Of the cultivars entered into the register since 1994 relatively the most rapid success; at least 10% share in the seed plantation area over 3 years since registration, was observed for Start and Olga in faba bean, Komandor and Merlin in edible pea, Wiato in fodder pea, Butan and Boros in white lupin, Sonet, Baron and Cezar in narrow-leaf lupin and Mister in yellow lupin as well as Hanka in spring vetch and Wista in winter vetch. At the same time many cultivars did not exceed even a few-percent share threshold on seed plantations. Those most available on the market over 2003-2005 were the sowing seeds of cultivars which were entered into the register at least a few or even a few dozen years earlier, however no popular cultivar was among the top yielding. The need to finance new cultivars mostly with own means should make the breeders and seed companies launch the seed material of their cultivars on the market immediately, especially when cultivars from the EU catalogue are commonly available.

There were described possible uses of white, black and Indian mustard, especially these resulting from the presence of glucosinolates and the content of erucic acid. The wholesome and anti-nutritious properties of glucosinolates were described. Apart from traditional uses of seeds in medicine and nutrition, there was presented an importance of mustards for foodstuffs, fodder, chemical, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and power industries as well as for beekeeping and green fodder purposes and the oil – as a lubricant. Positive aspects of the influence of white and Indian mustard intercropping on agricultural environment were shown. The role of mustards in protecting soil from erosion and limiting migration of biogenic components and as the source of organic matter was emphasized. Their phytosanitary functions in relation to some diseases, pests and weeds were pointed out.

The field experiment was conducted over 2002-2004 on the Experimental Farm at Zawady, on the soil made of light loamy sand to heavy loamy sand, representing a very good rye complex soil. The factors investigated were: two methods of soil tillage – traditional and simplified and seven methods of weed control with the use of herbicides (Plateen 41.5 WG, Plateen 41.5 WG + Fusilade Forte 150 EC, Plateen 41.5 WG + Fusilade Forte 150 EC + Atpolan 80 EC, Barox 460 SL, Barox 460 SL + Fusilade Forte 150 EC, Barox 460 SL + Fusilade Forte 150 EC + Atpolan 80 EC). Edible potato tubers of the Wiking cultivar obtained from a randomized split-block design field experiment (with three reps) constituted the research material. The application of Barox 460 SL + Fusilade Forte 150 EC herbicide mixture increased the blackening of cooked potato tuber flesh after 2 hours. The soil tillage systems had no influence on the culinary characteristics of the potato tubers. Weather conditions in the growing season significantly differentiated the raw and cooked tuber flesh blackening – a greater blackening was recorded under extremely dry conditions in 2003.

The present study investigated the influence of FYM, 2- and 4-month composts and vermicomposts from FYM on the yield of Italian ryegrass, the content of nitrogen and the accumulation of this element in the soil after two years of pot experiment. It was found that an average yield of the grass grown, yield-forming effect of 1 g of N, the uptake and utilization of nitrogen over two years of the experiment were lower for the objects fertilized with composts and vermicomposts from FYM than for the objects fertilized of fresh FYM.

The research involved the use of a variety of organic waste materials, fresh and composted, including: sludge from two sewage treatment plants, from Siedlce and Łuków, and broiler droppings. A total content of phosphorus was determined using the ICP-AES method following a dry mineralization of materials in muffle oven at 450^oC. The fractions of phosphorus were separated using the Chang-Jackson sequential analysis with further modifications. The total phosphorus content depended on the origin of organic material. The highest content was determined in the sludge 85% of which was municipal waste and 15% – industrial waste and the lowest – broiler droppings. The sum of extracted phosphorus in respective fractions accounted for a higher percentage share than the amount not exposed to extraction.