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Is Agriculture 4.0 in Czech Republic More Real than Industry 4.0? Analysis of Selected Macroeconomic Indicators
No full textIn recent years, there has been a lot of talk about the introduction of new technologies into the production process due to Industry 4.0 initiative, and in agriculture, Agriculture 4.0. Based on the analysis of data from Eurostat, it appears that the importance of the agricultural sector in the Czech economy has been decreasing since the 1990s, its performance and productivity are not adequate compared to other sectors. However, according to the available data, the agricultural sector can be characterized as an area of the economy in which the Agriculture 4.0 initiative has been manifested itself in recent years, especially in terms of evaluating the year-on-year growth of the relevant components of fixed assets. Even if the manifestations of this initiative are not reflected in the overall state of the sector assessed through labor productivity or the hours worked per person, the dynamics of the use of new technologies has been more pronounced in agriculture in recent years than in the rest of the Czech economy. It can therefore be concluded that the Agriculture 4.0 initiative in the Czech Republic has its impacts with positive prospects for the future.Published Versio
Validation of sentinel 2 based machine learning models for Czech National Forest Inventory
Full text linkThe National Forest Inventory (NFI) of the Czech Republic provides essential data for forest management but requires significant time and resources. This study highlights the critical role of validating Sentinel-2-based machine learning models against real NFI data to ensure their reliability for forest monitoring. While satellite-based models offer a cost-effective alternative, their practical applicability depends on rigorous validation. We applied four commonly used machine learning models-Classification and Regression Trees, Random Forest, Support Vector Machine, and Naive Bayes-to Sentinel-2 imagery to estimate forest cover conditions. The Random Forest model achieved the highest overall accuracy (98.3 %). By systematically comparing model predictions with official NFI data, we address a key gap in remote sensing applications: the need for real-world validation beyond training datasets. Our findings demonstrate that properly validated Sentinel-2-based models can enhance large-scale forest monitoring, reducing the financial and labor burdens of traditional field surveys while ensuring data accuracy for sustainable forest management.O
Is regulatory protection of the territory empirically detectable? Analysis of temperature and vegetation trends in the northern area of Bogota with remote sensing.
Full text linkEste trabajo presenta un análisis de las tendencias de desarrollo urbano del sector norte de Bogotá, en un área de 6930 hectáreas que incluye el Plan de Ordenamiento Zonal del Norte (POZN) y parte de la reserva natural Thomas Van der Hammen (RTVH). El plan propuesto por la Alcaldía mediante el Decreto 088 de 2017 intenta dar coherencia a un desarrollo urbano que ha ocurrido de facto y con importantes consecuencias ecológicas y sociales mientras que la RTVH intenta proteger las características ecológicas de este sector entre los cerros y el rio Bogotá. El método consistió en analizar series de tiempo de temperatura de la superficie y de vegetación mediante técnicas de teledetección e indicadores radiométricos para identificar los cambios estructurales que ha experimentado el sector en términos de sus componentes biofísicos. Los resultados del análisis ponen en evidencia que el proceso de urbanización instalado en el sector norte de Bogotá es el determinante de las tendencias del espacio biofísico observadas, más allá de las figuras de protección legal que existen que incluyen el POZN y la RTVH. En el caso de la RTVH, el marco de protección no ha sido efectivo para preservar las características ecológicas que justificaron su creación. La inclusión de evidencia empírica como la mostrada en este trabajo en la planificación del desarrollo urbano es clave para avanzar en la protección activa del medio ambiente, más allá del discurso normativo.This article analyzes the trends in urban development in an area of 6930 hectares in the northern sector of Bogotá that includes the Northern Zonal Management Plan (POZN, in Spanish) and part of the Thomas Van der Hammen Nature Reserve (RTVH, in Spanish). The plan established by the Mayor's Office through Decree 088 of 2017 seeks to manage an urban development trend that has occurred de facto, with important ecological and social consequences, while the RTVH intends to protect the ecological characteristics of this sector located between the hills and the Bogotá River. The method consisted of analyzing time series of surface temperature and vegetation using remote sensing techniques and radiometric indicators to identify the structural changes experienced by the sector in terms of its biophysical components. The results of the analysis show that the urbanization process taking place in the northern sector of Bogotá is the driver of the observed trends in the biophysical space beyond the legal protection instruments currently in force, including POZN and RTVH. In the case of RTVH, the protection framework has been insufficient to preserve the ecological characteristics that led to its creation. The inclusion of empirical evidence in urban development planning, such as that shown in this work, is key to advancing the active protection of the environment beyond the regulatory discourse.O
Changes in soil properties due to land reclamation and climate change in South Moravian Floodplain Forest
Full text linkClimatic extremes combined with specific soil hydrological conditions affect the existence and vitality of floodplain forests. Former land reclamation measures and bed river regulations were done to control the annual floods in the studied area. Later subsequent revitalization measures, transboundary controlled river management, wetland restoration, and integrated planning were realized to reduce groundwater dropping and other environmental problems. This study aimed to follow the dynamic of groundwater level and soil hydrophysical properties as affected by climatic change, and regarding forest production. The continuous dataset (2019-2022) of soil physical, and hydrophysical properties, and the parameters of tree radial growth were obtained. The monthly assessment of soil parameters and climatic conditions showed that the lack of precipitation and temperature increase significantly affected groundwater level and forest production. Groundwater level was evaluated by z-score and the means, and standard deviation values were considered. Lack of water has not only negative economic and financial effects on forest production but also ecological ones. Continual monitoring is necessary to improve the revitalization measures (e.g. artificial floodings) and prepare future soil models, which can help better understand both the soil and tree growth in the changing environment.O
Moravian Karst under the microscope
No full textPřírodovědný výzkum Moravského krasu zahrnuje mnoho oborů, kterými jsou geologie, zoologie a botanika, ekologie a další. V posledních 10 letech byla pozornost zaměřena na mikrobiologické a především bakteriologické studium vody a sedimentů, na prostředí lesů, luk a především na studium jeskynního prostředí. Úloha bakterií v systému člověkem více i méně ovlivněné krasové přírody byla v Moravském krasu dosud známa jen obecně. Život těchto mikroskopických organismů zůstával zejména v jeskynním prostředí zčásti nepoznaný. Výzkumný tým vedený profesorem Ivo Pavlíkem, složený z odborníků Mendelovy univerzity v Brně, Zdravotního ústavu se sídlem v Ostravě, Muzea Blanenska a dalších institucí, se rozhodl tuto mezeru zaplnit. Za indikátorový mikroorganismus si vybrali mykobakterii. Také výzkum dalších drobných obyvatel krasové krajiny se bez mikroskopu nebo aspoň lupy neobejde. Třeba drobné kostičky netopýrů a dalších savců jsou svědectvím o změnách klimatu a krajiny v minulosti. Vrstvičky netopýřího guána, nánosy říčních sedimentů v podzemí, nebo žížaly v něm žijící; to všechno jsou pro nás zdroje poznání mechanismu, jakým příroda Moravského krasu funguje. I vy si můžete nyní vyzkoušet, jaké to je ponořit se prostřednictvím okuláru mikroskopu a různých moderních laboratorních metod do světa těch opravdu malých organismů, které tak významně ovlivňují život přírody v Moravském krasu a v některých případech i ten náš.Natural science research in the Moravian Karst includes many fields, such as geology, zoology and botany, ecology, and others. In the last 10 years, attention has been focused on the microbiological and, above all, bacteriological study of water and sediments, on the environment of forests, meadows and, above all, on the study of cave environments. The role of bacteria in the system of karst nature more or less influenced by humans was only generally known in the Moravian Karst. The life of these microscopic organisms remained largely unknown, especially in the cave environment. A research team led by Professor Ivo Pavlík, consisting of experts from the Mendel University in Brno, the Public Health Institute Ostrava, the Museum Blanenska and other institutions, decided to fill this gap. They chose Mycobacterium as the indicator microorganism. Also, the research of other small inhabitants of the karst landscape cannot be done without a microscope or at least a magnifying glass. For example, the tiny bones of bats and other mammals are evidence of climate and landscape changes in the past. Layers of bat guano, deposits of river sediments underground, or earthworms living in it; all these are sources of knowledge for us about the mechanism by which the nature of the Moravian Karst works. You too can now experience what it's like to immerse yourself through the eyepiece of a microscope and various modern laboratory methods into the world of those really small organisms that so significantly influence the life of nature in the Moravian Karst and in some cases our life as well.Published Versio
Effect of the percentage of MUF adhesive coverage on shear strength when bonding different wood species
Full text linkDue to climate changes, it is necessary to consider the use of other wood species to replace currently used woods. This work deals with the determination of the shear strength of bonded veneers (eight European wood species: spruce, larch, pine, beech, oak, poplar, birch, and alder) with Silekol(R) 311 melamine-urea-formaldehyde adhesive (MUF) with a variable coverage on the surface of the samples: 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 50, 75, and 100%. The Automated Bonding Evaluation System (ABES) was used to evaluate and compare adhesive bond strengths. The larch, beech, and oak samples exhibited greater single-lap shear strength than the control samples from spruce. There was no statistically significant difference in shear strength regarding the adhesive coverage from 100% to 20% on the surface of the samples, for almost all wood species. The results of the project provide basic information about the bonding strengths with different coverage in the adhesive layer, comparing non-commonly used wood species in wood-based composites such as oriented strand board and particleboard.O
Opportunities for the United States hotel industry to recover from COVID-19: a multi-period DEA analysis of key efficiency determinants
No full textPurpose: This study examines empirically the development of efficiency levels in the hotel industry and its key drivers, by juxtaposing pre- and post-COVID-19 results in the four most important cities in the United States in terms of international arrivals. Design/methodology/approach: A two-step approach was employed by first utilising the data envelopment analysis method to characterise the efficiency of United States hotels. A multiple linear regression analysis was performed to compare hotel performance in the two years prior to the COVID-19 outbreak with the first two years after the outbreak. Findings: The results indicated the positive effect of size and the economy hotel category on efficiency, while increasing property age, urban location and a lack of brand affiliation showed a negative effect. During the pandemic, size and the economy category remained significant and positive, whereas urban location continued to represent a negative effect. Practical implications: This study assists decision makers regarding prospective investments, supports existing and future portfolio analyses, contributes to observations on competition, and offers a wider perspective of the industry. Originality/value: First, this study investigated the evolution of factors that influenced efficiency before and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Second, the results offer insights into the impact of the pandemic on hotels' efficiency levels. Third, the study proposes directions for the restoration of hotel efficiency to pre-COVID-19 levels.Preprin
Biodiversity and Vegetation Succession in Vineyards, Moravia (Czech Republic)
Full text linkMaintaining biodiversity in agricultural landscapes is a major challenge for environmental protection in Europe. Vineyards rely heavily on agrotechnical interventions such as herbicide use and tillage for weed control, which affect biodiversity and can lead to soil erosion and resistant weed populations. The fragmentation of agricultural landscapes affects biodiversity by altering community composition and often reducing plant population sizes and genetic diversity. However, it can also increase the abundance of certain species and enhance population resilience to environmental change. Vineyards can support high levels of biodiversity and provide ecosystem services due to their semi-natural habitat structure. This research evaluates vegetation biodiversity using phytosociological relevés in different vineyards. Our results show that species richness and biodiversity are significantly influenced by vineyard age and management type. This study highlights differences in the representation of plant functional groups, with perennial taxa in grassy inter-row contributing to anti-erosion functions and serving as food sources for pollinators. The root zone around vine trunks shows an increase in invasive species with vineyard age, posing a risk to the agroecosystem. Vineyards predominantly follow a ruderal ecological strategy, using nutrients and light efficiently, while tolerating management disturbances. Understanding these dynamics is critical for developing sustainable vineyard management practices that support biodiversity and ecological resilience, counteract the homogenization of agricultural landscapes, and promote the coexistence of viticulture and species-rich ecosystems.O
Verification of the selective efficacyand effect of the applicationof the pre-emergence herbicide Stomp (Pendimethalin) on shoot growth in young ornamental woody plants using privet and European Bladdernut as an example
Full text linkThe research was carried out on newly planted bare-root plants at an early stage of their cultivation. The scope of the growth responses of woody plants was verified in relation to the recommended herbicide rate, namely for herbicide solution application rates of 0.825% and 1.025%. The new increment of the longest shoot and the mortality rate were evaluated. The selective efficacy on weeds was observed. Data collection took place at 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 weeks after application. The experiment followed the manufacturer's recommendations for application. It was conducted on an experimental area of loamy sand soil in 2019 and it was not affected by extreme weather conditions. The application of the herbicide to privet (Ligustrum vulgare) showed a small inhibitory effect, reducing the average increment of the longest plant shoot by 4.7% and 8.3%, respectively, by the end of the study period compared to the control. By contrast, in the case of the European Bladdernut (Staphylea pinnata), the application was found to have an adverse effect. The role of the application rate was secondary. The average increment of the longest shoot was reduced by 45.68% and 50.13%, respectively, and the mortality rate of the treated woody plants reached 10% at the end of the study period. The highest inhibitory effect of the herbicide on the ornamental woody plants that had been treated was observed in the first 2 and 4 weeks after treatment, respectively. The application of the herbicide proved ineffective against horseweed (Conyza canadensis) and groundsel (Senecio vulgaris).O
Assessment of selected landfill impacts on selected segments of the environment - A case study
Full text linkLandfilling is the oldest method of waste management. A number of biological, chemical, and physical reactions occur at the landfills, which cause a threat to the environment. For this reason, landfill monitoring is necessary, and biomonitoring is increasingly beginning to be used. The aim of this study is to (i) determine some effects of the landfill on the surrounding environment, (ii) analysis of plant bioindicators and (iii) biomonitoring based on the occurrence of plant species producing allergenic pollen. Furthermore, plants producing fruits and seeds were also analysed. During biomonitoring, no serious effects of the landfill on the surrounding environment were detected. The plant species found were evaluated based on the frequency of occurrence, pollination vector, distribution of fruits and seeds, and intensity of allergen effects. Thanks to the occurrence of plant allergens, there is a potential risk of the spread of allergens to the landfill surroundings. Furthermore, some species of non-native and invasive plants were found on the active part of the landfill. These species spread their seeds and fruits, and they pose a potential risk to the ecosystems.O