EJPAU, 2007, Volume 10, Issue 1

Drought, a natural component of the climatic system, is a complex phenomenon with its attendant consequences. This study was carried out to evaluate the occurrence of drought from rainfall data for Lokoja, a confluence of two major rivers in Nigeria. Rainfall data for upward of 73 years (1931-2003) was obtained for Lokoja and four different evaluation techniques; namely, Stochastic Component Time Series (SCTS), Rainfall Anomaly Index (RAI), Cumulative Rainfall Information (CRI) and Drought Severity Index (DSI) based on quartile range were used for the analysis. It was found from this study that the Stochastic Component Time Series gave the time of occurrence of drought, while the Rainfall Anomaly Index also gave the drought years, the years with highest and lowest drought as well as the impart of drought and its severity in the study area. The Cumulative Rainfall Information was only able to monitor and assess the drought while the Drought Severity Index was also able to monitor and assess the drought by classification into driest, dry, near normal, wet and wettest drought years. On the whole the Rainfall Anomaly Index proved to be the most appropriate techniques because of its ability to supply more information on drought occurrence in the study area more than the other three techniques.

In this paper a video-extensometer method for studying the mechanical properties of wet biological samples is presented. The method is based on the relationships between a unit elongation of linear element on the surface and strain tensor elements. The linear elements are represented by randomly deposited markers. The analysis of the changes of markers positions during uniaxial tension directly allows to determine the strain in thin coat layers. As a test case, the method was applied to analyze the strain of the dwarf bean (Phaseolus coccineus) seed coats. Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio were determined for different moisture content. Young’s modulus clearly decreases with increasing moisture content of the sample.

The paper presents a method of choosing the function of nonlinear approximation and squeezing forces in relation to two independent variables of temperature and time of heating for the process of squeezing the thermally processed hot lupine seeds meant for grinding or slicing. The method was based on the mathematic modelling of unit functions of squeeze and unit energy depending on the temperature in the drying chamber and the time of heating the raw material. The method was illustrated by an example of preparing and testing the lupine seeds samples subjected to the process of heating in a universal drying device SUP-4 and squeezing hot seeds on a machine for resistance tests Instron 4320. The studies found out a statistically significant decrease of the values of energy and the force of squeezing the seeds earlier subjected to thermal treatment.

This paper describes the microwave sensors for grain and grain products’ moisture control in technological processes of their production. There were used two sensors at the output and at the input of the damping machine. Different algorithms of operation, has allowed optimizing the flour-milling equipment regarding to the highest quality (lowered ready-made product losses) at the output of flour.

It was shown, that the effect of electromagnetic dispersion on superficially moistened grain layer must be taken into account at rapid moistening.

The study was based on a field experiment carried out over 2000-2002 at the Osiny Experiment Station of Puławy Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation (IUNG) on a good rye soil suitability complex. The aim of the study was to estimate the variability of tuber yield and its structure of 5 selected potato cultivars (Baszta, Wolfram, Ania, Salto, Wawrzyn) in integrated and organic production systems. In each system different crop rotations and agronomic technologies were used. In the integrated system (potato spring barley faba bean winter wheat + white mustard as a catch crop) nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilization balancing the intake was applied at an amount of 110 kg N, 60 kg P and 60 kg K per ha. Compost in a dose of 35 t·ha^-1 was applied only once in the rotation – under potato. Chemical plant protection measures were applied using agrophage infestation threshold. In the organic system (potato spring barley clover with grass utilized for 2 years winter wheat + white mustard and spring vetch as a catch crop) no mineral fertilizers and pesticides were used except for Novodor and Permasect preparations against Colorado potato beetle. Only 2-year old compost (straw + red clover + addition of stable manure) at an amount of 35 t·ha^-1 was applied under potato. Weed control in this system involved harrowing with a weeding harrow till emergence, 3-fold hilling and a single manual weeding shortly before the last hilling. Cultivation systems had the strongest effect on the share of commercial tubers and tubers of a diameter of 4-6 cm in the total yield, cultivar features – on the share of commercial tubers in the yield, and habitat conditions – on the total tuber yield. The stable cultivars proved to be as follows: Wawrzyn – in respect of total yield, Salto – regarding the share of commercial tubers in the total yield, Ania – in terms of the share of the smallest tubers in the total yield and the commercial yield.

Under evaluation came 38 purebred Arabian stallions used as leading sires at Michałów Stud in the years 1983-2003, siring 586 heads of progeny. For their biometrical traits computed were the following indices: the Relative Genetic Value (RGV), Index of a Stallion (I) and Breeding Value (WH). It was found, that as decided improvers should be considered such stallions, as Arbil, bay, 1981; Ecaho, gr. 1990; Gadir, gr. 1977; Palas, gr. 1968; and Wojsław, bay, 1986; whereas pronounced degraders proved the following stallions: Aloes, bay,1973; Bandos, gr. 1964, Europejczyk, bay, 1982 and Falsyfikat, gr. 1984.

The goal of this paper was to define the species composition of the populations of fungi contaminating plant material in the in vitro cultures. The practice of micropropagation indicates that fungi growing on explants cause their elimination. The colonies of fungi in the number of 5 000 were obtained from the explants of ornamental plants, orchard plants and vegetables. Fungi occurring in the in vitro cultures belonged to 195 species, within 76 genera. Fungi of genera: Acremonium, Aspergillus, Alternaria, Botrytis, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Cylindrocarpon, Epicoccum, Humicola, Monilia, Paecilomyces, Penicillium and Scopulariopsis were represented in great quantities.

The paper describes several methods of determining the sphericity of bed grains and their verification in respect to selected minerals, such as: anthracite, barite, chalcedonite, diatomite, clinoptylolite, nevtraco, sand and pyrolusite. In order to make the results more reliable the tests were performed for 10 fractions of each bed. Since the above mentioned minerals, exploited in technical processes, are not uniform, it was necessary to apply intermediary methods, which enable to determine the averaged sphericity. The testing consisted in measuring other parameters which, together with sphericity, are components of suitable calculation formulas. Formulas of Ergun, Wen and Yu, Narshimhan, Dharmajah and Cleasby, as well as that by Cleasby and Fan, were applied.

It has been shown that reliable results may be obtained only by performing a quite long series of tests, because even small errors in measuring led to noticeable deviations from average values. Most reliable results were provided by formulas of Wen and Yu, as well as Narshimhan. The method of Dharmajah and Cleasby raises doubts, because sphericity obtained by this method gave results that increased with the growing velocity of rinsing, which should not happen, as sphericity is a constant value for a material.

The paper presents relations between drainage porosity (n_d) and the saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_s). The undisturbed soil samples were characterised by the saturated hydraulic conductivity, water retention curve (WRC) and estimated sum of the soil macro and mesopores known as the drainage porosity. The latter sum was estimated from the pF curves as a difference between the total porosity (_t) and the field capacity (FC). Two equations describing these relationships were proposed and the coefficients of the power function of Ahuja et al. [1, 2] were modified. The equations proposed were tested on the original data set and on the independent selected UNSODA data set [23] and compared with other previously published pedotransfer functions (PTFs). The results of the comparative analysis have shown that for 0.03 < _d<0.30 m³ × m^-3, the equation proposed in this paper provides a more accurate assessment of the saturated hydraulic conductivity. It has been also shown that the relation derived is universal and does not depend on the soil texture.

The tropospheric ozone is recently reported to be one of the most important air pollutants. Many methods and experiments have been designed to measure the tropospheric ozone concentration and to determine its influence on living organisms. The most sensitive bioindicator of ozone is the tobacco plant (Nicotiana tabacum L.). The physiological reaction of this and other plants to ozone are recently the subject of intensive studies. During experiments with tobacco, plants of two different cultivars were in two series exposed to ambient air for a time period of 14 days. After exposure the following parameters were measured: daily growth of plants, percentage of leaf injury, dry matter, chlorophyll and salicylic acid content. This method of ozone biomonitoring based on two tobacco cultivars of different susceptibility to ozone not only gives the unique opportunity to measure a visible effect on plants, but also to establish the mechanism of physiological reaction. Plants used for testing showed visible leaf injury, decreased in growth and chlorophyll content, increased in dry matter and salicylic acid content as the result of reaction to higher ozone concentration.

The objective of this research project was to analyse lake accessibility parameters in relation to the ecological state of lakeshores in the communes of Liniewo and Nowa Karczma, in the administrative district of Koscierzyna. Based on the results, the author tried to establish recreational potential of those water bodies in terms of their primary recreational functions. The study comprised 23 lakes of the total surface area of 616.5 ha. On the basis of on-site observations and measurements, an analysis of the shore zone ecological properties was done and shoreline accessibility indices were established. The range of water emergent vegetation growing in belts 1-5 m and > 5m in width was determined along with the share of wetlands in the lake shoreline zone. Lakeshore accessibility indices were highly varied. The percentage of shoreline sections overgrown with emergent plants was on average 39.9% for the lakes in Nowa Karczma commune and 75.9% in Liniewo commune. Wetlands within the lakeshore zones, which was a highly variable parameter, reached on average 17.3% for the lakes in Nowa Karczma commune and 38.0% in Liniewo commune. The linear correlation between water surface accessibility and shoreline ecological parameters was analysed. This parameter was most strongly negatively correlated (r=-0.782) with the presence of emergent vegetation belts >5 m in width in the lakeshore zone. While analysing the recreational potential of the lakes, sailing capacity was assessed for lakes >100 ha in surface area. Angling capacity was analysed according to the surface area of the lakes and the actual number of angling stands within the shoreline zone. At the varied water surface areas and lake accessibility indices, the total angling capacity of the lakes in Nowa Karczma commune was assessed at 403 persons·day^-1 and in Liniewo commune this figure reached 662 persons·day^-1. Graphic presentation of the lakeshore accessibility and belts of helophytes within the lakeshore zones was prepared.

The studies included forty-five small reservoirs located in the administrative borders of the Olsztyn city. The reservoirs were grouped according to the watershed development. Because the direct surroundings of the reservoirs were quite diverse, four main groups of the reservoirs were distinguished, and further divided into sub-groups. The main groups were: “municipal reservoirs” (built-up areas, waste land, neighbourhood of allotments, parks), “forest reservoirs” (mid-forest, field and forest, forest and meadow), “meadow reservoirs” (field and meadow, mid-meadow), and “other reservoirs” (mid-field, farm development). Water samples for the physico-chemical analyses were taken two times i.e., in May and October 2003. The chemical composition of water in the reservoirs depends a great deal on the watershed type. Water in the reservoirs sited in the urban and built-up watersheds was characterised by high electrolytic conductivity (218–1,182 µS cm^-1) and high concentrations of chloride ions (to 193 mg dm^-3). Water in the “forest reservoirs” was characteristic of high colour (to 320 mg Pt dm^-3) and contained much allochthonous organic matter (to 64 mg O₂ dm^-3). Water in the reservoirs surrounded by coniferous trees was slightly alkaline or close to neutral whereas in those surrounded by broadleaf trees – alkaline. In the mid-meadow reservoirs low primary production was determined (chlorophyll a below 35 mg m^-3, dry weight of seston from 0.4 to 11 mg dm^-3). In the reservoirs adjoining farms, quality of the water was very low, as displayed mainly by the very high chlorophyll a content (to 717 mg m^-3) and the super-saturation of water with oxygen (to 227 %).

The aim of the study was to determine volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration in wastewater from different sections of the dairy industry. Wastewater was collected from outlets of all sections of dairy industrial plant. Cottage cheese whey and cheese whey composition were analysed. The highest volatile acids concentration was obtained in cottage cheese whey. The average concentration was 792.1 ± 247.1 mg CH₃COOH · dm^-3. Cheese whey, wastewater from cottage cheese section and cheese section contained over 230 mg CH₃COOH · dm^-3. In wastewater from other sections of dairy industry the concentration of VFA was not high. Quality research of wastewater revealed that independently on the sources of VFA, acetic acid was the most abundant. The contribution of the other acids, as iso-butyric, valeric, iso-valeric and caproic, did not exceed 7 % of the total VFA concentration.

The aim of the study was to determine an optimal composition of a mixture of selected additives: isoascorbic acid, sodium ascorbate and glucon-delta-lactone – GDL, in order to obtain a product with an appropriately high consumer quality in a given time. It was also observed that the application of optimal amounts of isoascorbic acid, sodium ascorbate and glucon-delta-lactone makes it possible to obtain the maximum score for overall acceptability already after 10 days of storage. The application of isoascorbic acid, sodium ascorbate and glucon-delta-lactone in arbitrarily selected amounts may result in a significant deterioration of quality. It was also found that the developed methodological and mathematical procedure facilitates a faster and cheaper determination of an optimal composition of a mixture of additives (especially that containing many additives) than using the trial and error method.

Obtained results pointed out that the addition of κ-carrageenan in meat products do affects the examined parameters of colour during cooling storage. Model products produced from the cured beef and mince pork fat salted. To share samples 0.5% κ-carrageenan was added (test samples). The study was realized after 1, 10 and 20 a days of chilling storage. Oxidation-reduction potential, pH, TBA and colour of products were tested. The pH of the patties measured using a pH meter (CPC-501) with electrode ERH-111. Oxidation-reduction potential was determined using a pH meter (CPC-501) set to the milivolt scale and equipped with a redox electrode ERPt-13. TBA number was calculated as mg MDA/kg samples. The measurement of colour was conducted by using an X–Rite Colour Premier 8400 reflection spectro-colorimeter. Colour parameters of products were determined in CIE L*a*b* system, using illuminant D65 and 10° observer angle. The supplement of κ-carrageenan didn’t have an influence on acidity of meat products, however differentiated content of fat influenced pH value. No significant effects of κ-carrageenan on redox potential values were observed. Oxidation-reduction potential values of meat samples increased during the storage. The color analysis revealed that products with no к-carrageen addition were characterized by the highest redness; the compound affected the increase of yellow color share and did not influence on product’s brightness.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of raw material composition in conditions of gentle extrusion cooking on so-called sugar profiles and the increase of water soluble substances content.

Five samples of extruded potato chips differing in raw material composition were examined. Sugar profiles were determined on the basis of HPLC method.

The results show that during extrusion cooking starch is decomposed into shorter chains, mainly dextrins consisting of 7 to 10 joined glucose molecules. There is no increase in simple sugars (glucose, fructose) and disaccharides (maltose) content. The degradation of starch does not go too far but rather gentle shortening of glucose chains to compounds of lower molecular weight occurs.

The aim of present work was to asses the influence of extrusion parameters on content of the following nutritional components: protein, lipids, sugars, starch, ash and minerals and also non-nutritional compounds (soluble and non-soluble fraction of dietary fibre, including pentosans and inositol phosphates) in grains of three cultivars of rye: Amilo, Rostockie and Agrikolo. The materials were extrudates from rye grains obtained from three cultivars. The present study determined the chemical composition (nutritional and non-nutritional components) of rye extrudates. Effect of extrusion process was lowering the protein content. The decrease of this component was lower, when higher (20%) initial material moisture was applied than lower (14%). Application of higher moisture of raw material (20%) and lower extrusion process temperature (120°C) negatively influenced on lipids content in rye extrudates. Higher amount of ash was found in rye extrudates obtained at temperature 180°C independently of raw material moisture. The amount of particularly of mineral components depends on parameters of extrusion and rye cultivars. Steeping of rye grains up to 20% and application of lower extrusion temperature (120°C) caused smaller losses in starch content and less intensive increase of sugars during this process. It was noted, that during extrusion of rye grains proportion among soluble and non-soluble fraction of dietary fibre changed in favor of the first one. The effect of extrusion process of rye grains was lowering in content of InsP₆ by 13-98% in comparison to raw material. Independently of rye cultivars extrudates were characterized by significant amount of InsP_3-5, that were not presented in raw material.

The levels of total carotenoids, beta-carotene, chlorophyll a and b and total chlorophylls were determined in kale leaves of the cultivars Winterbor F₁, Redbor F₁ and Srednio Wysoki Zielony Kędzierzawy. The investigation was carried out in two successive years; in each year the raw material was obtained in three harvests carried out 10, 14 and 18 weeks after planting young kale plants in the field. During the whole period of the investigation the average content of carotenoids in 100 g fresh matter of kale was 23.1-26.0 mg; that of beta-carotene 3.80-4.53 mg; and that of total chlorophylls 118-145 mg. The ratio of chlorophyll a to b was 1:0.41-1:0.42. The greatest content of all the analysed constituents was found in the cultivar Winterbor F₁. During the entire period of the investigation there was practically no difference in carotenoids content between the first and second harvests, the content of beta-carotene increasing by 27% and that of chlorophylls by 4%. In the third harvest an 18% increase was found in the content of carotenoids and a 48% increase in beta-carotene, the content of chlorophylls decreasing by 11%. The proportion of beta-carotene in the level of carotenoids varied from 15% to 19% depending on the cultivar and the time of harvest.

Assessment of performance standards for logging operations is a foremost task of the technical standardization. In this paper we deal with preliminary technical time standards for harvesters working in particular felling&technology and natural conditions. Monitoring of unsuitable time utilization is hand in hand with elaborated correction proposals another objective of this work. The chronometry was analyzed during the work of medium-scale harvester Timberjack 1070 in natural environment of Krusné hory during felling works in premature and mature forest stands. Preliminary paper is worked up for tree-volume of coniferous species from 0.44 to 0.73 m³, which require for manufacturing operation time from 91 to 118 seconds. More operation time is needed when greater trunks are processed. Total standards lies for intermediate (improvement, advanced) fellings within the interval 0.033-0.043 Standard hour/m³ for main felling 0.030-0.039 Sh/m³ depending on tree-volume. Propounded findings should not be generalized; they are typical for the use of medium-scale harvesters in such natural conditions that are similar to nature territory Krusné hory.

The results of the study concerning damage to dwarf shoots of Larix decidua Mill. caused by Dasineura kellneri (Henschel) have been presented. The study was conducted in 2005–2006 at three localities in the Ojców National Park in southern Poland. A total of 240 branches (each 1 m long) with 19 265 dwarf shoots, collected from 60 larches were designated to the study. The analysis showed that the percentage of dwarf shoots damaged by D. kellneri was 15.3 in 2005 and 25.0 in 2006.

The U Mann-Whithey test at the significance level of 0.05 was used in statistical analysis of the data.

The effects of air temperature, precipitation, and duration of the direct solar radiation (sunshine) on radial increment of black alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) are discussed in this paper. The investigated 21 trees were growing on a fertile site with a high water table. Each tree was cored, and on cores the tree-ring width was measured. On the basis of these measurements the mean tree-ring chronology was developed which represented the growth rhythm of trees in the investigated site. The black alder trees were most strongly responding to temperature. The reaction to sunshine duration was a little weaker, while reaction to precipitation was insignificant. The effect of previous and current year temperatures on radial increment was significant. A positive effect on tree growth had a low temperature in May, high in July and October of the previous year, and high in May, July and August of the current year. Frosts in January and prolonged winter with low temperatures were harmful to trees. The duration of the direct solar radiation in the current growing season had a significant influence on tree growth. The increased amount of sunshine in May, July and August had a positive effect on radial increment. A lack of significant correlation between precipitation and increment was probably the result of moisture conditions of the investigated site. However, there was some influence of precipitation of the cool part of the year on tree growth in the coming growing season.

The study was conducted to investigate conditions and changes in fruit nursery materials in the Lubelskie Province (based on the results from qualified nursery plantations) in the years 1994-2004. Nursery fruit trees and bushes including strawberry reproduction plantations were investigated. It was stated that during the examined period, the average area of nursery plantations increased and the number of nurseries declined. The number of evaluated nursery plantations increased significantly after CAC category of nursery material had been introduced in 2004. It was observed that production of all species of fruit trees and majority of small fruit bushes and young strawberry plants has a tendency to increase. The production structure of fruit trees like apple and cherry trees and small fruit bushes – blackcurrant and raspberry bushes dominated. The results of the study showed that Lubelszczyzna region strengthened its position on a domestic nursery fruit material market.

A field experiment done in the years 2002-2005 evaluated the effect of the manner of setting up the plantation (from seed sowing directly to the ground – control object; from seed sowing directly to the ground with a covering of agrotextiles; from seedlings obtained in a foil tunnel; from seedlings produced in multi-cell-trays in a foil tunnel) on the yielding of the fresh weight of the overground parts and the roots of marsh mallow and on the content of mucus in the raw material in the first and second years of the vegetation of plants.

A greater fresh weight of the overground parts and the roots was produced by the plants cultivated from the seedlings as compared to direct sowing; however, the best yield-forming effects were achieved planting the seedlings produced in multi-cell trays (a significant increase of the yields compared to the control was 59% and 14%, respectively, in the first year, and 72% and 37% in the second year of vegetation. The greatest content of mucus was found in the roots from the cultivation from seed sowing directly to the ground with a covering of agrotextiles. However, considering the yield of mucus, the greatest amount of the studied compounds was obtained in the objects with the seedlings from a tunnel (one-year-old plants) and with the seedlings produced in multi-cell trays (two-year-old plants).

The object of studies was the soil from under onion cultivation after spring rye and common vetch as aftercrops of cover plants. The quantitative and qualitative composition of particular populations of bacteria and fungi were determined in this soil. The microbiological analysis found out that cover plants such as spring rye and common vetch had a positive effect on the development of microorganisms in the soil. Spring rye stimulated the growth and development of microorganisms, especially antagonistic ones, and spring vetch caused an increase of the number of cfu of pathogens.

Three 50-year-old cucumbertrees (Magnolia acuminata L.) were studied in the Swiętokrzyski National Park (central Poland). They were growing on a moist alluvial soil with a high water table. The purpose of the study was to determine the sensitivity of these trees to the basic climatic elements: air temperature, precipitation, and sunshine. The width of tree-rings was used as a measure of tree susceptibility to a climatic factor. For this purpose a tree-ring chronology was made for the period 1960-2003. This chronology is a local growth standard for cucumbertree. The relationships between the monthly values of temperature, precipitation, and sunshine and the tree-ring width during 1960-2003 were studied using bootstrapped response and correlation functions computed for multiple time-intervals, as well as the agreement method and the method of signature years. It was found that a high air temperature in October and during winter months (December-March) preceding the growing season, and also a high temperature of the current year August, had a significant (p < 0.05) positive effect on radial increment of cucumbertree. Also a high precipitation of the previous year November and the current year June, as well as large amount of sunshine in August of the current year had a positive effect on growth of cucumbertree.

The studies were carried out in the years 1999-2001 in apple orchards in the vicinity of Lublin (Poland). The purpose of the present study was to establish the species composition of parasitoids belonging to the order Hymenoptera and Diptera, and the degree of parasitization of caterpillars and pupae of leaf tortricids (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in apple orchards characterized by varying intensity of plant protection. Parasitic entomofauna was the most numerous in apple orchard without any chemical control, where the degree of parasitization of larvae and pupae of leaf tortricids ranged from 7.2% to 26.4% depending on the year of studies. In this apple orchard 23 species of parasitic Hymenoptera belonging to 2 families (Ichneumonidae and Braconidae) as well as 6 species of Diptera from the family of Tachinidae were isolated. Parasitoids from the family of Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera) turned out to be the most effective, and the dominating species was ectoparasitoid Phytodietus segmentator Grav. The most numerous among all the parasitic Diptera: Tachinidae was Eumea linearicornis Zett.

Three populations of Fusarium oxysporum were tested for their pathogenicity to tomato seedlings. The isolates were collected from three soil environments of tomato: conventional cultivation (no cover crop), in field pea mulch and in rye mulch. Tomato plants of cv. Rumba were grown in a growth chamber in standard substrate with a pathogen inoculum prepared as described by Wagner (1997) or without the fungus. Pathogenicity was determined using the disease index, and the parameters of chlorophyll fluorescence were measured with PAM fluorometer. Results proved the effect of cover crops on F. oxysporum pathogenicity and some correlation between disease severity and photosynthetic capacity of tomato plants.

Three apple orchards differed between each other with the cultivation system and the type of agrotechnical treatments situated near Lublin were chosen for the studies, which were conducted in three vegetation periods in the years 1999-2001. The purpose of the studies was to establish the species composition and the number of leaf tortricids (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae) occurring in apple orchards. Totally, 2593 caterpillars and 64 pupae of leaf tortricids were collected during the studies. Both the larvae and the pupae occurred in the greatest numbers in the orchard without any chemical protection. The occurrence of 13 species of leaf tortricids belonging to two sub-families: Tortricinae (11 species) and Olethreutinae (2 species), was observed as a result of the studies. The occurrence of all 13 species was observed in the orchard without any protective treatments. 6 species of leaf tortricids were found in the orchard with a limited program of protection, whereas in the intensively protected orchard – only 3 species. Archips rosana (L.), constituting 41.0% of all marked individuals, was the most numerous species. During the three years of studies the greatest number of leaf tortricid caterpillars in all the apple orchards was found on Idared cv.

Results presented in this paper are a continuation of studies the results of which are included in part I. They were concerning the species composition and number of leaf tortricids in apple orchards characterized by varying degrees of anthropopressure. The purpose of the studies presented in part II was to establish the structure of domination and frequency as well as the similarities of the species composition of leaf tortricids. The greatest differentiation of the domination structure of leaf tortricids was observed in the orchard without any plant protection. The group of eudominants included one species in the unprotected orchard, while in the other two, where protective treatments were performed, two species of leaf tortricids were included in each. Euconstants, which are the species of the highest frequency, were found out only in the orchard without any chemical protection. The smallest similarity of the species composition between leaf tortricids was observed between the orchard without any chemical control and the intensively protected one.

The research involved thirty adult European brown hare individuals. Arteries were filled with latex introduced into the abdominal aorta. It was found that the following descend from the aortic arch: the brachiocephalic artery and left subclavian artery. 40% of the common carotic arteries in their initial section constituted a common trunk, and in 20% cases both these arteries were an independent branch of the brachiocephalic artery. In such cases the left common carotid artery separated from the brachiocephalic artery immediately over the descend from the aortic arch. The right common carotid artery descends slightly higher. In 40% of all the individuals researched there was found a common trunk for the right common carotid artery and the right subclavian artery.

Studies were conducted on 77 tongues of the domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus f. domestica), which were collected at day 15, 18, 20, 22 and 26 of prenatal life (p.c.) and at day 1, 15 and 30, and in the 6^th month of postnatal life (p.p.). Material for examinations came from an abattoir.

Tissues were collected from the dorsal part of the body of the tongue and were prepared for examination under a light microscope. On the basis of microscopic observations heights of filiform and fungiform papillae and their primordia were measured, along with the thickness of the epithelium covering them.

In view of the conducted examinations an increase was shown in the values of analyzed features of the lingual mucosa in successive stages of pre- and postnatal life in the rabbit. It was also found that between day 22 p.c. and day 1 p.p., the developing fungiform papillae are higher than filiform paillae surrounding them. Between day 15 p.p. and the 6th month p.p. the growth rate in the height of fungiform papillae is lower than that for filiform papillae, as a result of which they are lower. The thickness of the epithelium covering fungiform papillae is bigger in the period from day 22 and day 26 p.c., while the trend was opposite between day 1 and the 6^th month p.p.

The bioavailability of zinc from feed rations contained zinc oxide and Zn-glycine was determined in growing lambs’ investigation. Apparent absorption and retention of zinc as well as content of zinc in selected soft tissues were accepted as an indices of zinc bioavailability. Apparent absorption and zinc retention were greater in lambs receiving Zn-glycine than in the control group. Similar tendency for content of that microelement in kidneys and liver was stated. Obtained data point out better bioavaliability of zinc form Zn-glycine than zinc oxide.

In Poland most often meet tortoises are Horsfield’s (Testudo horsfieldi) and Hermann’s tortoises (T. hermanni). Each of this species during winter and summer hibernate. On areas with very long winter, Horsfield’s tortoise is active only about three months a year. The most interesting is tortoise alimentary canal, because they are herbivorous. The one from more interesting organs of alimentary canal is the liver, which is the energy centre of the organism. The type of food influences on the shape and size of the tortoise liver. The aim of the study was examined the structure, shape, position and vascularity of the discussed organ.

In the investigation were used 19 Horsfield’s tortoises (11 females, 8 males) and 19 Hermann’s tortoises (5 females and 14 males). For the morphometrical study were used 15 individuals from every species, remaining (4 individuals of Horsfield’s tortoise and 4 individuals of Hermann’s tortoise) were used to made injection – corrosive preparations.

Livers both of species had very precise defined position with relation to the plastron and carapax. The liver mass of Horsfield’s tortoise was greater than liver mass of Hermann’s tortoise, what caused by difficult conditions in which it lived.

The aim of the research was to measure the activity of GSH-Px in the blood of lamb being fed selenium in sodium selenite and selenium yeast to concentrate mixtures. The value of GSH-Px identified in the final stage of the experiment in all feeding groups was clearly higher that at the beginning (P < 0.01). Application of all selenium compounds used in the experiment to lambs in feed clearly influenced the increase of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in lamb blood (P < 0.01). The lambs receiving 0.3 mg Se/kg DM in feed in the form of sodium selenite and selenium yeast (groups I and III) showed higher (by 269.15 and 254.12 U/gHb respectively) glutathione peroxidase activity. The animals that were given selenium yeast in the amount of 0.2 mg Se/kg DM in feed, the activity of this enzyme was higher by 203.12 U/gHb.