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The pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is very popular annual vegetable either for fresh consume either as spice after drying and grinding. The fruit contains high amounts of vitamin C, provitamin A, E, P (citrin), B₁ (thiamine), B₂ (riboflavin) and B₃ (niacin). Crop Research Institute (CRI), Department of Vegetable and Special Crops, Olomouc, the Czech Republic is the holder of the collection of pepper genetic resources. The collection of pepper consists of 504 accessions, currently. It is necessary to find duplications within collection for effective work with genetics resources. For analyses totally 41 accessions were chosen. These were divided into ten groups according name: 1. Astrachanskij, 2. Aufrechte Cayenne, 3. Bogyisloi, 4. Hatvani, 5. Japan Hontakka, 6. Japan Madarszen, 7. Kalocsai Fuszer (Edes), 8. Konservnyj Belyj 289, 9. Tetenyi and 10. Vinedale. Two approaches were used for the detection of duplications - morphological description and polymorphism of DNA. The accessions were characterized for 54 morphological traits: 1 character in seedlings, 8 characters in the plants, 10 characters in leaves, 10 characters in flowers and 25 characters in fruits. The polymorphism of DNA was analysed using the SSR (Simple Sequence Repeats) method with 8 SSR markers (Hpms 1-1, Hpms 1-5, Hpms 1-168, Hpms 1-172, Hpms 1-274, Hpms 2-21, Cams 163 and Cams 647) which are localised on different chromosomes. The results from DNA analysis were complemented with the morphological characterization. Possible duplications were in 4 groups: 1. Astrachanskij, 4. Hatvani, 5. Japan Hontakka and 7. Kalocsai Fuszer (Edes). This work is the first step for the determination of duplications in the Czech germplasm collection of pepper.

The objective of the present study was to estimate the effect of different forms of sulphur on yields and qualitative parameters of white mustard seeds. This topic was studied in 2004 in the form of a pot trial in a vegetation hall and linked up with an identical experiment with spring wheat conducted in 2003. Besides the control variant not fertilised with sulphur (1) we fertilised the soil with elemental sulphur (2), ammonium sulphate (3) and gypsum (4) and applied foliar dressing of elemental sulphur with bentonite (5). For all variants the nitrogen dose was 0.9 g per pot (0.15 g.kg^-1 of soil) and for variants 2 to 4 it was 1 g of sulphur per pot (0.17 g. kg^-1 of soil). Foliar dressing of elemental sulphur (S⁰) was not applied until the stage of six true leaves in a dose of 10 kg per ha (0.032 g per pot).
Significantly higher yields of white mustard seeds were achieved after foliar application of S⁰ which can be also due to its fungicide action. The variants where gypsum was applied showed the highest average number of branches and pods and also straw yields. After gypsum fertilisation or foliar application of S⁰ the oil content in the mustard seeds exceeded 25%; this is the minimal content required for the production of good quality mustard. The 1000-seed weight was significantly higher after foliar application of S⁰. The proportion of seeds greyish on the surface, a sign of mildew, significantly decreased after fertilisation with all forms of sulphur, but most of all after foliar application of S⁰.
Fertilisation with ammonium sulphate reduced the exchangeable soil reaction after harvest. On the other hand gypsum alkalised the soil environment and increased the content of available calcium and water-soluble sulphur. The soil of the variant where foliar dressing of S⁰ was applied had a higher content of available calcium after harvest. The least amount of available sulphur and phosphorus in the soil was seen after foliar application of S⁰ signalising a more efficient uptake of nutrients from the soil for the production of seed yields and for the quality of the seeds.

This thesis was meant to evaluate allele and genotype frequencies of kappa-casein (CSN3) in artificial insemination bulls in the Czech Republic of Czech Fleckvieh breed (n = 133) and Holstein breed (n = 58). Studied bulls were born between 1990 and 2005. Calculation was made by PowerMarker (Liu K., Muse S.V. 2005). Genotype frequencies established in Czech Fleckvieh bulls were AA = 0.391 AB = 0.4887 AE = 0.0075 BB = 0.0902 BE = 0.0226 and EE = 0 and allele frequencies were A = 0.6391 B = 0.3459 E = 0.015. Genotype frequencies established in Holstein bulls were AA = 0.5517 AB = 0.2759 AE = 0.1207 BB = 0 BE = 0.0345 and EE = 0.0172 and allele frequencies A = 0.75 B = 0.1552 and E = 0.0948. In Holstein breed we found higher frequency of E allele and higher frequency of genotypes with this allele. Genetic diversity, heterozygosis and PIC values in Czech Fleckvieh Bulls were following 0.4717; 0.5188 and 0.3737 and 0.4044; 0.4310 and 0.3668 in Holstein Bulls. These results show the higher genetic variability in bulls of Czech Fleckvieh breed. Results of χ² test (Czech Fleckvieh 4.58; Holstein 2.55) show genetical disequilibrium in the Bulls both examined breeds used in artificial insemination in the Czech Republic.

The effect of three different doses of basic fertilisers and a subsequent pre-sowing supplementary fertilisation on production parameters (yield of grain, number of spikes, and thousand grains weight) was evaluated using experimental data obtained within the framework of a one-year pot experiment with spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) established at the Department of Agrochemistry and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry Brno in 2003. Results of statistical analysis indicated that the yield of grain was significantly influenced by different doses of fertilisers especially on sandy soils. As compared with control, the second highest dose of fertilisers (i.e. 83 kg N, 31 kg P and 92 kg K.ha^-1) increased the yield by 91.7 % and the third one (i.e. 113 kg N, 43 kg P and 125 kg K.ha^-1) even by 124.8 %. This increase in the grain yield was positively affected above all by increasing doses of nitrogen fertilisers. A pre-sowing application of P, K and Mg showed also a positive effect on grain yield not only on sandy but above all on clay soils (as compared with non-fertilised control, this increase ranged from 40.6 to 50.2%). Fertilisation showed also a marked effect on the number of spikes. This factor showed a similar trend as the yield of grain. The thousand grains weight was not significantly influenced on both soil types. This value was increased (by 2.9% to 14.8%) after the application of fertilisers prior to sowing but the difference was statistically non-significant.

The aim of this study was to evaluate production and reproduction parameters after the birth of twins in holstein cattle (H = 100 %). Evaluation was made in terms of days open (the period between calving and conception; DO), milk production (kg of milk; % of fat, protein and lactose; kg of fat and protein; somatic cell count) and frequence of culling after the birth of twins. Milk production following the birth of twins was compared with milk production in controls matched on characteristics such as identical father, mother reaching the same breeding value of milk kg (± 10 %), evalued lactation occurring on the same farm, in the same year and period (±3 months). The goal was to pairs cows as cohorts with similar origins and production parameters under the same conditions and time. Days open after twinning in the multiple births were compared with days open in previous lactation and also with their cohorts. The data were analysed for 196 Holstein cows which gave birth to twins. The results showed a significantly (P ≤ 0.05) longer number of days open for the twin births. The prolongation was an average of 19 days. Days open through twin births was 132.62 days (s_x = 62.22); in the previous lactation it was 113.54 days (s_x = 63.14) and in cohorts 113.00 days (s_x = 50.57). Milk production was similar in cows with twins and in cohorts (7907; 7871 kg). Average fat, protein and lactose percent in lactation was insignificantly lower in cows with twins (reduction: -0.08; -0.05; -0.02 %). Fat, protein and lactose percent was as follows in the group with twins compared to cohorts (3.72 vs. 3.80; 3.33 vs. 3.38; 4.94 vs. 4.96 %). From this arose an insignificantly lower production in kg of fat and protein (291.14 vs. 297.13; 261.49 vs. 264.74 kg). In the first three milk yield control after multiple births was found an insignificantly lower somatic cell count than in controls (149,7 thousand vs. 188.87 thousand). Frequence of culling after twin births (196 cows = 100%) were on health and reproductive grounds 78 cows (39.8 %) and for other reasons, 15 cows (7.65 %).

Paper deals with experimental research on the crushing of coffee beans of different kinds under quasi-static compression. The process of the crushing is described in details. It has been shown that there is variability in the crushing strength values. A relation between crushing strength and the coffee grain shape is also studied. Roasted Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica) beans were used for analyses. Arabica coffees were produced in Colombia and Indonesia. Abbreviation in the square brackets indicates the coffee type and it is used in the text hereinafter. All Arabica samples were submitted to a light roast. The detail analysis of the experimental data shows that there is no significant relation between parameters describing the fracture behaviour of the grains and grain geometry. These parameters are also independent on the grain weight. Compression of the coffee grains leads to their crushing. The fracture force is different for the different kinds of the coffee. The same is fact valid also for the strain at the fracture and for the energy absorbed during the grain crushing. The obtained results suggest that the fracture parameters obtained at the compression loading are dependent only on the coffee brand and on the roasting conditions.

In this experiment on three dairy cows with the ruminal and duodenal T-cannulas, the actual and predicted amino acid (AA) profiles of the protein fraction flowed to the small intestine were compared. The prediction was calculated by two methods: with the use of mean published AA profile of microbial protein and of experimentally determined one. The actual AA profile of digesta protein was corrected for glycine (Gly) of bile origin. In comparison to the published AA profile of microbial protein the use of the actual one did not contribute to an improvement of prediction accuracy (mean prediction error: 7.36 vs. 7.54 %, respectively). Inaccurate determination of AA composition of undegraded feed protein and the insufficient correction for Gly of bile origin were the probable sources of the residual variability.

The aim of the research work was to evaluate phytotoxicity of mesotrione in poppy (Papaver somniferum). The amount of spraying water (150, 300 and 450 l per hectare) was compared as well. In the end, the different growth stimulators (Atonik - 0.6 l.ha^-1, Route - 0.8 l.ha^-1) and the adjuvants (Atplus 463 - 0.5% solution, Silwet 77 - 0.1 l.ha^-1) wre tested. Degree of phytotoxicity of individual variants was assessed by measuring chlorophyll fluorescence (parameter: maximum quantum yield of electron transport in photosystem II - QY) in 1st to 21st day after treatment. The results showed that the application of mesotrione caused phytotoxicity on poppy plants. The most significant phytotoxicity is evident at doses of 450 l spraying water per hectare. Addition of growth stimulators and adjuvants increases the phytotoxicity (decreases the value of QY) compared to the herbicide application itself. The mesotrione reduced the weight of dry plants by 15 % (150 l of spraying water), 1 % (300 l of spraying water) and 64 % (450 l of spraying water) compared to control variant.

High quality and purity of DNA isolated from food and feed is essential for species identification and has unpredictable influences an effect of analysis. In this study, the efficiency of eight different methods for DNA isolation was investigated. For DNA extraction, the raw chicken meet, ham, sausages, tinned lunch meat, pate, tinned feeds for dogs, complete granulated feeds for dogs and chicken flour were used. Kits of several different producers, i.e.: NucleoSpin Food (Marchery-Nagel), Wizard Genomic DNA Purification Kit (Promega), Invisorb Spin Food Kit I (Invitek), Wizard SV Genomic DNA Purification System (Promega), JetQuick Tissue DNA Spin Kit (Genomed), RNA Blue (Top-Bio), JetQuick Blood & Cell Culture Kit (Genomed), QIAamp DNA Mini Kit and QIAamp DNA Blood Mini Kit (Qiagen) were employed in the study. Gel agarose electrophoresis for primary verification of DNA quality was performed. The isolates were subsequently assessed for quantity and quality using by spectrophotometer Nanodrop 2000 (Thermo Scientific). To verify of template usability and quality of isolated DNA, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used.
Differences between isolated DNA from tinned products and meat, ham, sausage, granulated dog feed and chicken flour were found. In tinned food and feed, the DNA was more degraded, DNA content and DNA purity was lower and also PCR amplification was the most difficult. Overall DNA yield and quality have important influence on PCR products amplification. The best results were obtained with NucleoSpin Food and JetQuick Tissue DNA Spin Kit. DNA extracted by these methods proved highest yields, purity and template quality in all foods and feeds and the results of PCR analysis are excellent reproducible. Analyses showed that results depended on different food or feed using and different isolation system.
The results of this work will be utilized to choose the suitable isolating kit for educational course, which is designed for students and also for following research and analyses.

The use of clover-grasses in the structure of fodder crops grown on arable soil, especially those with intergeneric hybrids as the main component part, could avert the negative current trend, i.e. further decreasing the area of perennial fodder plants or fodder crops as a whole on arable soil. They have an irreplaceable role in crop sequences and in preserving the cultural character of the countryside, above all due to the fact that they improve soil fertility and microbial life in the soil and that they have an excellent pre-produce value, and, at the same time, they are applied in various farming systems (both conventional and ecological) and in various climatic conditions, and agricultural businesses are well equipped for growing, harvesting and storing them. In the Czech Republic, the area of fodder crops grown on arable soil was decreased from 1,019.9 thousand hectares to mere 396.7 thousand hectares between 1980 and 2009, which is 15.6 % of the total area of arable soil whereas perennial fodder plants only take up 8.5 %. Fodder from clover crops and clover-grass growths on arable soil are one of the main resources of voluminous fodder for dairy cows. Most of this fodder is preserved through a fermentation process (silages, hay storage); a smaller part is fed as fresh fodder, or serves for production of hay. Silages made with perennial fodder plants are the most important source of both proteins and other nutrients for ruminants, especially for high-yielding milch cows. The basis of fodder production systems are the conservative elements of the landscape area (geomorphology) in combination with the progressive elements (weather conditions, plants and human labour) and relict ones, the representative of which is the soil. The fodder production systems in Europe are divided into five main fodder production zones. From this point of view, the areas where short-term clover-grass mixtures are grown on arable soil could be classed with Zone 4, i.e. intensive fodder production and cattle breeding. This characterisation corresponds with the Vysočina Region (the Czech Republic), which is the focus of our work even though extensive breeding can be found in this area on a smaller scale as well. Therefore, our aim was to verify the production and qualitative parameters of the fodder crops and mixtures included in the test in chosen agricultural businesses in the Vysočina Region and to recommend the most suitable variant for the given area. A statistically significant correlative relationship (P < 0.05) was proved between the net energy for lactation contents and the percentage of organic matter digestibility. The evaluation of the production parameters evidently shows the favourable influence of the grass component part or of intergeneric hybrids on the stability of dry matter yield per hectare as well as on the stability of individual nutrients.

In our research were evaluated sixteen varieties of vegetable pepper in technical ripe and twenty-eight tomato varieties in content of vitamin C in mg.kg^-1. The experimental works were made on the open field and in the laboratories of the Research Institute of Vegetables in Nové Zámky, Slovak Republic. The trials have been made in years 2005, 2006 and 2007.
The average vitamin C content of fruits in the technical maturity of all sixteen pepper varieties evaluated in 2005 was 1 813.06 mg.kg^-1. In the year of 2006, the average content of vitamin C was 1 909.43 mg.kg^-1 and in the third experimental year 2 392.49 mg.kg^-1. When analyzing the variance of vitamin C, varieties are the sources of the significant variability (F = 2.08). Years as factors of variability are highly significant different (F = 28.78).
The mean vitamin C content in tomato fruits in the year 2005 was 317.63 mg.kg^-1, in 2006 the mean value of vitamin C was 345.09 mg.kg^-1 and in 2007 the average content was 316.14 mg.kg^-1. The tomato varieties and years were the source of the variability factors and highly significant different (F = 6.85, F = 16.27) by the Fisher test.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible effects of maize replacement in feeding rations on the amino acid content in cows' milk. Cows were fed total mix ration based on the maize, clover silage and hay. There was a difference in the concentrate of the feeding ration. The first group (fed maize) was the control group, another two groups were experimental, one fed wheat and second fed triticale. During six weeks, totally 26 milk samples were taken from dairy cows of Czech Pied breed. Feed groups were preferably balanced in terms of milk yield, stage and number of lactations. The samples of feedstuffs as well as milk were modified for the analysis using acidic and oxidative hydrolyses. The analysis of amino acids content and composition of the sample hydrolysates was performed chromatographically by an AAA 400 analyzer, using Na-citrate buffers and ninhydrin detection. Total nitrogen content was determined according to Kjehldahl and the crude protein of the samples was determined by conversion from the nitrogen content multiplied by appropriate factor. The high content of crude protein in wheat did not influenced composition of milk from dairy cows fed this type of feedstuff. With respect to resulting amino acid content and composition of milk samples, none of the tested grains can be recommended as a full-value maize replacement. Each feedstuff is an abundant source of several and typical amino acids in milk. However, triticale (cultivar Kitaro) seems to be acceptable replacement of maize owing to better crude protein efficiency, composition and health indicators of milk quality.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of supplemental lysine (Lys), methionine (Met) or both added to diet of dairy cows in the form of rumen-protected (RP) tablets on changes in milk fatty acids (FA) profile. The trial was carried out on four lactating Holstein cows in the form of Latin square design and was divided into 4 periods of 14 d (10-d preliminary period and a 4-d experimental period). The four treatments were as follows: C - control without amino acids (AA) supplementation, L - supplement of RP Lys, M - supplement of RP Met and ML - supplement of RP Met and Lys. Cows were fed on a diet based on maize silage, lucerne hay and supplemental mixture. Milk yield in ML (34.18 kg/d) was higher than in L or M (32.46 kg and 32.13 kg, respectively, P < 0.05) and tended to be higher than in C (33.33 kg/d, P > 0.05). Protein yield in ML (1054 g/d) was higher than that found in C, L or M (990, 998 or 968 g/d, respectively, P < 0.05). Milk fat content and yield in C and ML was higher in comparison to L and M (P < 0.05). Content of short-chain FA (C 4:0-C 12:0) was not affected by the treatment except of L that was lower than in C (P < 0.05). Content of medium-chain FA in M was lower compared to C, L or ML (P < 0.05). The content of long-chain FA in M was significantly higher than in other groups (P < 0.05). The total content of SFA in M was lower than in C or ML (P < 0.05) and tended to be lower than in L. Contents of UFA, MUFA and PUFA in M were higher than in C and ML (P < 0.05).

The paper presents economic analysis of growing of legume-cereal intercropping in conditions of organic farming. Results of the analysis are based on data monitoring in chosen organic farms that grow LCI. In the paper there is also compared economic efficiency of LCI grown in organic and conventional farming system. Methodological solution results from costingness and earnings monitoring of LCI production in five chosen organic farms in the period 2007-2008.
When evaluating costs existing in individual variants of LCI growing it is necessary to say that the selection of individual machines and machine aggregations represents the most important factor of influencing direct costs, namely with regard to the size of organic farms and to the area of individual field blocks. Under conditions of organic farms, the LCI production is also significantly influenced also by agrotechnical (tillage) operations. As compared with conventional farms, the final yield of both green fodder and grain is lower by 14-38%. Total direct costs per hectare of harvested LCI acreage ranged in case of fodder production from 9.249 CZK to 11.620 CZK per hectare. In case of grain production, the corresponding costs ranged from 8.848 to 9.970 CZK per hectare. In case of LCI, the direct costs of organic farms per unit of production of both fodder and grain consist mainly of material costs, which represent 63-76% and 61-68% of total expenses associated with production of fodder and grain, respectively. These direct costs are influenced also by higher prices of inputs.

This article deals with the issue of a methodology for and analyzing biomass potential in the Czech Republic using a geographic information system. The biomass sources considered include cereal and rape straw, permanent grasslands and forest residuals. The process of assessing biomass potential from agricultural soils is based on assigning yields of individual biomass sources according to the production soil-ecological units (BPEJ) which were created for better agricultural planning in the Czech and Slovak Republics. The analysis of energy crop suitability is based on the evaluation of crop yields related to individual BPEJ's respectively to its component the main soil climate units (HPKJ). To ascertain the production potential of residual biomass (straw) from conventional agriculture, the wheat (grain) yield related to HPKJ was multiplied by the straw coefficient. The yield of the permanent grasslands in the main soil climate units was also multiplied by the coefficient of dry matter. The methodology for the analysis of biomass potential for forest land is based on forest management plans that describe the composition of all forest stands. Data from these forest management plans can be used to determine in detail the potential of the forest biomass in individual periods according to the plan for silvacultural treatment and major harvest of the wood. This detailed analysis is suitable only on the municipality level. On a higher government level, the forest management plan can be used to calculate a coefficient that determines the average yield from biomass in the form of forest residuals and in relation to the forest size for specific areas or levels of analysis. The energy potential of residual biomass is around 136 PJ from present area of conventional agriculture in the Czech Republic. Biomass consumption in animal production and harvest loses were deducted from this calculation.

In 2008 and 2009, studies made contents of cadmium and lead in the soil and their uptake by non-traditional plants were studied in a small-plot trial. At the same time also the effect of bio-algeen preparations on phytoextraction of heavy metals by these plants was investigated. Experimental plots were established on the reclaimed land after closing down mining operations in the town of Žacléř (North-East Bohemia) where a layer of sewage sludge from a wastewater treatment plant 0.6-0.8 m thick was subsequently applied. The locality is situated in the altitude of 612 m, its average annual temperature is about 6.8 °C and the mean annual precipitations are 857 mm.
Analyses revealed higher concentrations of heavy metals in the applied sewage sludge. The average concentrations of lead and cadmium were 180 mg.kg^-1 and 6.89 mg.kg^-1, respectively. The experiment had two variants: Variant 1 - sewage sludge without any other substances, and Variant 2 - sewage sludge + bio-algeen preparations (B. A. S-90 or B. A. Root Concentrate). To find the most suitable plant species for the phytoextraction of cadmium and lead, the following non-traditional plants were cultivated in both variants: fodder mallow (Malva verticillata L.), rye (Secale cereale L. var. multicaule METZG. ex ALEF.) and white sweet clover (Melilotus alba MEDIC.). The highest accumulation of cadmium and lead in the aboveground biomass was found out in rye, viz 14.89 mg.kg^-1 DM and 14.89 mg.kg^-1 DM of Cd and Pb, respectively., As compared with other plants under study, white sweet clover exhibited the significantly lowest capability to extract both heavy metals from soil (viz 0.22 and 3.20 mg.kg^-1 DM of Cd and Pb, respectively). A positive effect of bio-algeen on phytoextraction of cadmium and lead was evident in all plants. The highest yield of aboveground biomass was recorded on the plot with white sweet clover with added alginate (496 g.m^-2). Of plants under study, the fodder mallow seems to be the most suitable crop for the phytoextraction of both metals (0.35 and 5.87 mg.m^-2 of Cd and Pb, respectively).

Somatic cell count (SCC) is an indicator of mammary gland health state. Lactose (L) can be reduced with mastitis and SCC increase. Mammary gland health is an essential factor of milk quality. Monitoring of mammary gland health is important for prevention and treatment of milk secretion disorders. The goal of this work was to analyse the relationship between SCC and L in various biological species. 7 sets of individual and bulk milk samples (MSs) were analysed (n = 479, 479, 345, 80, 90 and 102) for SCC and L content. 3 sets were with cow (C) milk and 1 set with goat (G), 1 with sheep (S) and 1 with human (H) MSs. The relations in C milk were used as reference. SCC geometric means were markedly lower in C milk (62, 99 and 81 10³.ml^-1) and H milk (103 10³.ml^-1) as compared to small ruminants (G 3 509 and S 609 10³.ml^-1). The mean L values were lower in small ruminants (G 4.36% and S 4.42%) as compared to C milk (4.95%, 4.97% and in 1st lactation 5.10%) and higher in H milk (5.77%). L contents in Czech Fleckvieh and Holstein correlated negatively to SCC (log SCC)) in all lactations (-0.36 P < 0.001 and -0.33 P < 0.001). L content in 1st lactation correlated with SCC markedly narrower than in cows for all lactations (-0.49 P < 0.001). The SCC×L relationship in G (White short-haired) milk (-0.35 P < 0.01) was in good relation to C milk and in S (Tsigai) milk (-0.51 P < 0.001) was markedly narrower as in C and G milk. Lower mean SCC in H milk as compared to G and S milk and comparable to C milk did not show significant negative relationship to L which was 0.08 (P > 0.05) for original SCC values. Surprisingly there was not found the SCC×L relationship in H milk which could be comparable to other mammal species milk. It could be caused by bacteriologically negative results in MSs with higher SCC (> 300 10³.ml^-1). As well as at C milk also at G and S milk and in contrast to H milk it is possible to use the SCC×L relationship for improvement of result interpretation and prevention control in occurrence of milk secretion production disorders in routine monitoring systems such as milk recording with individual MSs and milk quality control with bulk MSs. The quality of decision-making schemes in algorithms for practical monitoring of mammary gland health could be improved.

In small-plot experiments established in 2001-2004 we studied the effect of the chemical composition of the plant dry matter of spring barley, varieties Kompakt and Jersey, on grain yields. A relatively strong correlation was confirmed between the chemical composition of the plant dry matter and yields. The correlation was most intensive in the case of nitrogen (r = 0.536), phosphorus (r = 0.503), magnesium (r = 0.464) and sulphur (r = 0.431) at the beginning of shooting (DC 30); in the case of potassium (r = 0.557) at the beginning of tillering (DC 23) and calcium (r = 0.530) during ear formation (DC 55). A relatively strong correlation remained from the beginning of tillering to the beginning of ear formation and later decreased. The weather conditions of the year and variety significantly affected grain yields and also the previous crop was important. Grain yields of the variety Kompakt were statistically significantly lower than of the variety Jersey (6.02 t.ha^-1 and 6.45 t.ha^-1, respectively). The yields of barley grown after sugar-beet were the highest (6.30-6.79 t.ha^-1); the grain yields of barley after maize decreased by 9.1-9.7 %. Higher grain yields of the Jersey variety resulted in levels of N-substances (11.35 %) lower than in the Kompakt variety (11.35 % and 11.60 %, resp.). No correlation was discovered between the nitrogen level in the plant dry matter during vegetation and the content of N-substances in barley grain.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of seedling preparation technology (seedling flats with cell size of 20 ml, 40 ml and seedlings pulled from patches) and of seedling age at the time of planting (development stages of 3-4 true leaves and 5-6 true leaves) to the qualitative characteristics of seedling of selected cabbage species: white cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. convar. capitata (L.) Alef. var. alba DC.) - Aros, Avak, Midor; cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. convar. botrytis (L.) Alef. var. botrytis L.) - Beta, Delta, Rober and savoy cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. convar. capitata (L.) Alef. var. sabauda L.) - Vega, Versus. The diameter and weight of rosaces, resp. heads, was evaluated in the harvested production. After splitting the harvested crop into several groups, the percentage of non-standard portion of the yield was determined. The use of older seedlings (5-6 true leaves) for the white and savoy cabbage planting had a positive influence to both average yield and the harvest earliness. On the other hand, for the cauliflower conclusively better average crop of rosaces and earlier harvests were achieved with younger seedling transplanting (3-4 true leaves). Seedling flats proved to be the most suitable way of seedling preplantation; no differences were found between the characteristics of products cultivated from the seedling flats with 20 ml and 40 ml cell volumes. In average, smaller amount of non-standard harvest plant parts was, gained with the transplanting from larger seedling flats (40 ml cell volume).

The paper is focused on the description of average level, variability and developmental trends the export prices of selected agricultural and food commodities in the Czech Republic with differentiation according to particular countries within the defined reference period 1993-2002. Thre is also presented the short-time point and interval extrapolation prediction of studied events. Methods of regression and correlation analysis and developmental trends were applied for the mathematical-statistical analysis.

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare var. vulgare Mill.) is an perennial herb, it is cultivated for the essential oil in the fruits. The quality criteria are essential oil content, microbiological contamination and residua of pesticides. The important part of the cultivation technology is ununiform maturity of the fruits. The aim of this work was to find out the influence of the desiccants on quality and yield characteristics of fennel fruits produced in field conditions in the first years of growing. Three preparations were applied: glufosinate-NH4, 150 g.l^-1 (2 l.ha^-1), diquat dibromide, 200 g.l^-1 (3 l.ha^-1) and glyphosate-IPA, 480 g.l^-1 (3 l.ha^-1) in three repetitions. The non treated control variant was also repetited three times. The samples were analysed for quantitative and qualitative parameters: the fruit yield (t.ha^-1), the essential oil content (%, V/m), the essential oil yield (kg.ha^-1), the essential oil composition and the residua content.

The paper presents results of a statistical analysis of time series obtained in studies on the absolute level, variability, dynamics and developmental trends of selected items of national accounts in the transformation period of the Czech national economy and its transition to a market economy. The volume of gross turnover of goods and services, gross value added, gross domestic product and imports of goods and services were explored a base of final expenditure on the one hand and the volume of final consumption expenditure, gross capital formation, gross national final expenditure and exports of goods and services as factors influencing the volume of total final expenditures on the other. Short-terms point extrapolations were calculated on the basis of applied models of developmental trends within the period 1993-2003.

The objective was to quantify the correlations between milk indicators of partial milk yields and whole milk output; we analysed 576 milk samples taken from 2 to 4 partial milk yields of 156 Holstein dairy cows milked using the automatic milking system (AMS). In the accredited (EN ISO 17025) milk laboratory in Brno-Tuřany the samples were analysed for the content of fat (T; g.100g^-1), crude protein (B; g.100g^-1), lactose (L; lactose monohydrate; g.100g^-1) and somatic cell count (SCC; 10³.ml^-1). The average values in the whole milk output were as follows: T = 3.69 g.100g^-1, B = 3.39 g.100g^-1, L = 4.92 g.100g^-1, PSB = 345.10³ ml^-1 and log SCC = 1.9695, at a whole milk output of 29.88 kg.day¹ of milk. The correlation coefficients between the milk indicators (T, B, L, PSB and log PSB) of partial milk yields and whole milk output ranged from the minimum r = 0.786 (between the content of T in the whole and 3^rd milk yield) to the maximum r = 0.979 (between the content of B in the whole milk output and identically in the 1^st, 3^rd and 4^th milk yields) and in all cases they were statistically highly significant (P ≤ 0.001). Next we calculated the regression equations for the estimation of milk indicators of the whole milk output from milk indicators of the 1^st to 4^th partial milk yields.