Occurance and behaviour of milk suckling dairy cows under different housing and calf rearing conditions
Ondrej DEBRECÉNI, Peter JUHÁS, Peter STRAPÁK (Slovak Agricultural University, Nitra)
Paper is in Slovak
(3 tables, 3 graphs, 22 ref.)
The aim of the present work was to study the occurance of
milk-suckling dairy cows, reasons for this abnormal behaviour
and the differences in behaviour between milk-suckling cows
and "normal" ones. Research was carried out on 18 large-scale
farms having different housing conditions, situated in the
lowland and highland areas of Slovakia. A number of
milk-suckling dairy cows ranged from 0.55 to 8.33%. The
highest percentage of milk-suckling cows was found in the
conditions of loose housing (mean 4.3%), tie stalls with
outlets (mean 4.27%), and tie stalls and camp feeding (mean
3.71%). The smallest number was detected in tie stalls
conditions, with the mean of 1.48%. The results obtained
suggest that there is a relationship between an area per cow
and a number of milk-suckling cows with loose housing, and
between a method of feeding milk to calves and a number of
milk-suckling cows. The lower percentage of milk-suckling cows
was found on the farms with a larger area per cow and on those
where calves suckled milk from udder for several days after
birth. A number of milk-suckling heifers ranged from 3.61 to
14.29%. No significant differences in overalll general
activities, an extent of both social activities and comfort
activities were found between milk-suckling and "normal" dairy
cows. There were statistically significant differences in the
distribution of attacks during a daz between both types.
Whilst mutual attacks of normal dairy cows culminated before
feeding, those of milk-suckling dairy cows occured during and
immediately after feeding
Key words: behaviour disorders, milk-suckling cows, calf rearing, ethology
AGROVOC descriptors: dairy cows, calves, abnormal behaviour
Adress: doc. Ing. Ondrej Debrecéni, CSc., Katedra špeciálnej zootechniky, Agronomická fakulta SPU v Nitre, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, e-mail:ondrej.debreceni@uniag.sk
Studies on the embryology of the grasshopper Chrotogonus lugubris Blanchard (Orthoptera, Acridoidea, Pyrgomorphidae). I. Morphogenesis, rate of development and water
requirements
Mohamed Abdel Khaled RAHMAN (Entomol Dept., Fac. Sci., Cairo University, Egypt)
Paper is in English
(3 tables, 10 ill., 46 ref.)
The embryonic development is sorted into nine major stages: 1/
Formation of the germ band; 2/ Differentiation of the germ
band into protocephalon and protocorm; 3/ Segmentation and
appearance of appendages; 4/ Differentiation of appendages; 5/
Blastokinesis; 6/ Blastokinesis completed; 7/ Rapid growth and
development of the dorsal closure; 8/ First instar cutide
secreted; 9/ Darkens of the cutide before hatching. Rate of
development is expressed as %D. Water uptake by eggs follows a
sigmoid curve and reaches maximum by Stage 34.7%D. Fresh eggs
are unable to absorb water from humid air. Preincubated eggs
in contact water for 1-2 days old entered a state of arrested
development under 100% R.H. and resumed activity when get in
contact with water
Key words: embryo, water uptake, arrested development
AGROVOC descriptors: Acrididae, embryonic development, morphogenesis
Adress: Khaled Mohamed Abdel RAHMAN, Entomol. Dept., Fac. Sci., Cairo University, Egypt
Formation of water-resistant structural aggregates in Orthic luvisol and their changes due to farming systems used
Vendelín MUCHA, Peter SISÁK, Rastislav MUCHA (Slovak Agricultural University, Nitra)
Paper is in English
(3 tables, 4 ref.)
The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effect of two
farming systems (conventional - CS and organic - OS) on the
creation of and changes in the content of water-resistant
structural aggregates of orthic Luvisol of the Zitava hills.
Results from a study on the seasonal formation dynamics of
water-resistant soil structures confirmed that it is a
complicated process which varies during a year, particularly
depending on the humus content and composition as well as on
the farming system used. A 0.5-3 mm category of
water-resistant aggregates (most valuable from the agronomic
point of view) amounted on average to 13.74% in the organic
farming system and only to 11.67% in the conventional one
(this difference is statistically significant). A similar
situation was observed for 0.25-10 mm water-resistant
aggregates, with 26.98% in the organic farming system and
24.66% in the conventional system. The results obtained
indicate that the structural composition of orthic luvisol is
not favorable. The main measures ensuring a more favorable
production of water-resistant structural aggregates in orthic
luvisol of the above area are as follows: the right structure
of plant production, the regular use of higher rates of
organic fertilizers, liming, and mellowing of low-soil
Key words: water-resistant aggregates, Orthic Luvisol, farming systems, humus
AGROVOC descriptors: LUVISOLS; SOIL TEXTURE; SOIL PORE SYSTEM; HYGROSCOPICITY;
CROPPING SYSTEMS; HUMUS
Adress: doc. Ing. Vendelín Mucha, CSc., Katedra pedológie a geológie, Agronomická fakulta SPU, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, tel. +421-87-6508 751-754
The state of soil hygiene in lowland regions of Slovakia from the viewpoint of heavy metals contents in different extractants
Ján TOMÁŠ, Jozef TÓTH, Peter LAZOR (Slovak Agricultural University, Nitra)
Paper is in Slovak
(2 tables, 17 ref.)
The results from measuring the totaf contents of Cd, Pb, Cu,
Zn, and Cr in soils of Slovakia and those of their
determination in 2 M HNO3 as well as extracts of 0.05 M
ethylenediamine tetraacetic add and 0.01 M CACI2 are
discussed. A choice of soil subtypes was concentrated on the
lowland regions of Slovakia. The soil of mountain regions and
the soil contaminated by heavy metals of a metallurgical
factory were analyzed for comparison. In order to estimate the
anthropogenical and geochemical origin of heavy metals, these
were also determined in pedological probes at a depth of 0-0.1
m, 0.2-0.3 m and 0.35-0.45 m. The properties which are
generally regarded as the determining factors in terms of the
mobility of heavy metals were used for characterization of
soils analyzed, i.e. soil reaction, humus content and a ratio
of humic acids and fluvic acids. Measurements of the total
contents of heavy metals showed that all soil subtypes under
study had a higher cadmium content in their superfacial
horizons. The reference values for cadmium according to the
valid legislation were found to be exceeded in haplic
chernozems, eutric fluvisols, mollic fluvisols and
fluvisols-stagnosols. The results of the cadmium determination
in a pedological probe revealed quite a uniform distribution
of cadmium, and its increased content in the superfacial
horizon is evidently caused by the bioaccumulation of cadmium
as well by its liberation from phosphoric fertilizers. In
comparison with a clarke value the content of cadmium in
lowland regions is higher but it corresponds to the results
obtained in the Czech Republic and other European countries as
well. The definite mission load and natural endogeneous
anomalies were found in eutric cambisols of the region of
Stredny Spis, having a very high content of copper as well as
high contents of cadmium, zinc and lead. There were
significant differences in solubility of all extractants and
elements determined between the contaminated cambisols of
Stredny Spis and other soils analysed, except for the
solubility of chromium in 0.05 M EDTA and 0.01 M CaCI2. In 2 M
HNO3, an interval of solubility from 70.6% Cu in haplic
areniasols to 3.3% Cr in eutric canbisols was determined,
which limits the suitability of this extractant for assessment
of potential mobilizable heavy metals. The importance of the
determination of mobile forms of heavy metals (an extract of
0.01 M CaCl2) is controversial because of low (trace element)
contents, which are very demanding in terms of the analytical
determination. The relatively highest amount in a mobile form
was noted for Cd, which in particular concerns highly
contaminated eutric cambisols, stagnieutric cambisols, haplic
chernozems, eutric fluvisols and mollic fluvisols. The best
extractant was 0.05 M EDTA, especially for Cd, Pb, Cu and
partially for Zn. However, we do not expect there is a
possibility of using a universal extractant from the viewpoint
of evaluation of the heavy metals mobility in soil
Key words: soil, total content, metals, total mobile form, mobile content of heavy metals
AGROVOC descriptors: heavy metals, risk, soil pollutio, lowland, Slovak Republic
Adress: Katedra chémie, Agronomická fakulta, Slovenská poľnohospodárska univerzita v Nitre, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovak Republic
Chlorophyll concentration (SPAD values) in leaves of cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) as indicator of nitrogen concentrations and production of grassland
Norbert GÁBORČÍK (Vyskumny ústav travnych porastov a horskeho polnohospodarstva, Banska Bystrica)
Paper is in Slovak
(3 tables, 5 ill., 32 ref.)
A study was carried out to examine the effects of increasing
rates of nitrogen (0.90 and 180 kg N/ha) on the concentrations
of chlorophyll, a + b (SPAD values) and nitrogen in the leaves
of cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.), which is part of
seminatural grassland (association Poo-Trisetum) and temporary
sward (grass-clover mixture). Research was carried out at the
site of Sucha dolina (an altitude of 460 m above sea level)
over four years (1995-1998). At the same time, the impact of
the application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers (P30
and K60 kg/ha) on the above parameters and dry matter (DM)
yield in both grassland types was studied. In comparison with
control (N0), the mean content of chlorophyll, a + b (SPAD)
increased from 44.4 to 45.2 and 49.6 in the permanent grasland
and from 38.9 to 44.8 and 48.) in the temporary sward at the
treatments of N90 and N180, respectively. A close relationship
between N content and SPAD readings of cocksfoot leaves was
observed for the individual types of grassland under
investigation (r=0.869++ and r=0.854++) as well as for both of
them (r=0.964++). It was confirmed that SPAD values for these
grass species are highly dependent on a level of nitrogen
fertilization, correlating with DM yield of both grassland
types (r=0.964++). The application of phosphorus and potassium
reduced the mean SPAD value and N content by 8.2 and 0.7%,
respectively. There is a discussion about the possibility of
using a chlorophyll meter to determine a level of nitrogen
application and predict N concentration for grass leaves and
DM yield of a grassland
Key words: grassland, chlorophyll, SPAD, yield, Dactylis glomerata
AGROVOC descriptors: Dactylis glomerata, chlorophylls, dry matter content, crop yield
Adress: doc.Ing. Norbert Gáborčík, CSc., Výskumný ústav trávnych porastov a horského poľnohospodárstva, Mládežnícka 36, 974 21 Banská Bystrica, fax: +421-88-73 25 44
The evaluation of bioavailability of cadmium, lead, copper, zinc and chromium in heavily contaminated fluvisoil
Jozef TÓTH, Ján TOMÁŠ, Peter LAZOR (Slovak Agricultural University, Nitra)
Paper is in Slovak
(3 tables, 12 ref.)
The relationships are analyzed between the contents of cadmium,
lead, copper, zinc and chromium in soil extracts of strong
mineral acids (total content), in 2 M HNO3 (potentially
mobilizable), in extracts of 0.05 M EDTA (topically
mobilizable), as well as in the extract of 0.01 M CaCl2
(mobile) and the contents of these risky heavy metals in
spring barley, oat and silage maize obtained under conditions
of vegetational pot experiments using a heavily contaminated
fluvisoil. The soil investigated (the River Hornad valley in
Stredny Spis region) was contaminated due to geopedogonic
anomalous concentration of copper and immissions of a
metallurgical factory (Kovohuty Works, Krompachy) as well. A
heavy copper contamination is shown by exceeding the
legislatively stated indicating value C for decontamination
and the riskiness of soils by exceeding the reference value A,
or Al defined for cadmium and zinc. Potentially and topically
mobilizable forms of copper in soil are also extremely high,
these forms of copper being more significant for the soil
hygiene evaluation than the total content. A sequence of heavy
metals extractability in different extraction agents was
suggested. From the soil extractability of heavy metals it
follows that their mobile contents are trace and the
analytical determinations are highly demanding. Potentially
mobilizable forms of different heavy metals vary from 99.34%
Pb to 6.10% Cr and this can limit their suitability for
assessment of the soil hygiene. 0.05 M EDTA is considered to
be the best extraction agent for heavily contaminated soil (it
refers to Pb, Cu, Cd and partially to Zn). The results from
the determination of heavy metals in barley and oat grain
showed that the contents of copper and cadmium are excessive,
which does not fulfill the requirements of the Slovak Food
Codes. In accordance with the valid legislation, however, the
contents determined in grain and the above-ground biomasss are
allowed for feeding. Based on the values of transfer
coefficients, 0.05 M EDTA is the most suitable extractant for
determining the bioavailability of Cu, Cd and Pb contents. The
use of an universal extraction agent for the bioavailability
evaluation of heavy metals is not possible
Key words: heavy metals, bioavailability, soil hygiene, transfer coefficients
AGROVOC descriptors: cadmium, copper, chromium, zinc, polluted soil, fluvisols, bioavailability, Slovak republic
Adress: Katedra chémie, Agronomická fakulta, Slovenská poľnohospodárska univerzita v Nitre, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra