Soil-plant conditions in selected valleys typical for Bellsund Region are varying from hardly favourable (Skilvika), to favourable (Calypsostranda) and medium (Lyellstranda). Plant growth and development of a soil cover are favoured by grain size composition (loamy sands and light loams), quick warming-up of a soil, relative stability of a ground, location and shape of valleys, etc. Unfavourable soil-plant conditions result from too light or too heavy grain size composition, considerable dynamics of ground mechanical features and high compactness of a soil. Varying contents of carbonates and alkaline reaction (except for almost neutral reaction in organic horizons) were typical for the studied soils. Thickness of humus horizons as well as contents of organic C vary at the three studied sites. Significant is high concentration of easily available Ca and Mg, sometimes also of Na.

Results of field investigations in 1986 in Calypsostranda, southern coast of Bellsund, are presented. Soils of dry, wet and very wet tundra were studied. Strong skeleton, presence of carbonates, neutral or alkaline reaction, low content of available phosphorus and potassium, high content of organic carbon (in mineral soils) are the most characteristic properties of investigated soils. Regularities in vertical distribution of some components were distinguished.

Mountain soils derived from massive rocks were studied in the northwestern Wedel Jarlsberg Land. Main soil properties were examined for collected samples. Soils were classified as lithosols with common loamy and silty composition, and small amount of colloidal fraction. Soils were mostly alkaline due to high content of CaCO3. Much more organic substance occurred at westerly- than easterly-exposed hills and located close to a sea. Examined soils contained much soluble forms of Ca, Mg and occasionally Na, little of P and K. Density of plant cover corresponded to contents of organic substance.

Peat soils (FAO — Gelic Histosols) in the southern Bellsund coast area occur on slopes and terraces. They are formed in places favourable for plant growth, i.e. adequately moistened and fertilized largely with bird excrements. These formations belong to moss peats which are generally decomposed weakly and moderately to about 0.5 m depth. Their content of organic matter is equal to about 30-90%, but it is higher in terrace peats. The latter are more acidified than slope peats. The reaction both of slope and terrace peat soils is as a rule, slightly acid or neutral, and CaC03 content does not exceed 10%. As regards the content of macroelements, that of Al is the highest followed by Ca, Fe, Mg and P. Little K and Ti, and only traces of Na are found. Microelements occur in the following sequence: Mn, Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, Co, Cd. Particularly Mn, Zn as well as Cu and Cd were found in a higher concentration. Slope peat soils are richer in macro- and microelements than terrace ones, e.g. 4 times in the case of Mg. Peat soils poor in ash parts (up to 25% ash), contain the fewest elements. Some regularities concern also a vertical distribution of the particular profiles but only with regard to terrace peat soils.

Respiratory diseases constitute a major health problem in small ruminant herds around the world, and parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV-3) has been shown to play a vital role in their etiology. This cross-sectional study describes the serological status of the non-vaccinated dairy goat popu- lation in Poland with respect to PIV-3 infection and investigates the relationship between the presence of antibodies to PIV-3 and some basic herd-level and animal-level factors, including small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) infection. Serum samples from 1188 goats from 48 herds were tested for the concentration of antibodies to PIV-3 using a quantitative immunoenzymatic assay. Specific antibodies were detected in all tested goats from all herds. The concentration of PIV-3 antibodies varied from 8.4 to >240 ng/ml (median 95.9 ng/ml) and was significantly higher in goats from larger herds and from these herds in which cough was often observed by farmers. Moreover, it was noted that female goats had higher antibody concentrations than males. On the other hand, the concentration of PIV-3 antibodies did not prove to be significantly linked to the presence of SRLV infection. This study shows that PIV-3 infection in the Polish goat population is widespread and appears to contribute to the occurrence of respiratory diseases in goat herds.