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In a long-term field experiment winter wheat was grown in crop rotations with 40, 60 and 80% proportion of cereals. Two levels of fertilization were used: H₁ - mineral fertilization N, P, K + organic fertilization Veget®; H₂ - only mineral fertilization N, P, K. Winter what was grown after two preceding crops: pea and winter barley. In 2010-2012 the grain yield of winter wheat after pea was statistically higher at fertilization with mineral fertilizers N, P, K and organic manure Veget® (7.15 t/ha) in comparison with mineral fertilizers only (6.65 t/ha). In crop rotation with 80% of cereals the grain yield of winter wheat after pea as a preceding crop was statistically higher (6.81 t/ha) than after winter barley (5.59 t/ha). The rising of grain yield at 1.9 t/ha was achieved by suitable preceding crop (pea) and by combined fertilization (mineral fertilizers N, P, K + organic manure Veget®). The grain yield of winter wheat 5.24 t was obtained by mineral fertilization N, P, K only and after winter barley. By mineral fertilization N, P, K + organic manure Veget®) and after pea as a preceding crop the grain yield of winter wheat 7.14 t/ha was reached.

Effects of insecticidal sprays on poppy root weevils (Stenocarus ruficornis, Stephens 1831) were assessed in small plot trials at three localities in the Czech Republic during two years (2011-2012). In addition, the effects of seed dressing were included into the assessment in one of the localities (Červený Újezd). The levels of root damage caused by the insect pest larvae (expressed as number of bore holes per root) and yield got from individual treatments were compared. Sprays applied for 18 days after the first record of poppy root weevils in trials showed the highest effects on a decrease of the levels of root damage (40% of untreated control). In general, sprays applied at the date when SATF₁₄ value exceeded 20°C showed significant effects on decreasing the levels of root damage. The highest effects were usually recorded in sprays which were applied when SATF₁₄ value exceeded 100°C.

Miscanthus × giganteus (Greef et Deu) is an agro-energy crop of the second generation cultivated in purpose to obtain annually renewable bio-fuel produced from the aboveground biomass. Cultivation is preferred on marginal lands to avoid occupation of arable lands. Influence of fertilization and soil type Gleysol, Planosol and Technosol (open pit coal mine overburden) on yield and biomass traits of miscanthus were investigated during five years' field experiment. Among biometric characteristics: stem height, length and width of leaves, the number of leaves (dry and green) per stem and number of stems per rhizome, only the last one has a strong positive correlation with yield. Fertilization increased yield during fourth and fifth year of development on Gleysol and Technosol. The highest yield on Gleysol was 23.12 t/ha in 2014, on Planosol 10.16 t/ha, and 4.77 t/ha in 2015 on Technosol. The yield of miscanthus, beside fertilization, depends on weather conditions and weeds. Cultivation of miscanthus is possible on marginal soils with minimum application of agricultural measures only in the year of establishment. Gleysol is a type of soil that can be recommended for miscanthus cultivation.

Four clones of short rotation coppice (SRCs) were investigated for phytoextraction of soil contaminated by risk elements (REs), especially Cd, Pb and Zn. As a main experimental factor, the influence of rotation length on the removal of REs was assessed. The field experiment with two Salix clones (S1 - (Salix schwerinii × Salix viminalis) ×S. viminalis; S2 - S. × smithiana) and two Populus clones (P1 - Populus maximowiczii × Populus nigra; P2 - P. nigra) was established in April 2008 on moderately contaminated soil. For the first time, all clones were harvested in February 2012 (2012_4y) after 4 years. Subsequently each plot was equally split into halves. The first half of the SRC clones was harvested in February 2014 after 2 years (2014_2y) and again it was harvested in February 2016 after further 2 years (2016_2y). The second half was harvested in February 2016 after 4 years (2016_4y). The results showed that the biomass production for the second 4-year harvest period was significantly higher for all clones but the metal concentration was lower in the mentioned period. 4-year rotation seems to be more advantageous for the phytoextraction than two 2-year rotations. The highest metal removal presented by remediation factors (RFs) per 4 years for Cd (6.39%) and for Zn (2.55%) were found for S2 in the harvest 2016_4y treatment. Removal of Pb was the highest by P1 clone with very low RF per 4 years (0.04%). Longer rotation is also economically superior.

The study aimed at evaluating and comparing changes provoked by the water deficit on water relations and nitrogen fixation in two Vigna unguiculata cultivars, as well as at indicating which cultivar is more tolerant under water deficiency. The experimental design used was entirely randomized in factorial scheme, with 2 cultivars (Pitiuba and Pérola) and 2 water regimes (control and stress). The parameters evaluated were the leaf relative water content, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, nodule number, nodule dry matter, nitrate reductase enzyme activity, ureide concentration and leghemoglobin in nodule. The stomatal conductance of the Pitiuba and Pérola cultivars under water deficit were 0.20 and 0.01 mmol H₂O/m²/s, respectively. The nitrate reductase activity of the plants under stress was significantly reduced in both cultivars. The leghemoglobin in the Pitiuba and Pérola cultivars under water stress had the concentrations of 58 and 41 g/kg dry matter, respectively. The parameters investigated in this study suggest that the Pitiuba cultivar under water deficit suffers from smaller changes, when compared with Pérola cultivar.

The study evaluates how sixty years of application of organic manures and mineral fertilizers (ten fertilizer treatments altogether), planting of cultivars with different length of stem (long- and short-stem cultivars) and preceding crops (potatoes and alfalfa) affected grain and straw yields of winter wheat in the Prague-Ruzyně long-term fertilizer experiment (RFE). Fertilizer treatments did not affect grain yield during the first ten years of the RFE experiment (1959-1968), but influenced straw yield. The grain yield ranged from 5.08 (control) to 5.43 (farmyard manure) t/ha, straw yield varied from 6.02 t/ha (control) to 8.31 t/ha (poultry slurry (PS) + N₄P₂K₂). In the last ten years of the RFE experiment (2004-2013) grain yield ranged from 7.01 t/ha (control) to 8.88 t/ha (stale + N₄P₂K₂), while straw yield decreased and varied from 3.12 (control) to 6.21 t/ha (PS + N₄P₂K₂). Comparing the potatoes and alfalfa as preceding crops, the grain yield was 0.5 t/ha higher after alfalfa, but straw yield was 1.3 t/ha higher after potatoes. Introduction of short-stem cultivars increased average grain yield about 2 t/ha and decreased average straw yield about 0.85 t/ha.

This research was conducted to assess the influence of long-term tillage system on soil organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, root biomass and crop yield in spring wheat-field pea rotation fields in a rainfed semi-arid environment from 2013 through 2015. The treatments were; conventional tillage with stubble removed (T); no-till with stubble removed (NT); no-till with stubble retained (NTS) and conventional tillage with stubble incorporated (TS) arranged in a randomised complete block design with three replicates. The soil organic carbon in NTS increased by 16% and 14% over T and NT. Compared with the T and NT, NTS increased soil microbial biomass carbon by 42% and 38% in 0-30 cm depth, respectively. Root biomass was significantly increased in NTS by 47% and 54% over T and NT, respectively. Across the three years, NTS had an average grain yield of 53% and 41% higher than T and NT, respectively. Compared with NTS, T and NT decreased root biomass by 54% and 48%, respectively. In view of the limited and erratic biomass production in this region, integration of no-till with straw mulching is recommended for soil fertility improvement, environmental quality and sustainable crop production.

The aim of this study was to determine whether meat and bone meal (MBM) can be used as NP fertilizer for spring barley grown for fodder. A two-factorial field experiment was conducted in Poland. Experimental factor I was MBM dose (0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 t/ha/year) which was compared to the mineral fertilization (NPK), factor II was the year of the study (two consecutive years). MBM used in doses higher than 1.0 t/ha had a more beneficial influence on the grain yield of spring barley and grain plumpness than mineral fertilizers. The positive yield-forming effect of MBM doses 2.0 t/ha and 2.5 t/ha was statistically significant. The nitrogen (N) content of grain was similar in treatments with MBM and mineral fertilization. The two highest MBM doses contributed to a significant decrease in the phosphorus (P) content of grain, particularly in the second year of the study, in comparison with the remaining MBM doses and mineral fertilizers. Grain yield and N content were also affected by the year of the study, due to weather conditions and the residual effect of MBM. The optimal MBM dose was 1.5 t/ha, which allowed to produce 5.1 t/ha of the plumpest grain whose N and P content was consistent with the feeding standards for livestock.

Two-way field experiment was carried out in a split-plot design in 4 growing seasons at the Experimental Station of the Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology in Mochełek (Poland). The forecrops for winter triticale cv. Tulus were lupins: yellow, blue and white, field pea and spring barley. Nitrogen (N) fertilization in triticale after harvesting forecrops was: 0-60-120-180 kg N per ha. Average long-term yields of grain and protein in triticale after leguminous forecrops were statistically similar, by 0.84 t/ha and 86 kg/ha higher than after spring barley. On plots without mineral N fertilization, by over 1.5 t/ha more grain was obtained after leguminous forecrops, and by 142 kg/ha more protein than on the plot after spring barley. However, the rate of 180 kg N/ha guaranteed obtaining a significantly highest mean protein yield in triticale. The applied mineral N fertilization at rates from 60 to 180 kg N/ha did not significantly vary the average yield of winter triticale. Mineral nitrogen (N_min) content in the layer 0-60 cm after harvesting the leguminous forecrop without mineral N fertilization was by 25.5% higher than after harvesting spring barley fertilized with a rate of 60 kg N per ha.

Among Meliaceae derivatives, neem cake is usually used as a fertilizer; however its origin and industrial processing are often unknown, so that its effect on soil fertility is not predictable. In this study, the effect of soil incorporation of 6 commercial neem cakes and leaves of Melia azedarach L. on nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) dynamics was investigated in a 118-day laboratory incubation experiment. Neem cake at a rate of 8 g/kg of soil and melia leaves at 16 g/kg were incorporated into the soil and their net N and C mineralisation were evaluated 2 h after application and at day 1, 2, 6, 12, 26, 54 and 118, by analysing a 50-g soil sample placed in 250 glass jars. The apparent net N mineralisation was well predicted by N concentration and C/N ratio of derivatives. The derivatives with a C/N ratio < 24 caused a net N mineralisation, whereas those with a C/N ratio ≥ 24 caused net N immobilisation. C mineralisation ranged between 15% and 25% and was not related to chemical composition of the derivative. Neem cake with a C/N ratio < 24 can be used to add N, while neem cake with a C/N ratio > 24 can be used to reduce soil mineral N.

This study investigated copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) enrichment factor (EF) and mobility factor (MF) as possible indicators of their uptake by spinach (Spinaceae oleraceae) and carrots (Daucus carota) grown on a sludge-amended luvisol (SAL). Sewage sludge was applied to luvisol at different rates and spinach and carrots planted. Enrichment of Cu and Pb in SAL was determined, and values regressed with those of Cu and Pb concentrations in spinach and carrots. Concentration of Cu and Pb in vegetables was calculated using the regression model obtained, and calculated values compared with actual values. Pb MF were higher than Cu MF but Cu and Pb EFsoil values were < 3.0, indicating minor enrichment from sludge addition. EF had 10% reliability in predicting Cu and Pb uptake in vegetables. MF was more than 70% reliable in predicting carrot Cu uptake and spinach Pb uptake. EF and MF are not effective as predictors of heavy metal uptake by vegetables. The role of other soil components including root exudates and by-products from microbial activities should also be investigated.

Soil management is aimed at the maintenance of optimal soil physical quality for crop production. In order to explore the effects of tillage practices on soil physical properties, a study was conducted to compare the effects of no tillage (NT), moldboard plow (MP) and ridge tillage (RT) on soil bulk density (BD), soil penetration resistance (SPR), soil water content (SWC), soil macroporosity (MAC) and soil air-filled porosity (AFP) in Northeast China. Results showed that both NT and RT led to significant BD increment than MP at 0-20 cm (P < 0.05). Compared with MP, NT and RT increased SPR at the depths of 2.5-17.5 cm (P < 0.05). SWC of 0-10 cm layer was significantly higher in NT and RT than MP soils (P < 0.05). NT showed a significantly lower MAC than MP and RT at 0-20 cm soil depths (P < 0.05). All AFP values were above the limit of 0.10 cm³/cm³ under all tillage treatments. RT improved the soil physical quality as evidenced by decreased BD and SPR, and increased SWC, MAC and AFP relative to NT.

The research aimed at the assessment of N₂O emission from agricultural soils subject to different fertilization conditions. It was carried out on a long-term experiment field in Skierniewice in Central Poland maintained with no alterations since 1923 under rye monoculture. The treatments included mineral (CaNPK), mineral-organic (CaNPK + M) and organic (Ca + M) fertilization. Measurements were conducted during the growing periods of 2012 and 2013. N₂O emissions from the soil were measured in situ by the means of infrared spectroscopy using a portable FTIR spectrometer Alpha. N₂O fluxes over the measurement periods showed high variability with range 0.13-11.20 g N₂O-N/ha/day (median 2.87, mean 3.16) from mineral treated soil, 0.23-11.06 g N₂O-N/ha/day (median 3.64, mean 3.33) from mineral-organic treated soil and 0.25-12.28 g N₂O-N/ha/day (median 3.14, mean 3.55) from organic treated soil. N₂O fluxes from manure-treated soils were slightly higher than those from soils treated exclusively with mineral fertilizers. N₂O fluxes were positively correlated with soil temperature, air temperature, and content of both, NO₃^- and NH₄⁺, in the soil (0-25 cm) and, to a lesser degree, negatively correlated with soil moisture. Based on the measured N₂O flux and its relationship with environmental factors it can be concluded that both, nitrification and denitrification the are important sources of N₂O in mineral soils of Central Poland, where the average soil water-filled pore space during the growing period range from 22-35%. Under the climate, soil and fertilization conditions in Central Poland, the N₂O emission from cultivated soils during the growing period is approximately estimated as 0.64-0.73 kg N/ha.

The possibility of sweet sorghum cultivation with different inter-row distances (20, 50, 75 cm) was verified in small scale plots with 3 cultivars (Bovital, Goliath, Sucrosorgho). The maize cv. Atletico (rows 75 cm) was used as a control. The influence of row width and cultivar on fresh and dry biomass, methane and biogas production per area was statistically significant. The methane and biogas production was evaluated in laboratory, via fermentation in Oxi Top Control Merck bottles. Generally, sorghum was more productive than maize. The highest biogas production per hectare was found in case of 25 cm row spacing. Goliath was the most yielding cultivar (in all parameters). The experiment proved possibility to produce biomass from sorghum in narrow rows for biogas stations in the Czech Republic.

Drought can cause substantial yield losses, particularly for crops with shallow root systems, such as potato (Solanum tuberosum). This study tested whether root system architecture could affect potato yield under drought conditions. The following parameters of the roots were measured: depth range, total length, total area, surface area, average diameter, and total dry weight of the root system. These parameters in soil layers were also measured at different depths. Five potato cultivars from a group of mid-early cultivars were examined in this study. The same cultivars were tested under two conditions: control with optimal irrigation and drought stress treatment without irrigation for three weeks after the end of tuberization to check the tuber yield. Significant differences were observed among cultivars in the size of the root system and its architecture. The biggest differences in the individual layers of soil profile related to the diameter of the root, the root length, and the surface area. Also a relationship between the size of the root system and yield of tubers was found. The strongest correlations involved the root length and the root surface area with the decrease in tuber yield under the drought, then the dry root mass with the decrease in yield. These correlations were negative: the higher the value of the parameter, the smaller the observed decrease in yield. This showed a relationship between root length and mass with the decrease of yield; this relationship was stronger for roots in deeper layers than in the shallowest layers. Therefore, this study indicates that breeding potato cultivars with deep root systems might improve tuber yields under drought conditions.

The fertilising experiment was set up in 1968 on the mountain meadow (720 m a.s.l.) in Czarny Potok near Krynica (20°8' E, 49°4' N). The experiment was conducted on the acid Cambi soil and comprised objects fertilised with two nitrogen forms and two doses against the background of PK fertilisation, the untreated object, and plots with unilateral P and N fertilisation. The paper concerns 30 years of investigations (1968-1997) of the effect of different NPK fertilisation on the dynamic of yields and the meadow sward quality against a background of the same treatments. The dynamic of the botanical composition was presented as well as the dynamic of the grassland yield potential with systematic mineral fertilisation and liming. The application of nitrogen fertilisation with the rate of 90 N.ha^-1 + PK under mountain conditions and systematic liming of the meadow enables to maintain or increase production over the long period, to decrease the production risk and to prevent degradation of the environment and natural resources.

The weed suppressive ability of oilseed radish (Raphanus sativus var. oleiformis Pers.) cover crop is attributed to high competitiveness for resources and biochemical effects on weeds. The oilseed radish cover crop was sown in five treatments plus an untreated control over a period of five weeks before and three weeks after winter wheat harvest. Additionally, fertilization effects on oilseed radish biomass and weed suppression were measured. The highest biomass of the cover crop was observed 12 weeks after harvest (WAH) when the oilseed radish was sown one week after harvest (1 WAH) (2015) and five weeks before harvest (5 WBH) (2016). No differences of fertilization were observed concerning oilseed radish and weed biomass in 2015, whereby increased biomass was found after fertilization in 2016. The highest weed control efficacy of up to 83% and 90% was achieved in treatments 1 WAH (2015) and 5 WBH (2016) at 12 WAH. The early sowing of oilseed radish in winter wheat resulted in low germination and biomass yield within the field, due to low precipitation in 2015. Nevertheless, there is a high potential of early sown oilseed radish for higher weed control efficacy, which was demonstrated in 2016.

Non-destructive and rapid monitoring methods for crude protein content (CPC) in rice grain are of significance in nitrogen diagnosis and grain quality monitoring, and in enhancing nutritional management and use efficiency. In this study, CPC and canopy spectra in rice were measured based on rice field experiment. Key spectral bands were selected by principal component analysis (PCA) method, and the predicted models were built by multiple linear regressions (MLR), artificial neural network (ANN) and partial least squares regression (PLSR). The results showed that there is a significant correlation between CPC content and key spectral bands. The results of prediction for the three models were in order of PLSR > ANN > MLR with correlation values of 0.96, 0.92 and 0.90, respectively, for the validation data. Therefore, it is implied that CPC in rice (grain quality) could be estimated by canopy spectral data.

Determining and characterizing soil organic matter (SOM) cheaply and reliably can help to support decisions concerning sustainable land management and climate policy. Glomalin was recommended as one of possible indicators of SOM quality. Extracting glomalin from and determining it in soils using classical chemical methods is too complicated and therefore near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was studied as a method of choice for the determination of glomalin. Representative sets of 84 different soil samples from arable land and grasslands and 75 forest soils were used to develop NIRS calibration models. The parameters of the NIRS calibration model (R = 0.90 for soils from arable land and grasslands and R = 0.94 for forest soils) proved that glomalin can be determined in air-dried soils by NIRS with adequate trueness and precision simultaneously with determination of nitrogen and oxidizable carbon.

A field study was conducted to study the effectiveness of film-bottomed treatment (FBT) on the seed germination and seedling establishment of Caragana korshinskii Kom. in the arid Hexi Corridor of northwestern China in 2007 and 2008. The experiment involved three different depths of film-bottomed treatments (DFBT) (80, 90 and 100 cm) and a control with twelve replications in each treatment. Soil moisture, seedling emergence percentage, leaf characteristics, shoot height, main root length, basal diameter, biomass, biomass allocation, as well as root system distribution, were studied and were found to be significantly higher with FBT in respect to the check (CK) values. Soil moisture content increased with depths of film-bottomed treatments. Our study demonstrates that C. korshinskii can be grown successfully using FBT in arid areas and 90 cm DFBT gives the maximum growth-promoting effect.

Variation of soil organic carbon (SOC) and its liable fractions under non-flooding irrigation (NFI) were investigated. In NFI paddies, the soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) and water extractable organic carbon (SWEC) content in 0-40 cm soil increased by 1.73-21.74% and 1.44-30.63%, and SOC in NFI fields decreased by 0.90-18.14% than in flooding irrigation (FI) fields. As a result, the proportion of SMBC or SWEC to SOC increased remarkably. It is attributed to the different water and aeration conditions between FI and NFI irrigation. The non-flooding water-saving irrigation increased soil microbial activity and mineralization of SOC, which broke down more soil organic nutrients into soluble proportion and is beneficial for soil fertility, but might lead to more CO₂ emission and degradation in carbon sequestration than FI paddies.

The aim of the study was to determine plant needs with regard to sulphur fertilization based on the assessments of sulphur in the soil profile carried out in the early spring. The study was founded on the continuous fertilization experiment established in 1985 at the Experimental Station of the Faculty of Agriculture and Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, which is located in Skierniewice. Soil samples were collected in the years 2009-2011 in the early spring (February/March) at low soil temperatures. The samples were taken at three soil depths: 0-30, 30-60, 60-90 cm. The content of sulfate sulphur was assessed in fresh soil samples after extraction in 0.01 mol/L CaCl₂. The plants cultivated during the study were spring barley and yellow lupine. The amount of sulphur in soil profile was too small and not sufficient to fulfill yellow lupine nutritional needs, thus could be a limiting factor for successful yield production. Regardless the fertilizer treatment, the amount of sulfate sulphur found in 0-60 cm soil layer fully covered nutritional needs of spring barley.

Further enhancement of maize (Zea mays L.) productivity will benefit from a thorough understanding of thermotolerance. The effects of nitrogen fertilization regimes (ratio of nitrogen (N) doses prior to planting: V7:V15:R3) on reducing yield penalty imposed by high temperature stress are discussed in this study. Field experiments were conducted in 2013 and 2014 using three nitrogen fertilization regimes (N1 - 120:180:0:0; N2 - 60:90:150:0; N3 - 60:90:60:90) and CK (control) treatment (1:0:0:0) to discuss the effect of nitrogen fertilization regimes on alleviating high temperature stress of spring maize. Total N rates for 2013 and 2014 were 280 and 300 kg/ha, respectively. Yield in 2013 and 2014 was averaged as 9.37 and 12.35 t/ha for N3, respectively, which was 13.47% higher than CK. During the grain-filling stage, leaf area index and the SPAD (soil plant analysis development) value in N3 were the highest, but electrical conductivity and malondialdehyde content of ear leaf in N3 were the lowest. Moreover, photosynthetic rate of ear leaf in N3 increased by 9.95% compared to CK. These results indicate that nitrogen fertilization regimes, especially with N3 treatment, can help maintain relatively higher photosynthetic supply capacity during the grain-filling stage under high temperature stress, thereby resulting in improved grain yield.

Alkali pretreatment of wheat straw was optimized by response surface methodology to maximize yields of fermentable sugars in subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis and to remove maximum lignin in order to improve rheological attributes of the media. The effects of pretreatment conditions on biomass properties were studied using the Expert Designer software. Concentration of sodium hydroxide and temperature were the factors most affecting pretreatment efficiency. At the optimum (80°C, 39 min, 0.18 g NaOH and 0.06 g lime per g of raw biomass), 93.1 ± 1.0% conversion of cellulose to glucose after enzymatic hydrolysis and 80.3 ± 1.2% yield of monosaccharides (glucose plus xylose and arabinose) from cellulose and hemicellulose of wheat straw were achieved.

This study investigated the combined effects of drip irrigation and mulches on yield, water-use efficiency and economic return of tomato. The treatments of the study comprised different combinations of three drip irrigation levels (100, 75 and 50% of crop water requirement, ETc) and two mulches (black polyethylene sheet and paddy straw). The yield and yield-contributing characters in the mulched treatments for all levels of irrigation were significantly higher compared to those in the unmulched treatments. The yield of tomato increased with the increasing amount of irrigation water in unmulched treatment. The trend was reversed when drip irrigation was coupled with mulches. The highest yield for each mulch (81.12 t/ha for polyethylene and 79.49 t/ha for straw) was obtained when 50% of water requirement was applied. With 100% water application, polyethylene-mulched treatment produced lower yield than the straw-mulched treatment. The highest water use efficiency of 592 kg/ha/mm was obtained with 50% water application under polyethylene mulch. The highest net return (US$ 7098/ha), incremental net return (US$ 1556/ha), and incremental benefit-cost ratio (7.03) were found for 50% water application with straw mulch. The study thus reveals that drip irrigation with mulch has an explicit role in increasing the land and water productivity of tomato.

To investigate the effects of osmotic stress on plant growth, and ions and compatible solutes accumulations of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.), in the present study, two-month-old plants were subjected to different degrees of osmotic stress (-0.5, -1.0, and -1.5 MPa) induced by sorbitol for 7 days. The results showed that fresh weight and water content in both leaf blade and leaf petiole significantly decreased by osmotic stress. With the increase of osmotic stress, Na⁺ concentration in leaf blade showed the significantly increasing trend. However, osmotic stress significantly reduced K⁺ concentration in lateral root. It was observed that osmotic stress of -1.5 MPa remarkably increased sucrose accumulation in storage root compared to control. In addition, plants accumulated more sucrose and fructose in storage root than in other tissues. Proline concentrations in leaf blade, leaf petiole and storage root significantly increased by osmotic stress of -1.0 MPa and -1.5 MPa; in leaf blade it was to a higher degree than in leaf petiole and storage root. These results suggested that sugar beet plants can adapt to osmotic stress by accumulating more osmolytes, such as Na⁺, sucrose and proline.

The surface carbon dioxide (CO₂) fluxes together with the soil microbial biomass and activity in undisturbed soil columns were studied in three growing seasons. Soil columns had six treatments: (1) control without plants; (2) mineral fertilized without plants; (3) no fertilizer and maize plants; (4) mineral fertilized and maize plants; (5) manure and maize plants; (6) mineral fertilized plus manure and maize plants. Soil microbial biomass was measured by substrate-induced respiration (SIR) and microbial activity as fluorescein-diacetate hydrolysing activity (FDA). Treatments had a significant effect (P < 0.001) on CO₂ fluxes, SIR and FDA. The presence of maize increased CO₂ efflux, SIR and FDA compared to unplanted column. Fertilizer + manure treatment resulted in the greatest plant biomass and the greatest CO₂ efflux. Significant correlation (r = 0.680; r = 0.586 in two consecutive years) between SIR and FDA was found.

The paper presents results of 3-year field studies carried out in a split-block design in four replications in the years 2012-2014 at the Agricultural Experiment Station in Mochełek (Poland). The effect of intensification of cultivation technologies on the yield of morphologically diversified cultivars of white (Lupinus albus), yellow (L. luteus) and narrow-leafed lupin (L. angustifolius) was examined. Traditional cultivars of white and yellow lupin gave significantly higher yields than the self-completing ones, as opposed to narrow-leafed lupin in which the self-completing cultivar had higher yields. Increasing expenses on industrial production means caused an increase in the yield of all the studied species. Seed yield of white and narrow-leafed lupin was significantly the highest in high-input technology, while that of yellow lupin in high- and medium-input technology. In all lupin species, insignificant diversification was observed in the number of pods per plant in medium- and high-input technologies as well as in low- and medium-input technologies. A significant increase in the seed yield along with an increasing intensity of the cultivation of traditional and self-completing cultivars of white and yellow lupin, as well as self-completing cultivars of narrow-leafed lupin, resulted mainly from developing a higher number of pods.

A three-year field experiment was conducted from 2000 to 2002 in North-East Poland. Each year three sulphur fertilization rates in the form of sulphate (S-SO^2-₄) and pure (S-S⁰) sulphur were applied: 40, 80 and 120 kg/ha. In the soil horizon at the depth of 0-40 cm the triple rate of S- and S-S⁰) depressed soil reaction. Acidification of soil caused by S-SO^2-₄ became evident already in the first year of the study while that resulting from S-S⁰) application appeared as late as in the third year. The effect of sulphur on soil in the 40-80 cm horizon was irregular. As the sulphur rates increased and the duration of the experiment progressed, sulphates accumulated in soil. In the 0-40 cm soil layer, the increasing rates of sulphur tended to increase the content of N-NH⁺₄. In most objects, the NPK + S fertilization, and especially the single S-SO^2-₄ treatment, caused an increase in N-NO^-₃ in both soil layers compared with the NPK fertilized object. The dose of 120 kg/ha S-SO^2-₄ caused a significant increase in the concentration of available phosphorus in soil in the 0-40 and 40-80 cm layers.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of nitrogen (N) management on soil water recharge, available soil water at sowing (ASWS), soil water depletion, and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield and water use efficiency (WUE) after long-term fertilization. We collected data from 2 experiments in 2 growing seasons. Treatments varied from no fertilization (CK), single N or phosphorus (P), N and P (NP), to NP plus manure (NPM). Comparing to CK and single N or P treatments, NP and NPM reduced rainfall infiltration depth by 20-60 cm, increased water recharge by 16-21 mm, and decreased ASWS by 89-133 mm in 0-300 cm profile. However, crop yield and WUE continuously increased in NP and NPM treatments after 22 years of fertilization. Yield ranged from 3458 to 3782 kg/ha in NP or NPM but was 1246-1531 kg/ha in CK and single N or P. WUE in CK and single N or P treatments was < 6 kg/ha/mm but increased to 12.1 kg/ha/mm in a NP treatment. The NP and NPM fertilization provided benefits for increased yield and WUE but resulted in lower ASWS. Increasing ASWS may be important for sustainable yield after long-term fertilization.