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Regional Labelling as a Tool for Supporting Rural Development: A Slovak Case Study
Get PDFRegional product labelling has become a trend in recent years, with the goal of being able to stimulate and support local economies; increase the sales of quality local products and services; preserve and maintain traditions, local cultural values, and the character of rural landscapes; and promote the use of local resources, potential, and raw materials. The existing Slovak studies deal primarily with the perception of consumers and tourism. In this article, we analysed forms of rural development in connection with regional product labelling and the Slovak regions of Kopanice and Záhorie. This theme is a relatively new phenomenon in Slovakia, and that is the author's main contribution. The research was conducted using an online questionnaire administered between May and July 2022 in each district of the region, with a total of 283 respondents participating. The results obtained from the questionnaire survey were statistically processed using Pearson's correlation coefficient. We used STATISTIC 109 software (Tibco software, Palo Alto, California). The questionnaire method is the most suitable method for determining the perceptions of the respondents. The goal was to analyse rural development in connection with regional product labelling and to identify areas of the application of regional product labels. The term regional product was associated with production in a specific region (50.5%) and with the customs and traditions of the region (43.8%). Supporting employment and entrepreneurship in the region were considered by 43.1% of the respondents as the most important in the region. From the perspective of the application of regional labelling in connection with rural development, we confirmed gender and education dependence. Women with first- and second-level higher education saw regional labels as the main element in the development of the region and the local economy.O
Vertical spread of Hymenoscyphus fraxineus propagules
Get PDFCurrently, the ash dieback causal agent Hymenoscyphus fraxineus is an established invasive pathogen in most European countries. Its potential to spread quickly among invaded forests is based on its propagules: airborne inoculum composed mainly of ascospores originated in apothecia growing on leaf litter infected during the previous vegetation season. The spread of the inoculum by air masses to distant areas is probable and depends on the availability of the ascospores in higher levels of air. Our study aimed to detect the inoculum in an infected area at heights of more than 20 meters. Our study was conducted in a municipal locality (Boršov nad Vltavou) with tens of infected ash trees (Fraxinus excelsior) in South Bohemia (SW Czechia). The infected trees surround an agricultural silo where five rotating arm spore traps (rotorods) were mounted for ten consequent 48h samplings during the peak of the sporulating season (17th July to 6th August 2020). The spore traps were mounted 48, 37, 25, 14 and 0,3 meters above ground. Samples were quantified by qPCR. Results clearly proved the ability of the spores to reach a height of 48 meters. Furthermore, H. fraxineus DNA was detected from all five spore traps during all ten samplings. Mostly, the amount of detected spores showed a decreasing trend with height, and varied a lot. During some of the samplings, higher spore concetrations were achieved at the top than at the lower traps, which can be explained by horizontal air transfer of the inoculum from other infected areas. Based on GLM analyses, higher spore concentrations were achieved during days without rain, lower air temperatures, after cloudy, humid and rainy weather without strong winds. A combination of rotorod ROTTRAP 52 with qPCR quantification proved to be an efficient technology for a study focused on the vertical spread of H. fraxineus propagules.O
Comparison of Rainfall Partitioning and Estimation of the Utilisation of Available Water in a Monoculture Beech Forest and a Mixed Beech-Oak-Linden Forest
Get PDFMonoculture forests formed by Fagus sylvatica L. belong to one of the most sensitive forest ecosystems, mainly at low altitudes. Cultivation of this species in mixed stands should reduce its sensitivity to drought in the vegetation period, which is why we researched the water balance in one pure-beech (i.e., monoculture) and one beech-oak-linden (i.e., mixed) forest. This research was carried out in Drahanská vrchovina in the Czech Republic in the period 2019-2021. The total precipitation was measured, together with its partitions (i.e., throughfall and stemflow), and the crown interception was also calculated. The total forest transpiration was calculated from the values measured on the sample trees. The values of each rainfall partition and transpiration (and their percentages) were compared. The rainfall partitions in the monoculture forest differed from those in the mixed forest. While, on average, the annual percentages of the throughfall, stemflow and crown interception in the monoculture forest were 63%, 6% and 31%, respectively, these partitions in the mixed forest were 76%, 2% and 22%, respectively. The crown interception was greater in the monoculture (31% of precipitation) and the effective precipitation (i.e., the sum of throughfall and stemflow) was greater in the mixed forest (78% of precipitation). The greatest differences (in each rainfall partition) between the monoculture and mixed forest were in the summer and winter. The throughfall was greater in the mixed forest (ca. 22% in the summer and ca. 12% in the winter), and the stemflow was greater in the monoculture forest (ca. 66% in the summer and ca. 51% in the winter). The mean annual transpiration was 318 (+-52) mm in the monoculture and 451 (+-58) mm in the mixed forest, i.e., about 99 (+-65) mm more in the mixed forest than in the monoculture forest. The transpiration, in comparison with the effective precipitation, made up, on average, 70% of the effective precipitation in the monoculture forest. On the other hand, the transpiration reached 71% (in 2019), 74% (in 2020) and even 100% (in 2021) of the effective precipitation in the mixed forest. Our results show that an oak-beech-linden mixed forest can manage water better than a beech monoculture because more precipitation leaked through the mixed forest onto the soil than through the monoculture, especially via the throughfall in the summer. On the other hand, the amount of water that transpired was greater in the mixed forest than in the monoculture. However, the utilisation of the effective precipitation by trees was very similar in the monoculture in all three years, while, in the mixed forest, the utilisation of the effective water by trees increased, which may have been caused by the saturation of the deeper soil layers with water in the first two years of measurement. We can, Therefore, say that, at lower altitudes, it will be more suitable in the future to cultivate beech in mixed forests because of the assumed lack of water (mainly in early spring and summer).O
Artificial Weathering of Contact-Charred Wood-The Effect of Modification Duration, Wood Species and Material Density
Get PDFA relevant issue with charred exteriors is the inconsistency of the result, which makes service life predictions complicated. Contact charring enables the creation of a very evenly modified surface with accurate control of temperature and modification time, but the weathering properties are questionable. This paper evaluated the effect of the modification time relative to char layer and transition zone thickness, wood species and material density in an artificial weathering test. The results revealed higher color stability in connection to longer modification time, but also an increase in the cracked surface area. Cracking was heavily dependent on the modification regime and increased with increasing char and transition zone thicknesses. Dense spruce had the highest color stability with the most severe modification regime, but char layer thickness varied more than on other wood types. Furthermore, species-dependent cracking patterns affected the final result as the small-scale flaking experienced by birch increased the washing off of char. It is likely an even higher modification temperature with a shorter modification time is needed to produce sufficient weathering resistance suitable for exterior uses.O
Optimal Conversion Management for Spruce-dominated Forests: the Case of Drahanska Highlands
Get PDFWith climate change, restoration of natural tree species in areas planted artificially with Norway spruce (Picea abies (L). Karst.) is among the main issues in Central European forest management. However, information on particular forest conversion strategies and on understanding their economic consequences are incomplete. To contribute, we develop a deterministic finite-time dynamic optimization model to understand the driving forces in the economically optimal conversion of spruce-dominated forests planted outside of natural conditions in South Moravia, Czech Republic. In addition to the commonly researched European beech (Fagus sylvatica (L.)), we also consider oak (Quercus (sp.)), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris (L.) Karst.), and larch (Larix decidua) as alternatives to spruce and evaluate them from an economic point of view. The model recommends a steady reduction of the spruce fraction, replacing it preferably with oak, beech, and larch. The model validation shows that such a forest plan appears both ecologically advisable and economically optimal.O
In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity of Phosphate-Based Zinc Nanoparticles
Get PDFIn recent years, zinc nanoparticles have captivated an attention due to their antimicrobial properties. Moreover, the advantage of nanomaterials is an ability to modify their chemical composition and influence their antibacterial properties. In this study, zinc-phosphate nanoparticles (ZnNPs) were prepared via chemical route of synthesis. Their antibacterial activity was evaluated by monitoring a bacterial growth of model microorganisms: gram-negative (G-) E. coli, and gram-positive (G+) S. aureus as well as methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Obtained results have shown, the ZnNPs are the most effective against G+ S. aureus compared to MRSA or G- E. coli. The inhibition concentrations for S. aureus, E. coli and MRSA was 0.16, 1.25, 2.5 mM, respectively. To conclude, ZnNPs exhibit antibacterial activity against both G+ and G- model microorganisms, however, G- bacteria are more sensitive against ZnNPs.O
Contributions Burden on Persons Active in Agriculture in Relation to Pension Aspects
Get PDFThe paper focuses on the area of the burden of contributions to state budget with an emphasis on pension insurance contributions of employees and self-employed persons active in the agricultural sector with regard to the amount of their future retirement pension. The comparison shows that self-employed workers in agriculture contribute to state budget about 2.5 times less than employees with comparable net income. As a result, the level of pensions is insufficient, predominantly for entrepreneurs whose pensions only amount to 39 to 45% of their real net income. On the basis of analysis of results from different models, calculations were made of the necessary monthly contributions to the supplementary pension savings plans that would ensure retirement living standards equivalent to 70% of net income earned during working life. The paper also quantifies redistributive effects by studying pension contributions of persons active in agriculture during their working life and pension withdrawals in retirement. The results are compared with those obtained from a group of employees. Contributions of the self-employed are also compared within the V4 countries. In the conclusion of the paper there are some recommendations that might lead to a reduction in the gap in contributions and better living standards for future old-age pensioners.O
Testing the Production Potential of Paulownia Clon In Vitro 112(R) in the Czech Republic
Get PDFPaulownia is a deciduous fast-growing tree with intensive sprouting ability and is well adapted to various climatic and soil conditions. Its native area extends from the middle to the lower section of the Yangtze River. The aim of our research was to test the potential of Paulownia Clon in vitro 112(R) for production of saw timber in the conditions of the Czech Republic. In 2016, three private plantations were established-Střelice, Vlčatín and Vorel. The parameters that were measured were the total height, the height of the live above-ground part of each plant after the winter, the stem thickness at 10 cm above the ground, and the stem thickness at breast height. The measurements were taken from 2016 to 2021. At all plantations, the plants achieved very small mean annual increments in height (under 1 m) and thickness (under 1 cm). On average, 39% of the upper above-ground part of each plant was damaged by frost each winter and the cumulative mortality was 28% to 53%.O
Comparative investigation of chemical and structural properties of charred fir wood samples by Raman and FTIR spectroscopy as well as X-ray-micro-CT technology
Get PDFWood surface charring is a treatment method commonly employed to enhance weather protection and aesthetic appearance of building exteriors. This study aims to investigate the differences between two wood surface charring processes: the traditional Japanese method known as Yakisugi and an alternative charring technique industrially manufactured with a gas burner. The objective of the study was to assess whether a thicker layer after Yakisugi treatment has any advantages over a thinner layer after the alternative process. Vibrational spectroscopy techniques including UV resonance Raman (UVRR) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, were utilized in conjunction with X-ray-micro-CT analysis. The findings revealed that ATR-FTIR spectroscopy detected the degradation of carbohydrates and changes in lignin within the charred surface, although both processes exhibited similar vibrational contributions. In contrast, UVRR spectroscopy provided insights into the carbonized layers, revealing spectral differences indicating variations in temperature during the charring processes. X-ray micro-CT analysis visually highlighted significant differences in the coal layers, suggesting distinct combustion profiles. Remarkably, the macrostructure of wood treated with Yakisugi remained intact despite a thicker charred layer compared to the alternative charring techniques. However, further investigations are required to assess the weather stability of the alternative charring method for a comprehensive understanding.O
Innovative technology of saplings planting for increase tourism potential of the landscape
No full textThe saplings extractor is intended primarily for replanting all types of seedling forest trees included a bale of soil without disturbing the root system. Trees growing along roads or already grown to a certain extent trees in the landscape are often need to be transplanted due to landscaping or urban planning. These trees can be used, for example, in popular tourist localities, where they can speed up the regeneration of the landscape and make visitors' stay more pleasant. However, this activities shouldn't be provided only manually, but some advanced technologies have to be used. The goal of this paper is presenting a new technology for mechanized planting using the production potential of the seedling trees. The principle of the saplings extractor lies in excavating a pit at the site that will be the subject of tree replanting, and then transplanting the pre-lifted up seedling forest tree into the prepared excavated pit. The last phase is to backfill the pit all around with soil from the excavated pit after the sapling was picked up. This paper emphasise the economic advantages of new technology and provides the saplings planting solutions in the form of landscaping, road tree rows or ornamental trees in an urbanized environment.Published Versio