Fulltext search in archive

For at least 25 years, processes involving structural changes have been growing more and more intense in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, with these processes including a decline in the number of small farms. The main aim of this paper is to present the mechanisms involved in, as well as barriers to and costs preventing the exit of farms from agriculture, including those that make it difficult to transfer production resources which are being released to other companies. This research takes the form of an overview and is based on the output of new institutional economics, and on transaction cost and rent-seeking theories in particular. The most frequent difficulties encountered in the process of exit from farming include low profitability of production and the shortage of capital among potential buyers, while the lack of sellers' financial resources and the necessity of incurring expenses related to preparing and finalising the sale of resources held by them (the actual transaction costs related to closing down farms) are frequently overlooked. The most important barriers preventing the complete liquidation of farms are the inherent transaction costs categorised as expenses, as well as the emotional costs and costs of alternatives, which are difficult to evaluate and estimate. The following notions are particularly helpful in explaining barriers to exit from farming: the concept of transaction costs and rent-seeking theory, which are both a part of the stream of thought of new institutional economics.

Apples are a source of sugars, acids, and various biologically active compounds, such as phenolic compounds, which are responsible for most of the antioxidant activities of the fruit. The aim of this study was to evaluate how the cold storage of apple fruits affects the nutritional composition of selected organic acid and sugar content in juice in comparison to juice from fresh fruits. Statistical differences were confirmed between the content of citric acid, malic acid, total acid, pH, sucrose, fructose and glucose in juice from fresh fruits and from juice stored for 140 days. No statistical differences were observed between juice from fresh fruit and juice from fruits stored for 140 days in the content of acetic acid, tartaric acid, total sugar and sweetness index.

The harvest season of apricots is short and fruit cannot be protected in cold stores for a long time. For those reasons, apricot production and consumption are lower than in other fruit species. This study was conducted for the purpose of breeding new late ripening apricot varieties. To this aim, a total of 3718 hybrid genotypes of apricots were obtained from 42 crosses. Phenological, pomological and yield analyses were performed and variations of fruit development period, fruit size, polarimetric dry matter (Brix), total acidity, yield and other traits were determined. Two years of results for important traits are given for 12 promising genotypes. Fruit development period varied between 148 and 167 days, fruit weight 25.2 and 41.2 g, Brix 16.3 and 22.6% and total acidity 0.56 and 1.25%.

The Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Y1 strain was evaluated for its effects on soil properties, pepper seedling growth, rhizosphere bacterial flora and soil enzyme activities. Y1 solubilised insoluble phosphate, produced chitinase, and released siderophores in plate detection assay. In order to evaluate the plant growth promotion potential in vivo, strain Y1 was grown in media containing chitin powder and complex fertiliser. The pot experiment was conducted by treating pepper seedlings with C1/1 (Y1 culture, 50 ml), C2/3 (Y1 culture, 33 ml), C1/2 (Y1 culture, 25 ml), F1/1 (complex fertiliser, 50 ml), F1/2 (complex fertiliser, 25 ml), and W (water) at 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 days after transplantation (DAT). Plants receiving Y1 had 52% (C1/2) and 68% (C1/1) more root and shoot biomass than W, and 14% (C1/1) and 18% (C2/3) more compared to F1/1 at 80 DAT. Total numbers of flowers per plant at 80 DAT were found significantly higher with the application of Y1 having 34 (C1/1), 35 (C2/3), and 22 (C1/2) compared to 4 (W), 12 (F1/1) and 10 (F1/2). In addition, chlorophyll content in pepper leaves was found to improve with the application of Y1. Furthermore, Y1 has significantly improved nutritional assimilation of total NPK, population of total culturable bacteria and chitinase producing bacteria and activities of chitinase and dehydrogenase in soil. At 60 and 80 DAT, the number of B. amyloliquefaciens at C1/1, C2/3, and C1/2 ranged from 2.3 × 10⁴ to 4.6 × 10⁴ CFU/g of soil. Our results concluded that B. amyloliquefaciens Y1 has positive effects on soil properties and can be suggested as a bio-fertiliser to minimise fertiliser application in modern agriculture.

In a two-year pot experiment, the effect of five growing media on the growth, flowering, decorative value of Pelargonium peltatum cv. Maxime as well as on their uptake of the nutrients and heavy metals were studied. The media were prepared from four composts (made from: sewage sludge 70% or 35%, potato pulp 35%, straw 30% or sawdust 30%) and peat in 1:1, V:V ratio. In the 1^st year of research 7-month-old composts and in the 2^nd year 18-month-old composts were used. Plants cultivated in 7-month-old composts showed better growth-related parameters, created more inflorescences and were more decorative than those cultivated in 18-month-old ones. The medium with compost consisting of 70% sewage sludge and 30% straw gave the best results. Composts application increased nutrients and heavy metals content in pelargonium leaves. Heavy metals content was definitely lower than the value considered toxic to plants.

Mexican agricultural production has been characterised by a lack of dynamism in recent years and is losing ground in terms of GDP. This may reflect the lack of funding from commercial and development banks. This research aims at studying the dynamics of the agriculture sector through econometric analysis using Vector Autoregressive (VAR) and Vector Error Correction (VEC) models in order to examine the short- and long-run relationships among agricultural production, terms of trade (ratio of agricultural prices and general price level), agricultural exports and lending from commercial and development banks. The main empirical findings, contrary to what was expected, is that even though there was a precarious level of funding from the banking sector, credit from commercial banking was higher than that from development banking in the last decades. Further, relative prices were found to have a negative relationship with agricultural exports, showing the importance of the external sector in agriculture.

Off-flavour in soft drinks is one of the main threats to manufacturers, which can result in expensive recalls, and discredit the brand. Off-flavours can occur for a variety of reasons (e.g . chemical contamination of raw material). The presented case study has proved there is a relationship between the identification of biphenyl and its derivatives in the used preser vative (benzoate) and off-flavours in the drink . The project consisted of three phases: (1) the assessment of the probable cause of off-f lavours based on sensor y evaluation and GC-MS -Olfactometr y profiling of volatiles; (2) the quantification of biphenyls and the characterisation of their sensor y properties; (3) the screening of commercially available benzoates for the presence of biphenyls. Based on the odour threshold obtained by GC-O (0.03 mg/l for 4-methyl-1,1'-biphenyl and 0.02 mg/l for biphenyl in an aqueous solution) and the common benzoate content in soft drinks (0.14 g/l), the 'non-obser vable sensory' levels of contamination were determined to be maximally 0.143 mg/g of benzoate for biphenyl and 0.214 mg/g of benzoate for 4-methyl-1,1 '-biphenyl .

Limnocharis flava (L.) Buchenau is among the most problematic rice weeds in Malaysia and is also reported to have developed multiple resistance to AHAS inhibitor bensulfuron-methyl and synthetic auxin 2,4-D. In this study, resistance across different AHAS inhibitors was characterised in a L. flava population infesting rice fields in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. Dose-response experiments were conducted to determine the level of resistance to sulfonylureas, imidazolinone, triazolopyrimidine, and pyrimidinyl-thiobenzoate. Cross-resistance across different AHAS inhibitors was observed in the resistant L. flava population, exhibiting a high level of resistance to bensulfuron-methyl, while exhibiting a moderate level of resistance to metsulfuron-methyl and a low level of resistance to pyrazosulfuron-ethyl and pyribenzoxim. However, all resistant L. flava individuals were still sensitive to imazethapyr, penoxsulam, and bispyribac-sodium. Based on the results, it is likely that resistance to AHAS inhibitors in L. flava is conferred by target-site resistance mechanisms.

Biosolids are organic fertilisers derived from treated and stabilised sewage sludge that increase soil fertility and supply nitrogen to crops over a long period, but can also increase the risk of nitrogen (N) leaching. In this work, spring barley was grown in lysimeters filled with soil amended with biosolids, and with and without mineral N fertilisation. Biomass and the N concentration and content of shoots and roots were determined at flowering and maturity, and the N remobilization was calculated during grain filling. Drainage water was collected and analysed for N leaching. Biosolids increased soil porosity and soil nitrate, and positively affected the growth and N uptake of barley. Compared to mineral fertilisers, biosolids produced 18% higher vegetative biomass and 40% higher grain yield. During grain filling, both N uptake and N remobilization were higher with biosolids, which increased the grain N content by 32%. Nitrogen loss in leachates was 1.2% of plant uptake with mineral fertilisers and 1.7% with biosolids. Thus, soil fertilisation with biosolids greatly benefits spring barley, only slightly increasing N leaching.

Soil erosion by water has become an issue in the cultivation of maize (Zea mays L.) on sloping lands in recent years. The following three technologies of tillage have been assessed: disc cultivator, strip-till and no-till (raw land). Seeding machine Kinze 3500 was used for sowing maize cultivar Silvinio FAO 210. The experiments were conducted within the years 2013, 2014 and 2016. Erosion was evaluated under simulated rain in three stages of maize growth. The following parameters of each tested tillage treatment were measured: water infiltration (mm), soil loss (converted to t/ha), dry matter yield of the aboveground biomass and grain yield. The results confirmed that no-till technology reduced water erosion to the value of 0.40 t/ha. This technology along with the row spacing of 0.75 m tended to bring higher yields of aboveground biomass (13.40 t/ha). Tillage and phacelia as a catch crop increased water infiltration in the soil.

The avermectin and pyrantel resistance of equine parasites was monitored on four farms in the Czech Republic in 2014. The aim of the testing was to investigate the anthelmintic resistance of cyathostomins and ascarids. One hundred and eighty-six horses were included in the test, 54 of which were infected by ascarids and 174 by cyathostomins. Faecal egg count reduction tests were used to assess anthelmintic resistance. The faecal egg count reduction for ascarids was within the range of 87.9% to 100% for avermectins and 100% for pyrantel embonate. Faecal egg count reduction for cyathostomins ranged from 99% to 100% for avermectins and 89.3% to 98.2% for pyrantel embonate.

This review focuses on Czech implementation of standards for soil and water protection called Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC), with linkage to the European Union (EU) level. I investigate different elements of adaptive institutional economics: (i) summarise current knowledge regarding the social reasons for introducing GAEC; (ii) assess the evidence linked to GAEC to better understand the potential as well as boundaries of formalizing cause-effect links; (iii) clarify the pertinence of producers' claims on costs accruing from GAEC implementation. These three points highlight the thesis of this paper: implementation in farmers' practices of the theoretical concept of sustainability in terms of bridging together economics, society and the environment. The economic reasoning for GAEC introduction within adaptive institutional economics stems from the relational positioning of the knowledge of the costs of the impact of agricultural land use on other characteristic rural land uses. GAEC are needed, albeit the size of support obtained by producers surpasses the costs of complying; therefore, the result pays off for farms. We have learned that GAEC implementation is important from regional to EU levels and that its role is more related to economic institutional adaptation than to regulation. Adaptation of institutional economics is therefore feasible, making it possible to understand GAEC as a network which manages and enables knowledge transfer linked directly to regulation. Institutional economics can link sustainability with farmers' practices and accounts for the behaviour of the farmers. In this review, I find that, for society, it is necessary to require measurement of agri-environmental outcomes for water resources, soil and biodiversity through GAEC at appropriate scales. These scales are likely to be relevant to adaptive institutional economy localities perceived by the rural public.

In order to establish a clear limit between protective and harmful effects of alcohol consumption, it is necessary to define patterns of consumption. However, there is no universally recognized quantitative classification for patterns of consumption by alcohol doses. This is because the pattern of alcohol consumption does not only describe how much alcohol was consumed, but also takes into account a number of boundary conditions. This review deals with variabilities in the definitions of standard alcohol doses and patterns of alcohol consumption. These terms are being discussed with respect to the benefits and harms associated with alcohol consumption as well as the risks intrinsic to studies of such a complex phenomenon as the effect of alcoholic beverages on human health.

The present studies aim at determining the antagonistic effect of selected fungi species occurring in the soil under carrot cultivation towards Altenaria dauci (J.G. Kühn) J.W. Groves & Skolko, Alternaria radicina Meier, Drechsler & E.D. Eddy, Fusarium oxysporum E.F. Sm & Swingle, Rhizoctonia solani J.G. Kühn and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary. The field experiment considered cover crops (oats, tansy phacelia and vetch). The control consisted of traditional carrot cultivation (without cover crops). Statistically, the smallest population of fungi was found in 1 g of soil dry weight after the application of oats, and a slightly bigger - after tansy phacelia and vetch. The largest population of fungi was obtained in the traditional cultivation of carrot. Cover crops contributed to the increase of the population of antagonistic Clonostachys spp., Myrothecium spp., Penicillium spp. and Trichoderma spp. in the soil. Regardless of the experimental treatment, those antagonistic fungi were the most effective in limiting the growth of S. sclerotiorum, A. dauci and A. radicina. The effect of those fungi was a little smaller towards F. oxysporum and R. solani. Oats as a cover crop had the best effect on the antagonistic activity of the studied fungi occurring in the soil environment of carrot.

Physicochemical properties of the tuber as a commercial product differ according to environmental conditions of the area and the growing season. The knowledge about how weather affects these characteristics, allows estimating the correct selection of the cultivars in order to obtain the highest yields or desired physicochemical qualities. In this sense, the effect of the main meteorological factors on the physicochemical characteristics (size, texture, dry matter, soluble solids, phenols, flavonoids, carotenoids and inhibitor concentration (IC₅₀)) of 8 potato cultivars growing in A Limia (North-West Spain) was analysed. The study was conducted during three consecutive years (2014-2016) and the results presented significant differences in the analyzed parameters between years (P < 0.05). Spearman's correlations and principal component analysis showed that the tubers of 2014 (with colder weather conditions) had the highest phenol content and the lowest flavonoids and carotenoids content. Therefore, the temperature positively favoured the flavonoid content and carotenoid content (samples from 2016), although the size of potato tubers was considerably smaller.

To understand the hydrological outcomes of interception by gravel mulches, rainfall simulation experiments were conducted in the loess regions of northwestern China. The rainfall interception decreased with gravel size but increased with the thickness of the gravel mulch layer, following two exponential functions. Interception was 15.1% of the gross rainfall at 1 cm thickness, followed by 17.2, 20.9, 30.5 and 45.6 % at 3, 5, 7 and 10 cm thickness, respectively. For the equivalent gravel grain size of 3.43 mm, relative interception was 45.6%, which was about 1.1, 1.2, 1.4 and 2.3 times higher than that for the equivalent grain size of 11.01, 19.31, 32.8 and 43.72 mm, respectively.

The paper analyses the structure and level of international cooperation among African states in the area of agriculture and rural development. It focuses on the AU and its eight Regional Economic Communities. The international cooperation schemes between the World Bank, EU, FAO and African countries in agricultural policy are reviewed. The paper concludes that, despite numerous cross-border initiatives, governance of agricultural policies in the pan-African context remains fragmented. Policy-making and cooperation schemes need to be stepped up to address continent-wide challenges in the sector. There is an urgent need for the AU and the EU to intensify their cooperation in agricultural policies and development. The AU in collaboration with its regional bodies should establish a common agricultural policy for the continent. Such initiatives need to be Africa-driven and adapted to African needs. The EU should only provide technical know-how and institutional support if welcomed by African partners. Collective action towards rural areas via greater coordination of African agricultural policies and actions would help to develop the missing institutional framework needed for agricultural development in the continent. Fostering economic growth through agricultural development and reforms may also lead to a reduction of migration as witnessed by the EU in the sixties.

Lighvan cheese from ewe and goat milk was produced according to a traditional protocol, and with the addition of 9 log₁₀ cfu/g fresh cells of Bifidobacterium lactis subsp. animalis. Probiotic Lighvan cheese was studied to determine the survival of B. lactis subsp. animalis and biochemical changes during 60 days of ripening of probiotic Lighvan cheese. Lipolysis level and organoleptic assessments were analysed. B. lactis subsp. animalis cells survived in cheese samples at concentrations up to 6.84 log₁₀ cfu/g for at least 60 days of storage time. The lipolysis level increased continuously until the end of the ripening period.The ripening stage was the main factor affecting the cheese sensory properties.

Fire blight is one of the most destructive diseases of pome fruits, especially pears. In current conditions when the demand for organic products is increasing, improvement of resistant rootstock and varieties is becoming important due to the lack of an effective disease management method against fire blight caused by Erwinia amy-lovora as well as the harmful effects of chemicals on environment, human and animal health. The findings of the researchers as to which variety performs well in terms of the transmission of fire blight resistance are quite important for new breeding programs. In the study, three varieties with high commercial value (Magness, Santa Maria and Williams) were identified as the maternal parents and 21 hybridization combinations were made with seven varieties (Akça, Ankara, Conference, Güz, Kaiser Alexandre, Kieffer and Taş) as pollinators. The Magness maternal parent was found superior when compared with the other maternal parents for the variety susceptibility level to fire blight. Apart from the differences in the susceptibility level of 21 different combinations of hybrids to fire blight, the commercially superior ten hybrids (I-15-24, II-13-1, II-13-19, II-13-34, II-13-73, II-27-21, II-27-55, II -32-44, III-22-638, III-27-590) have been determined via the weighted ranking method from the parameters of disease resistance and different fruit characteristics measuring the commercial preference of the fruits such as fruit quality, attractiveness, size, firmness and rustiness

The host resistance level of pure line materials was assessed in the genepool for the purpose of breeding. The highest resistance to the pathogen was observed in bell-type pepper. Moreover, genetic diversity of pure lines was investigated using selected inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers. Generally, genetic markers showed genetic diversity, so that long-type pure lines were separated from the other accessions. This is the first report on host reactions of Turkish pure lines as breeding material. These results provide significant information for future pepper breeding programs.

The aim of this study was to test different soil phosphorus (P) extraction methods in relation to plant P uptake. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted with spring wheat. The soils were extracted with the following methods/extractants: H₂O, CaCl₂, LiCl, iron oxide impregnated filter papers (Fe-oxide P_i), Olsen, calcium-acetate-lactate (CAL), cation and anion exchange membranes (CAEM), Mehlich 3, Bray and Kurtz II (Bray II), citrate-bicarbonate-dithionite, organic P, HCl, acid ammonium oxalate, total P. Plant P uptake was in the range of the P extracted by neutral salt solutions (CaCl₂, LiCl). P extracted with H₂O, CaCl₂ and CAEM correlated best with plant P uptake over one growing season, while several established soil P test methods, including CAL, Mehlich 3 and Bray II, did not show significant correlations. When grouping the soils according to pH, the weaker extraction methods (H₂O, CaCl₂, LiCl) showed significant correlations with plant P uptake only for the low and intermediate pH groups (pH in 1 mol/L KCl ≤ 6.6), while some of the stronger extraction methods (CAL, Mehlich 3, Bray II, dithionite, oxalate, total P) showed significant correlations only for the high pH group (> 6.6) comprised of calcareous soils. It was concluded that weaker P extraction methods, especially neutral salt solutions best predict plant-available P in the short term. However, they do not perform well for calcareous (and clayey) soils and do not account for P that may become available beyond one growing season.

The article's objective, which is to identify the causes of the very poor level of management of the administration of these state assets, to present the possibilities of a long-tested experimental model at the Land Fund of the Czech Republic, and to draw attention to this model's potential in its possible implementation in administration of the entire management complex of these state assets in the Czech Republic. The authors first dealt with the theoretical aspects of the given issue, and then prepared an analysis of the original debt collection management "system". This is logically followed by an analysis of the experimental model's efficiency, rounded off with its conclusions. The final chapter contains the results of the research aimed at the current level of knowledge of the examined issue in compressed form, further the outcomes of the research concerned with original unsystematic debt collection management, also results of the implementation of the experimental model, and the assessment of the significance belonging to the results of implementing the experimental model for the entire national economy of the Czech Republic.

SYBR Green real-time or quantitative PCR (Q-PCR) is a suitable system in which to establish a multiplex method to detect allergenic ingredients in food. In this study, a triplex Q-PCR method was developed to detect trace amounts of peanut, soybean and sesame in processed food. Specific PCR primer sets were designed and the concentration of the primers used in the triplex PCR was optimised. The triplex method showed high specificity and sensitivity which were similar to those of the simplex method, and it was applied for the detection of allergenic ingredients in commercially available processed food. The results demonstrate that the developed triplex Q-PCR is a quick, reliable and efficient method for the detection of allergenic ingredients in processed food.

The objectives of this study were to estimate linkage disequilibrium (LD), describe and scan a haplotype block for the presence of genes that may affect milk production traits in Portuguese Holstein cattle. Totally 526 animals were genotyped using the Illumina BovineSNP50 BeadChip, which contained a total of 52 890 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The final set of markers remaining after considering quality control standards consisted of 37 031 SNPs located on 29 autosomes. The LD parameters historical recombinations through allelic association (D') and squared correlation coefficient between locus alleles frequencies ( r²) were estimated and haplotype block analyses were performed using the Haploview software. The averages of D' and r² values were 0.628 and 0.122, respectively. The LD value decreased with increasing physical distance. The D' and r² values decreased respectively from 0.815 and 0.283 at the distance of 0-30 kb to 0.578 and 0.090 at the distance of 401-500 kb. The identified total number of blocks was 969 and consisted of 4259 SNPs that covered 159.06 Mb (6.24% of the total genome) on 29 autosomes. Several genes inside the haplotype blocks were detected; CSN1S2 gene in haplotype block 51 on BTA 6, IL6 and B4GALT1 genes in haplotype blocks 6 and 33 on BTA 8, IL1B and ID2 genes in haplotype blocks 19 and 29 on BTA 11, and DGAT1 gene in haplotype block 1 on BTA 14. The extension of LD using BovineSNP50 BeadChip did not exceed 500 kb and its parameters r² and D' were less than 0.2 and 0.70, respectively, after 70-100 kb. Consequently, the 50K BeadChip would have a poor power in genome wide association studies at distances between adjacent markers lower than 70 kb.

Sixty-five Czech Meligethes populations were tested against lambda-cyhalothrin and chlorpyrifos-ethyl in 2014. In 2015, totally sixty Meligethes populations, some of which sampled also in Slovakia, were tested against the two insecticides. Adult vial tests by IRAC (Insecticide Resistance Action Committee) were used for testing (No. 011 v. 3 for lambda-cyhalothrin and No. 025 for chlorpyrifos-ethyl). For each of the tested populations the LC₅₀, LC₉₀, and in 2015 also LC₉₅ values were determined for both these insecticides. Correlation analyses were made with transformed (log10 transformation) LC values. No significant correlation was recorded between the LC₅₀ values. Contrary to that, significant (P < 0.05) negative (r values for negative) correlations were recorded between the LC₉₀ and LC₉₅ values. Pyrethroid resistance in pollen beetle populations should indicate their slightly higher susceptibility to chlorpyrifos-ethyl.

Downy mildew of sunflower is a recurrent threat for crop production and a permanent challenge for resistance breeding. Since 2016, a new pathotype of the oomycete Plasmopara halstedii has been found in fields of cutting sunflower in Southern Germany. Infection assays based on sunflower differential lines identified the pathogen as pathotype 354 which has not yet been described anywhere else. The new pathotype readily infected the host lines Ha-304, RHA-265, PM13, 803-1, and Ha-335, whereas RHA-274, PM17, HAR-4, and QHP1 remained uninfected. It is the first isolate of Plasmopara halstedii to overcome the Pl-6 resistance of sunflower in Germany.

Soil microorganisms play a main role in the nutrient cycle and they also play an important role in soil health. This article studies the influence of three rates of biochar (0.5, 1 and 3%) in comparison with control (0 biochar) in two different soils (Valečov and Čistá) on soil microbiota activities. The biochar was prepared from 80% of digestate from Zea mays L. and 20% of cellulose fibres by pyrolysis (470°C, 17 min). The biochar ability to influence microbial processes in soil was determined by respiration and nitrification tests. There were no significant differences between basal respiration of control samples and biochar-amended samples. Basal respiration in the Valečov soil reached average amounts from 1.32 to 1.52 mg CO₂/h/100 g. In the Čistá soil, basal respiration reached average amounts from 1.40 to 1.49 mg CO₂/h/100 g. No significant differences were proved also in nitrification tests of both soils. Nitrifying potential was the highest in 3% rate of biochar amendment. There were no negative changes in the measured soil parameters. CO₂ efflux was not higher in biochar-amended soil.

Recycling of phosphorus (P) from municipal waste for the use as a fertiliser can be an alternative to the non-renewable resources of this element as well as a method in the management of civilisation by-products that are a burden to the environment. An innovative phosphorus suspension fertiliser, produced on the basis of ash from incineration of sewage sludge and phosphorus solubilising bacteria Bacillus megaterium was compared in field trials with spring wheat conducted in 2014 and 2015 with superphosphate and phosphorite. The new fertiliser was not inferior to the commercial fertilisers in terms of the effect on wheat yield volumes, the uptake of P by wheat and the sanitary condition of the wheat field, especially when grown protected from weeds, pathogens and pests. It is expected that such a fertiliser can be an alternative to fertilisers produced from non-renewable resources, provided it does not deteriorate the quality of agricultural production and will be safe for the environment.

The fall of the communist system in Central Europe was followed by dynamic social and economic change that also had its clear impact on the food sector. One of the key factors shaping the contemporary condition of the agricultural sector in region has been change of ownership, with the collapse of the nationalised sector and restitution of property to former owners. The work presented here considers the main directions of changes and assessment of selected economic processes ongoing in the farming sector over the last quarter-century throughout the region under consideration. This analysis may be further broken down in relation to the three suggested phases of change, i.e. transformation, integration and polarisation. The work took in five countries of the former Eastern Bloc, i.e. the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.

The colour, chemical composition, texture parameters, hydration properties and fatty acids profile of fresh wild boar meat and meat after 2 months of freezing were compared. The research material was the M. longissimus dorsi muscle cut out of wild boar carcasses (Sus crofa). Analyses of physical and chemical properties of samples taken from 16 boars were performed. Samples were packed and frozen to -18°C and stored under such conditions for a period of two months. Freezing storage significantly increased the elasticity value and the colour of the meat as indicated by the decrease in L* and b* values. In frozen meat there slightly increased thermal drip and forced drip. The changes in the fatty acid profile under the effect of freezing were found more often in fat from muscle M. longissimus dorsi than in back fat of wild boar. In conclusion, it should be noted that freezing storage in a short time does not affect negatively the quality of frozen meat.