The basis of the study was a three-year long field experiment, carried out on degraded Phaeozems, IIIb soil valuation class, with neutral pH and low richness in assimilable sulphur. Winter rapeseed cultivar Star was grown. The experiment was set up as a split-block design with two factors (n = 2): the first factor was nitrogen dose (in kg·ha^-1: 0, 60, 120, and 180), and the second factor was sulphur dose (in kg·ha^-1: 0, 20, and 60). An additional study aspect was diversification of methods and dates of sulphur application (pre-sowing: in-soil and top-dressing: as foliar fertilizer). For plants unfertilized with sulphur, dose of 120 kg N·ha^-1 was the most effective in regards to yieldformation, and for plants unfertilized with nitrogen, dose of 20 kg S·ha^-1. In-soil application of sulphur made it possible to obtain higher grain and protein yield than its foliar application. Including sulphur in nitrogen fertilization made it possible to obtain significantly higher yield of spring rapeseed grain, and also protein content and yield, in particular in the conditions of in-soil sulphur application.

This paper presents calculations based on results of a field experiment, in which selected potato cultivars grown for industrial processing received different fertilization. The data originated from trials on three potato cultivars: Adam, Pasja Pomorska and Ślęza, at set up at the Research Station in Bałcyny, owned by the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, and completed in 2008-2010. The economic analysis included planned and performed treatments as well as such information as the type of technical equipment, labour and draught force input, or material outlays. Based on the analysis, it can be concluded that the three starch potato cultivars responded differently to foliar fertilization. The cv. Pasja Pomorska yielded the highest under soil fertilization with 280 kg·ha^-1 NPK (80 N, 80 P, 120 K) and foliar application of Basfoliar 12-4-6 in a dose of 8 dm³·ha^-1. Considering the ratio of the yields to costs, cv. Ślęza was characterized by the best profitability index, which in every technological variant reached a value of over 2.0. From the point of view of rational economy, the most profitable was the fertilization combination which consisted of soil fertilization with 420 kg·ha^-1 NPK (120 N, 144 P, 156 K) and foliar application of Basfoliar 12-4-6 with Solubor DF in amounts of 4 + 1 dm³·ha^-1.

Too intensive management by mowing or grazing or cessation of management both lead to the floristic impoverishment of meadow communities. Soil seed bank can play an essential role in the ecological restoration of species-rich semi-natural grasslands. In Poland, little research has been conducted in this area, particularly refers to Arrhenatherion meadows. The aim of the studies was to determine the density and species composition of the soil seed bank of Arrhenatheretum elatioris meadows as well as the distribution of seeds across four soil levels. The studies were carried out in two habitats: Arrhenatheretum elatioris (code 6510-1) and Poa pratensis – Festuca rubra (code 6510-2). Soil samples were collected up to a depth of 20 cm, divided into four levels: 0-5 cm, 5-10 cm, 10-15 cm 15-20 cm. The size and species composition of the seed bank was determined by extracting seeds from the soil samples. The number of diaspores (seeds and fruits) in the topsoil (0-20 cm) layer was 56,430 seeds∙m^-2 (Arrhenatheretum elatioris) and 118,510 seeds∙m^-2 (Poa pratensis – Festuca rubra). The soil seed banks were dominated by diaspores of annual dicotyledonous species (above 80%) which were mainly seeds of arable weeds or ruderal plants. The assessed soil seed banks were dominated by Chenopodium album and Stellaria media. In both grasslands, the quantity of Poaceae and Fabaceae diaspores were very low. These results confirmed that most mesic grassland species did not form persistent seed banks and reintroduction of target species seeds is necessary in order to restore the species-rich Arrhenatherion elatioris meadows.

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of inoculation of Virginia mallow (Sida hermaphrodita [L.] Rusby) with fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum [Lib.] de Bary, which causes stem rot, on the contents and distribution of aluminium, manganese and iron in the shoots of this plant. Field study was carried out during three years (2011-2013) in the soil and weather conditions of central-west Poland. Inoculation was carried out with isolates obtained from rapeseed and mallow. It consisted in a slight damage of stem epidermis and inserting wheat grain overgrown with mycelium of a given isolate. During plant growth, strong infection of mallow shoots was observed, which caused inhibition in the growth and development of the plant. At the stage of technological maturity, shoots were harvested from both the control and inoculated plots for chemical analyses. Contents of the studied elements were determinated in analytical solutions obtained from biomass ash after its “dry combustion” method, using ICP-OES spectrometer. Contents and distribution of aluminium, manganese and iron in mallow shoots depended upon plant parts and placement of pathogens on the stem. The highest amount of aluminium was found in the inoculated part, and the lowest in the apices part, regardless of isolate origin. In the case of iron and manganese distribution, statistically significant effect of the applied pathogen was found. Isolate from the mallow caused greater manganese accumulation and lower iron accumulation. The conducted study demonstrates a significant effect of infection with fungus S. sclerotiorum on the physiological processes that occur in Virginia mallow plants.

The subject of this study was an assessment of the effectiveness of hygienization of pig slurry during the methane fermentation process. The basic criterion for evaluating the effectiveness of the process was the inactivation rate of Salmonella Senftenberg (W775, H2S negative) and the eggs of Ascaris suum. Bacteria suspensions were introduced into slurry inside microbiological carriers of the FILTER-SANDWICH type, while parasite eggs were in special perlon parasitological carriers. The obtained results indicate that during anaerobic digestion of slurry there occurred a rapid elimination of both Salmonella Senftenberg (W775, H2S negative) and Ascaris suum eggs. The shape of the regression line shows that the complete inactivation of Salmonella Senftenberg (W775, H2S negative) occurred between the 12^th and 13^th hour of the process. Ascaris suum eggs were completely eliminated after 4 hours. Study results suggest that even in the case of strong contamination of the feed material, the technology of anaerobic digestion guarantees obtaining a microbiologically safe product.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of irrigation on the content and yield of starch in several potato cultivars grown in different regions of Poland. Field experiments were conducted over the period 2009-2011 in Experimental Stations belonging to the Research Centre for Cultivar Testing in Słupia Wielka. Three factors were analysed: cultivation technology: (a) with irrigation and (b) without irrigation – as the control treatment; potato cultivars (Bellarosa, Cyprian, Owacja and Vineta) and three locations (Masłowice, Szczecin Dąbie, Węgrzce). The study was conducted with the randomized split-plot design with three replications. Permanent fertilization applied in the experiment amounted to: 100 kg N, 43.6 kg P and 124.5 kg K·ha^-1. Cultivation and plant protection measures were performed in accordance with the principles of good agricultural practice. Irrigation was used when moisture content in the soil layer (0-30 cm) fell below 70% of the field water capacity. Tuber harvest was performed during their full physiological maturity. Tuber yield and the content and yield of starch were determined during harvest. Obtained results were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). Significant effect of the studied factors on starch content and yield was proved. For starch yield, interaction between experimental location and cultivars, technology and irrigation and location, and the years of study and cultivars also appeared to be significant.

In various regions of the world you will find areas with low precipitation and high water deficits in soil in terms of field plant production. Examples of such areas are the Kherson region in Ukraine and the Kujawsko-Pomorskie province, especially the Kujawy region, in Poland. The Kakhovka Irrigation System in the Kherson region of Ukraine is the largest irrigation system in Europe. In 2015 it facilitated irrigating about 220 thousand ha. of farmland. Some limitation in the use of that system for enhancing soil productivity comes from the water quality. In the Kujawsko-Pomorskie province, Poland, which covers about 1 mln ha. of agricultural land, direct irrigation is performed on about 12 thousand ha. An improvement in soil moisture is seen through increasing water retention in the habitat by limiting water outflow.

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of soil application of the humic preparation Humistar and/or foliar application of the potassium fertilizer Drakar on biometric features, overwintering and state of nutrition, as well as the quantity and quality of winter oilseed rape yield. This study was based on a single-factorial field experiment conducted over 2006-2009 in Chrząstowo, on mesic Typic Hapludalf soil of a granulometric composition of light loam, in a randomized block design, in four replications. The effect of the following was evaluated: Humistar (12% humic acids and 3% fulvic acids), applied pre-sowing into soil, at a rate of 40 dm³∙ha^-1 (T1); Drakar (25.7% K and 3% N), applied in autumn after formation of 6 leaves (2 dm³∙ ha^-1) and in spring, at the beginning of falling petals (4 l∙ha^-1) (T2); combined application of Humistar and Drakar (T3); and the control (T4). In this study has been shown that Drakar had a positive effect on seed yield of oilseed rape. The use of this fertilizer increased the chlorophyll index in the autumn and improved overwintering in relations to the control only when the earlier application of Humistar was made. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the effect of these preparations in weak soils with low content of organic matter and nutrients.