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This study aimed to assess the effect of using selected herbs as companion crops in soybean cultivation on the yield and overall health of soybeans. A three-year field experiment (2021–2023) was conducted using a randomized block design with three replications, where the primary experimental variable was the sowing method. The innovative cropping system involved cultivating soybeans alongside different companion herbs, such as alyssum (Lobularia maritima L.), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), borage (Borago officinalis L.), French marigold (Tagetes patula L.), calendula (Calendula officinalis L.), and a herbal mixture referred to as 'MIX'. The study showed that cultivation of soybean with fennel improved the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the yield, with a significant increase in seed yield (on average by 0.27 t ha−1) as well as protein (7.67%) and oil yield (8.57%) compared to the pure soybean crop. The following fungal diseases were identified during the three-year study period (2021–2023): Cercospora leaf blight, Ascochyta blight, Fusarium wilt, and downy mildew. Cultivation of soybean with herbs as companion crops was implemented to improve the health of soybean to a varied extent. Borage, marigold, and calendula companion crops reduced infection of soybean by the fungi C. kikuchii and F. oxysporum. Cultivation with fennel and marigold was also beneficial for soybean health. On the other hand, cultivation with sweet alyssum and a mixture of herbs increased the occurrence of the fungus A. sojaecola. Cultivation of soybean in association with herbs is legitimate and requires further research given the priorities facing 21st-century agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management of catering waste, including coffee grounds, is becoming an important economic issue. Coffee grounds contain both organic compounds and mineral compounds, including macronutrients and micronutrients. The purpose of the study was to determine the fertilizer value of composts obtained using coffee grounds. The compost was prepared from vegetable raw material and coffee grounds with the addition of biocarbon or effluent obtained during yeast production. The experiment included 4 treatments: M – control - maize straw; M+CG – maize straw + coffee grounds; M+CG+BC – maize straw + coffee grounds + willow biochar; M+CG+E – maize straw + coffee grounds + yeast effluent. The amount of waste materials introduced into the composted maize biomass was limited not only due to their physical parameters, but also because of the humidity of the feedstock. The ratios of feedstocks used in individual treatments by weight of the dry matter were: M+CG – 1:0.89; M+CG+BC – 1:0.89:0.1; M+CG+E – 1:0.89:0.07. After mixing the materials, moisture of the mixture was equilibrated to 60% by weight. Aeration of the biomass was performed in cycles, 6 times a day; the air was flowing through the bioreactor in the amount of 15 dm³ min-1 for 60 min; the biomass was manually shifted every 10 days. The content of macronutrients and trace elements was determined in the product with regard to the admissible values for organic fertilizers. Composts with a very high proportion of coffee grounds meet the criteria regarding the minimum NPK and organic matter content in the fertilizer aspect. Coffee grounds are characterized by a low content of heavy metals, which in practice can cause their dilution in biological processing products. Utilization of the effluent from a yeast factory for irrigation of composted biomass is not possible on an industrial scale. A small addition of this waste leads to significant salinity of the compost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]