Current Agronomy

Impact of climate change on agriculture in Poland

Antonii Faber, Zuzanna Jarosz — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Agriculture, on the one hand, emits greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change, and on the other hand, it is the
sector which is most affected by the progressing climate change. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of climate change on agriculture and to identify measures adapting agriculture in Poland to changing climatic conditions. The sources of information were legal acts, reports and documents of international institutions, as well as literature on the subject. The study analysed the impact of climate change effects on the conditions of conducting and the volume of agricultural production in global, European and national terms. The analysis showed that progressive climate change and its impact on changing agricultural production conditions threaten the productivity of agriculture, and thus limit the provision of food security. The dynamics of these changes, the extensive scope of threats and the strength of their negative impact prompt adaptation measures. Adaptation measures, the implementation of which enables adaptation to the current and expected climate and its impacts, have been identified.

Agricultural resilience and agricultural sustainability – which is which?

Adam Kleofas Berbeć — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Agricultural sustainability and agricultural resilience are two related concepts focus on maintaining the productivity and functionality of agricultural systems. Agricultural sustainability, a part of sustainable development, focuses on the long-term viability of agricultural practices, with conservation and efficient use of natural resources, the promotion of biodiversity and the enhancement of ecosystem services delivery to ensure the continued productivity of agricultural systems as central point of the concept. Agricultural sustainability seeks to balance the environmental goals with economic and social aspects of agricultural operations. Agricultural resilience is a narrower concept, focusing mostly on the ability of agricultural systems to withstand and recover from specific external disturbances (negative effects of climate change, market fluctuations). The interconnections between two concepts are currently underexplored.
Agricultural resilience must be seen through the lens of a specific context or challenge to which it responds. Both concepts are essential for developing agricultural systems that can thrive in the face of evolving challenges and contribute to food security, environmental protection and economic stability. Agricultural sustainability provides a foundation for resilience, while improved agricultural resilience can contribute to long-term sustainability of agricultural systems. At the same time not all sustainable agricultural systems are resilient to specific shocks and stresses, and vice-versa. The aim of the study was to identify similarities and differences between the concepts of agricultural sustainability and resilience, with particular reference to their interaction.

Effect of different doses of apple pomace to the substrate on photosynthetic efficiency and yield in common buckwheat in a model experiment

Marcin Różewicz — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

By-products of apple juice pressing should be used for the benefit of the environment. One way to manage them is to add them to the soil in raw or composted form as a natural fertiliser and source of organic matter. A study was therefore undertaken to test several doses of apple pomace to the substrat on photosynthetic parameters and yield of buckwheat. The experiment was conducted in a vegetation hall under controlled, automatic irrigation to 60% of the field water capacity. The model study used the cultivar Red corolla and three doses of apple pomace applied to pots in the following amounts: 0 control, 70, 140 and 210 g per pot, which corresponded to field volume: 1, 2 and 3 t·ha-1. Four photosynthetic parameters (Pn, E, Gs and Ci) were measured and the water use efficiency was determined. Chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm and PI) was also investigated. The most suitable variant for buckwheat was the using 210 g which resulted in increased photosynthesis intensity, chlorophyll fluorescence and buckwheat yield.

Preliminary studies on the allelopathic potential of two invasive species of Solidago against selected cereal weeds

Jarosław Mołdoch, Krzysztof Domaradzki — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Agricultural sustainability and agricultural resilience are two related concepts focus on maintaining the productivity and functionality of agricultural systems. Agricultural sustainability, a part of sustainable development, focuses on the long-term viability of agricultural practices, with conservation and efficient use of natural resources, the promotion of biodiversity and the enhancement of ecosystem services delivery to ensure the continued productivity of agricultural systems as central point of the concept. Agricul- tural sustainability seeks to balance the environmental goals with economic and social aspects of agricultural operations. Agricultural resilience is a narrower concept, focusing mostly on the ability of agricultural systems to withstand and recover from specific external disturbances (negative effects of climate change, market fluctuations). The interconnections between two concepts are currently under- explored. Agricultural resilience must be seen through the lens of a specific context or challenge to which it responds. Both concepts are essential for developing agricultural systems that can thrive in the face of evolving challenges and contribute to food security, environ- mental protection and economic stability. Agricultural sustainability provides a foundation for resilience, while improved agricultural resilience can contribute to long-term sustainability of agricultural systems. At the same time not all sustainable agricultural systems are resilient to specific shocks and stresses, and vice-versa. The aim of the study was to identify similarities and differences between the concepts of agricultural sustainability and resilience, with particular reference to their interaction.

Agronomic characteristics and economic performance of cocoa farms in Haiti

Predner Duvivier, Gelin Doréus, Robers-Pierre Tescar, Nicolas Ophny Carvil — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study aimed to describe the agronomic characteristics of the cocoa based farms, estimate their agronomic and economic performance and carry out a gender analysis. Data relating to crops economic value or food security importance, household size, farm- ers’ age, farm size, crop yield and farm family income were collected by focus groups or individual surveys. The results showed that, in average, the households’ size was 4.37 people and the producers’ age, 52 years. The female headed farm size was 1.56 ha against 2.20 ha for the male headed ones. Cocoa farm yield was 562.98 kg/ha and average farm income, 622.3 USD for female headed farms against 1138.0 USD for male headed ones. Compared to male, female farmers possessed less land and earned lower farm income

Influence of sowing date and cultivar on grain and protein yield of grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]

Marcin Różewicz — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Sorghum is a warm-climate crop that is tolerant of water shortages and drought. In terms of climate change in Europe, this cereal could be increasingly grown to replace maize where maize cannot be grown. Unfortunately, the agronomics and especially the optimum sowing date are currently not sufficiently researched, which means that many farmers potentially interested in growing sorghum do not know what sowing date to use. The diversity of cultivar also poses a problem in terms of their appropriate selection and sowing date for the weather conditions in Poland. The study used two different sowing dates for sorghum: in the first decade of May and the second decade of May. Three different grain sorghum cultivars were used: Albanus, Anggy and GK Emese. In the conducted experiment, such features as grain yield and its components as: plant density, number of panicles, tillering index, grain weight per panicle and thousand grain mass were studied. Protein content in grain was also studied and protein yield was calculated. The GK Emese variety proved to be the most stable in terms of grain and protein yield, but it was also the most sensitive to sowing date. The other two varieties Anggy and Albanus showed a varied response to sowing date in terms of grain and protein yield.

Alternariosis or brown spot of pomegranate bushes in the western part of Azerbaijan

Lala A. Huseynova — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Alternariosis or brown spot (Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl.) is a widespread disease of pomegranate bushes in Azerbaijan. The disease occurs mainly in the western part of the country. Alternariosis or brown spot on pomegranate bushes (Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl.) is found mainly on leaves and fruits. On ripening pomegranate fruits, the lesion begins with small brown or black spots that increase in size and become round or oval. The causative agents of alternariosis or brown spot on pomegranate bushes (Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl.) are imperfect fungi of the genus Alternaria, from the order Hyphomycetales; Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl is more common in the conditions of the western part of Azerbaijan. Alternariosis or brown spot (Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl.) causes the greatest harm in conditions of sufficient moisture.
The aim of the article is to present the results of studies on the distribution, intensity of development and harmfulness of alternariosis or brown spot of pomegranate bushes (Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl.), as well as biological effectiveness of fungicides used to control alternariosis, in the western part of Azerbaijan. Research methods used are generally accepted in phytopathology and plant protection to identify and record the infectious potential of the causative agent of alternariosis or brown spot of pomegranate bushes (Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl.) as well as to disease monitoring. During field studies, the fungicides used were 0.4% Selphate (37.5% copper oxychloride + 16% zineb), 0.05% Azoxifene (20% azoxystrobin + 12.5% difenoconazole), 0.05% Conazole (25% difenoconazole) and 0.3% P-oxiride (50% copper oxychloride) and determined their biological effectiveness accordingly.
In the last 5 years, there has been a trend of increasing harmfulness of alternariosis or brown spot of pomegranate bushes (Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl.) in the western part of Azerbaijan. As our research results show, brown spot mainly affected the leaves of pomegranate bushes. Damage to pomegranate fruits differed only in certain years in the studied gardens. During field studies, it was found that the 0.4% fungicide Selphate gives the best results.

Dendrobium, survey on a natural medicine with multidimensional uses and pharmacological characteristics

Haiyan Zhang, Yue Kuang, Mohamad Hesam Shahrajabian — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Genus Dendrobium consisting of nearly 1000 species which is basically found in tropical and subtropical areas. The genus Dendrobium have been utilized in traditional Chinese medicine for around 2000 years. The systematic review of manuscripts and articles dedicated to traditional medicine in China has been carried out. The surveys of interest were indexed in “SciFinder”, “PubMed”, “Web of Science”, and “Scopus”. Relevant literature has been obtained using the keywords “Traditional Chinese Medicine”, “Dendrobium”, “Anti-cancer activity”, “Antioxidant activity”, “Polysaccharides”, “Alkaloids”, “Antibacterial activity”, “Anti-fungal activity”, “Bibenzyls”, and “Glycosides”. This review aims to promote utilization of Dendrobium which is an important part of traditional Chinese medicine because of its different pharmaceutical and medicinal properties, lastly, future challenges and research directions are discussed. Furthermore, clinical trials studies promote researches to highlight and focus on the scope of application of traditional Chinese medicine in growing system of medicine.

The sustainable opportunity for metabolic health: Study of the most important plants of the Middle East

Mohamad Hesam Shahrajabian, Yue Kuang, Haiyan Zhang — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Application of medicinal and aromatic plants and herbs in the Middle East, West of Asia, and North Africa has related to the origin of human civilization. The keywords searched for “Traditional Medicine”, “Neglected plants”, “Natural products”, “Frankincense”, “Garlic”, “Mandrake”, “Milk thistle”, “Myrrh”, “Mint”, “Mustard seed”, “Nard”, “Turmeric”, “Saffron”, “Coriander”, “Wild lettuce”, “Wild endive”, “Pistachio” and “Almond” were performed by using Web of Science, Scopus, Google scholar, and PubMed. Medicinal foods and plants may provide phytotherapy a latest dimension and make them able in their consumption to treat and prevent various diseases. Traditional herbal medicines have been known as an essential source of healing treatment, as their chemical constituents are applied to promote health and prevent many sicknesses. Some of the notable medicinal herbs, and plants of North Africa and the Middle East which have been also mentioned are frankincense, garlic, mandrake, milk thistle, myrrh, mint, mustard seed, nard, turmeric, saffron, coriander, wild lettuce, wild endive, pistachio, and almond. The goal of this article was to review the important health advantages and pharmaceutical benefits of medicinal and aromatic plants and herbs in the Middle East. Medicinal herbs and plants can be used for treatment and alleviation of the negative impacts of several diseases.

The share of Poland in the actual pollution status of Baltic Sea waters with nitrates in the light of HELCOM PLC research

Alicja Pecio — Sat, 01 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The aim of the study was to analyze the results of the current research in the HELCOM PLC project on Poland’s share in the pollution of the Baltic Sea waters. The analysis considers annual update of the HELCOM Core Pressure Indicator, which monitors the implementation of maximum allowable nutrient loads (MAI), covering data from 1995 to 2018, assessment of progress in achieving national nutrient input limits (NIC assessment), covering data for the years 1995–2020, assessment of sources and pathways of nutrients to the Baltic Sea environment by 2020 and comparative analysis at the level of source data from 1995 to 2018 for Poland. Analysis of the nutrient input trend over the 1995–2018 observation period showed a statistically significant 20 percent reduction in total nitrogen input to the entire Baltic Sea. Poland reduced the nitrogen input to all HELCOM basins from the 1997–2003 reference period by 11–26% and it has reached inflow limits in all basins, except the Baltic Proper (BAP), where the reduction remaining to be achieved before 2020 was 30578 t, i.e. 20% of the NIC. The main loads of total nitrogen from Poland to the Baltic Sea are delivered via inland waters (indirect sources) and come from agriculture (57%). Actions at the European Union level, including monitoring the Baltic Sea environment and indicating sources of threat, are necessary for continuous implementation.

Efficiency assessment of weed control and soybean productivity depending on herbicide selection and timing of application

Adrian Sikora, Agnieszka Klimek-Kopyra, Bogdan Kulig — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Herbicide protection affects the health and plants conditions of soybean and is influenced by the weather. Due to the increase in weed infestation in the initial period of plant growth, agrotechnical solutions are sought to enhance protection of plants against excessive weed infestation, taking into account the weather at sowing time. These solutions, however, are not always effective. The aim of the study was to compare the plant morphology, seed yield and weed infestation of soybean crop, cultivar ‘Merlin’, dependin on the weed management and weather conditions. A two-factor field experiment was set up at the Bayer Crops Experimental Statio in Chechło, Poland. The timing of application of herbicides (post-sowing and pre emergence) and combinations of herbicides were compared. The study showed that application of herbicides immediately after sowing effectively regulates weed infestation of a soybean plantation and shows low phytotoxicity. In years with a high water deficit, herbicides should be applied immediately after sowing.
The field experiment confirmed the positive effect of herbicide protection applied immediately after sowing on the habit of soybean plants and the crop yield. The choice of the broad-spectrum mixtures of herbicides Bandur 600 SC (aclonifen) and Sencor Liquid 600 SC (metribuzin) guarantees high efficacy with low or no phytotoxicity. To obtain high soybean yield, however, the application of the herbicide Artist (as a mixture of flufenacet and metribuzin) is recommended.

Importance and maintenance of Nicotiana genetic resources

Monika Agacka-Mołdoch, Teresa Doroszewska — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The collection and maintenance of genetic resources of plants is the basis for protecting biodiversity of sources of genetic variation used in breeding. Genebanks collect and store plant material in a viable state and also conduct its evaluation. The most critical factor in maintaining viability is assessing the germination capacity of seeds, which depends on the plant species as well as on the conditions and duration of seed storage. The rate of viability loss varies between species but always increases with seed age. Reduced germination capacity indicates the need for seed regeneration of stored samples. Understanding the period during which seeds of a given species remain viable under specific storage conditions allows for optimizing the regeneration of samples in the collection. This study presents data on seed viability of species of the genus Nicotiana under different storage conditions. They indicate the significant influence of air temperature, seed humidity and oxygen content in the air on long-term seed storage. The aim of this study was to present information on the conservation of genetic resources of the Nicotiana genus from different countries and their potential utilization in breeding programs. Many species of the Nicotiana genus are a valuable sources of resistance to viral, bacterial, and fungal diseases, as well as pests. Numerous resistance traits have been successfully transferred to cultivated tobacco (N. tabacum), frequently resulting in the development of new valuable varieties and breeding materials.

Production and importance of cereal grain proteins

Marcin Różewicz — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Many cereal products consumed by Poles every day contain cereal grains. Grain is identified mainly as a raw material providing
energy in the form of starch, which dominates its composition. However, cereal products in the daily diet also provide a significant portion of protein. They are often overlooked and downplayed. Cereal protein, as it is of plant origin, is considered a protein of lower biological quality because of deficient exogenous amino acids (mainly lysine), but it contains a number of important amino acids. Nowadays an increasing number of people pay attention to adequate protein consumption, especially people practising sports, due to the number of functions that protein performs and the amino acids it is composed of. The role of plant protein will increase in the future, due to the growing human population. The problem of suboptimal proportion of amino acids can be solved by properly conducted breeding focused on protein quality. People with gluten intolerance or who want to exclude this protein from their diet can also benefit from protein from non-bread cereals and pseudocereals. Therefore, more and more products with increased protein content are created on the basis of cereal grains, and with an appropriate balance of amino acids. It is possible to obtain high-protein products with a very good amino acid composition from additional raw materials. The aim of this review is to analyse the scientific literature on the quantity and quality of cereal grain protein and its production and nutritional importance for humans and animals.

Free-living bacteria of the genus Azotobacter – significance, mechanisms of action and practical use in crop production and sustainable agriculture

Monika Kozieł — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Crops grown today show high yield potential, and one of the conditions for realising this potential is to meet their increased nutrient requirements. Arable soils often lack adequate nitrogen, which results in reduced yields and reduced profitability of production. The low nitrogen content of the soil is usually supplemented by the application of mineral fertilisers, which can cause ammonia volatilisation and nitrate accumulation in the soil. Long-term and intensive use of nitrogen fertilisers also contributes to soil acidification, groundwater contamination and an imbalance in the biological ecosystem, for example by increasing the proportion of fungi in the soil microbial population. It is therefore crucial to develop integrated crop production strategies that sustainably increase crop productivity. No less important is the maintenance of soil quality and the reduction of soil degradation problems. Therefore, there is a growing interest in non-chemical methods of fertilisation and plant protection. Biologically active agents are being sought to protect plants and promote their growth. A number of biopreparations are available on the market that improve the humus-forming properties of soil, do not disturb the biological balance and increase plant yields. Their advantages include increasing the availability of elements needed by plants (nitrogen, phosphorus), as well as stimulating plant growth and development through the synthesis of phytohormones. The market for biopreparations is growing rapidly and forms the basis of plant protection in line with the European Green Deal and the ‚Field to Table’ strategy, which promote the reduction of use of synthetic mineral fertilisers and pesticides in favour of biological solutions. One of the preparations available on the market are vaccines containing free-living atmospheric nitrogen-fixing bacteria belonging to the genus Azotobacter.
This article highlights the importance of bacteria belonging to the genus Azotobacter as a potential ingredient in biopreparations to improve the growth, development and yield quality of many crops. Furthermore, the mechanisms used by Azotobacter spp. to promote plant growth (fixation of atmospheric nitrogen, solubilisation of phosphate, potassium and zinc, synthesis of phytohormones, vitamins, siderophores and protection against pathogens) are discussed. Attention has been drawn to the ability of bacteria of the genus Azotobacter to form cysts, which enables them to survive under adverse environmental conditions (high temperature, acidic pH, salinity). Current information on the importance and practical use of Azotobacter spp. in crop production and sustainable agriculture is also reviewed. The use of biopreparations based on Azotobacter spp. strains in agriculture allows for increased crop production and can contribute to meeting the food needs of the world’s ever-growing human population.

The effect of various inoculants on the productivity, chemical composition of soybean seeds (Glycine max (L. Merrill) Magnolia PZO) and chemical properties of soil in southwest part of Poland – preliminary studies

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The introduction of bacterial inoculations into soybean cultivation is becoming an essential agronomic practice. The procedure
of inoculating soybean seeds with microorganisms capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen is recommended in situations where there is a deficit in soil native strains of symbiotic bacteria or their number is limited. The nodule bacteria enter the soil with the inoculated seeds and develop on the roots of the plants. Through this process, plants can use atmospheric nitrogen directly from the air. In 2023, a one-factor field experiment in a randomized block design in three replications was conducted at the Variety Evaluation Experiment Station (SDOO) in Zybiszow, Lower Silesia that belongs to Research Centre for Cultivar Testing. One soybean cultivar, Magnolia PZO, and four different inoculants – Liquifix Glycine 120, Turbosoy, Rhizobium Soi and Bi Soya – were applicated in the study. The inoculants were applied to the seeds immediately before sowing. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of the applied inoculants on soil abundance of basic elements, selected plant biometric traits, yield and chemical composition of soybean seeds. The soil was analyzed before the establishment of the experiment and after its liquidation for pH values, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium content. The applied inoculations had a positive effect on yield and number and weight of nodules and soybean yield. The greatest yield was observed under using Liquifix Glycine 120 (6.90 t/ha), while the lowest under using Rhizobium Soi (5.19 t/ha) compared to control plots (5.59 t/ha). Similar relation was observed in a case of nodule weight and number with the greatest value under Liquifix Glycine 120 (2.97 g and 27.33 pcs) compared to control plots (0.12 g and 1.33 pcs). However, there was no effect on the chemical properties of the soil and the results of chemical analyses of the seeds. The research presented here is preliminary field experiments using bacterial inoculations in soybean cultivation. Their aim was to evaluate the potential of these inoculants in increasing yields and improving biometric traits, which can contribute to sustainable agricultural development by reducing the need for mineral fertilizers. The results of this study may provide a basis for further work on biological methods of promoting plant growth, which is particularly important in the context of the growing need to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture.

Effect of fertilization with nitrogen and microelements on the content of total organic carbon and dissolved organic carbon in Luvisols

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The aim of the paper has been to investigate the effect of fertilization with nitrogen and microelements (Se and Cu, Mn, Zn) on the content of carbon (TOC) and nitrogen as well as dissolved organic carbon (DOC). The study was performed based on the soil sampled (Albic Luvisol) from a two-factor field experiment: the first factor was nitrogen fertilization (0, 40 and 80 kg ha-1), the second one – variants of foliar and soil application of microelements and selenium. Soil was sampled from a depth of 0–30 cm at the beginning and the end of the growing season. Sampling 1 was after the start of spring vegetation, sampling 2 – after harvesting the crop from the field. Winter spelt (cv. Rokosz) was grown on the experimental plots, with winter rapeseed as the forecrop. In the soil samples the following were assayed: total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN) with the Vario Max CNS analyser provided by Elementar and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). DOC was extracted with 0.004 M CaCl2 and was assayed and using the Multi N/C 3100 Analityk Jena analyser. In the soil samples analysed TOC, irrespective of the sampling date and the microelements application method, ranged from 8.38 to 10.60 g kg-1. In general, the application of microelements into soil in combination with selenium resulted in an increase in TOC in the soil sampled at the end of the vegetation period as compared with the soil sampled at the beginning of it. Irrespective of the application method, there has been identified no effect of fertilization with nitrogen and microelements on total nitrogen and dissolved organic carbon in soil, which is important in terms of the stability and equilibrium of the soil system investigated.

Multi-indicator deterministic model based on time series of Sentinel-2, to assess the degree of natural succession on the abandoned arable areas

Małgorzata Kozak, Anna Jędrejek, Rafał Pudełko — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The article presents the concept of a deterministic model for assessing the degree of natural succession on long-term abandoned land in the agricultural production area of Poland. The model was implemented as a geographic information system tool. It is based on two basic sources of information: cadastral maps, which can suggest if the agricultural land is agriculturally used, and seasonal time series of satellite images. The following working hypothesis was adopted in this study: “based on the data from the Sentinel-2 sensor, it is possible to assess the degree of natural succession on small and medium agricultural plots – by separating at least three classes of land cover, representing: early succession consisting mainly grass and ruderal vegetation, advanced succession represented by complexes of shrubs and young trees, mature succession - which is a transitional phase preceding the afforestation phase, or can already be a functional forest area”. The obtained results confirmed the above hypothesis. In the case of early succession, the classification efficiency was about 94% in the winter period, for advanced succession about 75% in the autumn period, and for mature succession about 78% in the summer period. In the classification process, 8 vegetation indices were examined. In the end, the model algorithms were based on the GNDVI index, whose properties allowed for the best differentiation between the above-mentioned succession classes. NDVI, NDRE, NDVIre1, NDVIre2, NDVIre3 were used as auxiliary indices, which, as shown in the research, can improve the classification accuracy at a higher uncertainty threshold in case of weaker separation of classes with the GNDVI index.

The importance of biological fixation of atmospheric nitrogen by leguminous crops

Karolina Smytkiewicz-Buzak — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Biological reduction of atmospheric nitrogen (BNF) is one of the most important biological processes on earth with great economic as well as ecological significance. The unique ability to convert non-reactive nitrogen into plant-available ammonia is possessed only by archaeons and bacteria belonging to the diazotrophs. Legumes are a valuable component of crop rotation and their cultivation brings many benefits. However, the most important and invaluable feature of this group of plants is their ability to fix molecular nitrogen in symbiosis with root nodule bacteria. Higher organisms remaining in symbiotic systems are able to fix approximately 200–500 kg N ha-1 year-1. In contrast, non-symbiotic bacteria fix considerably less nitrogen (1–50 kg N ha-1 year-1). This element, while remaining in crop residues, can be utilised by succeeding plants in the crop rotation. This is particularly important because of the possibility of reducing the use of mineral fertilisers by up to 20–25%. Thus, the importance of legumes in crop rotation is of particular importance in both organic and integrated crop production.
The aim of this study is to systematise knowledge on the importance of legumes in crop rotation, the symbiosis of legumes with symbiotic bacteria of the genus Rhizobium, the impact of factors interfering with this process and newly recognised methods to support it.

Assessment of soil conditions and nitrous oxide emissions from soil in rapeseed and maize cultivation for energy purposes in Poland

Tomasz Żyłowski, Katarzyna Żyłowska, Sylwia Pindral, Jerzy Kozyra, Artur Łopatka — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The aim of the study was to determine nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in rapeseed and maize grain cultivation in accordance with the requirements of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED2) regarding the cultivation of biofuel crops. The EU Implementing Regulation 2022/996 introducing the updated methodology recommends the use of the Stehfest and Bouwman (S&B) Tier 2 model to determine direct nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from soil following fertilizer application and the IPCC (Tier 1) methodology for other sources of N2O emissions. The study was based on survey data from 1525 farms; while soil parameters required by the S&B model (pH, soil organic carbon content and texture) were supplemented from the IUNG-PIB soil map where survey’s data were missing. The calculated N2O emissions were aggregated to NUTS2 regions for Poland. Differences in emissions were linked to local agricultural practices (mainly fertilization levels) and soil conditions. The use of the S&B model increases the direct N2O emission factor from fertilizers applied to fine soils or soils with an organic carbon content greater than 3%, compared to the IPCC Tier 1 methodology.

Research topics related to the American pokeweed (Phytolacca americana L.) in scientific articles from SCOPUS and Web of Science databases

Alina Bochniarz — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

American pokeweed (Phytolacca americana L.) is a perennial plant belonging to the Phytolaccaceae family. The plants are showy, can exceed 2 m in height, and have a characteristic reddish discolouration of the stems and other organs. Due to its unique properties, P. americana has found many applications in biotechnology, medicine and various industries. It is native to North America, but has already occurred in Asia and Europe. In 2013, it was recorded in Poland and is already known from many sites. The aim of this paper is to show the main research topics related to this species, selected on the basis of scientific articles from SCOPUS and Web of Science databases. Due to easier access to the plant in Poland and Europe, it may become a subject of increased scientific interest and such an overview may facilitate the design of new research topics and the establishment of collaborations. The material covered 209 articles and is divided into chapters on the active substances of P. americana, the possibilities of its use in medicine, the physiology and ecology of the plant, the importance for agriculture, as well as issues outside this field.