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Item Comparison of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) varieties grown in organic farming conditions: lodging and plant height(The Scientific Agricultural Society of Finland, 2025) Lenartowicz, Tomasz; Bujak, Henryk; Przystalski, Marcin; Nowosad, Kamila; Jończyk, Krzysztof; Feledyn-Szewczyk, BeataLodging is one of the main factors influencing yield reduction in both organic and conventional systems. In the organic system, lodging is mainly controlled by selecting varieties with increased resistance to lodging, by regulating sowing density, or by cultivation of varieties of appropriate height. The present study aimed to compare ten varieties tested in the years 2020–2022 in organic trials in terms of plant height and resistance to lodging in two growth phases (milk and harvest). Depending on the analyzed trait, a linear or cumulative link linear mixed model was fitted on plot data. The analyses showed that variety Farmer was the most resistant to lodging in the two growth phases, whereas varieties KWS Vermont and Rubaszek were less resistant to lodging in two growth phases than Farmer, but only at the milk phase, the differences were significant. Furthermore, Radek was the tallest among the tested varieties, whereas Farmer was classified as mid-tall. According to Wricke’s ecovalence coefficient, Bente was the most stable, while Farmer ranked third. Therefore, varieties that are the most resistant to lodging and are the most stable in terms of height, should be promoted for cultivation.Item The Significance of Herbicide–Humin Interactions in Sustainable Agroecosystems(MDPI, 2025) Jerzykiewicz, Maria; Ćwieląg-Piasecka, Irmina; Weber, Jerzy; Ukalska-Jaruga, Aleksandra; Jamroz, Elżbieta; Kocowicz, Andrzej; Dębicka, Magdalena; Bekier, Jakub; Mielnik, Lilla; Bejger, Romualda; Banach-Szott, Magdalena; Grabusiewicz, AgnieszkaHumin, as the most stable fraction in soil organic matter, determines possibility of sustainable environmental development by influencing, among other things, the binding and migration of different chemicals in soil. The aim of this paper was to determine changes in the properties of humins after interaction with three selected active substances of herbicides differing in structure and chemical properties (pendimethalin, metazachlor, and flufenacet) and two different commercial products. In accordance with OECD 106 guidelines, humins isolated from eight different soils were saturated with herbicide compounds under study. As humin is a non-hydrolyzable organic carbon fraction, solid state research techniques (elemental analysis, NMR, FTIR, EPR, and UV-Vis) were applied. The results clearly showed that the interaction between humin and herbicides increases the concentration of oxygen-containing groups and the internal oxidation (ω) in humin. For all investigated humins, a reduction in radical concentration was observed. Radicals in humins were not completely quenched; a certain concentration of radicals with unchanged structure always remained in the samples. Other spectroscopic analyses showed no significant changes in the structure of pesticide-saturated and non-saturated humins. This suggests that sorption of the studied compounds occurs on the humins only as a result of the interaction of physical forces on the surface of the studied organic matter fraction. Thus, interaction with the studied herbicides occurs as a surface phenomenon, and the inner core remains protected by the condensed structure and/or strong binding to the clay minerals.Item Effect of Paulownia and Buckwheat Intercropping on Soil Microbial Biodiversity, Dehydrogenase Activity, and Glomalin-Related Soil Protein(MDPI, 2025) Woźniak, Małgorzata; Liszewski, Marek; Jama-Rodzeńska, Anna; Gębarowska, Elżbieta; Siebielec, Sylwia; Kaczmarek, Agata; Gałka, Bernard; Zalewski, Dariusz; Bąbelewski, PrzemysławIntercropping of trees and classical crops has been proposed as a practice to help adapt to climate change and protect soil against erosion. However, the effects of intercropping on soil biology are not sufficiently quantified. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate microbiological changes in the soil resulting from the intercropping of Paulownia and buckwheat. A field experiment, involving an intercropping and control no-tree variant, was conducted from 2019 to 2022 with a plot size of 30 m2. Buckwheat rhizosphere soil samples were collected twice in both 2021 and 2022 in order to evaluate the effects of intercropping on a range of parameters describing soil microbiome status: abundance of microorganisms, bacterial and fungal community structure (using Illumina MiSeq sequencing), dehydrogenases (DHA) activity, and total glomalin-related soil proteins (T-GRSP). In addition, the colonisation of buckwheat roots by fungi, yield, and biometric traits of the plant were determined. Next-generation sequencing showed that Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Acidobacteria were dominant in the microbiome of every variant of the experiment, regardless of the crop. In contrast, the mycobiome was dominated by fungi classified as Ascomycota and Mortierellomycota. This observation corresponded to an increase in buckwheat yield in intercropped plots. Biometric traits, namely buck wheat yield and total kernel weight per plant, showed higher values when buckwheat was intercropped with Paulownia compared to the control. DHA activity was stimulated by intercropping at the first sampling date, whereas glomalin concentration and abundance of microorganisms were not dependent on the cropping systems tested. This study shows that tree-based intercropping (TBI) systems promote a more diverse soil microbial community and function than conventional agriculture. Our results also suggest that TBI positively impacts buckwheat biometric traits, supporting its implementation in rural landscapes. The yield under intercropping cultivation amounted to 0.65 t ha−1, while in control sites it was 0.53 t ha−1. The total abundance of bacteria under intercropping cultivation was higher compared to monoculture in 2021 at the first term of sampling (4.3 × 10 4) and in 2022 in the second term of soil sampling (4.6 × 10 4).Item Changes in soil organic carbon stocks and chemical properties in organogenic soils under long-term agricultural use in Central Europe, Poland(John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2025) Zając, Ewelina; Smreczak, Bożena; Ukalska-Jaruga, Aleksandra; Skalski, Tomasz; Oleszczuk, Ryszard; Scharenbroch, Bryant C.Organic soils, particularly peatlands, are important carbon sinks. In Europe, almost half of its area has been drained and is primarily used for agriculture as grasslands. In Poland, 86% of the drained peatland area causes problems with high carbon dioxide emissions due to organic matter oxidation. The aim of the study was to analyze changes in organic soils between 1975 and 2017 using data from 476 reference soil profiles. The results showed a significant decrease in organic soils (≥12% SOC) from 62% to 35%, and an increase in organo-mineral (6.0-12.0% SOC) and non-humose mineral soils (≤1.75% SOC) by a similar percentage. The depth of SOC rich layers also decreased significantly, with deep soils (>100 cm) dropping from 20% to 5% and shallow soils (21-50 cm) increasing from 24% to 58%. The average SOC stock loss was almost 273 Mg C·ha -1 (from 500.42 Mg C·ha -1 to 228.04 Mg C·ha -1), with the median being four times lower. A decrease in SOC stock was observed in 64% of sites, while an increase was seen in 36%. The most significant decrease in SOC stock, by 64.67% compared to 1975, occurred in organic soils (from 762.19 Mg C·ha -1 to 269.26 Mg C·ha -1). There was an increase in SOC stock in organo-mineral, humose, and non-humose mineral soils, although it was not statistically significant. Moreover, the results indicated that continuous grassland use on organic soils does not offset carbon losses from organic matter oxidation due to drainage.Item The Influence of Fusarium culmorum on the Technological Value of Winter Wheat Cultivars(2025-03-20) Aleksandrowicz, Edyta; Dziedzic, Krzysztof; Szafrańska, Anna; Podolska, GrażynaThe research hypothesis assumes that Fusarium culmorum infection affects the baking value of wheat. The aim of the research was to determine the effect of the cultivar on the rheological properties of wheat dough in response to Fusarium culmorum infection of wheat. A two-factor experiment conducted during the 2018–2020 growing seasons in Osiny, Poland, was set up using the completely randomized block design with three replications. The first factor was winter wheat cultivars (six cultivars), while the second factor was inoculation (two levels—Fusarium culmorum and distilled water—control). The immunoenzymatic ELISA method was used to determine the content of deoxynivalenol (DON) in grain. The DON content in the grain varied between cultivars. Fusarium culmorum inoculation resulted in an increase in protein, ash content, and flour water absorption, changes in dough rheological properties, and a decrease in the sedimentation index. Inoculation also caused negative changes in starch properties. The observed interaction between Fusarium culmorum inoculation and cultivars in shaping the qualitative parameters and rheological properties of the dough indicates that there are wheat cultivars less susceptible to Fusarium infection, which do not show any significant changes as a result of infection.Item Biological Activity of Monoterpene-Based Scaffolds: A Natural Toolbox for Drug Discovery(MDPI, 2025-03-27) Mołdoch, Jarosław; Agacka-Mołdoch, Monika; Jóźwiak, Grzegorz; Wojtunik-Kulesza, KarolinaOne of the most common strategies used in drug design is the molecular scaffold approach, which combines traditional medicine based on natural active compounds derived from plants with modern synthetic drug development. Designing new compounds based on natural skeletons enables extensive modifications of both bioavailability and biological activity. An excellent example of a natural molecular scaffold is the monoterpenes group, which serves as a core structure for building more complex molecules by attaching various chemical groups. Their ability to interact with biological targets, combined with structural versatility, makes them promising molecular scaffolds in pharmaceutical research and green chemistry applications. This review paper focuses on selected monoterpenes (carvacrol, carvone, citral, menthol, menthone, β-pinene, thymol, and verbenone), which are frequently used as molecular scaffolds. The newly designed derivatives exhibit various biological activities, including anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral, neuroprotective, and many others.Item Influence of Production Technology Intensity on the Yield and Amino Acid Profile of the Grain Protein of Different Sowing Oat (Avena sativa L.) Cultivars(2025-03-24) Sułek, Alicja; Cacak-Pietrzak, Grażyna; Różewicz, Marcin; Nieróbca, Anna; Studnicki, Marcin; Podolska, GrażynaThe biological value of protein is mainly determined by its amino acid composition, and primarily depends on the optimal content of individual exogenous amino acids. The synthesis of these compounds in oat grain is influenced by genetic factors, habitat conditions and the agrotechnology used in cultivation. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of production technology (integrated, intensive) on the yield, content and amino acid profile of protein in the grain of hulled and naked oats. Field studies were conducted at the Agricultural Experimental Station Kępa—Pulawy, Osiny farm of IUNG—PIB (Poland) during two growing seasons (2019 and 2020). It was found that the total protein content of oat grain and its amino acid composition significantly depended on genotype and production technology. Naked oat grain was characterised by significantly higher protein content. The higher the intensity of production, the higher the content of total protein and exogenous and endogenous amino acids. Lysine was the amino acid that limited the biological value of protein in the grain of both oat cultivars. Its deficit was more frequent in grain from intensive production technology.Item Asymmetric responses of soil dissolved organic carbon and dissolved organic nitrogen to warming: A meta-analysis(Elsevier, 2025-02-25) Ren, Tianjing; Smreczak, Bożena; Ukalska-Jaruga, Aleksandra; Hassan, Waseem; Cai, AndongSoil dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) play pivotal roles in regulating soil carbon and nitrogen cycles. The global effects of experimental warming on DOC and DON concentrations and their relationship (DOC:DON) remain uncertain. This study integrates a dataset containing 321 separate DOC and 187 DON independent experiments to address the magnitude and direction of warming’s impact on DOC and DON, as well as the key driving factors. Our results indicated that while warming did not significantly affect DOC concentrations, it led to a notable increase in DON concentrations (8.84%), consequently reducing DOC:DON ratio by 10.79%. Soil moisture emerged as the most influential factor (19.0%) driving DOC responses to warming, whereas soil nitrate nitrogen was the primary driver (33.2%) of DON responses to warming. Soil ammonium nitrogen exhibited a positive linear relationship with the DOC:DON ratio, while soil nitrate nitrogen responded negatively as the DOC:DON ratio increased. Our results revealed the complex responses of carbon and nitrogen cycles to warming, including their decoupling patterns. This finding highlights the sensitivity and adaptability of soil carbon and nitrogen cycles to experimental warming, uncovers that warming could disrupt the soil carbon and nitrogen balance, potentially affecting ecosystem stability and function.Item Differential impacts of nitrogen addition on soil dissolved organic carbon in humid and non-humid regions: A global meta-analysis(Elsevier, 2025-03-01) Ren, Tianjing; Smreczak, Bożena; Ukalska-Jaruga, Aleksandra; Li, Xiaojie; Hassa, Wassem; Cai, AndongSoil dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is the most active carbon pool, providing essential carbon and energy to soil microorganisms while playing a crucial role in carbon sequestration, transport, and stabilization in soils. Nitrogen (N) addition, a key factor influencing terrestrial carbon cycling, can significantly alter soil DOC dynamics. However, the global patterns and underlying drivers of DOC responses to N addition, particularly across regions with varying aridity indices, remain unclear. This study analyzed 1132 paired observations from 103 independent studies to quantify the response pattern of DOC to N addition in humid (554 observations) and non-humid (574 observations) regions and identify the factors driving these effects. The findings revealed an asymmetrical effect of N addition on soil DOC between humid and non-humid regions, rather than on microbial biomass carbon (MBC) or soil organic carbon (SOC). Specifically, N addition significantly decreased soil DOC ( 2.49%) in humid regions, while it increased DOC (7.30%) in non-humid regions. The effect size of soil DOC decreased linearly with the ratio of MBC to SOC in humid regions but increased linearly in non-humid regions. In humid regions, soil DOC response was positively correlated with initial MBC and inversely correlated with initial soil pH, whereas the opposite trend was observed in non-humid regions. Seasonal precipitation variability was identified as a significant driver of soil DOC response, independent of temperature, soil properties, and N addition rates. Moreover, initial SOC content was the primary driving factor for soil DOC response in humid regions, while the N addition rates were the primary driver in non-humid regions. These findings have important implications for enhancing soil carbon pool management, improving global carbon models, and addressing climate change, particularly under varying climatic conditions.Item The Effect of Newly Developed Microbial Biopreparations on the Chemical Composition of Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) Fruit Grown in an Organic Farming System(MDPI, 2025) Nakielska, Małgorzata; Feledyn-Szewczyk, Beata; Berbeć, Adam Kleofas; Ukalska-Jaruga, Aleksandra; Frąc, MagdalenaNon-chemical methods of fertilisation and protection have been gaining importance in recent years. This trend is closely linked to current European Union (EU) agricultural policy and the growing consumer awareness of the impact of nutrition on health. Newly developed biopreparations have to be tested for their agricultural efficiency alongside a quality assessment of the resulting food. The aim of this study was to determine whether the use of newly developed microbially enriched fertilisers in organic strawberry cultivation had an effect on fruit chemical composition and heavy metal accumulation. In the research, five biopreparations (K2–K6 combinations) containing selected Bacillus strains and plant extracts were tested in 2021 and 2022 on three strawberry cultivars: ‘Honeoye’, 'Rumba’, and ‘Vibrant’. After the vegetation period, the collected fruit samples were frozen, freeze-dried, and subjected to chemical analyses to determine the total carbon and nitrogen content, as well as the concentration of microelements (Mn, Fe), macroelements (Na, Mg, K, Ca, P) and heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn). The application of the tested biopreparations did not significantly impact the total carbon content of strawberry fruit. For most of the tested traits, cultivars reacted differently to the tested preparations. A higher total nitrogen content was found for treatments treated with biopreparations, especially for the ‘Vibrant’ cultivar—ranging from 15.2 g·kg−1 K2 (BacilRoots) to 16.3 g·kg−1 K3 (BacilRoots + BacilExtra) and K5 (BacilRoots + BacilExtra + BacilHumus)—being about 10–18% higher than on the control object (K1). The content of sodium, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium did not change significantly under the influence of biopreparations. The use of the K3 and K5 treatment resulted in significantly lower iron contents when compared to those of the control (strawberries sprayed with water with no biopreparations added)—respectively, by 16.1% and 17.9%. ‘Vibrant’ treated with water (control treatment) showed the highest contents of iron, copper, and zinc when compared to those treated with biopreparations. No exceedances of the permissible heavy metal content were found in the samples tested.Item Polyphenolic and Immunometric Profiling of Wheat Varieties: Impact of Organic and Conventional Farming on Allergenic and Bioactive Compounds(MDPI, 2025) Bartos, Adrian; Malik, Alicja; Feledyn-Szewczyk, Beata; Jończyk, Krzysztof; Kazimierczak, Renata; Hallmann, Ewelina; Leszczyńska, JoannaThis study investigates the impact of organic and conventional farming on the allergenic and bioactive properties of wheat. The primary aim was to assess the immunometric parameters and polyphenolic composition in four varieties of winter and four varieties of spring wheat cultivated under both farming systems. Immunometric assays focused on gluten content, the allergenic QQQPP peptide, and the panallergenic profilin Tri a 12. While gluten levels (15–20 g/kg) showed no clear dependence on farming type, organic wheat exhibited a mild yet significant increase in QQQPP-dependent immunore activity in five samples (>20 µg/g). However, all organic wheat samples demonstrated a notable reduction in profilin content (<0.6 µg/g), suggesting that the type of wheat cultivation could influence allergenic risk for individuals with wheat-related allergies. Polyphenolic profiling revealed that kaempferol, p-coumaric acid, and gallic acid were the predominant compounds, with organic wheat displaying slightly higher polyphenol levels on average. Despite these differences, the variations were insufficient to determine a superior cultivation method. These findings highlight the potential allergenic and nutritional implications of organic versus conventional wheat farming.Item Comparing Effects of Soil Amendments on Plant Growth and Microbial Activity in Metal-Contaminated Soils(MDPI, 2025-03-01) Siebielec, Sylwia; Siebielec, GrzegorzPhytostabilization of metals involves the inactivation of metals in the soil through the use of various materials as soil amendments, which reduces the bioavailability of metals, and then the introduction of vegetation. There are limited data comparing the effectiveness of different phytostabilization amendments under the same soil and environmental conditions. Therefore, the aim of this research was to compare the effectiveness of a range of soil amendments on reducing the extractability of metals, metal uptake by plants, microbial activity in soil and nutrient availability to plants. Eight materials potentially limiting metal availability were used in a pot experiment: two composts (CG, CM), municipal biosolids (SB), bentonite (BEN), phosphorus fertilizer (PF), amorphous iron oxide (FE), waste rock material (WR), calcium carbonate (LM); and these materials were compared with typical fertilization (NPK) and an untreated soil as the control (CTL). The following trace metal-contaminated soils were used in the pot experiment: soil taken from the area of strong dust fall from the zinc and lead smelter (soil P); soil taken from an outcrop of ore-bearing rocks near a smelter waste heap (soil H); soil artificially polluted through smelter dust spill in the 1990s (soil S). In general, the greatest yields of plants (oat and white mustard) were recorded for compost-treated soils. Changes in the solubility of zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) after the application of various amendments largely reflected changes in soil pH. Biosolids caused a significant increase in extractable Zn and Cd, which was related to the decrease in soil pH, while a significant reduction in Cd extractability was observed across soils after the application of both composts, especially the compost characterized by alkaline pH. Interestingly, low extractability of Cd in the soil with the addition of another compost was observed, despite the pH decrease, as compared to the control pots. This fact proves the high sorption capacity of the compost towards Cd. The microbiological analyses revealed the highly beneficial effect of composts for dehydrogenases and nitrification activities, and for soil respiration, whereas soil amendment with iron oxide caused an increase in respiration activity across soils.Item Impact of Coal Waste Rock on Biological and Physicochemical Properties of Soils with Different Agricultural Uses(MDPI, 2025) Garbacz, Aleksandra; Nowak, Artur; Marzec-Grządziel, Anna; Przybyś, Marcin; Gałązka, Anna; Jaroszuk-Ściseł, Jolanta; Grzywaczewski, GrzegorzDuring the mining process in mines, a problem arises with the formation of coal post-mining waste, which is waste rock. It is often stored by mines on various types of land to manage the resulting spoil. However, this is not without its impact on the soil. In this study, we determined the biological and physicochemical properties of rhizosphere soils of the podzolic type, subjected to waste rock reclamation and without the influence of waste rock (control), differing in the type of agricultural use and type of plant cover: field-monocotyledonous (oat cultivation), field-dicotyledonous (buckwheat cultivation), and wasteland covered with very species-poor vegetation. Research has shown that long-term cultivation (buckwheat) contributed to the elimination (leveling out) of the microbial and biochemical differences. The addition of waste rock significantly reduced the number of microorganisms synthesizing siderophore, especially on wasteland (decreased by 1.5 log10/gDW). The abundant presence of the genera Acidocella and Acidphilum, absent in wasteland without waste rock, in the unused soil under the influence of waste rock was strongly associated with the effect of lowering the pH by waste rock in soil not used for agriculture. Increased levels of 77 types of bacteria were observed in samples from buckwheat cultivation compared to wasteland. The number of microorganisms resistant to heavy metals as well as microorganisms capable of producing specific Fe-binding ligands—siderophores—decreased under the influence of waste rock. Moreover, the dehydrogenase activity in long-term cultivation both under the influence of waste rock and without its influence was at a similar level. In contrast, an almost 100-fold decrease in dehydrogenase activity was observed in soils with oat cultivation and a more than 4-fold decrease in acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. These parameters provide an effective system for monitoring soil health, from inexpensive and fast methods to advanced and precise techniques. The results can be applied to solve the problems associated with coal mining wastes by developing methods for their use in soils with long-term agricultural use.Item The Relationship Between Organic Carbon and Ca in the Profile of Luvisols: A Case Study of a Long-Term Experiment in Pulawy, Poland(MDPI, 2025) Pikuła, Dorota; Pauková, Žaneta; Wójcik-Gront, Elżbieta; Šimanský, VladimírThe aim of this study was to determine the impact of multi-year variations in nitrogen fertilisation (N) and farmyard manure application (FYM) in two 4-year crop rotations, A and B—which differed primarily in terms of their organic matter management systems (A: poor vs. B: enrichment)—on changes in the content of calcium and soil organic carbon at three soil horizons of Luvisols, and on the dynamics of these changes over the past 40 years. Mineral N fertilisation was found to affect the movement of Ca in the profiles of both rotations. Most Ca accumulated in the soil layer at >55 cm in the profiles of both rotations. The total Ca content was similar in both rotations; however, a correlation analysis revealed a stronger relationship between organic carbon and Ca in the enriched-cropping system (rotation B) compared to the poor-organic-matter system (rotation A). In the 0–30 cm soil layer, the correlation coefficient between organic carbon and Ca was r = 0.52 in rotation B, while in rotation A, it was lower at r = 0.23. In deeper layers, this relationship weakened or became non-significant. Under the climatic and soil conditions of Poland, where the phenomenon of nutrient leaching into the soil profile is prevalent, it is extremely important to manage these nutrients in a sustainable way in order to limit their loss. The predominantly sandy texture of the topsoil horizons (0–30 cm) of the Luvisols prevents any significant enrichment of these horizons in Corg, even over a very long period of time, i.e., more than 40 years.Item Influence of Soil Texture on the Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon From Sentinel‐2 Temporal Mosaics at 34 European Sites(Wiley, 2025) Wetterlind, Johanna; Simmler, Michael; Castaldi, Fabio; Borůvka, Luboš; Gabriel, José L.; Gomes, Lucas Carvalho; Khosravi, Vahid; Kivrak, C.; Koparan, Muhammed Halil; Lázaro-López, Alberto; Łopatka, Artur; Liebisch, Frank; Rodriguez, Jose Antonio; Savaş, A. Ö.; Stenberg, Bo; Tunçay, T.; Vinci, I.; Volungevičius, Jonas; Žyledis, Renaldas; Vaudour, EmmanuelleMultispectral imaging satellites such as Sentinel‐2 are considered a possible tool to assist in the mapping of soil organic carbon (SOC) using images of bare soil. However, the reported results are variable. The measured reflectance of the soil surface is not only related to SOC but also to several other environmental and edaphic factors. Soil texture is one such factor that strongly affects soil reflectance. Depending on the spatial correlation with SOC, the influence of soil texture may improve or hinder the estimation of SOC from spectral data. This study aimed to investigate these influences using local models at 34 sites in different pedo‐climatic zones across 10 European countries. The study sites were individual agricultural fields or a few fields in close proximity. For each site, local models to predict SOC and the clay particle size fraction were developed using the Sentinel‐2 temporal mosaics of bare soil images. Overall, predicting SOC and clay was difficult, and prediction performances with a ratio of performance to deviation (RPD) > 1.5 were observed at 8 and 12 of the 34 sites for SOC and clay, respectively. A general relationship between SOC prediction performance and the correlation of SOC and clay in soil was evident but explained only a small part of the large variability we observed in SOC prediction performance across the sites. Adding information on soil texture as additional predictors improved SOC prediction on average, but the additional benefit varied strongly between the sites. The average relative importance of the different Sentinel‐2 bands in the SOC and clay models indicated that spectral information in the red and far‐red regions of the visible spectrum was more important for SOC prediction than for clay prediction. The opposite was true for the region around 2200 nm, which was more important in the clay models.Item Integrating Expert Assessments and Spectral Methods to Evaluate Visual Attractivness and Ecosystem Services of Urban Informal Green Spaces in the Context of Climate Adaptation(MDPI, 2025) Kamiński, Jan ; Głowienka, Ewa; Soszyński, Dawid; Trzaskowska, Ewa; Stuczyński, Tomasz; Siebielec, Grzegorz; Poręba, LudwikaThis study aimed to develop criteria for the expert assessment of the visual attractiveness of informal urban green spaces and compare these results with indicators derived from spectral indices and geospatial data. The research was conducted in Lublin, Poland, a medium-sized European city. The expert assessment evaluated the overall attractiveness, naturalness, landscape contrast, and uniqueness. The results were juxtaposed with spectral indices, such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Leaf Area Index (LAI), and land surface temperature, which were calculated for the target areas and a 300 m buffer surrounding them. The analyses revealed strong correlations between the expert ratings and spectral indices. For example, overall attractiveness was linked to lower temperatures, while landscape contrast exhibited a relationship with temperature differentials. Moreover, areas with greater landscape contrast showed larger index differences between the site and the buffer. Positive correlations were also observed between attractiveness and land slope. Importantly, the spectral indices highlighted the ecological value of some sites that received lower expert assessments, such as areas dominated by shrubs and bushes. This research introduces the concept of ‘enchanted natural places’ (ENPs) as a framework for identifying and formalizing the protection of visually and ecologically valuable, informal green spaces. The integration of expert evaluations with spectral data provides a novel, robust methodology for assessing urban green spaces, bridging subjective perceptions and objective environmental indicators. This approach underscores the importance of informal green spaces not only for aesthetic and ecological benefits but also for supporting biodiversity and mitigating urban heat islands, contributing to urban resilience in the face of climate change.Item The effect of broadcast struvite fertilization on element soil content and microbial activity changes in winter wheat cultivation in southwest Poland(Nature, 2025) Ramut, Rafał; Jama-Rodzeńska, Anna; Woźniak, Małgorzata; Siebielec, Sylwia; Kamińska, Joanna; Szuba-Trznadel, Anna; Gałka, BernardThis study aimed to evaluate the potential of struvite as a phosphorus fertilizer in winter wheat cultivation in southwest Poland. The field experiment was conducted at Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences in Swojec in 2022/2023. The studied factors were two cultivars of winter wheat (Activus and Chevignon) and two phosphorus fertilization methods (traditional superphosphate and struvite). Aditionally, the study attempted to develop a reasonable phosphorus testing method to analyze phosphorus content in soil. Three phosphorus extraction methods were used to determine P, Mg and K content where Mehlich 3 and Yanai seem to be most appropriate. The following traits in the study were estimated: grain yield, content of P, Mg and K in the grain, as well as soil microbial activity expressed as enzyme activity (acid and alkaline phosphatase, dehydrogenase), metabolic activity (Biolog EcoPlates™) and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) abundance. An increase in the Mg content of wheat grain under the influence of struvite application was found. Phosphorus content in the soil depended primarily on the date of soil sampling followed by fertilization method and varieties based on the Egner–Rhiem method as well as Mehlich 3. Soil enzymatic activity depended mainly on the sampling date and then on fertilization. In the case of PSB, the dominant factor was the wheat cultivars. Biolog EcoPlate analysis showed that the most metabolically active microbial communities were recorded in samples collected at the second time of sampling (end of winter wheat vegetation) To see how the phosphorus content develops after the application of struvite under field conditions as well as its fraction, a long-term experiment should be conducted.Item A global soil spectral grid based on space sensing(Elsevier, 2025-02-20) Demattê, José A.M.; Rizzo, Rodnei; Rosin, Nícolas Augusto; Poppiel, Raul Roberto; Novais, Jean Jesus Macedo; Amorim, Merilyn Taynara Accorsi; Rodriguez-Albarracín, Heidy Soledad; Rosas, Jorge Tadeu Fim; Bartsch, Bruno dos Anjos; Vogel, Letícia Guadagnin; Minasny, Budiman; Grunwald, Sabine; Ge, Yufeng; Ben-Dor, Eyal; Gholizadeh, Asa; Gomez, Cecile; Chabrillat, Sabine; Francos, Nicolas; Fiantis, Dian; Belal, Abdelaziz; Tsakiridis, Nikolaos; Eleni, Kalopesa; Naimi, Salman; Ayoubi, Shamsollah; Tziolas, Nikolaos; Das, Bhabani Sankar; Zalidis, George; Francelino, Marcio Rocha; de Mello, Danilo Cesar; Hafshejani, Najmeh Asgari; Peng, Yi; Ma, Yuxin; Coblinski, João Augusto; Wadoux, Alexandre M.J.-C.; Savin, Igor; Malone, Brendan P.; Karyotis, Konstantinos; Milewski, Robert; Vaudour, Emmanuelle; Wang, Changkun; Salama, Elsayed Said Mohamed; Shepherd, Keith D.Soils provide a range of essential ecosystem services for sustaining life, including climate regulation. Advanced technologies support the protection and restoration of this natural resource. We developed the first fine-resolution spectral grid of bare soils by processing a spatiotemporal satellite data cube spanning the globe. Landsat imagery provided a 30 m composite soil image using the Geospatial Soil Sensing System (GEOS3), which calculates the median of pixels from the 40-year time series (1984–2022). The map of the Earth's bare soil covers nearly 90 % of the world's drylands. The modeling resulted in 10 spectral patterns of soils worldwide. Results indicate that plant residue and unknown soil patterns are the main factors that affect soil reflectance. Elevation and the shortwave infrared (SWIR2) band show the highest importance, with 78 and 80 %, respectively, suggesting that spectral and geospatial proxies provide inference on soils. We showcase that spectral groups are associated with environmental factors (climate, land use and land cover, geology, landforms, and soil). These outcomes represent an unprecedented information source capable of unveiling nuances on global soil conditions. Information derived from reflectance data supports the modeling of several soil properties with applications in soil-geological surveying, smart agriculture, soil tillage optimization, erosion monitoring, soil health, and climate change studies. Our comprehensive spectrally-based soil grid can address global needs by informing stakeholders and supporting policy, mitigation planning, soil management strategy, and soil, food, and climate security interventions.Item Improvement of salt tolerance in Vicia faba (L.) seedlings: a comprehensive investigation of the effects of exogenous calcium chloride(2025) Abo-Shanab, Walaa A. ; Elshobary, Mostafa E.; Czubacka, Anna; Diab, Rana H.Background This study investigated the effects of the different concentrations of CaCl2 (10 and 15 mol m−3) on the growth, physiology, and cytological characteristics of salt-stressed Vicia faba (L.) seedlings grown under greenhouse conditions. Results Salinity stress (150 mol m−3 NaCl) had detrimental effects on all measured growth parameters, increased the micronucleus count number (MCN) by 26.6 micronuclei/1000 cells, decreased the mitotic index (MI) by 66.6%, and caused various chromosomal aberrations, nuclear alterations, and chromatin bridges in salt-stressed seedlings compared to the untreated plant. Nevertheless, the seed priming with CaCl2 (10 and 15 mol m−3) significantly alleviated the toxic effects induced by salinity stress, improved growth parameters, total chlorophyll (TChl), proline, and total soluble sugar (TSS) contents in salt-stressed faba bean seedling compared with seedlings germinated from non-primed seeds. The antioxidative system of salt-stressed faba bean was highly stimulated by increasing the activity of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes as well as phenolics and flavonoids were increased in all salt stressed seedlings germinated from seeds primed with CaCl2 (10 and 15 mol m−3) indicating an improved tolerance of faba bean plant to salinity stress. Notably, the pretreatment with CaCl2 (10 mol m−3) reduced the micronuclei number per 1000 cells by 91.3% and decreased the abnormality index by 58.9% more effectively than CaCl2 (15 mol m−3). SDS-PAGE profiling revealed the presence of 16 proteins with different molecular weights, including two peptides, induced by CaCl2 (10 mol m−3) in response to salinity stress. Conclusions This study showed that 10 mol m−3 CaCl2 significantly improved salt tolerance in treated faba bean plants mitigating the antagonistic effects of salt stress on several physiological and cytological parameters.Item The Effect of Farming Systems and Cultivars on the Qualitative and Quantitative Composition of Bioactive Compounds in Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)(MDPI, 2025) Kowalska, Iwona; Soluch, Agata; Mołdoch, Jarosław; Jończyk, KrzysztofTriticum aestivum L. subsp. spelta (cv. Rokosz) and common winter wheat Triticum aestivum L. subsp. aestivum (cv. Arktis, Belissa, Estivus, Fidelius, Hondia, Jantarka, KWS Ozon, Linus, Markiza, Ostka Strzelecka, Pokusa) grown in an organic farming system were analyzed and compared. Furthermore, the productivity of four common wheat cultivars (cv. Fidelius, Hondia, Jantarka, KWS Ozon) grown under four different (organic, conventional, integrated, and monoculture) farming systems was compared. Using UPLC-DAD-MS, UPLC-PDA-MS/MS, and TLC-DPPH•, nine phenolic acids, nine alkylresorcinols, and their antiradical activity were identified and quantified. In the organic farming system, the highest yield was observed for T. aestivum L. subsp. aestivum cv. Fidelius (4.17 t/ha). Infections of wheat cultivars were low or at a medium level. The highest resistance to Fusarium fungi was shown by cv. Fidelius, which also exhibited the highest alkylresorcinol content and antioxidant capacity. The total phenolic acid content was highest in cv. Rokosz (1302.3 µg/g), followed by common winter wheat cultivars cv. Linus (1135.1 µg/g) and cv. Markiza (1089.6 µg/g). The potential of winter wheat cultivars for human health and their suitability for cultivation in different production systems was determined, showing significant differences in bioactive compounds depending on cultivars, systems, and years.