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In this experiment, the response of winter oilseed rape cv. SY Alister F1 to diverse foliar fertilization was evaluated. Foliar fertilization with the preparation Insol 5 was applied at the following dates: control (without a foliar fertilizer); autumn; autumn + spring; autumn + twice spring; spring and twice spring. Each variant in which autumn foliar fertilization was carried out contributed to a significant increase in plant density before harvest. In turn, each variant with spring foliar fertilization significantly increased the number of pods per plant compared to the control. Variants with autumn + spring, autumn + twice-spring, and twice-spring foliar fertilization influenced the increase in the soil-plant analysis development index (SPAD), thousand seed weight and protein and fat yield. The leaf area index was the highest after foliar fertilization applied in autumn + in spring or autumn + twice in spring. Foliar fertilization affected a significant increase in seed yield compared to the control. The content of protein and magnesium in seeds was the highest after the fertilizer application in autumn + twice in spring or twice in spring.

The competitiveness of Bradyrhizobium japonicum inoculation strain against indigenous rhizobia was examined in a soil pot experiment. The effect of inoculation strain was evaluated under different soil conditions: with or without previously grown soybean and applied commercial inoculant. Molecular identification of inoculation strain and investigated rhizobial isolates, obtained from nodules representing inoculated treatments, was performed based on 16S rDNA and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) sequencing. Inoculation strain showed a significant effect on the investigated parameters in both soils. Higher nodule occupancy (45% vs. 18%), nodule number (111% vs. 5%), nodule dry weight (49% vs. 9%), shoot length (15% vs. 7%), root length (31% vs. 13%), shoot dry weight (34% vs. 11%), shoot nitrogen content (27% vs. 2%), and nodule nitrogen content (9% vs. 5%) was detected in soil without previously grown soybean and applied commercial inoculant. Soil had a significant effect on the shoot, root and nodule nitrogen content, while interaction of experimental factors significantly altered dry weight and nitrogen content of shoots, roots and nodules, as well as number of nodules. Nodulation parameters were significantly related with shoot dry weight, shoot and nodule nitrogen content. Symbiotic performance of inoculation strains in the field could be improved through co-selection for their competitiveness and effectiveness.

The presence of Epichloë endophyte can promote plant growth and increase the accumulation of host plant nutrients. We determined the dry matter (DM) and important nutritional indicators of E+ (infected by endophyte) and E- (not infected by endophyte) Festuca sinensis under the three-time repeated cutting. The results indicated that the total nitrogen, total phosphorus, crude protein (CP), crude fat (CF), crude ash (CA) contents, and DM of F. sinensis decreased with the repeated cutting increase and reached the minimum after the third time cut. The total organic carbon content of F. sinensis peaked at the second time cut. In addition, the DM of F. sinensis was significant (P < 0.05) positively correlated with its quality CP, CF, and CA contents, and the appropriate repeated cutting times of F. sinensis was 1-2 times. We concluded that the presence of endophyte and proper cutting frequency can increase the quality and biomass of F. sinensis in Western China.

Soil erosion is one of the major environmental problems in open-cut mines in tropical regions. It causes negative impacts including the removal of nutrient-rich topsoil, destroys aquatic habitat, dam and pond siltation, clogs river by deposition of sediment, and causes water pollution in the rehabilitation process. Soil texture is an important factor to affect soil erosion. In this study, artificial rainfall experiment in the laboratory scale was conducted to clarify the mechanism of soil erosion under the different soil composition and to discuss the methods for minimizing soil erosion. The obtained results showed that the soil seal generated due to the presence of fine particle under high rainfall intensity is the main contributor to accelerate the soil erosion. Additionally, the surface coverage by the cover crops is the most effective measure to reduce soil erosion because both the coarse and fine contents runoff can be minimized while arranging of the slope angle is effective for reducing the runoff of coarse contents and the soil compaction is effective to reduce that of fine contents. Soil erosion can be minimized by selecting prevention method considering the type of soil because the prevention effect on soil erosion is different depending on the type of soil.

This study evaluated how organic manures and mineral fertilizers affect winter wheat grain and straw yields and grain quality properties. The analysed period of the long-term fertilizer experiment was established in Čáslav, Czech Republic, in 1955 and covers the seasons 2011-2014. The fertilizer treatments were: control; farmyard manure (FYM); FYM + P; FYM + K; FYM + PK; FYM + N₁; FYM + N₂; FYM + N₁PK; FYM + N₂PK and FYM + N₃PK. The highest grain yields were recorded in the FYM + P and FYM + N₃PK treatments (8.9 t/ha). The highest straw yields were recorded in the FYM + N₃PK treatment (6.52 t/ha). The lowest yields were provided in the unfertilized control and FYM treatments. Qualitative parameters were evaluated in the control, FYM and FYM + N₃PK treatments between the years 2011 and 2013. The best quality of wheat grain was provided by the FYM + N₃PK treatment. Combination of the farmyard manure with NPK is the best way to achieve high grain yields with good quality and leads to sustainable food production.

This study was undertaken in order to test whether the development of nodule density over the vegetation period is different in lucerne stands grown for 1, 2 or 3 years continuously. For rapidly assessing nodule density in the field, a modified profile wall method was applied. Nodules were counted on a vertical profile wall, after spraying away a 2 cm layer of soil. For validating this method nodule density was determined on roots washed from monolith samples. Field data indicate that there is a shift of nodulation towards deeper soil layers with increasing maturity of lucerne stands. In 1-year lucerne nodulation was limited virtually to the top 15 cm of soil. In the 15-30 cm soil layer and in the subsoil (30-80 cm), nodule density increased with the cropping duration (1 year < 2 years < 3 years). Temporal decreases in nodule density during the vegetation period associated with dry spells were more pronounced for 2-years as compared with 3-years lucerne.

The aim of this study was to assess the leaf area index (LAI) of tomato and cucumber using an AccuPAR-LP-80-ceptometer to find the influence of irrigation. LAI was also determined by destructive sampling for comparison. The research was conducted at the Liaoning Water Conservancy Institute, North China in 2016. A randomized block design was used to test the influence of four treatments corresponding to field water capacity. Full irrigation (W_1.0), 15% (W_0.85), 25% (W_0.75) and 35% (W_0.65) water deficit were applied using the drip system. Regression model was developed to estimate LAI in response to irrigation. The results show that there is no difference between the two methods. The highest LAI obtained for tomato and cucumber was 5.21 and 3.21 m²/m², respectively, with W_0.85 at 70-days after transplanting, which corresponds with destructive results. This result was found 11% higher and equal compared with W_1.0 for tomato (4.62) and cucumber (3.21), respectively. For both crops, LAI was found significantly influenced at 50-days after transplanting. It also indicated that LAI significantly influenced (by 15%) deficit irrigation for both crops and methods that achieved the highest yield. The predicted LAI was obtained best-fitting with the observed values, which indicated that the AccuPAR-ceptometer is suitable to be used.

In order to understand and clarify the impacts of straw return on maize production and field CO₂ emission in Northeast China, the most important agricultural base of the nation, a field experiment was conducted in 2012-2015, including no straw return (CK), straw amendment at 4000 kg/ha (S₄), and at 8000 kg/ha (S₈). The average grain yield was found significantly promoted by the two straw treatments, with comparably increased magnitudes of 11.0% and 12.8% for S₄ and S₈, respectively, and the benefits were gradually enlarged with increasing experimental duration. Although straw return tends to reduce slightly the harvest index, it was detected that it exerted significantly positive impacts on nitrogen harvest index. These results implied that added straw could lead to raising grain yield and enhancing nitrogen use efficiency simultaneously. In 2015, our monitoring showed that CO₂ emission was elevated with intensified use of straw, and S₄ and S₈ decreased carbon emission efficiency by 7.3% and 13.6%, respectively. However, there was no statistical difference between S₄ and CK. Overall, straw addition at the rate of 4000 kg/ha accompanied with inorganic fertilizer was recommended to be adopted in Northeast China, which was considered as a sustainable and relatively environment-friendly agricultural technique during maize production.

The nutritional status of winter oilseed rape (WOSR) during its vegetative period is crucial for plant growth and can be used for the seed yield prediction. This hypothesis was verified based on the data from long-term field experiments. The experiment consisted of four potassium (K) treatments based on the progressive K supply potential to plants from soil and fertilizer and two magnesium treatments (-Mg, +Mg) conducted in 2013-2015. The content of nutrients (N_tot, P, K, Mg, Ca, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu) was determined at the rosette stage (BBCH 30) for leaves and separately for leaves and stems in the late stage of inflorescence growth (BBCH 57-59). The low K content appeared as the key limiting nutrient in WOSR plants in the rosette stage due to the insufficient soil fertility level, depended even more on weather conditions. This negative K nutritional trait persisted through the whole vegetative WOSR growth. Its detection was possible, because stems were included in the diagnostic procedure. The most reliable prognosis of WOSR yield was conducted based on the nutritional status of stems in the late stage of the inflorescence development.

The paper presents the effect of planting density and row spacing on the growth, development and yield of soybean, cv. Merlin, under very diversified thermal and humidity conditions in the north-central part of Poland. The field experiment was performed in 2016-2019. Three planting densities were applied (70, 90 and 110 seeds per 1 m²) with two row spacing (16 and 32 cm), in 4 replications. Under good humidity and thermal conditions in 2016 and 2017, the yield of seeds and protein in soybean was 3.3 times higher than if exposed to extreme drought and accompanying high air temperatures in 2018 and 2019. The highly diversified thermal and humidity conditions also contributed to a significant decrease in the effect of the factors applied on the structural yield components, leaf area index and dry matter of nodules. As a result, no need of increasing soybean density was observed; along with row spacing, it should be chosen according to the region.

In Central Slovenia within a long term static experiment IOSDV we investigated the impact of mineral nitrogen (N) fertilisation (0, 65, 130, 195 kg/ha) on the N content and the N amount in winter wheat (larger roots, stems, spikes and leaves) in EC 81/82 and EC 90/91, employing three systems of management: farmyard manure ploughing in before forecrop maize, straw ploughing in and green manure, no organic fertilisation. At EC 81/82 the N content in larger roots was around twice as high as the N content in stems and around twice as low as the N content in spikes and leaves. There was 80% of the whole N amount in plant located in the spikes and leaves (33-168 kg/ha) in EC 81/82 and 90% in EC 90/91. Calculated N recovery from mineral fertiliser was 68-87%; it increased with the increasing N rates in the system with farmyard manure ploughing in and in the system with no organic fertilisation, but not in the system with straw ploughing in and green manure. Between EC 81/82 and EC 90/91 wheat gained from 4 to 34 kg N/ha, but there were more important translocations of N inside the plants, which were higher at higher mineral N rates. There was a significant impact of management system on the N uptake at the highest mineral N rate.

A pot experiment focused on the study of factors influencing thallium transfer from contaminated soils into kale (green cabbage, Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala, variety Winterbor F1) was evaluated. Three different types of topsoils with naturally low content of thallium (heavy, medium and medium-light soil) were used for pot experiments. The soils were contaminated with thallium sulfate to achieve five levels of contamination (0, 0.52, 2.10, 4.20 and 5.88 mg/kg). There were six replicates for each combination (90 pots in the experiment). The first part of the experiment started in the year of contamination (2001) and continued in 2003. The soil samples and the samples of kale (leaves and stalks were sampled separately) were collected and analysed. Kale was found to be able to accumulate Tl without any influence on yield. The highest thallium concentration was found in the leaves of kale in the first year of the experiment and reached 326 mg/kg dry matter. Bioaccumulation factor (Biological Absorption Coefficient - BAC) was found to be over 80 during the first year of the experiment. In the third year the BAC was around 3 for the soil with the highest pH and the highest organic matter content but as high as 15 for an acid soil with the lowest content of organic matter and the lowest Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) of soils. The content of thallium in the leaves of kale was found to be 7 to 10 times higher than in the stalks in the third year. In the first year this ratio was up to 18. From these findings it can be concluded that the ability of some plants of Brassicacea family, that are planted as common vegetables, to accumulate thallium is very high and can be a serious danger for food chains. Neutral soils high in CEC and organic matter are able to bind thallium more effectively than poor acid soils and the transfer of Tl into plants from these soils is substantially lower. The uptake of Tl from contaminated soils into kale can be very high and without any negative effect on the plant growth. The transfer of Tl into kale decreases with the time necessary to reach the equilibrium between the added Tl and the soil (ageing of a sample).

Potato yield is affected by an interaction between nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) supply. This hypothesis was verified in a series of field experiments conducted during 2010-2013 in Albania (AL), Czech Republic (CZ) and Poland (PL). The two-factorial experiment was founded on relative scales of K (0, 50, 100, and 150%), and N application rates (75% and 100%) of the recommended doses, which were country-specific. The average tuber yield was doubled for AL, increased by 50% for PL, and by 15% for the CZ in response to K and N interaction. These differences are caused by an increase in the apparent nitrogen efficiency (ANE), which rose significantly by the progressive Krates. Maximum average ANE of 90 kg tubers/kg N was recorded in AL; it was 2-fold lower in CZ. Top average apparent potassium efficiency (AKE) of 65 kg tubers/kg K was recorded in PL; it was 4-times lower in CZ. The relationships between AKE and ANE clearly demonstrate the tight interaction between the N and K, and its effects on potato yield. However, a sound K application management should be adjusted to the local edaphic and climatic conditions.

The aim of the research was to determine the quantitative and qualitative composition of soil-borne fungi in the cultivation of oat, as well as to assess the healthiness of this cereal. The experiment considered spring barley and potato as forecrops, and white mustard or lacy phacelia cultivated after spring barley as catch crops before oat. The population of fungi showing antagonistic effect towards selected fungi pathogenic to cereal was determined. The most fungi (pathogenic and antagonistic) were found in the soil under oat cultivation after spring barley, while the least after potato. The cultivation of oat after spring barley with the use of catch crops significantly influenced a reduction in the number of fungi obtained from the soil. On the other hand, catch crop cultivation increased the share of antagonists in the soil fungus population. Among the species recognised as antagonistic, Clonostachys rosea, Trichoderma viride, T. koningii, and T. harzianum predominated. The introduction of catch crops, especially white mustard, also positively influenced the healthiness of oat. The average disease index for the tested oat cultivars grown after potato and after spring barley with white mustard and lacy phacelia as catch crops was 11.02, 12.78 and 15.90, respectively, whereas after spring barley it was 21.75.

In this study, a simulation experiment by farm warming with infrared ray radiator was carried out, and results showed that the broad bean (Vicia faba L.) growing days were shortened by increased temperature. The seedling, ramifying, budding, blooming, podding, and maturing stages were shortened by 1-4, 1-2, 1, 2-3, 1-2, and 2-4 days, respectively, and the whole growing period was shortened by 7-16 days when the temperature increased by 0.5-2.0°C. The broad bean yield increased by 10.1-16.6% when the temperature increased by 0.5-1.0°C, and significantly decreased by 38.1-90.1% when the temperature increased by 1.5-2.0°C. Increased temperature significantly improved the fat, carbohydrate, ash and energy contents.

This study aimed at investigating the species composition and richness of the flora of abandoned sheep pens in comparison to their immediate neighbourhood. Field research was conducted in the Wielkopolska province of western Poland on 25 circular plots (20 m²) located in the middle of abandoned pens within sheep farms, paired with 25 reference plots established in nearby grasslands. Physicochemical properties of the topsoil were modified considerably by sheep in the past, so some effects continue to this day. Abandoned sheep pens did not differ significantly in plant species richness from control plots, but Urtica dioica, Galium aparine and Rumex obtusifolius, were significantly associated with sheep pens. Similar values of Shannon index and the low Jaccard index of similarity between plot types indicate that although these habitats are not richer in plant species, they are refuges of some characteristic plant species, which are absent or infrequent in neighbouring habitats. Moreover, the changes in physicochemical properties of the soil (higher average ammonium NH₄⁺-N and nitrate NO₃^--N content) and vegetation structure are very deep, as they have persisted for 25 years.

From 2012 to 2014 a field experiment was conducted on a podzolic soil. The aim of the study was to evaluate the yield and weed infestation of winter rye canopy depending on three biochar rates (10, 20 and 30 t/ha). The biochar was pyrolyzed from wheat straw at 350-650°C. After 12, 24, and 36 months from biochar incorporation into the soil pH, total carbon (C) and some elements in soil were determined. Additionally phytotoxicity of soil solid phase was assessed by the commercial toxicity bioassay - Phytotoxkit. The addition of biochar had a positive influence on grain yield of winter rye, which was related to the nutrient application in the form of biochar. The highest grain yields were obtained when biochar was applied at the rate of 20 t/ha. The air-dry weight of weeds in the rye crop grown in the biochar-amended plots was lower compared to the control plots. Incorporation of biochar into the soil at the rates of 20 and 30 t/ha caused a significant increase in the soil content of total C as well as of available P, K, Mg, Fe and B, relative to the control treatment. Moreover, the biochar-amended soil had higher pH because of the relatively high concentration in the biochar (pH_KCl 9.9). The assessment of substrate toxicity revealed that biochar applied at the rates of 10 and 20 t/ha had no negative effects on the germination of Lepidium sativum L.

A five-year (2010-2015) field experiment was conducted to investigate warming impacts on organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) contents and their ratios in bulk soil and soil water-stable aggregates in an alpine meadow of the Tibetan Plateau. Compared with unwarmed control, warming had no significant effects on OC, TN and TP contents and their ratios in bulk soil. The contents of OC, TN and TP associated with macroaggregates and microaggregates decreased, whereas those associated with silt + clay fractions significantly increased. The C:N and C:P ratios in macro- and microaggregates and silt + clay fractions decreased, with significant differences for C:P ratio in microaggregates and C:N and C:P ratios in silt + clay fractions. The results indicated that C, N and P were protected chemically in silt- and clay-size fractions under warming, which offset the loss of C, N and P protected physically by macro- and microaggregates. Both physically and chemically protected C decomposition proceeded relatively more rapidly or accumulated relatively more slowly than did N and P. Our results suggest that C, N and P distributions within soil aggregate size fractions influence their net changes in bulk soil under future climate change scenarios.

The experiment was carried out to observe the influence of the CULTAN method (controlled uptake long term ammonium nutrition) on grain yield and yield formation of spring barley cultivar Jersey. In four-year small-plot experiment under conditions of the Czech Republic, two methods of nitrogen fertilization were used: conventional surface fertilization and local fertilizer injection rich in ammonium into soil during vegetation at BBCH 29-30 stages. Furthermore, the impact of sulphur amendment in fertilizer and increased dose of fertilizer were observed. Basic dose of nitrogen was 80 kg N/ha, increased dose 130 kg N/ha. At CULTAN treatment, same or significantly higher grain yields were obtained compared to conventional nitrogen fertilization. Grain yield at CULTAN fertilization is formed mainly on the main stem because of reduced tillering; it has the impact on significantly higher percentage of grain retained on 2.5 mm sieve. A tendency to lower protein content in grain was recorded at local injection of fertilizer compared to conventional fertilization. CULTAN-treated plants showed a lesser dependency of qualitative parameters on fertilizer dose and sulphur amendment in fertilizer. A positive influence of the CULTAN method on yield and quality of grain was observed mainly at the less fertile site.

In a two-year pot experiment, the effect of five growing media on the growth, flowering, decorative value of Pelargonium peltatum cv. Maxime as well as on their uptake of the nutrients and heavy metals were studied. The media were prepared from four composts (made from: sewage sludge 70% or 35%, potato pulp 35%, straw 30% or sawdust 30%) and peat in 1:1, V:V ratio. In the 1^st year of research 7-month-old composts and in the 2^nd year 18-month-old composts were used. Plants cultivated in 7-month-old composts showed better growth-related parameters, created more inflorescences and were more decorative than those cultivated in 18-month-old ones. The medium with compost consisting of 70% sewage sludge and 30% straw gave the best results. Composts application increased nutrients and heavy metals content in pelargonium leaves. Heavy metals content was definitely lower than the value considered toxic to plants.

Soil erosion by water has become an issue in the cultivation of maize (Zea mays L.) on sloping lands in recent years. The following three technologies of tillage have been assessed: disc cultivator, strip-till and no-till (raw land). Seeding machine Kinze 3500 was used for sowing maize cultivar Silvinio FAO 210. The experiments were conducted within the years 2013, 2014 and 2016. Erosion was evaluated under simulated rain in three stages of maize growth. The following parameters of each tested tillage treatment were measured: water infiltration (mm), soil loss (converted to t/ha), dry matter yield of the aboveground biomass and grain yield. The results confirmed that no-till technology reduced water erosion to the value of 0.40 t/ha. This technology along with the row spacing of 0.75 m tended to bring higher yields of aboveground biomass (13.40 t/ha). Tillage and phacelia as a catch crop increased water infiltration in the soil.

In this experiment we proved an effect of dolomite limestone on chemical immobilization in soil contaminated by trace metals, namely Cd, Pb, and Zn. Primary, we set up lysimeter pot experiment to measure soil leaching without vegetation. Willow clone (S. × smithiana Willd) was cultivated in the second lysimeter pot as a new approach to monitor Pb, Cd and Zn leaching, which was affected by soil liming (used in 1% rate). At the time of both harvests, aboveground biomass increased significantly at the amended variant. After the second harvest aboveground biomass production increased by 80% in comparison with the first one, Cd and Zn concentration in biomass decreased 2-fold and 3-fold, respectively. Dolomite limestone as a process of liming: (i) restricted metals leaching from the soil substrate; (ii) reduced metal uptake by willow; and (iii) increased biomass production of willow. Liming also alleviated the plant stress imposed by risk elements resulting in better plant growth and lower levels of stress markers (total nitrogen content and the main amino acid metabolism parameters in the willow leaves) yet through different mechanisms.

The objective of research was to evaluate physiological reaction of dominant plants (Fagus sylvatica, Dryopteris filix-mas, Rubus idaeus) taking advantage of the altitudinal variations in the area of the Slovenský raj National park (Western Carpathians). Secondary spruce stands are the current edificators of phytocoenoses between the ages of 10-15 and 80-100 years, in undergrowths with a mix of naturally regenerated beech and fir. Nutrient contents in top soils followed the change of conditions, such as climate and soil type. The concentrations of available Ca and Mg were relatively fluctuated (CV 44-55%) and decreased with increased altitude. On the other hand, K and P concentrations (CV 38-41%) improved with increased altitude. Results of physiological characteristics of plants showed variations between species in rate of photosynthesis (P_n), rate of transpiration (E) and maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (F_v/F_m). Effect of altitude appears inconclusive in species monitored and their measured parameters, with the exception of P_n in R. idaeus a D. filix-mas. Influence of better light conditions in youn- ger stands was proved in the values of F_v/F_m for F. sylvatica.

The use of nitrogen (N) fertilizers in crops increases their yield but can modify their quality and lead to environmental problems by the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG). One of the strategies for mitigating this emission is the use of nitrification inhibitors (NI) as 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP). Additionally, the increased persistence of N after the application of NI can reduce the amount of fertilizer applied. A field experiment with lettuce was conducted in the Savanna of Bogotá. N was applied as ammonium sulphate nitrate (ASN 26%) at a rate of 70 kg N/ha and as the combination of ASN with DMPP (ENTEC® 26) at 50 and 70 kg N/ha rates. GHG emissions, soil parameters, lettuce yield, its components, N, nitrate and mineral elements contents were measured. With high soil nitrate contents, a standard dose of N fertilizer with DMPP maintained the yield and N content of lettuce, while it had no effect on GHG emissions. A reduction of 20 kg N/ha using DMPP was able to keep the yield meanwhile improving the quality of the crop due to a lower nitrate accumulation in lettuce leaves.

The studies determined the effect of bacteria Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. isolated from the soil after carrot cultivation on pathogenic fungi Altenaria dauci, A. radicina, Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani, Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. A field experiment on carrot cultivation considered different intercrop plants (rye, buckwheat, white mustard, sunflower). Rye and buckwheat were the most conducive to the growth of Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. Those bacteria were the most effective in inhibiting the growth of F. solani, F. oxysporum and R. solani. The antagonistic effect of soil-borne Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. towards the tested fungi was the largest after the application of rye and white mustard as intercrop plants in the cultivation of carrot. Buckwheat and sunflower showed a slightly smaller influence on the antagonistic activity of the studied bacteria. Bacillus ssp. had a significantly lesser antagonistic effect than Pseudomonas ssp.

Crop growth is a key factor that effects nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission in farmland soil. Clarification and quantification of the impact of maize growth on N₂O emission are important to guide maize planting and patterns, which is also useful for building model to simulate N₂O emission in an agroecosystem. In this study, we carried out a three-year (2013-2015) field experiment to evaluate the contribution of maize growth on N₂O emission using a split-plot design. The factors included planting versus not planting maize, and four rates of nitrogen (N) application (0, 150, 300, 450 kg N/ha). Our results showed the impacts of maize growth on N₂O emission decreased linearly with the growth of maize from the 43^rd day after sowing (y = -1.07x + 26.85, R² = 0.95). Nitrogen fertilizer application can reduce the impacts of maize growth on N₂O emission. The impact of maize growth on soil NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^--N are similar to N₂O emission, and they have a strong correlation. We concluded that maize growth reduces soil N₂O emission but N application can exert an antagonistic effect, and the impact of maize growth on soil NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^--N largely determines the impacts of maize growth on N₂O emission.

The purpose of this research has been to identify relationships between soil moisture and the growth and development of microorganisms, their diversity and the activity of soil enzymes. Four soils with different texture were analysed. Air-dry soils were watered up to the moisture content corresponding to 20, 40 and 60% of the maximum water capacity (MWC) and subsequently were submitted to determinations of the counts of soil microorganisms, colony development index and ecophysiological diversity index for bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi. In addition, the response of seven soil enzymes to soil humidity was examined. It was found that the most optimum soil moisture for the development of organotrophic bacteria was the one at the level of 20% of MWC. For Azotobacter spp. bacteria and actinomycetes, the 40% MWC soil moisture level was optimum, while fungi developed the best at the soil moisture level of 60% of MWC. In turn, the activity of soil dehydrogenases, catalase, urease, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, β-glucosidase and arylsulfatase was the highest in soil with 20% of MWC. The principal component analysis showed that the soil moisture determined the microbial and biochemical soil activity to a much lesser degree than did the soil type.

Recycling of phosphorus (P) from municipal waste for the use as a fertiliser can be an alternative to the non-renewable resources of this element as well as a method in the management of civilisation by-products that are a burden to the environment. An innovative phosphorus suspension fertiliser, produced on the basis of ash from incineration of sewage sludge and phosphorus solubilising bacteria Bacillus megaterium was compared in field trials with spring wheat conducted in 2014 and 2015 with superphosphate and phosphorite. The new fertiliser was not inferior to the commercial fertilisers in terms of the effect on wheat yield volumes, the uptake of P by wheat and the sanitary condition of the wheat field, especially when grown protected from weeds, pathogens and pests. It is expected that such a fertiliser can be an alternative to fertilisers produced from non-renewable resources, provided it does not deteriorate the quality of agricultural production and will be safe for the environment.

The study presents results of the one-factor field experiment carried out in years 2005-2011 located on a slope with an inclination of 9%, in the mountain region (southern Poland, 545 m a.s.l.). Soil-protection effectiveness of potato, spring barley and meadow was studied on the basis of vegetation cover forming during whole plant vegetation period, expressed as LAI (leaf area index). The mass of surface runoff from the plots was measured after precipitation and snowmelts causing surface wash-out. The plots were arranged in a randomized block design, in four repetitions. Surface wash-outs were caught in the Słupik's catchers. The soil-protection effectiveness of potato starts when plants cover 80% of the soil surface, in spring barley it was 60%, and for meadow 10%. Reduction of the intensity of surface wash as a result of an increase in the surface of the plants aerial-parts is described in the following simple regression equations: y = -1480.7x + 4094.2 (r = 0.63, n = 216) for potato; y = -59.2x + 157.4 (r = 0.69, n = 200) for spring barley, and y = -1.5097x + 11.6 (r = 0.37, n = 236) for meadow. Meadow protects soil against water erosion 6.8-times more effectively than spring barley and 324-times better than potato. The results enabled verification of the nomograms determining the carbon indicator value in the USLE equation for tested plants under similar conditions.

Monitoring of grassland dry matter yield (DMY) is important for the economy and ecosystem management, but it is a time-consuming process. Calculating the correlation between compressed height (CH) and DMY is a faster way to estimate DMY. The aim of our study was to use CH in order to predict DMY for a meadow with different fertilization management and plant species composition. Four fertilization treatments and one unfertilized control were established in a mesophilic meadow in the Czech Republic. Using a rising plate meter (RPM), CH was measured before the first and second cuts. In addition, the cover of individual vascular plant species was estimated. Significant correlations between CH and DMY were ranging from 0.41 to 0.79 for treatments without nitrogen fertilization in the first and second cuts; for treatments with nitrogen fertilization there was a significant correlation only in the second cut. According to our results, the RPM method seems to be suitable for a rough DMY estimate for meadows with coverage of about 60% grasses, 10% legumes and 30% forbs. However, considerable changes in the cover of tall forbs (e.g. Urtica dioica L.) or tall grasses (e.g. Dactylis glomerata L.) could be the main sources of DMY estimation inaccuracy.