Physical Properties of Soil-Biochar Mixtures - a Laboratory Study
Kidane, Hailemelekot Teklu; Doležal, František; Petr, Petr
English
Recently, biochar´s potential use in soil management and amendment has gained a considerable interest globally. Growing evidence demonstrated that biochar results in sustainable property management when it is applied to the soil. However, biochar vary considerably in terms of physical and chemical properties and its benefits. Previous studies on biochar have been mainly focused on the chemical and nutritional effects. Little is known about the effect of biochar on the physical properties of soils. Therefore, the objective of this thesis was to determine the influence of biochar on the physical and hydrophysical properties of some soils from the Czech Republic.
Three model soil types were investigated used such as; a standard fine silica sand (SA), the Suchdol silty loam Chernozem (CH), and a light Cambisol (CM). The biochar concentration treatments were a control without admixture of biochar (B0); a treatment with addition of 0.001 g/g (B1) and a treatment with addition of 0.01 g/g (B2). Each treatment was carried out in triplication.
The data collected were soil porosity, bulk density and particle density measured by standard methods (drying, weighing, pycnometer). Then the saturated and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, wettability and retention curve (up to the suction about 80 kPa) were measured with Decagon Minidisk tension infiltrometer and UMS Hyprop evaporation equipment. The experiments were carried out in the Department of Water Resources laboratory.
Altogether, we can say that the effect of biochar addition on the soil physical properties is clearly perceivable but not as strong as one might expect. The identified effects of biochar addition are the decrease in sorptivity, the increase in saturated hydraulic conductivity and the increase in the water retention capacity. However, these effects are not obvious and are not always observed. This would probably happen with the higher doses of biochar above the economic limits.
dostupnost_czu
Physical Properties of Soil-Biochar Mixtures - a Laboratory Study
Recently, biochar´s potential use in soil management and amendment has gained a considerable interest globally. Growing evidence demonstrated that biochar results in sustainable property management ...
Analysis of Foreign Trade with Coal in the Czech Republic
Dvořáková, Kristýna; Maitah, Mansoor; Anna, Anna
English
This diploma thesis deals with foreign trade with coal and primarily focuses on the Czech Republic.
The theoretical part describes the structure, entry modes, importance, functions, theories and trade organizations of foreign trade. It also examines the significance of coal, such as the basic information about coal, its connection to the environment, safety, energy sector and the foreign trade with coal worldwide. The theoretical part is intertwined with the practical part and continues to the analysis of foreign trade with both main types of coal in the Czech Republic. First of all, it defines the current structure of production, consumption, import and export of hard coal and lignite, then it describes a prognosis of production and consumption between the period 2015 and 2045. The crucial part of this thesis focuses on the prediction of the future import and export of hard coal and lignite thus the foreign trade balance in the Czech Republic by using the trend analysis.
This work concludes that the import of both types of coal will be increasing and oppositely the export will continuously decrease. The main reason is securing the stability of the energy supply but also the mines/quarries closures.
dostupnost_czu
Analysis of Foreign Trade with Coal in the Czech Republic
This diploma thesis deals with foreign trade with coal and primarily focuses on the Czech Republic. The theoretical part describes the structure, entry modes, importance, functions, theories and ...
Assessment of perception and acceptability of composting toilets in West Sumba, Indonesia
Valčíková, Soňa; Banout, Jan; Tereza, Tereza
English
Lack of access to improved sanitation in Indonesia is reflected in persistence of practicing open defecation causing diarrhoea that is a major reason of under-five mortality. Composting toilets are considered as ecological sanitation representing dry type of sanitation system that is independent of water supply. Due to natural processes of composting that occur under specific conditions, human waste is transformed into compost that can be used as fertiliser. Although the approach of sustainable sanitation is being introduced in many developing countries, ecological sanitation have not yet been widely implemented in Indonesia except small pilot projects. However, due to sanitation programme of local non-government organisation Project Hope Sumba settled on Indonesian island of Sumba, composting toilets have been built to serve local people as improved sanitation to eradicate open defecation. The objective of the thesis was to assess user acceptance of composting toilets and perception of ecological sanitation in sub-district of Wewewa Tengah of West Sumba. Additionally, identification of criteria that influence acceptance of composting toilets have been summarized. Primary data have been collected in February and March 2015. The research was based on the interview accompanied by the structured questionnaire with 80 respondents who obtained the composting toilets within the sanitation programme. Waterless single-vault and double vault composting toilets without mixing urine and excreta device were installed as well as urine-diverting ones. Based on the survey, majority of the beneficiaries 57.5% has decided to quit using the composting toilets and rebuilt them to septic tank system. The main reasons for stop using the toilets were the fact that composting toilet does not work correctly because of lack of instructions. Based on the results of the survey, the most important factors affecting acceptance of composting toilets were frequency of using the bulking agent as it contributes to ensure correct process of composting, the experience of final compost application, understanding process of composting and having an off-farm activity. Despite certain failures, the project represents unique experience of composting toilets in Indonesia and can serve as source of valuable information for further projects.
dostupnost_czu
Assessment of perception and acceptability of composting toilets in West Sumba, Indonesia
Lack of access to improved sanitation in Indonesia is reflected in persistence of practicing open defecation causing diarrhoea that is a major reason of under-five mortality. Composting toilets are ...
Access to agricultural market information by rural women: a case study of Telenesti district in Central region of the Republic of Moldova
Kupková, Anna; Kandakov, Alexander; Anna , Anna
English
This thesis was focused mainly on the significance of access to agricultural market information by rural women and its impact to women´s agricultural productivity. Thesis also identified women´s role in agriculture, and analyzed accessibility, sources and utilization of agricultural market information. Research was conducted in Telenesti district in Central region of the Republic of Moldova, specifically in three selected communes Cazanesti, Brinzenii and Chitcani Vechi. A linear regression model was used to estimate relationship between annual agricultural production quantity expressed in money (MDL) and number of men within household, number of women within household, size of owned agricultural land and agricultural information usage by rural women. Number of women in household and agricultural market information by rural women did not have real impact to annual agricultural production quantity expressed in money. Agricultural market information were easily accessible for rural women in Telenesti district, and usage of agricultural market information was highly popular.
dostupnost_czu
Access to agricultural market information by rural women: a case study of Telenesti district in Central region of the Republic of Moldova
This thesis was focused mainly on the significance of access to agricultural market information by rural women and its impact to women´s agricultural productivity. Thesis also identified women´s role ...
Diet quality of large herbivores across continents
Karafiátová, Anežka; Hejcmanová, Pavla; Hakl, Josef
English
The objective of this diploma thesis was to compare diet quality of large herbivores across European and African continents. The particular aims were: 1) to determine concentrations of macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg) and fibre fractions (NDF, ADF, ADL) in faeces of selected 17 species of large herbivores, 2) to compare concentrations of these macronutrients and fibre fractions in faeces within the ruminants adopting different foraging strategies and non-ruminants separately in European and African localities, 3) to test the functional link between concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in animal faeces and in soil on pasture. In total, 281 faecal samples were collected from 17 animal species, i.e.: Loxodonta africana, Equus asinus, E. caballus, E. zebra quagga; Bos taurus, Syncerus caffer, Alcelaphus buselaphus, Damaliscus pygargus pygargus, Hippotragus equinus, Kobus ellipsiprymnus, Antidorcas marsupialis, Ovis aries, Bison bonasus, Alces alces, Taurotragus oryx, Taurotragus derbianus, Capra aegagrus hircus from 10 countries (Senegal, Chad, Zambia, Republic of South Africa, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Hungary, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway) together with soil representative samples from each locality. The samples were analysed for concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, NDF, ADF, ADL and concentrations of FN and FP were used for determination of diet quality. Herbivores from Africa had lower concentrations of FN and FP and higher ratios of N:P and Ca:P in comparison to herbivores from Europe. The highest lignin concentrations had concentrate selectors (moose, Derby and giant eland), thus reflecting the high concentration of lignin in browse. Within the non-ruminants, equids from Europe were superior in diet quality to African species, with highest fibre concentrations in elephants and lowest concentration of K together with highest concentrations of Mg in faeces of zebra. Finally, the relationship between plants available N, P in soil and FN, FP in investigated herbivorous animals was not proved, proposing more investigation concern to soil-plant-herbivores relationships.
dostupnost_czu
Diet quality of large herbivores across continents
The objective of this diploma thesis was to compare diet quality of large herbivores across European and African continents. The particular aims were: 1) to determine concentrations of macronutrients ...
Genetic diversity of baobab (&-lt;i&-gt;Adansonia digitata&-lt;/i&-gt; L.) along an elevation transect in Kenya
Chládová, Anna; Lojka, Bohdan; Petra, Petra
English
@Adansonia digitata@L. (Malvaceae) is a huge multipurpose tree of the savannahs of sub-Saharan Africa with high economic potential for local communities. The edible fruits and leaves are known for their high nutritional values and can be used fresh or processed. However, a high intra-specific variability regarding morphology, genetics and nutritional content of baobab and its products is documented for several African regions, while data for Kenya is largely lacking. This study aimed at documenting the genetic and morphological variability of baobab accessions in Kenya and at checking the presence of the newly described diploid baobab species @Adansonia kilima@. Samples were collected from 204 baobab trees from seven populations defined by geographical distance in South-eastern and Coastal Kenya at altitudes of 6-1,058 m asl. Leaf or bark samples for genetic diversity assessment were collected from all 204 trees, while leaves only from 65 and fruits from 76 trees (all in inland locations) for morphological analyses based on the publication Descriptors for Baobab. Nine microsatellite loci were used to assess genetic variation and results analysed with specific software because of the tetraploid nature of baobab. Overall genetic diversity was high and all loci were polymorphic. The mean gene diversity was 0.803 and observed heterozygosity was 0.907. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed low variation among populations (12.4%) and high variation within populations (87.6%). Bayesian clustering and Principal Coordinate Analysis divided the accessions into two clusters, one with only inland and one with coastal accessions. Although the presence of @Adansonia kilima@ was previously postulated for Kenya, flow cytometry did not detect any among the analysed samples as only tetraploids were observed. Regarding morphological characteristics, no differences among the fruit accession from inland populations were found (no fruits were collected in coastal areas). Leaf morphological data showed significant differences between inland and coastal populations with longest leaflets and leaf petioles in accession from the Coast, thus confirming the results obtained for genetic analysis. This study contributes to the overall knowledge of the genetic diversity of baobab in Kenya and can contribute to the development of germplasm conservation strategies and domestication programs for baobab.
Keywords:
Genetická diverzita; Mikrosatelity (SSR); Baobab (Adansonia digitata)
dostupnost_czu
Genetic diversity of baobab (&-lt;i&-gt;Adansonia digitata&-lt;/i&-gt; L.) along an elevation transect in Kenya
@Adansonia digitata@L. (Malvaceae) is a huge multipurpose tree of the savannahs of sub-Saharan Africa with high economic potential for local communities. The edible fruits and leaves are known for ...
Influence of Creativity and Innovation on the Entrepreneurial Performance of a Public Electricity Company
Igbinovia, Famous Oghomwen; Dittrich, Oldřich Ludwig; Hana, Hana
English
This research study examined the Influence of Creativity and Innovation on the Entrepreneurial Performance of a Public Electricity Company: A Case Study of the Transmission Company of Nigeria. The objective of the research was to examine the Influence of Creativity and Innovation on the Entrepreneurial Performance of a Public Electricity Company. Both primary and secondary data were used for the data gathered. The survey research method was used through the distribution of four hundred (400) questionnaires to Staffers of the Transmission Company of Nigeria. Thereafter, data gotten were statistically analysed. In analysis of the data gathered, it was found that creativity and innovation through product quality, new technology, and new product development significantly affect the performance of a public electricity transmission company. The study recommends that to enhance performance and sustainability public electricity transmission companies should engage more on technology in improving the quality of its electricity product.
dostupnost_czu
Influence of Creativity and Innovation on the Entrepreneurial Performance of a Public Electricity Company
This research study examined the Influence of Creativity and Innovation on the Entrepreneurial Performance of a Public Electricity Company: A Case Study of the Transmission Company of Nigeria. The ...
Ecohydrological evaluation of a selected small stream and its catchment
Matys, Michal; Doležal, František; Křovák, František
English
This paper deals with ecohydrological evaluation of Litovicko - Šárecký stream´s basin and its four major tributaries. Jenečský, Zličínský, Nebušický and Lysolajský. The ecohydrological evaluation was performed by EcoRivHab methodology (Matoušková, 2008). The methodology uses three main parameters for evaluation: riverbed, river banks and floodplain. The method was complemented with research on a development of surface water quality in watershed and alterations in land cover. The aim of the evaluation is to determine the degree of anthropogenic influence on stream´s units and consequently on watershed . In total, 59 sections with total length of 34 km of heterogeneous length, but homogeneous quality were rated. Litovicko - Šárecký river´s basin was evaluated as strongly anthropogenically affected because 62% of the watershed is Rated as III. to V. stage, a moderate to strong level of anthropogenic influence. The main reason for this is that the basin is directly affected by high concentration of urban influence affecting the quality of the watershed.
dostupnost_czu
Ecohydrological evaluation of a selected small stream and its catchment
This paper deals with ecohydrological evaluation of Litovicko - Šárecký stream´s basin and its four major tributaries. Jenečský, Zličínský, Nebušický and Lysolajský. The ecohydrological evaluation was ...
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