An important factor in the development of forest ecosystem is the ability to regenerate. Natural intensity of self thinning of a forest depends on the tree species and environmental conditions. Due to abiotic and biotic factors in a continuous forest tract, there appears a clearing, which, depending on the size, forms new growth conditions. Over time, the resulting new space is occupied by herbaceous and woody vegetation. Most often regeneration of a new forest depends on the size of the plot. The study was conducted in 2013 during the growing season in a typical broadleaf forest stand. During the study woody vegetation and projection coverage of herbaceous vegetation was registered in large clearings. Light conditions in the plots and under tree canopies, as well as soil parameters were ascertained. Based on the collected data, the view of the structure of woody vegetation, projection coverage of herbaceous vegetation, light conditions, temperature, soil moisture content and pH changes were obtained. In order to clarify the influence of microclimatic conditions on natural forest regeneration, the data on light and soil characteristics were analyzed. The aim of the study - was to determine the changes of woody and herbaceous vegetation in spruce stand clearings and to assess the impact of microclimate. During the study it was found out that in large plots dominated species demanding higher amount of light, while herbaceous vegetation was attributed to the third, fourth groups of aggressiveness. Naturally regenerated seedlings condition was mostly influenced by light conditions and soil moisture content.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of probiotics, herbals and buckwheat bran (Fagopyrum esculentum L.) on growth, profile of blood, gut microbiota, profile of fatty acid in meat and shedding of resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) in piglets. A total of 44 piglets (Sus scrofa domesticus) from age of day 14 to 56 were divided into 4 groups. Control received basal diet (group C), basal diet + probiotics (group P), basal diet + 3% buckwheat bran (group PB) and basal diet + 1.5% herbals (group H). No effect was observed in growth in all groups. The count of Lactobacillus spp. increased (p is less than 0.05) in jejunum in group P. In the faeces, Enterobacteriaceae decreased in the group P (p is less than 0.05) of 35 days old piglets, but Enterobacteriaceae and E. coli decreased in the group H (p is less than 0.05) of 56 days old piglets. The prevalence of resistance to at least one antibiotic class was 66.7% before and 50% after the experiment in all groups. Multidrug resistance of E. coli was not observed in 14 days old piglets, but was observed in 50% and more in all of study groups of 56 days old piglets. The fatty acid composition of Longissimus thoracis muscle had higher levels of α-linolenic acid and palmitoleic acid (p is less than 0.05), but lower level of stearic acid (p is less than 0.05) in group P. In conclusion, probiotics and herbals improved gut microbiota, fatty acid profile and affected shedding of resistant E. coli, but not growth performance.

Relevant resources for renewable biomass fuel production are wood, cereal straw residues, and emergent vegetation from wetlands. Peat is an important slowly renewable biomass fuel too. Using blended peat and woody or herbaceous biomass, sulphur content of the fuels is increased and, if the mixture is burned, sulphates are formed instead of chlorides, and the risk of high temperature corrosion is avoided. The loading, storage container discharging, mixing and automatic feeding process depends on internal stresses acting in the biomass volume. To estimate vertical stress in silos, a mathematical model was built. Vertical stress in the opening of the silo hopper reaches 1.4 kPa if the diameter of a silo is 0.4 m, but for the diameter of 2 m it is possible to obtain even 7.2 kPa. Increase of the coefficients lambda and mu to the maximal values (lambda = 0.6; mu = 0.5) decreases vertical stress for more than 70%.

A study was conducted to determine efficiency of a phytoadditive on pig growth processes and digestive tract microflora. The pigs of control group were fed without the phytoadditive. The feed of the trial group piglets contained 0.5% of the phytoadditive per tonne feed, for starter pigs and finished pigs - 0.2% per tonne feed. The study indicated that at the age of 170 days, pig mass in the trial group was 111.67+-1.22 kg on average, but in the control group - 101.79+-0.81 kg, which showed that pigs from the trial group had by 9.7% higher average mass than in the control group (p is less than 0.05). Average daily gain for the trial group was 0.777+-0.009 kg, which was by 12 % more than for the control group pigs (p is less than 0.05). Feed conversion in the trial group was 2.928 kg, but in the control group - 3.129 kg, which was by 6.4% higher than in the trial group. Gastric microflora analyses showed that use of phytoadditive reduced mould colony forming units (CFU) amount in the trial group decreased by 24 times. Duodenum microflora analyses showed that use of phytoadditive reduced mould CFU amount by 25%, yeast CFU amount by 34%, Escherichia coli mesophilic and termophilic forms CFU by 16.3% compared to the control. A lactic acid bacterium CFU in the trial group was 2.5 times higher compared to the control. Rectum microflora analyses showed that use of phytoadditive reduced mould CFU amount by 31.6%, yeast CFU amount - by 62%, Escherichia coli mesophilic and termophilic forms by 57 % and 15.6 % respectively. Lactic acid bacteria CFU amount in 1 g of sample in the trial group increased by 5.1 times.