by E. pisi only.