Všechny tituly 402 výsledků

The faunistic research of dragonflies was realized during 2016 and 2017. The research was carried out under the conditions of Botanical garden‘s pond of Slovak University of Agriculture (SUA) in Nitra. 229 dragonfly individuals (105♂, 124♀) were trapped during the monitored period. Trapped individuals represented 10 species and 3 families of dragonflies. The aim of the research was to determine the species composition of dragonflies of the selected locality. Based on the representation of individual species for the monitored locality, its dominance was also calculated.

The study aimed at evaluating if the training of hens at their arrival in the production farm affected the distribution of animals in the aviary. Training consisted in raising by hand animals found on litter after turning off the light during the first two weeks. A total of 1,800 hens, aged 17 weeks, were allocated in 8 pens of the aviary and assigned to the trained or untrained groups. From 18 to 26 weeks of age, two operators recorded the number of animals on the different parts of the aviary at two observation hours (morning and afternoon). The training decreased the rate of hens on the floor (23.5% vs. 24.5%; P<0.05) and increased the rate of those on the third level (9.26% vs. 8.73%). The rate of animals on the floor (24.4% vs. 23.6%; P=0.05) and on the second tiers (36.9% vs. 33.2%; P<0.001) was significantly higher at morning hours compared to afternoon, whereas the rate of animals on the first tiers (29.6% to 33.7%; P<0.001) and on the perches of the third level (8.84% to 9.25%; P<0.05) was lower. As the age advanced, the rate of hens on the floor significantly increased (21% to 25% from week 18 to 26); animals at the first tiers decreased from week 18 (35.3%) to weeks 20-25 to reach the minimum value at week 26 (27.9%); differences in animals on the second tiers were erratic; rate of animals on the third level was the lowest (7.13%) at week 18 and the highest (11.7%) at week 26.

Due to the climate change, constant increase in air and soil temperatures, moisture deficiency, agricultural production requires highly adaptive varieties that would provide sufficient yields even under adverse environmental conditions. Our breeding work is aimed at creating varieties of this type. The paper presents the results of the long-term research on assessment of soybean varieties by their adaptability under different soil and climatic conditions by the yield, duration of the growing season and reproductive periods. The stability and plasticity of the researched varieties was determined using the Ebergard and Russell method. According to the research results, Artemida, Hoverla and Amethyst varieties were classified as highly plastic (bi>1) by the yield and they provided the yields of 1.95, 2.2 and 2.1 t/ha. In terms of duration of the growing season (BBCH-10-99), Amethyst, Hoverla, Artemida and Vezha provided high adaptability. These varieties were characterized by the conservative reaction to the change in hydrothermal and soil conditions ensuring stable indicators by the duration of the growing season (BBCH-10-99), coefficient of pasticity (bi) was under 1. The longest flowering-maturation period (BBCH-60-99) was observed in the following varieties: Amethyst – 69.1, Hoverla – 69.0, and Artemida – 69.1 days. The flowering-maturation period (BBCH-60-99) was under one. By the duration of the flowering-maturation period (BBCH-60-99), Amethyst, Hoverla, and Artemida varieties had the highest values of homeostaticity (Hom1 and Hom2), in particular, they were 32.8, 3.64 in Artemida, 30.2, 3.76 in Amethyst, 27.15 and 3.02 in Hoverla varieties.

The study was undertaken at Regional Agricultural Research Station of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Ishurdi, Pabna, Bangladesh in consecutive two years of 2015 and 2016 for evaluating the performance of maize and Indian spinach intercropping (MIS) under different row spacing for higher profitability through economic assessment. Five different cropping systems viz., T1 : hybrid maize normal row along with one row of spinach, T2 : hybrid maize paired row along with one row of spinach, T3 : hybrid maize paired row along with two rows of spinach, T4 : hybrid maize paired row along with three rows of spinach and T5 : sole maize were included in this experiment. The performance of the component crops was evaluated regarding total grain and vegetable yield, competitive functions, and economic returns. The results indicate that yield and yield contributing characters of maize were not significantly affected by the intercrop of spinach at different ratios. Maize paired row along with three rows of spinach (IS) (T4 ) combination had higher maize equivalent yield (11.06 t ha-1), gross return (US$ 1,499 ha-1), gross margin (US$ 564 ha-1) and benefitcost ratio (BCR) (2.07) than others treatments. This intercropping system also recorded higher land equivalent ratio, monetary advantage index, land equivalent coefficient, income equivalent ratio and area time equivalent ratio of 1.24, US$ 2,434 ha-1, 0.30, 1.24 and 1.18, respectively. Hence, this cropping system may adopt in the smallholders’ for getting maximum benefits in prevailing climate change.

Long-term electrokinetic processes affect the motion of different soil fractions mainly ionic-species in soil-type environments. Primarily, this governs direct (DC) and alternating (AC) electrical fields due to the different thermal, acid-base ion gradients generated close to electrodes resulted in electro-migration, electrophoresis, and other electrolysis-related-processes. The migration of metal ionic-species, including zinc, which occurs mainly under DC electrical field is generally acknowledged, but metal-corresponding nanoforms such as ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO-NP) under low-level DC and AC electrical fields absent in the literature. The aims of the research was the analysis of pressure-driven transport at two different electric potentials; the equipotential-voltage lines in sand-media with ZnO-NP under 1 V, and 3 V (for DC), and AC under 1 V, 3 V (1 kHz of sinusoidal waves), detection of the migration of Zn from ZnO-NP to anode-to-cathode area (DC), and to the electrodes areas for AC with pH changes within three-hours of treatment and X-ray diffraction investigation of structural changes of ZnO-NP. The results showed that the AC electric field had more uniform equipotential-voltage pattern of sand-media than the DC fields for both voltages applied. In addition, different zinc concentrations up to 11% and electro-active substances were detected between the DC anode-to-cathode and Electrode 1 area compared to the AC Electrode 2 area. The higher pH value also correlated only with DC. X-ray diffraction analysis detected no structure transformation of ZnO-NP, but deterioration of relatively stable graphite electrodes appeared. Our results at the low-level AC and DC electrical fields confirmed the potential of electro-accelerated nanoparticle kinetics.

The four-year-old turf experiment was carried out in the Demonstration and Research Base of the Institute of Plant Production of the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra (Slovak Republic). There were followed 4 treatments: 1. without application alginite and inorganic fertilizers (“control”), 2. alginite, 3. inorganic fertilizers (“NPK”), 4. alginite and inorganic fertilizers (“alginite + NPK”). There were evaluated the total height and total production of dry above-ground phytomass in the turf experiment. Turf in control and Alginite treatments were significantly lower than turf with NPK and alginite + NPK through the evaluation period. An overall comparison of the years 2015–2018 showed that significantly (p = 0.00) the highest total turf height achieved by turfs after the application alginite + NPK (538.5 mm) than turfs fertilized NPK (497.3 mm), with the application of alginite (290.9 mm) and control (280.3 mm). The significantly (p = 0.00) lowest production of dry aboveground phytomass was reached by the control (174.5 g.m-2) and the turf with alginite application (201.5 g.m-2) in comparison with NPK (321.8 g.m-2) and alginite + NPK (389.9 g.m-2) treatments in 2015–2018.

Azodicarbonamide is an important chemical widely used in the industry as a blowing agent in the foam industry and in the food industry as a flour bleaching agent and a dough conditioner. The discussion about its biosafety is ongoing, in a number of countries, the use of azodicarbonamide is limited or even prohibited since a slightly carcinogenic effect of its by-products has been found. Despite this, many manufacturers continue to use it as a food additive. In a laboratory experiment, the effect of various doses of azodicarbonamide on the organism of laboratory animals under the background of a high-fat diet was determined by changes in their body weight, the state and mass indices of internal organs, blood parameters, the functional state of the nervous system, and changes in the intestinal microbiota. Four groups were formed from laboratory male rats, which for 21 days were consuming: a high-fat diet with the addition of 4%, 1%, 0.25%, 0% azodicarbonamide. It has been determined that azodicarbonamide did not cause a change in the organ mass index, but the addition of 4% and 1% of the substance to the diet significantly reduced the intensity of animals' body weight gain. Both excess fat in the diet and different doses of azodicarbonamide mainly caused functional disorders of the parenchymal organs, as evidenced by changes in the activity of blood enzymes (Aspartate aminotransferase, Alanine aminotransferase, De Ritis ratio (AST/ALT), Alkaline phosphatase) and protein metabolism (Total protein, Globulins, Protein coefficient, Urea). Significant changes in the physical and orientation activity and emotional status of the animals were not observed. Low concentrations of azodicarbonamide (0.25% and 1% of the feed mass) caused a pronounced decrease in the number of normal enzymatic properties of Escherichia coli strains below the control group and the reference range, and a high concentration (4%) significantly reduced the number of Lactobacillus bacteria in comparison with the control one but did not exceed references.

Soil structure and organic matter are important indicators of soil quality. In the literature it states that there is a linear relation between soil structure and the organic matter. Mechanisms of formation and stabilization of aggregates have also been described in the literature, but it is evident that not every mechanism is applicable to various soil-climatic conditions. Recently, the modern but not the new term has become a biochar. It is anticipated that biochar is a significant source of C, and its application to the soil will improve the aggregation process in the soil. Lately we have been working in this area and we wanted to provide an overview of this issue through this review. The aim of this review was to collate and synthesize available information on soil structure and SOM. The emphasis of this review is on biochar and its combination with other organic and mineral fertilizers in relation to soil structure.

A laboratory study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of cashew nut shell extract in the control of cowpea bruchid, Callosobruchus maculatus (Fab.) under prevailing laboratory conditions. Fresh ethanolic and stored extract of cashew nut shell served as treatments which were compared with untreated control. Data collected on adult mortality, total number of emerged progeny (adults), number and weight of damaged seeds (seeds with holes) and undamaged seeds (seeds without holes) and percentage seed weight loss, and average number of seeds per 50 g in a container and the data were subjected to a two-way analysis of variance and significant different means were separated using Duncan`s Multiple Range test (DMRT) at 5% level of significance. The results revealed that treated plants generally performed better than the untreated. The different rates of treatment recorded significant differences (P <0.05) in causing adult mortality compared to the untreated control. The different rates of treatment also recorded significant differences (P <0.05) in emergence of F1 adults of each treatment compared to the control. It was also noted that the extract reduced or suppressed the weight loss and grain damage as a result of treatment with the extract compared to the untreated control. However, freshly extract of cashew nut shell recorded the highest adult mortality rate and lowest emergence while control had the lowest mortality rate and highest emergence of the insect. The rates of application were indicative of bioactive characteristics of the extract.

The objective of the study was to determine the effect of using coconut husk organic fertilizer from liquid organic fertilizer waste on the growth and yield of eggplant. The factors of the experiment were; P0 = 0 tons ha-1coconut husk organic fertilizer from liquid organic fertilizer waste, P1 = 7 tons ha-1coconut husk organic fertilizer from liquid organic fertilizer waste, P2 = 14 tons ha-1 coconut husk organic fertilizer from liquid organic fertilizer waste, P3 = 21 tons ha-1coconut husk organic fertilizer from liquid organic fertilizer waste arrange as a randomized block design factorial. The results show that the doses of coconut husk organic fertilizer from liquid organic fertilizer waste 21 tons ha-1 gives a higher fruit weight of 69.97 tons ha-1. The lowest result is without the provision of coconut husk organic fertilizer from liquid organic fertilizer waste with a weight of 52.87 tons ha-1. In addition, there is a significant relationship between the rate of plant growth and the rate of net assimilation (r= 0.90**) and the weight of fruit weight per hectare (r= 0.51**). This study revealed that the application of coconut husk organic fertilizer from liquid organic fertilizer waste at high doses could increase the growth and yield of eggplant.

The effect of growing maize with undersown crops on the content of mycotoxins in maize biomass was studied. Small plot experiments were conducted in 2019 on two sites with different soil and climatic conditions: Žabčice and Troubsko. Three treatments of intermediate crops (Italian ryegrass; Fodder vetch and a mixture of both) were undersown into the space between the rows of maize. The maize was harvested at a dry matter content of 35% at the Troubsko experimental site and 43% at the Žabčice experimental site. After the harvest of maize, samples of green biomass (shreddings) were dried at 60°C and then analyzed for the content of mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON), aflatoxin (AF,L), and fumonisin (FUM). An average yield of maize shreddings ranged from 16.50 to 21.57 t/ha of dry matter within the individual treatment. The contents of mycotoxins from the sites differed in their statistical significance, and both experimental sites showed the lowest concentrations of AFL in maize shreddings while average concentrations of FUM and DON were always the highest. In most observations, treatments with the undersown crops reached the same values as the control treatment. Only in one treatment (mixture of Italian rye grass and Fodder vetch), an increase in the AFL content (by 0.3 µg/kg) was detected. Based on the performed analyses, it is possible to state that no adverse influence of undersown crops on the occurrence of mycotoxins in maize shreddings was recorded using the chosen methodology of cultivation. Exceeded limit values for the content of mycotoxins in feeds according to 2006/576/ were not recorded.

The white tea extract (WTE) has compounds that act as antioxidants, which enhance sperm characteristics during storage. Thepresent study was aimed at investigating theeffect ofadding different concentrations ofWTE stored at 4 °C for 24, 48 and 72 h on semen quality. Semen samples were collected from three Awassi rams, and theejaculates were combined. Semen were divided into four equal parts, and it was diluted with Tris; beside theextender, thecontrol group was (A0, without WTE), thesecond group A1 (0.05 mg WTE), thethird group was A2 (0.10 mg WTE), and thefourth group was A3 (0.15 mg WTE). Results revealed thepercentages ofindividual motility, live, and sperm membrane integrity were enhanced significantly (P <0.05) throughout storage in theA2 group compared to other groups. TheA1, A2 and A3 groups decreased significantly (P <0.05) in total sperm abnormality percent at 48 and 72 h. Abnormal head sperm decreased significantly (P <0.05) at 24, 48 and 72 h in theA2 and A3 groups. While theA2 group decreased significantly (P <0.05) in abnormal middle sperm throughout storage. In conclusion, WTE has compounds in it that function as antioxidants. Especially when 0.10 mg ofWTE was added to extenders, there was an improvement in individual motility, live sperm, and sperm membrane integrity, as well as adecrease in total sperm abnormality and types ofabnormal sperm (head, middle, and tail).

The effect of different fertilizers (digestate, Ureastabil) and their combinations with strip-till/no-till technology on yield and selected quality parameters of the maize hybrid KWS Kampinos (FAO 200) in a dual cropping system (winter rye - maize) was assessed in two-year field trials (harvest 2021-2022). A significant influence of year was found in most monitored parameters. A total of 6 variants were compared, 2 variants with no-till and 4 variants with strip-till. After using the strip-till method, the silage maize yield increased significantly (11.8 – 15.4 t DM/ha) compared to the no-till method, either on the unfertilized variant (8.3 t DM/ha) or after applying fertilizer Ureastabil (11.44 t DM/ha). When using the strip-till method, no significant differences in the yield of silage maize (average over 2 years) were demonstrated between these three fertilized variants: Ureastabil (14.03 t DM/ha); digestate + Ureastabil (15.4 t DM/ha), digestate (14.2 t DM/ha) at total dose of 120 kg N/ha for each variant. The dry matter content of the silage biomass was insignificant between all the variants (32.0 – 34.1%). Differences in quality parameters of silage under the influence of fertilization variants were minimal (crude protein, starch, ash, ADF) or none (NDF). From the results obtained, it can be concluded that maize can be successfully grown and fertilized with strip-till soil conservation technology.

The aim of the work was to analyse the impact of different intensities of grassland exploitation on the productive capacity in the context of declining livestock numbers and the need for temporary or permanent extensification. The research was carried out in 2017-2020 in the locality of Žirany in the Nitra district, located in the temperate zone at the boundary between the continental and Atlantic-continental regions. Average annual temperatures are around 9 °C. The original semi-natural vegetation has been used for sheep grazing for many years. There were 8 experimental variants of use/cutting with different intensity of exploitation: var. 1 - abandoned unused, var. 2 - 3x per year, var. 3 - 2x per year, var. 4 - 1x per year, var. 5 - 4x - 3x - 2x - 2x - 1x per year, var. 6 - 1x - 2x - 3x - 4x per year, var. 7 - 3x - 1x - 1x - 3x and var. 8 - 2x - 1x - 1x - 1x - 2x. By comparing the sum of yields for the entire 4-year annual cycle, we concluded that, with the exception of the 1x annually mowed variant, all the others differentiated themselves from the abandoned stand by their increased production capacity. We also observed differentiation between fertilized and exploited variants into groups. The stand mowed 3 times annually (variant 2, 29.07 t ha-1) was shown to be the most productive. The second group consisted of variants with production lower in the sum of 4 years by about 5 t ha-1 (3, 5, and 6). The same level of lower yield was then found on stands with temporarily reduced intensity of use (variants 7 and 8). In the effectiveness of applied nutrients on production growth, it was found that as the number of applications increased, nutrient use also increased. The average of the years in the overall assessment of the 4-year cycle showed the dynamics from the individual years and also confirmed the tendency of the highest nutrient use at a stable 3-cut use.

Diarrhea is a common problem on dairy farms, which in turn leads to reduced development of dairy calves. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of colostrum period quality on the health status and development of dairy calves during the first fifteen days of life. The study was carried out under the conditions of 1. zemědělská a. s. Chorušice. 30 calves were included in the study. After birth, female Holstein cattle were randomly divided into three groups with different feeding management practices. During the entire monitoring period, zootechnical parameters were recorded and health status was evaluated. Twelve samples of different colostrum were taken. These samples were subjected to microbiological analysis and the presumed causative agents of diarrheal diseases were identified on the farm. The results showed the influence of colostrum period management on calf development. The relationship between microbiology and length of colostrum intake in calves was investigated. With the right approach to the colostrum period, we can raise healthy and prosperous calves.

The effect of use of complete feed with different protein levels on the morphological composition of the body and the amino acid content of trout meat proteins is studied in the article. For this purpose, five experimental groups were formed by the analog method. The study lasted 210 days and was divided into two periods: equalizing (10 days) and basic (200 days). In the equalizing period, the trial fish consumed feed of the control group. In the basic period, the level of protein in the feed of trout of the experimental groups was regulated by changing individual components of the feed. Feeding of rainbow trout in the study period was performed 4-6 times a day, in the day time at regular intervals. The required amount of feed was calculated according to the indicators of individual fish weight and ambient temperature at the time of feeding. Rearing of commercial two-year-old ones was performed in ponds with an area of 100 m2 at a fish-holding density of 50 specimens/m2 and a water level of 1 m. The total number of trout in experimental studies was 25 thousand specimens. The use of feed with high crude protein content in the period of commercial rainbow trout rearing improves their commercial properties, while fish feeding with feed with crude protein content at the level of 44% leads to a decrease in their productivity.

Natural feed additives are gaining increased attention due to their ability to improve animal performance. Hence, this study was carried out to determine the effect of feeding frequency of diets supplemented turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizome powder on goats’ performance. Thus, a basal diet was formulated such that 10g of turmeric rhizome powder (TRP) was supplemented with 300g feed as ration for goats. Twenty goats were used for this trial, balanced for weight, arranged in Completely Randomized Design experiment, of five goats per group. The goats were fed the ration once a week, alternate days/skip a day, daily while the control had no TRP in their diet. The feeding trial lasted 56 days. Parameters were taken on nutrients intake, utilization, weight change, microbial evaluation, rumen fermentation characteristics and all data generated were subjected to statistical analysis. From the results, TRP supplemented diets did not significantly (P>0.05) influence the nutrients intake except for crude protein intake (CPI). Nitrogen retention (NR), daily weight gain (DWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly (P<0.05) influenced. NR (86.64%), DWG (55g/d) and FCR (9.96) of goat-does fed TRP supplemented diets on daily basis was the best. Feeding frequency of TRP supplemented diet linearly decreased total bacteria count (TBC) and rumen pH, as the frequency increases while total fungi count (TFC) non-linearly increases. Meanwhile, total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) did not follow a particular trend. Conclusively, daily supplementing of goats’ diet with TRP at 10g/300g feed optimally improved goats’ performance and is thus recommended.

The aim of the study was the evaluation of gluten quality of selected meat products. Gluten is a vegetable protein, which, due to its properties, is very often used in various sectors of the food industry and therefore in the production of meat products. Sensory evaluation, microbiological examination and gluten detection were performed in samples of sausages, Poultry frankfurter, Fine salami and Malokarpatská salami. The meat products came from different producers and were purchased from a retail network. Sensory quality was determined by assessing color, aroma, juiciness, fragility and taste using a 5-point rating scale. The microbiological examination included the determination of the total number of microorganisms, the number of psychrotrophic, coliform microorganisms and coagulase-positive staphylococci. The presence of gluten alone was detected using a commercially produced GlutenTox Home test kit as well as a PCR reaction. Individual testing of selected meat products showed minor differences in the overall quality of gluten free and gluten-free meat products.

Genetically modified (GM) maize and traditional maize were tested experimentally to determine their effect on chicken serum biochemical parameters and metabolism. A total of 600 day-old chicks were divided into 2 experimental groups, namely: K, diet based on traditional maize (control); D, a diet based on GM maize (experiment). The experiment lasted 17 weeks, daily monitoring of population viability and feed consumption were carried out, at the age of 4, 8 and 17 weeks all birds were individually weighed. Blood samples for biochemical studies were taken from chickens at 4 weeks and 12 weeks of age (n= 6). Analytical studies did not show significant changes in serum biochemical parameters in group D chickens. A significant difference between the groups of chickens receiving GM and traditional maize was found only by the content of lipids after 4 weeks (P < 0.05) and cholesterol after 12 weeks of the experiment (P < 0.001). Also noted increasing level of CIC in serum of chickens that consumed feed from GM maize relative control at 32.2% (P < 0.01) after 4 weeks of the experiment. However, the studied indicators of metabolism and immune response in birds were within the physiological range. Certain fluctuations in the parameters during the experiment were observed in both groups, which indicates that there is no connection between this fact and the feeding factor. In addition, optimal results were obtained in terms of feed conversion and body weight of poultry, regardless of the feeding ration. The body weight of chickens at the age of 17 weeks in both groups was in the range of 1862.4-1895.6 g, feed consumption per 1 kg of body weight gain was 3.65-3.76 kg, the livestock viability – 96.6-97.3%. The results of the study do not indicate any danger to the metabolism and health of the bird due to the use of genetically modified feed, as no statistically significant differences within the studied parameters were observed. The noted certain small deviations fell within the limits of normal variations of the considered indicators and, thus, had no biological or toxicological value.

It was published, that grape pomace has a positive effect on the animal organism and is also a rich source of fatty acids. The inclusion of grape pomace in the geese feed mixture was the main objective of the following experiment. The addition of grape pomace into the feed mixture was used to investigate to what extent will affect the fattening parameters of geese and the profile of fatty acids analysed from the abdominal fat of geese. The experiment was carried out on 20 geese (Czech goose breed). Two groups were formed to obtain the same average weight. The average weight of the experimental group at the beginning was 1857 ± 196 g. The average weight of the control group was 1872 ± 248 g. For 49 days, both groups were fed a commercial complete feed mixture for geese fattening while in the experimental group 1% of the feed mixture was replaced by dried grape pomace. The average weight of geese of the control group at the end of fattening was 5579 ± 770 g and of the experimental group 5752 ± 752 g. The addition of dried grape pomace to the feed mixture in the fattening of geese increased the average daily weight gain of geese by 5.2% (P˃0.05), liver weight by 22.5% (P˂0.05) and increased the content of monounsaturated fatty acids by 2.5% (P˃0.05), especially oleic acid by 3.0% (P˃0.05). A reduced content of polyunsaturated fatty acids by 1.5% (P˃0.05) and decreased saturated fatty acid content by 3.2% (P˃0.05) was detected in the experimental group. It can be concluded that the addition of grape pomace affected the liver weight of fattened gees, while the effect on fatty acids composition was insignificant.