Physical Properties of Silver Fir (Abies alba L.) Wood Cladding Modified by Traditional Japanese Charring Method

Silver fir (Abies alba L.) wood samples were charred on one surface using an enhanced version of the traditional Japanese Yakisugi method. The 15 charred boards obtained from five charring chimneys were divided into three different zones and investigated for their physical properties. The density profile, water absorption after 24 h of water submersion, and Brinell hardness were analyzed. In general, the temperature-time regime, which causes inside surface carbonization, was more evident at the bottom than at the top of the chimney. The density profile of the specimens revealed that the surface charring treatment decreased the surface density of the wood significantly. A gradient was visible from 383 kg/m2 at the bottom to 424 kg/m2 at the top. Water absorption measurements showed that a thicker carbonized layer could take up more water as a result of increased porosity. While 3,684 g/m2 were absorbed at the bottom, the top accounted for only 2,533 g/m2. Furthermore, with increasing thickness of the charred layer, the hardness gradually decreased. The average of the charred specimens reached only 3.2% of the hardness of the uncharred back side of the specimens.O

Development of Douglas fir merchantable stem volume model in the conditions of the Czech Republic

A precise merchantable stem volume model of Douglas fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco] is missing in the Czech Republic. The aim of this study was to fit a new model through the reparametrization of volume equations (used in the Czech Republic or in other countries). We tested four volume equations (two from the Czech Republic, one from France and one from British Columbia) in the form of a nonlinear least squares model (NLS), weighted least squares model (WLS), and nonlinear mixed effects model (NLME). In all the tested models, the diameter at breast height of a tree and the total height of a tree were used as independent variables. Models were fitted on a dataset of 185 felled sample trees from eleven research areas with ages between 19–113 years. We have found that the model according to Omule et al. (1987) fits the merchantable stem volume as the best in the version of WLS model. Median value of the relative error of the final model was only –0.53%, which is less than the errors of models which are still used in the Czech Republic today.O

The interaction between the milk production, milk components with a low frequency of analysis and factors affecting the milk composition in dual-purpose Simmental cows

The aim of this study was to improve the understanding of the contribution of components typically found in milk, but which are not often included in analyses, to the nutritional status of dairy cows. This was undertaken by analysing the amount and composition of milk produced by Simmental dairy cows, a dual-purpose breed farmed in the Czech Republic. Apart from the more frequently analysed group of components in milk, a less frequently analysed group of components were also investigated. This group, typically, consists of the following components: urea, casein, citric acid, beta hydroxy butyrate (BHB) ketones and free fatty acids. The average content of urea, casein and citric acid in milk is 25.75 mg/100 ml, 2.96%, 0.15%, respectively. The influence of environmental factors on these indicators was evaluated, as well as the degree of hereditary establishment. These less frequently analysed components (indicators), as well as the more frequently analysed components of milk, are subject to several external influences, especially the influence of the breeder, the year and the season of calving. The content of these components varied significantly statistically during the lactation period and also in the order of lactation. The influence of a cow's individuality and the degree of additive genetic background are evident, with estimated heritability coefficients ranging from 0.04 for the BHB ketone content to higher values, e.g., 0.28 for citric acid or 0.31 for the lactose content in milk. The relationships between the components of milk and the daily milk yield were also evaluated, and statistically significant negative correlations were found between the content of casein and the daily milk yield (-0.47) and between the lactose content and the number of somatic cells (-0.37).O

Epiphytic microflora and mycotoxin content in meadows-Is plant biodiversity affecting fungal contamination?

Ecosystem services are an important aspect of grasslands utilization; however, they are often contradictory to their main purpose, which is a production of good quality and safe feed. In this study, we evaluated the difference between grass monocultures and species-rich mixtures in terms of epiphytic microflora and mycotoxin contamination levels. We hypothesized that higher species diversity would lead to higher microbial counts, which could lead to higher mycotoxin contamination risk. Differences in epiphytic fungal, yeast and total amount of microorganisms (CFU g -1) depending on the species diversity in the field has been evaluated by cultivation method. Concentration of deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was measured by ELISA. Results are suggesting that higher total amount of microorganisms were found in monocultures, however, fungal and yeast counts were higher in species-rich mixtures. Higher species diversity of grasses was related to higher total microbial count (TMC) and yeast colonization of phyllosphere. Our results suggest higher risk of fungal phyllosphere colonization of species-rich mixtures with higher biodiversity and therefore higher risk of mycotoxin contamination of such feed.O

Effect of different stand densities on xylem and phloem formation in Norway spruce plantations

Preliminary results of an investigation of the thinning effect on Norway spruce tree growth in terms of xylogenesis and phloemogenesis are presented. Three plots were selected where the stand densities were reduced by pre-commercial thinning to 1800 trees/ha (plot A; mild thinning) and 1300 trees/ha (plot C; heavy thinning) in February 2020. Plot B had no silvicultural intervention and represented a control variant (4500 trees/ha). Three dominant 14-year-old Norway spruce trees were sampled (micro-cored) for studying the xylem and phloem formation in the 2020 growing season. The total differentiation duration was determined to be around 169.7 +- 12.7-179.3 +- 4.0 days. The average number of xylem cells formed in control plot B was only 140 mature cells, plots C and A were determined to have 175 and 200 mature cells, respectively. Plot A had the fastest growth rate of all the plots studied. In all three plots (A, B, C), the beginning of the early phloem, late phloem sieve cells, and axial parenchyma cells coincided. Nonetheless, in terms of total phloem cell increase, plot C displayed the fastest growth rate among the three plots studied. The first results showed that the rate of total increment in both xylem and phloem cells, as well as the total number of produced tracheids and sieve cells, seem to be positively affected after the thinning application.Postprin

Competitiveness of Individuals in the Labour Market During the Pandemic

The global COVID-19 pandemic has changed the behaviour of individuals and companies. This study aims to determine changes in the labour market behaviour of economically active individuals in the context of the pandemic and to identify competitive segments in this period. For this purpose, a representative survey (n = 3079) conducted in the Czech Republic was used. The paper's contribution is a perspective of individuals' behaviour and their perception of the situation. Based on subjective perceptions, respondents provided an assessment of their living situation before and during the pandemic, expressing their opinion on the importance of selected aspects of quality of life, such as their health, active social contacts, creation of financial savings, ability to pay bills, leisure time and coping with stressful situations. The results of a Wilcoxon test showed that individuals re-evaluated each aspect of life and that the pandemic changed the importance for all of them (except leisure time). This change is also reflected in their psyche, attitude towards work organisation, digitalisation and other factors; these were applied in a cluster analysis, which resulted in the identification of three segments in the group of employees in the labour market (competitive individuals, surviving individuals and those reluctant to respond to change). For the group of entrepreneurs, two segments emerged (flexible and loss-creating), while for the unemployed group, the typical segment can be described as dissatisfied and Covid victims. The names of these segments indicate their behaviour and provide possibilities for future use.O

Phytophthora, Nothophytophthora and Halophytophthora diversity in rivers, streams and riparian alder ecosystems of Central Europe

Waterways are ideal pathways for Phytophthora dispersal and potential introduction to terrestrial ecosystems. While many Phytophthora species from phylogenetic clades 6, 9 and 10 are predominant oomycetes in watercourses due to their adaptation to a lifestyle as saprotrophs and opportunistic pathogens of riparian plants, species from clades 2, 7 and 8 are predominantly soil- or airborne using aquatic habitats as temporal niches for spreading and invading terrestrial sites along the watercourses. In contrast to forest ecosystems, knowledge of Phytophthora diversity in watercourses in Central Europe is limited. Between 2014 and 2019 extensive surveys of streams and rivers were undertaken across Austria, in South Moravia, Czech Republic and Žilina province, Slovakia to unveil the diversity and distribution of Phytophthora and related oomycetes. In addition, in Austria riparian forests of black alder (Alnus glutinosa) and grey alder (A. incana) in lowlands and in the Alps were examined. A variety of Phytophthora species from clades 2, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 were isolated, with clade 6 species showing the widest distribution and abundance. Furthermore, interspecific clade 6 hybrids and other oomycetes such as Halophytophthora fluviatilis and undescribed Nothophytophthora spp. were also obtained. In riparian alders, symptoms of Phytophthora infections were associated with species from the P. x alni complex and P. plurivora. Phytophthora plurivora was most common in alder stands whereas P. uniformis was the oomycete species occurring at the highest altitude in alpine riparian areas.OA-hybri

Comparison of Methods for Estimating Damage by Wild Ungulates on Field Crops

High numbers of large ungulates are locally accompanied by high levels of damage to field crops, causing economic losses and increased costs for the protection of agricultural fields. Quantifying the levels of damage can be problematic, with the degree of accuracy depending on the method used. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy, workload and cost of four methods commonly used for estimating damage to wheat fields caused by large ungulates (esp. wild boar) in the Czech Republic. The results suggest that the manual processing of aerial photographs ("Uncrewed Aerial Systems [UAS] with Operator Delineation Method") was very laborious and the least accurate method, with a high risk of error. In comparison, the automatic evaluation of aerial images ("UAS Crop Height Method") and the "Ground-Based Assessment" both provided similar results when carefully analyzed and were equally demanding. The "Yield Method", comparing the net yield from damaged and undamaged areas, provided the same result of assessment and was the least laborious, although it does require the existence of comparable areas and for the conditions to be created in advance before the method is used. Equivalent results were achieved by the UAS Crop Height Method, which we recommend using in cases where the Yield Method cannot be applied.O

Intervention analysis of COVID-19 pandemic impact on timber price in selected markets

Using intervention analysis and time series of roundwood prices from ten European and North American countries, we analyzed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the movement of timber prices. The study material consists of forty-six quarterly time series prices of logs and pulp, both softwood and hardwood, covering the period 2005-2022. During the Covid-19 pandemic period (2020:Q1-2020:Q4), softwood log prices mostly underwent declines, with the changes being the largest in Slovakia (MINUS SIGN 35%), the Czech Republic (MINUS SIGN 24%) and Austria (MINUS SIGN 24%), slightly smaller in the United States (MINUS SIGN 19%), Poland (MINUS SIGN 17%), Slovenia (MINUS SIGN 12%) and Germany (MINUS SIGN 11%) while no significant price changes were recorded in Finland and Sweden. In Canada and the United States, sharp price declines occurred earlier (2020:Q1 and 2020:Q2, respectively), while in Europe, significant price declines occurred later and lasted longer. In the post-pandemic COVID-19 period, prices increased, but in most cases, the shift was not statistically significant compared to the pre-pandemic period. Softwood pulp prices were subject to much less change, with a significant increase only in Slovakia and Poland. In contrast, no significant changes were observed in the price of both log and pulpwood hardwood during the COVID-19 pandemic.OA-hybri

A different approach to hop growing

The current study aimed to examine how various growers in the Czech Republic hop-growing regions approached the production of hops (Saaz variety). The work also keeps track of how different growers approach fertilization and nutrition, as well as how often plant protection chemicals containing these ingredients are used. The Saaz hop variety samples from the primary Czech hop-growing regions, gathered in 2020 and 2021, were assessed. The average spindle length (14-18 mm), average number of spindle segments (9.3-11.9 pcs/needle) and conductometric parameters (2.7-4.7% w/w) in the samples were identified.O