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Item Surface activity of herniariasaponin and non-saponin fractions of Herniaria L. species(Elsevier, 2024-09-24) Pecio, Solomiia; Pecio, Łukasz; Wojciechowski, KamilThe study investigated the surface activity of aqueous extracts from three Herniaria L. species, namely H. glabra, H. polygama, and H. incana. The three crude extracts exhibited similar chromatographic saponin profiles and equilibrium surface tension values (46–47 mN/m at 1 % concentration). The adsorbed layers were predominantly elastic, with a high compression storage modulus, E'. However, they also showed the ability to dissipate mechanical energy over the aqueous-air interface, as evidenced by fairly high values of the surface compression loss modulus, E'' (45–50 mN/m). The extract of H. glabra exhibited a particularly high E' value (>150 mN/m). To analyze its complex chemical composition, the crude extract was fractionated using liquid chromatography. The sugar fraction was found to be dominant (∼65 % of the extract mass), but exhibited the lowest surface activity. As the acetonitrile content in the eluent increased, the subsequently eluted fractions showed an increasing ability to lower surface tension. The HGW30–70 fraction, which constitutes approximately 20 % of the crude extract mass, was the main contributor to the surface properties of the extract due to its herniariasaponins content. The HGW20–25-A fraction, which showed the second highest surface activity, was further separated into two sub-fractions: non-flavonoid and pure-flavonoid. The former components were primarily responsible for the surface activity and their composition resembled that of a more polar HGW10 fraction (terpene glycosides and C9-C12 fatty acids). The non-flavonoid subfraction was also responsible for solubilization of otherwise poorly water-soluble components, like flavonoids.Item Adaptive Agronomic Strategies for Enhancing Cereal Yield Resilience Under Changing Climate in Poland(MDPI, 2024) Wójcik-Gront, Elżbieta; Gozdowski, Dariusz; Pudełko, Rafał; Lenartowicz, TomaszClimate-driven changes have raised concerns about their long-term impacts on the yield resilience of cereal crops. This issue is critical in Poland as it affects major cereal crops like winter triticale, spring wheat, winter wheat, spring barley, and winter barley. This study investigates how soil nutrient profiles, fertilization practices, and crop management conditions influence the yield resilience of key cereal crops over a thirteen-year period (2009–2022) in the context of changing climate expressed as varying Climatic Water Balance. Data from 47 locations provided by the Research Centre for Cultivar Testing were analyzed to assess the combined effects of agronomic practices and climate-related water availability on crop performance. Yield outcomes under moderate and enhanced management practices were contrasted using Classification and Regression Trees to evaluate the relationships between yield variations and agronomic actors, including soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium fertilization, and levels of phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium in the soil. The study found a downward trend in Climatic Water Balance, highlighting the increasing influence of climate change on regional water resources. Crop yields responded positively to increased agricultural inputs, especially nitrogen. Optimal soil pH and medium phosphorus levels were identified as crucial for maximizing yield. The findings underscore the importance of tailored nutrient management and adaptive strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of climate variability on cereal production. The results provide insights for field crop research and practical approaches to sustain cereal production in changing climatic conditions.Item Ocena wpływu stosowania pofermentu w monokulturze kukurydzy na ilość i jakość materii organicznej w glebie(Wydawnictwo Czasopism i Książek Technicznych SIGMA-NOT Sp. z o.o., 2024) Pikuła, Dorota; Winiarski, RyszardW statycznym doświadczeniu polowym porównano efekty stosowania pofermentu organicznego (stała frakcja) pozyskanego z biogazowni rolniczej na tle obiektu kontrolnego, w którym nie stosowano nawożenia organicznego, celem oceny ilości i jakości materii organicznej. Poferment stosowano w dawce 30 t/ha pod kukurydzę uprawianą na kiszonkę w trzyletniej monokulturze w latach 2019–2021. Nawożenie pofermentem przeciwdziałało ubytkowi węgla organicznego w glebie (Corg.) sprzyjało jego akumulacji, a także poprawiało jakość glebowej materii organicznej. Zastosowanie pofermentu wpływało korzystnie na zwiększenie zawartości frakcji humin (trwałej frakcji próchnicy). Wartość stosunku kwasów huminowych do fulwowych wynosiła CKH:CKF > 1,5.Item Whether the addition of preparations with microorganism affects the organic carbon and humic substances in soil? A 3-year field study in cereal monoculture(Soil Science Society of Poland, 2024) Pikuła, Dorota; Šimanský, Vladimír; Kocoń, AnnaThis paper presents an assessment of humic substances and organic carbon content in soil after application of two microorganism preparations (EmFarma Plus and UGmax) in cereal monocultures. A three-year fi eld study was carried out at the Agricultural Experimental Station in Grabow, belonging to the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation (IUNG) – State Research Institute. The first factor was tested products with microorganisms and a control without microbiological preparations. The second factor was the 2 methods of application of the above products: on stubble, on stubble + straw. The third factor was the 2 levels of N fertilisation: 0 and 180 kg N·ha–1. The preparations with microorganisms together with mineral nitrogen without were applied annually directly to stubble or stubble + straw left in the fi eld after cereal harvest and compared with a control treatment without the above preparations. The fractional composition of soil organic matter was more sensitive indicator of changes than the analyses the quantity of total organic carbon (TOC). EmFarma Plus applied on stubble and straw stubble, resulted in the organic carbon content increasing by an average of about 3.7% compared to the control plot. The second product tested had the opposite effect. The content of TOC decreased by an average of 2.5% under Ugmax applied to straw and stubble, remaining at a similar level to the control. This product, applied at a rate of 0.9 litres per hectare may have a stimulating effect on the mineralisation processes of soil organic matter (reducing the CHA: CFA ratio), hence the lower organic carbon content after application. Furthermore, it the applied on stubble and straw, without mineral nitrogen fertilisation, it reduced the CHA, and increased of CFA in the organic carbon pool and reduced of index of humifi cation. EmFarma Plus acted in reverse.Item Influence of sowing date and cultivar on grain and protein yield of grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench](IUNG-PIB, 2024) Różewicz, MarcinSorghum 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.Item Preliminary studies on the allelopathic potential of two invasive species of Solidago against selected cereal weeds(IUNG-PIB, 2024) Mołdoch, Jarosław; Domaradzki, KrzysztofThe European Union is currently pursuing a policy of moving away from synthetic plant protection products to natural ones. This is reflected in the search for natural substances that can replace them in agricultural production. Many studies indicate that invasive species of Solidago have such allelopathic potential. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of extracts of two Solidago species (Solidago gigantea L. and Solidago canadensis L.) on the growth and development of cereal weeds:Chenopodium album, Papaver rhoeas and Agrostemma githago. Using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC - MS) techniques, the material (crude extract, phenolic and saponins fraction) was standardized and tested for allelopathic activity using the modified first generation biotest. The results indicate the phenolic fraction (20.04 mg/g dry weight of Solidago gigantea; 21.03 mg/g for Solidago canadensis) and saponin fraction (2.27 and 3.74 mg/g dry weight respectively).Both fractions from S. gigantea are characterized by high phyto-toxicity in relation to Ch. album, causing over 90% reduction of its biomass in relation to the control. For P. rhoeas these differences are not so clear. Biomass reduction by the phenolic fraction was 20% and by the saponin fraction 50%. In the case of S. canadensis, allelopathic activity was not as pronounced and ranged from 20–40% for the saponin fraction relative to the P. rhoeas. The highest resistance to preparations made from both species of Solidago was demonstrated by A. githago.Item Effect of different doses of apple pomace to the substrate on photosynthetic efficiency and yield in common buckwheat in a model experiment(IUNG-PIB, 2024) Różewicz, MarcinBy-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.Item Agricultural resilience and agricultural sustainability – which is which?(IUNG-PIB, 2024) Berbeć, Adam KleofasAgricultural 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 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, 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.Item Variability in Nutrient Content and Biochemical Parameters of Soil Under Rotational Pasture Management of Farmed Fallow Deer(Agriculture, MDPI, 2024-11-08) Futa, Barbara; Ukalska-Jaruga, Aleksandra; Tajchman, Katarzyna; Janiszewski, Paweł; Pecio, MonikaFallow deer are animals kept on large-scale pastures, which influence soil properties, including the content of nutrients in the soil and the flow of these nutrients in the soil–plant–animal system. Therefore, the aim of this case study was to analyze the variability in the macronutrient content and biochemical properties of soil under rotational grazing conditions of farmed fallow deer. Fallow deer grazed in two summer pens from April to November, and in the winter pen from December to March. The analyses included the determination of several soil parameters to capture sensitive soil changes and assess potential degradation of the soil environment in response to grazing: pHKCl, TOC, TN, N-NO3, N-NH4 +, total (P, K, Mg, Ca, and Na) and available (Pav, Kav, Mgav) forms of macronutrients, and selected soil enzymes (dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase, and urease). The results showed that the pHKCl in the plots used by farm fallow deer was lower than in the soil of the control object. Moreover, the TN and TOC content in the soils of all pastures was statistically significantly lower than in the soil without grazing, while for TOC, the same effect was observed in the winter pasture soil. The content of N-NO3 − was several times higher than that of N-NH4+ in the soils of the studied breeding plots. The relationships noted indicate that grazing is important in the transformation of soil organic matter, which is influenced by the relationship between carbon and nitrogen. In addition, the grazing of farmed fallow deer had a negative effect on the content of P in the soils of all pastures and a positive impact on the accumulation of K. Winter grazing had a positive effect on the amount of Pav and Kav in the soil, but a negative effect on the content of Mgav, compared to grazing in the summer quarters. In the plots used for pastures, the activity of soil enzymes was higher than in the control soil. It has been shown that the influence of fallow deer farming on the soil environment of pastures is not unequivocal. Therefore, long-term monitoring of changes in the properties of these soils is necessary.Item Drying of Red Chili Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.): Process Kinetics, Color Changes, Carotenoid Content and Phenolic Profile(MDPI, 2024) Krzykowski, Andrzej; Rudy, Stanisław; Polak, Renata; Biernacka, Beata; Krajewska, Anna; Janiszewska-Turak, Emilia; Kowalska, Iwona; Żuchowski, Jerzy; Skalski, Bartosz; Dziki, DariuszStudies were conducted focusing on the drying of chili pepper fruits (Capsicum annuum L.), cultivar Cyklon, using convective (AD), convective-microwave (AMD), vacuum (VD), and freezedrying (FD) methods. The influence of the drying method and temperature on the kinetics of the process and selected quality attributes of the dried product were evaluated. It was demonstrated that the Midilli model best described the drying kinetics for all methods across the entire measurement range. FD and VD produced dried products with the highest brightness and the greatest value of the a* color parameter. The lowest b* color parameter was observed for the product dried using FD at 40 ◦C, while the highest b* value was noted for samples dried using AMD (100 W) at 60 ◦C. The highest carotenoid retention was achieved with the FD method at 40 ◦C, while the lowest carotenoid content was found in the product obtained using the AMD method (100 W) at 60 ◦C. The smallest losses of capsaicinoids were observed after FD drying at 40 ◦C, while the largest were found for AMD (100 W) at 60 ◦C. The analysis of chili pepper fruit extracts revealed the quantitative composition of 12 main phenolic compounds using the UHPLC-UV method. The highest polyphenol content was obtained with FD, while the lowest total polyphenol content was recorded after AD. Regardless of temperature, the total flavonoid content was highest in extracts from FD products, and the lowest flavonoid content was found after AMD at 100W. For all drying methods analyzed, the total flavonoid content in the pepper extracts decreased with increasing temperature.Item Effect of VP, MAP and combined packaging systems on the physicochemical properties and microbiological status of veal from unweaned calves(Elsevier , 2024) Kowalczyk, Marek; Domaradzki, Piotr; Ziomek, Monika; Skałecki, Piotr; Kaliniak-Dziura, Agnieszka; Żółkiewski, Paweł; Chmielowiec-Korzeniowska, Anna; Kędzierska-Matysek, Monika; Ukalska-Jaruga, Aleksandra; Grenda, Tomasz; Nuvoloni, Roberta; Florek, MariuszThe packaging system is one of the factors influencing the preservation of the nutritional value, microbiological safety, and sensory attributes of meat. The study investigated changes in physicochemical and microbiological properties taking place during 15-day refrigerated storage of two calf muscles, the longissimus lumborum (LL) and semitendinosus (ST), packaged in three systems, respectively, vacuum packing (VP), modified atmosphere packaging (MAP, 80% O2 + 20% CO2), and a combined system (VP + MAP, 8 d in VP followed by 7 d in MAP). LL and ST stored in VP had significantly lower levels of lipid oxidation, higher α-tocopherol content, and higher instrumentally measured tenderness in comparison with the samples stored in MAP. On the other hand, the MAP samples had lower purge loss at 5 and 15 days, a higher proportion of oxymyoglobin up to 10 days of storage, and a better microbiological status. Calf muscle samples stored in the VP + MAP system had intermediate values for TBARS and α-tocopherol content and at the same time were the most tender and had the lowest counts of Pseudomonas and Enterobacteriaceae bacteria at 15 days. All packaging systems ensured relatively good quality of veal characteristics up to the last day of storage. However, for MAP at 15 days of storage, unfavourable changes in colour (a high level of metmyoglobin and a decrease in oxymyoglobin, redness and R630/580 ratio) and in the lipid fraction (a high TBARS value and a significant decrease in α-tocopherol content) were observed.Item Sage-modified polydimethylsiloxane applied as antibacterial wound dressing material(MDPI, 2024) Sarraj, Sara; Szymiczek, Małgorzata; Jędrejek, Dariusz; Soluch, Agata; Kurpanik, RoksanaMaterials based on polydimethylsiloxane have been developed with antibacterial activity and mechanical properties required for wound treatment. Sage herb (raw, modified, and polyphenol extract) was used as a filler in an amount of 5 and 10% by weight. Physicochemical, mechanical, and biological properties were examined. The results indicate a beneficial effect of sage modification on the tested properties.Item Microbial Fertilizing Products Impact on Productivity and Profitability of Organic Strawberry Cultivars(MDPI, 2024) Nakielska, Małgorzata; Berbeć, Adam Kleofas; Madej, Andrzej; Feledyn-Szewczyk, BeataPoland is a major producer of various fruits, including strawberries. As growing consumer awareness of food quality, health, and wellbeing is increasing, farmers are receiving a new market opportunity for organic products of good quality. The integration of microbial solutions into agricultural practices can foster the transition of agricultural farms towards more resilient and sustainable production of quality food. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of novel microbial biopreparations (microbial fertilizing products) containing Bacillus sp., humic acids, and other organic compounds on the economic viability of three strawberry cultivars (‘Honeoye’, ‘Vibrant’, and ‘Rumba’) under organic farming conditions. This study was conducted in 2021 as a field experiment. Irrigated and non-irrigated strawberries were treated with five microbial fertilizing products (K2–K6). The single plot area was 16 m2, with a total of 144 plots. The adopted planting density of strawberries was 30,052 per hectare. K3 treatment was found to be the most universal microbial treatment in terms of positive impact on yields, with significant yield increase on both the non-irrigated (yield increase of 3.76 t·ha−1) and irrigated experiments (yield increase of 5.78 t·ha−1). The K4 treatment on the non-irrigated strawberries resulted in a yield increase of 4.96 t·ha−1, which at the same time had no effect on the yield of the irrigated experiment. On average, application of the K2–K6 combinations on the non-irrigated strawberries resulted in a yield increase from 13.4% (K2) to 33.5% (K4). The irrigated strawberries showed a yield increase from 3.9% (K4—non-significant yield increase) to as much as 36.1% (K3). The highest direct surplus for the non-irrigated strawberries was recorded for the K4 treatment (38,603 PLN·ha−1) and for K3 for the irrigated experiment (42,945 PLN·ha−1). The direct surplus for ‘Rumba’ and ‘Vibrant’ was higher than for ‘Honeoye’ on both the irrigated (22% and 53%, respectively) and non-irrigated (19% and 18%, respectively) experiments. The average profitability index for all tested non-irrigated and irrigated varieties improved when treated with microbial fertilizer products, with profitability indexes of 143.3–168.8% on the non-irrigated plantation and 129.2–169.7% on the irrigated plantation. The tested microbial fertilizing products proved to be valuable products to improve the productivity and economic effectiveness of organic strawberry production. At the same time, their use needs to be adapted to local plantation conditions.Item Endophytic Penicillium oxalicum AUMC 14898 from Opuntia ficus-indica: A Novel Source of Tannic Acid Inhibiting Virulence and Quorum Sensing of Extensively Drug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa(MDPI, 2024-10-16) Nouh, Hoda S.; El-Zawawy, Nessma A.; Halawa, Mohamed; Ali, Sameh Samir; Korbecka-Glinka, Grażyna; Shala, Awad Y.; El-Sapagh, Shimaa; Shalamesh, Ebrahim M.Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a harmful pathogen that causes a variety of acute and chronic infections through quorum sensing (QS) mechanisms. The increasing resistance of this bacterium to numerous antibiotics has created a demand for new medications that specifically target QS. Endophytes can be the source of compounds with antibacterial properties. This research is the first to examine tannic acid (TA) produced by endophytic fungus as a potential biotherapeutic agent. A novel endophytic fungal isolate identified as Penicillium oxalicum was derived from the cladodes of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.). The species identification for this isolate was confirmed through sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region. The metabolites from the culture of this isolate were extracted using ethyl acetate, then separated and characterized using chromatographic methods. This led to the acquisition of TA, a compound that shows strong anti-QS and excellent antibacterial effects against extensively drug-resistant P. aeruginosa strains. Furthermore, it was shown that treating P. aeruginosa with the obtained TA reduced the secretion of virulence factors controlled by QS in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that TA inhibited the QS characteristics of P. aeruginosa. Simultaneously, TA significantly inhibited the expression of genes associated with QS, including rhlR/I, lasR/I, and pqsR. In addition, in silico virtual molecular docking showed that TA could efficiently bind to QS receptor proteins. Our results showed that P. oxalicum could be a new source of TA for the treatment of infections caused by extensively drug-resistant P. aeruginosa.Item Evaluation of Climate Suitability for Maize Production in Poland under Climate Change(MDPI, 2024) Król-Badziak, Aleksandra ; Kozyra, Jerzy ; Rozakis, SteliosClimatic conditions are the main factor influencing the suitability of agricultural land for crop production. Therefore, the evaluation of climate change impact on crop suitability using the best possible methods and data is needed for successful agricultural climate change adaptation. This study presents the application of a multi-criteria evaluation approach to assess climate suitability for maize production in Poland, for a baseline period (BL, 1981–2010) and two future periods 2041–2070 (2050s) and 2071–2100 (2080s) under two RCP (Representative Concentration Pathways) scenarios: RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. The analyses incorporated expert knowledge using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) into the evaluation of criteria weights. The results showed that maturity and frost stress were the most limiting factors in assessing the climatic suitability of maize cultivation in Poland, with 30% and 11% of Poland classified as marginally suitable or not suitable for maize cultivation, respectively. In the future climate, the area limited by maturity and frost stress factors is projected to decrease, while the area of water stress and heat stress is projected to increase. For 2050 climate projections, water stress limitation areas occupy 7% and 8% of Poland for RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, respectively, while for 2080 projections, the same areas occupy 12% and 32% of the country, respectively. By 2080, heat stress will become a limiting factor for maize cultivation; according to our analysis, 3% of the Polish area under RCP8.5 will be marginally suitable for maize cultivation because of heat stress. The overall analyses showed that most of Poland in the BL climate is in the high suitability class (62%) and 38% is moderately suitable for maize cultivation. This situation will improves until 2050, but will worsen in the 2080s under the RCP8.5 scenario. Under RCP8.5, by the end of the century (2080s), the highly suitable area will decrease to 47% and the moderately suitable area will increase to 53%.Item Comparative phytochemical, antioxidant, and hemostatic studies of fractions from raw and roasted sea buckthorn seeds in vitro(Nature, 2024) Sławińska, Natalia; Żuchowski, Jerzy; Stochmal, Anna; Olas, BeataVarious seeds, including sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) seeds, are sources of different bioactive compounds. They can show anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, anti-hyperlipidemic, antibacterial, antioxidant, or other biological properties in in vitro and in vivo models. Our preliminary in vitro results have demonstrated that the extracts from raw (no thermal processing) and roasted (thermally processed) sea buckthorn seeds have antioxidant potential and anticoagulant activity. However, it was unclear which compounds were responsible for these properties. Therefore, in continuation of our previous study, the extracts were fractionated by C18 chromatography. Phytochemical analysis of three fractions (a, b, and c) from raw sea buckthorn seeds and four fractions (d, e, f, and g) from roasted sea buckthorn seeds were performed. Several in vitro assays were also conducted to determine the antioxidant and procoagulant/anticoagulant potential of the fractions and two of their major constituents—isorhamnetin 3-O-β-glucoside7-O-α-rhamnoside and serotonin. LC–MS analyses showed that serotonin is the dominant constituent of fractions c and f, which was tentatively identified on the basis of its HRMS and UV spectra. Moreover, fractions c and f, as well as b and e, contained different B-type proanthocyanidins. Fractions b and e consisted mainly of numerous glycosides of kaempferol, quercetin, and isorhamnetin. The results of oxidative stress assays (measurements of protein carbonylation, lipid peroxidation, and thiol groups oxidation) showed that out of all the tested fractions, fraction g (isolated from roasted seeds and containing mainly dihexoses, and serotonin) demonstrated the strongest antioxidant properties.Item Shaping Soil Properties and Yield of Cereals Using Cover Crops under Conservation Soil Tillage(MDPI, 2024) Wilczewski, Edward; Jug, Irena; Szpunar-Krok, Ewa; Staniak, Mariola; Jug, DanijelThe aim of this review was to collect current results on the effect of different plants grown as winter and summer cover crops (CC) on the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil and on the yield of cereal crops grown in a site with CC, using conservation soil tillage. The analyzed studies indicate that CC usually have a positive impact on the physical and biological properties of the soil. Regardless of the plant species used as CC, we can expect an increase in the number of soil microorganisms and an improvement in the activity of soil enzymes. This effect is particularly beneficial in the case of reduced tillage systems. Mixing CC biomass with the topsoil loosens compacted soils and, in the case of light, sandy soils, increasing the capacity of the sorption complex. The size and composition of CC biomass and weather conditions during the vegetation period and during the covering of the soil with plant biomass are of great importance for improving the chemical properties of the soil. A beneficial effect of CC, especially legumes, on the content of the mineral nitrogen in the topsoil is usually observed. Sometimes, an increase in the content of available forms of potassium (K) and/or phosphorus (P) is also achieved. The effect of CC on the content of soil organic carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), or soil pH is less common. CC used in reduced tillage systems can significantly improve the yield and quality of cereal grain, especially when legumes are used as CC in low-fertility soil conditions and at low fertilization levels. However, non-legumes can also play a very positive role in shaping soil properties and improving cereal yield.Item Trends and drivers of land abandonment in Poland under Common Agricultural Policy(Elsevier, 2024) Ortyl, Bernadetta; Kasprzyk, Idalia; Jadczyszyn, JanThe results of existing research predict that the area of abandoned land will increase in many European regions. One of the countries that are the most prone to this process is Poland where agriculture, after many transformations, is still an important sector of the economy. It is essential to determine drivers of the abandonment of agricultural land use in order to effectively counteract this process. Through the Common Agricultural Policy, the European Union financially supports farmers who use agricultural land in accordance with the environmental protection requirements. This study investigated to what extent the land use, the characteristics of agricultural holdings, the demographics as well as economic factors impacted the process of land abandonment in Poland during the period 2002–2020. The analysis was carried out using statistical and spatial data pertaining to the period before and after Poland’s accession to the European Union. Our results demonstrate that the share of abandoned land within the country’s agricultural area has decreased from 9.7 % to 1.2 %. Direct payments to farmers and the agrarian structure of farms were the most significant factors affecting this process. Spearman’s rank order correlations between the share of abandoned arable land and the two mentioned variables are close to or higher than 0.5 in each analysed year. The obtained results did not confirm the common conviction that environmental factors play a decisive role in the process of cultivation abandonment.Item Mady w podziałach rolniczych i ich wartość użytkowa w Polsce(Soil Science Annual, 2024) Smreczak, Bożena; Jadczyszyn, Jan; Ukalska-Jaruga, Aleksandra; Niedźwiecki, Jacek; Pindral, Sylwia; Gregoliński, Dariusz; Łysiak, MagdalenaCelem pracy jest przedstawienie podziałów mad użytkowanych rolniczo, analiza udziału tych gleb w rolniczej przestrzeni produkcyjnej i funkcji jakie pełnią na użytkach rolnych. Publikacja zawiera także charakterystykę niektórych właściwości fizyczno‒chemicznych tych gleb w podziale na kategorie agronomiczne oraz kategorie użytków gruntowych. W artykule wykazano, że w rolnictwie, w odniesieniu do mad dominują określenia wypracowane przez gleboznawców polskich przed II wojną światową oraz w wczesnym okresie powojennym obejmującym opracowanie tabeli klas gruntów oraz instrukcji w sprawie wykonania map glebowo-rolniczych w skali 1:5000 i 1:25000. Analiza zasięgów występowania mad na obszarach rolniczych przeprowadzona w oparciu o dane z cyfrowej mapy glebowo-rolniczej w skali 1:25 000 wykazała, że stanowią one 7,9% użytków rolnych ogółem. Wśród mad dominują mady właściwe, a ich udział w ogólnej powierzchni tych gleb stanowi 96,1%. Największy areał mad użytkowanych rolniczo występuje w dorzeczu Wisły (63,5%)oraz (35,8%). Ponad 25% mad na terenach nizinnych i wyżynnych została zaliczona do gruntów ornych 1 i 2 kompleksu rolniczej przydatności gleb, a 10,8% do kompleksu 10 w terenach górskich. Ponad 13% mad tworzy siedliska bardzo dobre i dobre (1z) dla łąk trwałych i pastwisk trwałych. Wartości odczynu w warstwie 0‒20 cm mad zlokalizowanych na gruntach ornych (GO) i trwałych użytkach zielonych (TUZ) mieszczą się w szerokim przedziale od 3,8 do 8,0. Odnotowano, że w GO zawartość form przyswajalnych dla roślin jest bardzo wysoka dla fosforu (P) oraz średnia dla potasu (K) i magnezu (Mg), a dla TUZ mieści się dla P, Mg i K odpowiednio w klasach zawartości: bardzo wysoka, wysoka i niska. Mady użytkowane rolniczo nie tylko pełnią w środowisku funkcję produkcyjną, ale też retencyjną i siedliskową, dlatego część z nich została włączona do sieci Natura 2000.Item Comparing LUCAS Soil and national systems: Towards a harmonized European Soil monitoring network(Elsevier, 2024) Froger, Claire; Tondini, Elena ; Arrouays, Dominique; Oorts, Katrien; Poeplau, Christopher; Wetterlind, Johanna; Putku, Elsa; Saby, Nicolas P.A.; Fantappiè, Maria; Styc, Quentin; Chenu, Claire; Salomez, Joost; Callewaert, Seth; Vanwindekens, Frédéric M.; Huyghebaert, Bruno; Herinckx, Julien; Heilek, Stefan; Harbo, Laura Sofie; De Carvalho Gomes, Lucas; Lázaro-López, Alberto; Rodriguez, Jose Antonio; Pindral, Sylwia; Smreczak, Bożena; Benő, András; Bakacsi, Zsofia; Teuling, Kees; van Egmond, Fenny; Hutár, Vladimír; Pálka, Boris; Abrahám, Dominik; Bispo, AntonioA recent assessment states that 60–70% of soils in Europe are considered degraded. Protecting such valuable resource require knowledge on soil status through monitoring systems. In Europe, different types of monitoring networks currently exist in parallel. Many EU Member states (MS) developed their own national soil information monitoring system (N-SIMS), some being in place for decades. In parallel in 2009, the European Commission extended the periodic Land Use/Land Cover Area Frame Survey (LUCAS) led by EUROSTAT to sample and analyse the main properties of topsoil in EU in order to develop a homogeneous dataset for EU. Both sources of information are needed to support European policies on soil health evaluation. However, a question remains whether the assessment obtained by using soil properties from both monitoring programs (N-SIMS and LUCAS Soil) are comparable, and what could be the limitations of using either one dataset or the other. Conducted in the context of European Joint Programme (EJP) SOIL, this study shows the results of a comparison between N-SIMS and LUCAS Soil programs among 12 different EU member states including BE, DE, DK, EE, ES, FR, DE, HU, IT, NL, PL, SE and SK. The comparison was done on: (i) the sampling strategies including site densities, land cover and soil type distribution; (ii) the statistical distribution of three soil properties (organic carbon, pH and clay content); (iii) two potential indicators of soil quality (i.e. OC/Clay ratio and pH classes). The results underlined substantial differences in soil properties statistical distributions between N-SIMS and LUCAS Soil in many member states, particularly for woodland and grassland soils, affecting the evaluation of soil health using indicators. Such differences might be explained by both the monitoring strategy and sampling or analytical protocols exposing the potential effect of data source on European and national policies. The results demonstrate the need to work towards data harmonization and in the light of the Soil Monitoring Law, to carefully design the future of soil monitoring in Europe taking into account both LUCAS Soil and N-SIMS considering the significant impact of the monitoring strategies and protocols on soil health indicators.