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The paper presents the possibilities of energy management of residues from the cultivation of grapes of the ‘Regent’, ‘Rondo’ and ‘Seyval Blanc’ cultivars. The research was conducted in southeastern Poland in the Sandomierska Upland in 2022. The aim of the research was to demonstrate the influence of grape variety on yield capacity in relation to the extraction of biomass residues in the form of leaves. An attempt was made to identify the variety that is characterised by obtaining the most effective and average parameters, i.e. yield size and quality, leaf mass and surface area, and their impact on energy and fuel parameters. The study analysed the following crop parameters, i.e. number and mass of grapes, number and mass of berries; leaf quality parameters, i.e. mass including petioles and area. An energy assessment in Laboratory in Department of Power Engineering and Transportation was carried out by performing proximate and ultimate analysis and estimating emission factors and volumetric composition of exhaust gas. The study showed that the material with the highest energy potential was characterised by ‘Regent’, while the lowest potential was shown for ‘Rondo’. Grapevines of the ‘Rondo’ cultivar were characterised by the highest obtained biomass among the evaluated varieties. The research showed that the most effective in practical cultivation is the use of the Regent variety, which was characterised by the average parameters of the obtained yield and growth values, and the highest fuel energy potential.

The paper presents the possibilities of energy management of residues from the production of ‘Regent’ grapevines. Field tests were conducted under conditions of temperate climate in 2022 on six types of rootstocks viz: 101-14, 125 AA, 161-49, 5 BB, SO4, SORI, the control were ungrafted vines growing on their own roots. The study analysed the following crop parameters, i.e. number and mass of grapes, number and mass of berries; quality parameters of woody shoots. Technical and elemental analysis was performed, and the heat of combustion and calorific value were determined to define fuel quality parameters. In addition, emission factors of CO, CO2, SO2, NOx and ash were estimated to demonstrate the degree of impact of potential bio-residue from the combustion process. An assessment was made on the basis of stoichiometric equations of flue gas composition, as well as theoretical oxygen demand and total fuel gas volume. The study showed that cultivation on 125 AA rootstock is characterised by obtaining significantly the highest yield, shoot mass and bio-residues suitability for energy purposes. The research showed that the most effective in practical cultivation is the use of SORI and SO4 rootstocks in cultivation, which are characterised by average parameters of obtained yield, growth value and fuel.

This paper presents an analysis of the energy potential of grape stalk biomass from PIWI varieties, namely ‘Seyval Blanc’, ‘Muscaris’, ‘Hibernal’, and ‘Regent’, during the combustion process. Biometric, technical, and elemental analyses of the grape stalk biomass were conducted. We evaluated the mass, length, and width of the stalks and their contribution to the total cluster mass. The higher and lower heating values, moisture content, volatile compounds, ash, fixed carbon content, and elemental composition were analysed. Emissions of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, sulphur, and particulates were also measured. A significant influence of the cultivar on the assessed biometric and technical parameters was found. ‘Muscaris’ exhibited the highest calorific value (HHV 16.44 MJ·kg−1) and the lowest ash content (9.99%). The highest carbon content (45.51%) was recorded for ‘Seyval Blanc’, and the highest hydrogen content (6.74%) for ‘Muscaris’. Nitrogen oxide emissions were the lowest for ‘Seyval Blanc’, making it more environmentally friendly. The biomass of grape stalks from PIWI varieties, particularly ‘Muscaris’ and ‘Seyval Blanc’, shows high energy potential and can be effectively utilised as a renewable energy source. Our results could be summarised as ‘sustainable energy production and reduced greenhouse gas emissions from grape stalks’.

This article presents the current state of biogas (biomethane) production technology with an example of using cow manure from the perspective of photofermentation efficiency. In specialist farms, there is a problem of waste management in the form of manure; analyses were carried out on the photocatalysis process in order to be able to effectively produce biomethane based on monosubstrate solutions (manure). Cow manure was tested for its elemental composition in order to determine the suitability of this raw material for biogas production. The elemental composition was compared in material A, which was stored for 1 week (fresh sample, wet), and material B, which was stored for 1 month (old sample, dry). In material A and material B, the values were as follows: N: 3.18% and 3.34%; P: 0.403% and 0.492%; K: 1.267% and 2.336%; Na: 0.362% and 0.714%; Ca: 0.705% and 0.788%; and Mg: 0.737% and 0.907%. The quality of biogas produced in atmospheric conditions from cow manure (material A and material B) was assessed. An increase in CH4 production was observed with an increase in temperature. For material A, at a temperature of 22.5 °C, it was in the range of 11–14%; for a temperature of 25.5 °C, it was approx. 35%. For material B, despite small amounts (from 0% to 2%), a tendency to increase CH4 production with an increase in temperature was also observed. At 22.4 °C, it was in the range of 0–1%, and at 25.4 °C, it was about 2%. The novelty of this article is the development of an innovative method of using cow manure, indicating the development of the biomethane industry.

In this review, the problems, challenges and opportunities of trellis design are dealt with in the conditions of cool climate viticulture influenced by climate changes. Viticulture in so-called cool climate regions faces a number of weather and climatic extremes that directly or indirectly damage the grapes and so the wine. A suitable option is to use the structural and technical implementation of vine trellises—training systems, canopy management, and pruning methods which can help the plant withstand various extremes. At the same time, it is essential to choose trellis design training systems that growers can maintain and that support the appropriate quality of the grapes. Viticultural regions of warmer climate are strengthening the shading potential of training systems. Even so, the central viticultural areas withstand highly variable extremes of previous vintages with numerous shortcomings in the shading potential of trellis design. Meanwhile, the cool climate regions tend to use a trellis design with a simple canopy and easy sunlight exposition to reach the maximum solar contribution.

The study presents the potential use of winemaking residues, specifically grape pomace, for energy purposes. The pomace was obtained from the cultivation of the Regent grape variety on three different rootstocks—125AA, 161-49, and SO4—as well as a control group grown on its own roots. The research included determining the calorific value and combustion heat, conducting a technical and elemental analysis of the potential biofuel, as well as estimating emission indicators (CO, CO2, NOx, SO2, and particulate matter) and the theoretical volume of flue gases based on stoichiometric equations. The study revealed significant differences among the combustion heat, tested properties and calorific value, ash content, and the total volume of flue gases. The highest calorific value (17.7 MJ kg−1) and combustion heat (18.9 MJ kg−1) were obtained for pomace from the SO4SO4 rootstock, while the lowest values were observed in the control group (17.0 MJ·kg−1 and 15.8 MJ·kg−1, respectively). The highest ash content was also recorded for the SO4 rootstock (9.2%), with the lowest in the control group (6.7%). The control group exhibited the lowest CO2 emissions at 1390.50 kg·Mg−1, while the highest emissions were found in the pomace from the SO4 rootstock (1478.8 kg·Mg−1). Regarding the total flue gas volume, the highest volume was estimated for the pomace from the 125AA rootstock (7.8 m3·kg−1) and the lowest for the control group (7.3 m3·kg−1). The research demonstrated that grape pomace possesses favorable energy properties and could serve as a potential biofuel, contributing to the fuel and energy balance of agricultural production enterprises. The analyzed biomass exhibits properties similar to agrobiomass.

Nursery material intended for establishing intensive apple orchards should be characterised by a dominant and straight leader with an appropriate number of shoots that develop at the right height and are regularly spaced along the leader. The use of well-branched trees can lead to fruiting in the first year after planting. However, many apple varieties have difficulty forming lateral shoots due to strong apical dominance. The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of treatments stimulating the branching of maiden apple trees of the ‘Gloster’ variety. The research was carried out in 2017–2019 at a private nursery farm located in eastern Poland. The studied trees were subjected to a mechanical branching stimulation treatment, which consisted of pinching off 4–5 of the youngest leaves located below the growth cone, and chemical branching stimulation treatments, which consisted of applying growth regulator mixtures in the form of an aqueous solution, i.e., BA+GA3 and BA+GA4+7. The conducted studies showed that the type of branching-stimulating treatment had a significant effect on the height and trunk diameter of the maiden trees, the number of lateral shoots, the average length of one shoot and the sum of the lengths of all sylleptic shoots. The maiden trees treated with BA+GA3 were characterised by the best quality among the analysed combinations. Maiden apple trees treated with BA+GA3 were the tallest (2017—167.7 cm; 2018—175.3 cm; 2019—164.4 cm), produced the largest number of shoots (2017—6.5 pcs; 2018—6.8 pcs; 2019—6.3 pcs) and had the largest sum of lateral shoot lengths (2017—148.0 cm; 2018—155.4 cm; 2019—140.6 cm) among the evaluated combinations. The number of treatments and the concentration of applied growth regulators had a significant effect on the structure of the crown of the maiden apple trees of the ‘Gloster’ cultivar.

The aim of this study was to estimate the shoot weight of four selected hazelnut cultivars and to see if the morphological characteristics of the cultivar and the age of the shoots affect their quality when used as fuel. This study shows that the cultivar ‘Olga’ generated the highest amounts of woody biomass (6507 t·ha−1), while ‘Olbrzymi z Halle’ generated the lowest (3843 t·ha−1). ‘Olbrzymi z Halle’ had the highest calorific values (HHVs) (18.08 MJ·t·ha−1 for annual shoots and 18.03 MJ·kg−1 for perennial shoots) and ‘Olga’ had the lowest calorific values (16.64 MJ·kg−1 for annual shoots and 16.39 MJ·kg−1 for perennial shoots). The age of the shoots had a minimal effect on the chemical and energy parameters. Emissions were the highest for ‘Olbrzymi z Halle’ (CO: 57.74 MJ·kg−1 for perennial shoots, CO2: 1414.05 MJ·kg−1) and lowest for ‘Olga’ (CO: 50.57 MJ·kg−1, CO2: 1238.46 MJ·kg−1). The cultivar ‘Olbrzymi z Halle’, which generated the least amount of biomass compared to the other cultivars, stands out for its high energy value due to its low moisture and ash contents and its high carbon and hydrogen contents, making it attractive for the purposes of biofuel production and supporting sustainable agriculture. The practical implications of the research findings include the selection of suitable varieties for biofuel production, the management of biomass moisture content, and the optimisation of combustion techniques to reduce emissions. The potential for using hazelnut shoots as a biofuel highlights the importance of sustainable agriculture and renewable energy production. The results provide valuable information that can support decisions regarding the cultivation and use of hazelnut shoots for biofuel production while minimising negative environmental impacts.

The genus Rubus encompasses over 1000 species, including raspberries and blackberries, known for their rich nutritional and health-promoting properties. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the nutritional values, health benefits, and potential medical and pharmaceutical applications of Rubus species. The fruits, roots, shoots, and leaves of these plants are distinguished by their high content of polyphenols, vitamins, and minerals, which contribute to their potent anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-neurodegenerative, and anti-cancer effects. The diverse phytochemical profiles of the Rubus species support their use in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and certain cancers. Additionally, the Rubus species are valuable as pharmaceutical raw materials due to their bioactive compounds. Despite the focus on a few widely cultivated species, numerous wild and lesser-known Rubus species offer significant untapped potential as functional foods, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals. Future research should explore the detailed mechanisms of their bioactivities, develop effective extraction and formulation techniques, and integrate these findings into public health strategies. The genus Rubus represents a promising resource for enhancing human health and nutrition, as well as for pharmaceutical and medical applications, justifying increased cultivation and utilization of species from this genus.

The research presents weight estimation and analysis of the energy and carbon potential of the pericarp cover of four hazelnut varieties. A technical and elementary biofuel analysis was carried out for the biomass studied, as well as a correlation and principal component analysis to demonstrate the influence of individual characteristics on the parameters achieved. In addition, emission factors and the composition and volume of flue gases from the combustion of the material studied were estimated based on stoichiometric equations. The research showed that the highest calorific value (LHV) was characterised by the pericarp cover of the ‘Olga’ variety (14.86 MJ·kg−1) and the lowest by the ‘Kataloński’ variety (14.60 MJ·kg−1). In the case of exhaust volume, the highest volume was obtained from the ‘Olbrzymi z Halle’ variety (250.06 Nm3·kg−1) and the lowest from the ‘Kataloński’ variety (12.43 Nm3·kg−1). The correlation analysis carried out showed that the HHV and LHV parameters in the covers showed a very strong positive correlation with sulphur content and SO2 emissions, and a moderate correlation with nitrogen content and its associated NOx emissions, indicating their direct influence on the higher calorific value of biomass.

Interest in bioenergy, in particular the use of biomass, has increased significantly in recent years due to increasing climate and economic concerns. As one of the key renewable energy sources, biomass plays an important role in the new energy framework. The aim of this research was to estimate the mass of woody husks and to check the influence of morphological features of selected hazelnut varieties on the energy parameters of waste biomass in the form of husk. Technical and elemental analyses were carried out on the husks of four varieties: ‘Kataloński’, ‘Olbrzymi z Halle’, ‘Olga’, and ‘Webba Cenny’, taking into account their weight, moisture content, heat of combustion (HHV and LHV), and pollutant emission factors (CO, CO2, NOx, SO2, Dust). Research has shown significant differences between the varieties in terms of their energy potential and pollutant emissions. The varieties ‘Olbrzymi z Halle’ and ‘Olga’ were found to have higher calorific values, making them more energy efficient. On the other hand, the varieties ‘Kataloński’ and ‘Webba Cenny’ showed lower dust and NOx emissions, which is beneficial from an environmental point of view. The analysis of the chemical and morphological composition of hazelnut husks allowed for the identification of relationships between morphological features and energy value and emission indicators. The conclusions from the conducted research suggest that hazelnut husks have significant potential as an energy raw material. The selection of an appropriate variety for energy crops should take into account both the calorific value and emission indicators, which will allow for the optimization of production processes and the promotion of sustainable development.

The study evaluated physicochemical properties of bio-waste as a potential biofuel in the form of leaves from ‘Regent’ grapevines grown on six different rootstocks and a control grown on its own roots for three years of cultivation. An elemental analysis was carried out, determining the content of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sulphur in the leaves tested. A technical analysis of the biofuel was also carried out to determine the content of moisture, volatile matter, and ash. The calorimetric method was used to determine the higher heating value for the material. Fixed carbon and oxygen carbon was calculated based on the elemental and technical analyses. The study showed that the type of rootstock and the year of cultivation influence the amount of leaves obtained from the cultivation area. Leaf entrustment per hectare ranged from 1,140,868.02 in rootstock 161-49 to 1,265,286.7 Mg∙ha–1 in rootstock SO4. Regardless of the year of the study, shrubs grafted on 125AA rootstock and the control had the highest combustion heat of 17.5 MJ∙kg–1 and 17.6 MJ∙kg–1 respectively, while 5BB rootstock had the lowest combustion heat (16.4 MJ∙kg–1). Statistical analysis showed no significant effect of test year on the elemental and technical parameters evaluated. It was observed that regardless of the evaluated parameter and the type of rootstock in most parameters, the values in 2022 were the highest, while in 2021 they were the lowest. –1

The article examines the influence of physicochemical traits on yield depending on the variety and year of cultivation. Four common to Poland grape cultivars, i.e. ‘Regent’, ‘Rondo’, ‘Seyval Blanc’, and ‘Solaris’, were evaluated by analysing, among others, number of clusters per bush, their weight, number of berries, and the yield per hectare, number of woody shoots, weight of woody shoots, and the diameter of woody shoots. Energy and emission parameters were evaluated by conducting technical evaluation (lower heating value, ash content, volatile matters content, moisture content, fixed carbon) and elemental analysis (carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, sulphur and oxygen contents) of one-year, two-year and three-year vine shoots. In addition, emission factors for CO, CO2, NOx, SO2 and dust were estimated. The study showed that there was no significant differences between years under study (2020, 2021 and 2022) and energy and emission parameters. It was observed that the highest LHV (lower heating value) occurred in the ‘Regent’ cultivar while the lowest level in the ‘Rondo’ cultivar. As regards energy-emission parameters, a significant influence of cultivar (‘Solaris’, ‘Rondo’, ‘Seyval Blanc’ and ‘Regent’) was shown on the parameters studied except for nitrogen content and NOx emission index. The interaction of year and cultivar showed no significant differences except for the moisture content.

The article examines the influence of six varieties of primocane raspberries, Rubus idaeus L., on the growth parameters and energy properties of the biomass. The unique aim of this study was to show the impact of primocane raspberry varieties, grown for a single harvest, on the growth parameters of the bushes and the energy and emission characteristics of the biomass obtained from the pruned canes. To the best of our knowledge, there is no such analysis connected to varieties of raspberries available in the literature. The following primocane raspberries were assessed: Polana, Polesie, Delniwa, Poemat, Polonez, and Poranek. Among the studied raspberry varieties, Polana was characterized by the highest number of side shoots and the greatest sum of the shoot lengths, while the Polonez variety was characterized by the highest average shoot length and shoot thickness. In the tested raspberry varieties, the weight of the shoots per hectare varied significantly, ranging from 6.06 t in the Poranek variety to 9.05 t in the Delniwa variety. It was shown that the raspberry variety had a significant impact on the higher heating value (HHV) and the lower heating value (LHV). The lowest energy value was found in the Delniwa (HHV—17.32 MJ·kg−1; LHV—16.07 MJ·kg−1) and Polana (HHV—17.33 MJ·kg−1, LHV—16.19 MJ·kg−1) varieties, and the significantly highest value was observed in the Poranek variety (HHV—17.63 MJ·kg−1, LHV—16.39 MJ·kg−1). The assessment of the total volume of exhaust gases showed the highest value of this parameter for the Polesie and Delniwa varieties (6.89 m3·kg−1), with the lowest for the Polana variety (6.69 m3·kg−1).

Biohydrogen production is a promising alternative to replace fossil fuels in an environmentally friendly way. In addition to the many available renewable energy sources, the production of “colored” hydrogen and biohydrogen occupies an irreplaceable position due to the undeniable availability of biomass and the need to manage food waste (FW). This article presents the current state of biohydrogen production technology—examples on continents (America, Africa, Asia, Australia and Oceania) and in Europe in terms of the efficiency of dark methane fermentation (CH4). Biophotolysis processes leading to the production of biohydrogen are indicated: directly and indirectly. The mechanism of the fermentation process of obtaining hydrogen and two-stage hydrogen fermentation are presented. The novelty of this article is the development of innovative trends in the development of the biohydrogen industry in Europe. Various models of the biohydrogen process are presented for different raw materials and proportions of substrates used in co-fermenters. Researchers from China are the undisputed pioneers in the use of renewable energy sources. However, improved energy self-sufficiency and environmental impacts are reflected in the growing number of pilot installations operating in European countries. This also gives hope for rapid progress towards full animal and FW management also in Poland.

This article presents examples of cogeneration systems, which are standard equipment for biogas installations, based on the production of heat and electricity. It has been shown that in the case of microgeneration, ease of servicing and low installation costs are crucial. Characteristic aspects of developing concepts for mobile installations (small scale) that produce biogas, often with a simple container structure that is ready to be located in the economic infrastructure of the agricultural industry, were indicated. Recommendations for the operation of micro-biogas models are presented, which have the greatest impact on the advisability of using agricultural waste for energy purposes. A characteristic farm was selected, which has a substrate necessary for the process of methane fermentation of slurry from pig farming. The cogenerator, which constitutes a potential energy demand from the point of view of Polish agriculture in the context of renewable energy production, was analyzed. The research goal was to adapt the cogenerator to the conditions existing on a farm, which should meet the technical and technological expectations for the process of managing the produced methane with a value of 80% in agricultural biogas. The assessment of the impact of the amount of biogas on the level of CO, NO, NO2 and PM emissions was carried out at a constant engine speed for various load levels; the percentage of biogas was changed from 40 to approximately 70–80%, i.e., until significant knocking combustion was detected in the tested engines. As a result, the existing control and control system for the operation of the cogeneration unit prevents the most effective mode of operation of the research installation as a prosumer micro-installation. When the AG20P biogas unit operated in parallel with the grid with an active power of up to 11.7 kW, the electricity produced by the unit met the adopted assumptions and requirements. What is new in this article is the use of a cogeneration unit that has been adapted to its functionality, taking into account the assessment of the prospects for optimizing the cogeneration system in the context of the use of renewable energy sources as agricultural biogas. The best method was to attempt to determine the operating conditions of the cogenerator to develop the optimization of a biogas cogeneration unit producing electricity and heat in a micro-installation for the needs of an individual farm.

Small power generators (up to 5 kW) with a dual-fuel function rely on the use of fuels with standardized quality parameters. The use of gaseous and liquid biofuels, produced by the prosumers themselves, to power the engines of these generators poses the problem of their impact on the operation of the fuel system and on exhaust gas emissions. The goal of this study was to indicate the environmental effects of adapting the internal combustion engine of a 2 kW multi-fuel generator to burn gaseous and liquid biofuels produced by the prosumer. Exhaust emission tests were carried out for the combustion of biogas, methanol, natural gas (methane) and conventional fuel. Forms of propellants that were generated at laboratory scale were used during the tests. Anaerobic organic waste management technologies were used in the tests. Biogas and biomethanol were generated for the tests. A modified SI generator fuel system: pressure reduction and fuel pre-conditioning, was tested burning gasoline, methanol, biogas and natural gas with 98% methane content. Exhaust gas emission tests in three operating states (idle, 50% load, 100% load) indicated CO2, CO, NOx and HC emission levels. The feasibility of using renewable fuels in a low-power generator was demonstrated, as well as the correct operation of the author’s system for supplying the generator with gaseous fuels. In the case of bioethanol, better complete combustion of the fuel was achieved than with gasoline, which was characterized by, among other things, 20% lower carbon monoxide emissions at full load. NOx emissions from the combustion of bioethanol compared to gasoline were 1.75 times lower at full load, and HC emissions were almost twice as low. In the case of biogas, there were significant carbon dioxide emissions due to the high carbon dioxide content of the fuel (40%). The other emission results for biogas were not significantly different from those from natural gas combustion.

High-quality nursery stock ensures the dynamic development of orchard crops. The most desirable by orchardists is a tree with a strongly developed crown, which makes it possible to shorten the investment period of newly planted orchards. The quality of the perianth and the degree of its branching depend on the growth strength of the rootstock, the ability of a given variety to form lateral shoots, the type and effectiveness of the treatments used to stimulate branching, soil and climatic conditions related to the location of the nursery and the course of the weather during the period of initiation and growth of young shoots. The study was conducted in 2017–2019 at a private nursery farm near Lublin. The aim of the experiment was to study the effect of mixtures based on the compounds benzyladenine (BA) and gibberellins (GA3) and (GA4+7) for chemical stimulation of lateral shoot outgrowth in apple cv. ‘Alwa’ and ‘Najdared’. In the course of the research, significant effects of the type of growth regulations used and the variety on the height of the perianths, the number and length of lateral shoots and the degree of branching were demonstrated.

The objective of this four-year study was to compare the effects of flame weeding and spraying with glufosinate-ammonium on weed control in sweet marjoram field cultivation. The experiment was set up in a complete randomized four-replicate design with a plot area of 8 m2. Moreover, the content of essential oil in marjoram herb obtained from the control plants, as well as the composition of this oil were also studied. Marjoram emergence began 13–17 days after sowing, and it was very uneven and in some years it was extendend up to 5 weeks. Flaming (90 kg propane ∙ ha–1) was applied in two times: immediately after noticing the first marjoram emergence or 5 days later, while glufosinate-ammonium (600 g ∙ ha–1) was applied on the same date as the first flaming. The tested methods of weeding significantly reduced the number and fresh weight of weeds growing 3–4 weeks after the start of marjoram emergence, i.e. in the period of its greatest sensitivity to weed competition. They had no soil residual activity and their effect on weeds disappeared after the first weeding. Among weeds occurring in the experiment, only barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv.) was partially tolerant to flaming. Flaming applied at the second time did not increase the effectiveness of weed control, but significantly decreased the number of emergence and the yield of marjoram herb. Essential oil content in marjoram grated herb varied considerably depending on the year, ranging from 1.35 to 2.34%. The oil contained from 33 to 36 identified compounds, among which trans-sabinene hydrate (28–34%) and terpinen-4-ol (17–21%) were clearly dominant.

The aim of the study was to assess the impact of N Pro and Seactiv Complex technologies based on sea algae extracts on the yield and quality of Golden Delicious apple trees compared to the standard fertilization program. Research conducted in the years 2008–2017 showed that the tree fertilization technology and the year of research had a significant impact on the quality and yield parameters. The abundance of seaweed extracts had a positive effect on the greater number of fruits per tree (pcs.), their weight (t × ha−1; kg tree−1), the percentage of fruits exceeding 7.5 cm in size (%) and the average weight of fruits (g) compared to the control combination. In most of the analyzed study years, total yield exceeded the 90 t × threshold regardless of the fertilization program. The use of technology based on sea algae extracts during 10 years of research had a positive effect on the quality and weight compared to the standard fertilization technology commonly used in cultivation.

This paper describes examples of energy crops that are profitable to burn, and whose cultivation is not complicated or expensive. Rapid growth of biomass, especially the green mass of energy crops, is indicated, which means that, in relation to fossil fuels, energy crops are considered renewable raw materials. An assessment of Polish non-food energy agriculture was conducted in the context of the prospects of a renewable energy source, namely, biomass. Recommendations for crop cultivation, the size of possible yields and the most important parameters of the obtained biomass, which have the greatest impact on the suitability of energy use, are presented. Materials of biological origin for combustion are divided into three groups: wood waste, by-products and plant products for the energy industry. It is indicated that 2 tons (Mg) of dry wood or straw is energetically equivalent to 1 Mg of coal, and 1 m3 of biogas is energetically equivalent to 1 kg of Polish coal. A novelty of this article is the interpretation of obtaining primary energy, including energy from renewable sources, in the European Union and Poland, taking into account the production of wood waste, straw, cereals and energy crops. The mechanism of the impact of the production parameters of energy crops was revealed during the prepared analysis of the prospects of Polish energy agriculture. Additionally, we conducted an analysis of the potential of biomass as a source of energy in the context of: obtaining primary energy, including energy from renewable sources, in the European Union and Poland; the number of biogas plants in Poland; and the area of agricultural land that is potentially useful for the cultivation of energy crops.

The objective of this three-year study was to investigate the usefulness of flame weeding, spraying with glufosinate-ammonium and nighttime soil tillage for weed suppression in summer savory. The experiment was arranged in a split-plot design with three experimental factors and four replications. The soil was cultivated with a rotary tiller a day before savory sowing or an hour after sunset on the night preceding sowing, while flaming (90 kg propane∙ha–1) and glufosinate-ammonium (600 g∙ha–1) were applied, depending on the year, 12–22 days after sowing, i.e. after the emergence of weeds and the first savory seedlings. Flaming and glufosinate-ammonium killed all weeds growing during the treatment but they did not prevent new weeds from emerging on the following days. Three weeks later, the number of weeds growing on plots weeded with the flame method and sprayed with glufosinate-ammonium was significantly lower by about 63 and 69% in comparison to control, respectively, and it was independent of the time of soil tillage. The studied methods had no effect on weed infestation assessed 3–4 weeks after the first weeding, or on the emergence, plant height and yield of fresh savory herb. The content of oil in dry herb varied from about 1.9% to 2.4% depending on the year while it did not depend on the weeding method. Oil produced by control plants contained 35 compounds making up 99.85% of the total, with the predominant share of carvacrol (45.2–46.8%) and γ-terpinene (34.6–39.9%). Much smaller was the share of α-terpinene (4.8%), p-cymene (2.7–4.0%), myrcene (1.5–2.0%) and α-thujene (1.4–1.8%). The average share of the remaining components did not exceed 1%.

The usefulness of 3 herbicides and flame weeding in lemon balm sown directly into the field was assessed in a two-year experiment. Glufosinate-ammonium (600 g∙ha–1) and flame weeding (90 kg propane∙ha–1) were applied 12–13 days after lemon balm sowing, i.e. shortly after weed emergence and 4 days before crop emergence. Bentazon (960 g∙ha–1) and fluazifop-P-butyl (150 g∙ha–1) were sprayed approximately 3 weeks after sowing, during the emergence of lemon balm, and when the weeds were in the cotyledon – 2–4 true leaves stage. All of the studied weed control methods significantly reduced the number and fresh weight of weeds growing 4 weeks after lemon balm sowing. The most effective method was spraying with glufosinate-ammonium, which controlled 69–76% of weeds. The efficiency of flame weeding was slightly lower. Bentazon caused slight, temporary chlorosis of some lemon balm cotyledons. Content of essential oil (1.9–2.1%), its composition and content of rosmarinic acid (2.08–2.44%) in lemon balm leaves, as well as content of total nitrogen (2.18–2.55%), phosphorus (0.30–0.32%), potassium (2.94–3.22%), calcium (1.02–1.60%), and magnesium (0.30–0.32%) in lemon balm raw material were independent of the weeding method. Content of essential oil, phosphorus, potassium and calcium were significantly higher in the dryer year. Studied weed control methods proved useful in the cultivation of lemon balm from direct sowing into the field. Methods with total action (flaming and glufosinate-ammonium) were more effective than those with selective herbicides (bentazon and fluazifop-P-butyl).

The aim of the research was to evaluate fertilization technologies for the indicators of the quality and quantity of highbush blueberry yield. In the experiment, a similar level of mineral fertilization was used in all treatments. The experiment was to show the differences between fertilization with biostimulation and without biostimulation. The research was carried out in two seasons (2019-2020) on ´Bluecrop` shrubs growing in the Blueberry Experimental Field in central Poland (51° 55'42.7 "N 20° 59'28.7" E). Shrubs grow at a distance of 1 x 3 m. Plants are rejuvenated every year in spring and irrigated by drip. The experiment was carried out in a random block design (4 fertilizer treatments x 5 replications x 6 bushes). The experiment assessed the effect of fertilization on yield, berry mass, fruit setting, leaf surface and physicochemical parameters of fruit. Based on the conducted research, it was proved that the applied fertilization technologies had a significant impact on the size and quality of the yield of "Bluecrop" highbush blueberry. Particularly noteworthy is the fertilization technology with biostimulation (treatment T4), which has a positive effect on the yield, fruit mass, percentage of setting and firmness of the berries. Analysis of the issue in the light of the results of the conducted research shows that the use of biostimulated products has an important impact on the intensification of production while maintaining good quality of fruits. Through research, the positive effect of fertilization programs with biostimulation (treatment T4) on the most important production parameters of blueberry fruit from the producer's point of view has been proven.

World production of pear occupies the second place after apple among pomes species of moderate climate. So far, production in Poland has been low, due to unfavourable climatic conditions, greater sensitivity of pear trees and flowers to frosts and frosts. Serious problems include storage, quick pear maturation, and high susceptibility to fruit bruising during handling. The attractiveness of pears is determined not only by their texture and colour, firmness, juicy flesh, but also by taste, aroma and nutritional value. The aim of the research was to determine and compare the susceptibility of the ‘Conference’ and ‘Lukasówka’ varieties, popular on our market, as well as the new varieties ‘Concord’ and ‘Amfora’, to fruit bruising. In the impact test applied in this study, a 25.68 g glass ball was dropped from a height of 20, 40 and 80 cm, obtaining energy of 0.5, 0.1 and 0.2 J. The impact method allows assessing the susceptibility of pears to bruises and allows the comparison of varieties. The fruits of the ‘Conference’ and ‘Concorde’ varieties showed less susceptibility to damage. ‘Conference’, ‘Concorde’ and ‘Lukasówka’ pears maintained well their condition after storing for four months in a cold store at 1.5°C and about 90% humidity. When comparing the amount of bruising under the influence of 0.2 J impact energy, after storage it was observed that the determined volume of bruising of ‘Concorde’ fruit (312.47 mm 3 ) was more than three times smaller than the volume of ‘Amfora’ bruising (1075.13 mm 3 ). ‘Concorde’ variety is a promising variety, due to its low susceptibility to bruising and resistance to mechanical damage, and also the highest content of extract and sugars in fruits.

Flower or fruitlet thinning is one of the cultural practices used for improving the fruit quality and regulation of yield. The effect of ATS (FloreduX), 6-BA (MaxCel) and metamitron (Brevis) on yield and some fruit characteristics of apple trees cv. Šampion/ M.9 T337 was evaluated. Chemical thinning agents were applied alone, as subsequent spraying or as a tank mixture. Due to the possibility of damage to flowers by the announced frosts, a preparation containing sea algae – Goëmar was added in some treatments. Thinning with only MaxCel resulted in an excessive reduction of the total yield expressed in the number of fruits and their mass, but using MaxCel after flower thinning with Floredux gave very good results. The total yield expressed in kg tree -1 was even bigger than in the control, but the share of fruits with diameter above 7.5 mm was much better. The most promising method of thinning apple trees cv. ‘Szampion’ was the use of MaxCel+Brevis, at fruitlets diameter of 10-12 mm. The yield expressed by the number of apples on a tree was much smaller than in the control, but total yield did not differ from the total yield of the control trees. Apples in this treatment were characterised by the highest mass and length, as well as large diameters. In the fruits of this treatment, there was no significant reduction in flesh firmness relative to the control, and they had the highest dry matter content.

With regard to the problem of current solar irradiation of the tracking surface by the tracker, this can be rationally assessed using a modeled flux with parameters close to the natural direct in accordance with the maximum transparent atmosphere. As part of the experimental research, the values of the air optical mass index in the zenith angle ranging from 0° to 90° were presented for the surface at sea level. The conducted analysis made it possible to confront the experimental research with the models of the optical air transparency mass index. In order to maximize the energy of the controlled beam of the sun’s rays, the angle of their incidence on the tracking surface by the tracker should be minimized. The modeling results show the actual hourly dependencies, which are average values of the intensity of the multi-year measurement. It was found that seasonal dependencies can be considered as theoretically possible and then used to assess the energy efficiency of the tracking surface. Theoretically, they also correspond to the maximum possible energy efficiency of continuous tracking of the Sun with a two-axis rotary tracker. A polar-rotary tracker is a device where the axis of rotation is parallel to the axis of the earth and orients the tracking surface using the simplest synchronous algorithm with a constant angular speed ω = 15 grad/h. The novelty of the article is a method presenting the combination of a normal trajectory with direction towards the sun. Due to the deviation towards the polar axis, the normal touches the horizon, not at six hours after full sun, but earlier and simultaneously. In this way, an uniaxial pole-rotating tracker provides the same irradiation regime as a biaxial one in terms of the deviation of the tracking surface from the axis of rotation, which is equal to the tilt of the sun.

Great interest in viticulture in temperate climates results from the introduction of new interspecies hybrids of grapevines which are quite popular due to their high resistance to fungal diseases and lower temperature. However, the impact of rootstocks, common in vine cultivation, is little to not known, which makes setting up vineyards a challenge. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the following six rootstock types: 101-14 Mgt, SORI, 161-49 C, 5 BB, SO4, 125 AA, and grapevines with their own roots on the yield quantity and berry quality (expressed by Brix extract) of Regent grapevines in temperate climates (southeastern Poland). A five-year experiment alongside a novel numerical model is applied to formulate precise and constructive findings about the rootstock impact in a temperate climate. Both the experimental and numerical part are supported by detailed statistical analysis. The five-year period of study indicates that the vines on rootstock 125 AA yielded the best, significantly. Shrubs grafted on rootstock 161-49 yielded the lowest, while the fruit extract content grafted on rootstock 101-14 was significantly lower among the evaluated ones. The parameters of own-rooted bushes and those grafted on SO4 rootstock did not differ significantly, except for the extract. The model leads to convergent conclusions with statistical analysis of raw experimental data. The 125 AA rootstock was the best for all nine tested case scenarios. On the other hand, 161-49 rootstock was the weakest, justified only in the most challenging conditions.

This article concerns the method of material consumption assessment of the cylinder-piston group of diesel engines in the biodiesel environment. The obtained experimental dependences of the wear coefficients on the example of the tribounit cylinder liner and the piston ring can be used to forecast the resource use during operation under specific conditions of the engine and the environment as a whole. The article systematizes the types of biofuels, depending on the type of raw materials from which they were made, taking into account the process and application. The physical and chemical aspects of the catalysts used for biofuels were indicated. The applied experimental methods for tribological wear of the piston-cylinder pair were analyzed. B70 biodiesel was used in the research, i.e., 70% mineral diesel oil and 30% methyl esters of rapeseed oil. Experimental tribotechnical studies of the influence of biofuels on the behavior of various materials have shown that when using this type of fuel, it is necessary to replace the materials from which some parts of the cylinder-piston group are made. To solve this problem, research has been carried out on a specially designed friction machine. The novelty in the article concerns the association, based on the literature, of hydrogen consumption causing material wear in friction contacts. The mechanism of the interaction of various construction materials during such friction has been disclosed.

Recently the interest in borage seeds (mericarps) as an important source of γ-linolenic acid and a good natural antioxidant has increased, yet the knowledge about these properties of seeds developed by borage grown in Poland remains very scanty. Seeds collected from borage plants cultivated in the south-eastern region of Poland in the years 2017 and 2018 were characterized by following parameters: length – 5.0 mm, width – 2.7–2.8 mm, thickness 2.2 mm, weight of 1000 seeds – 17.2–19.4 g. The seeds contained 93.7% of dry matter, and in this 32.0% of lipids, 23.7% of protein and 1.1–1.8% of total sugars on average. Seventeen compounds were identified in the lipids with linoleic acid (35.1%), oleic + elaidic acids (20.8%), γ-linolenic acid (17.9%), palmitic acid (11.4%), stearic acid (5.3%), cis 11-eicosenoic acid (4.1%), and erucic acid (2.6%) as major ones. Other fatty acids constituted less than 2%. Saturated fatty acids constituted 17.5% of the total fatty acids. Flavonoids and phenolic acids accounted for 0.012% and 1.60–1.73% of seeds dry weight respectively. Antioxidant activity measured by FRAP assay and Folin – Ciocalteau method accounted for 1225 µmol of ferrous equivalent Fe (II) and 29.7 mg of polyphenols per gram of seeds dry weight respectively. Using antiradical activity against DPPH radical following average parameters were obtained: T 50% – 49 sec., DPPH rem % – 73.7, AE – 0.024 dm3∙(µmol∙s)–1. 100 g of seeds d.w. contained 0.27–0.34 ml of essential oil. Content of four macroelements expressed as % of seeds d. w. was following: P – 0.70, K – 0.48, Ca – 1.37 and Mg – 0.41.

A field experiment was carried out in Felin Experimental Farm (2019) in Lublin region (Poland) in order to determine the effect of white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) seed meal (MSM) on weed density as well as on borage plant growth and yield under field cultivation. MSM scattered on soil surface at rates of 2 and 3 t ha−1 when weeds emerged and a day before emergence of borage did not affect the number of borage seedlings but caused transient growth stunting and chlorosis of cotyledons and first leaves. However, final plant height, yield of above-ground parts, mericarp dimensions and weight, content of oil in mericarps, and oil composition were not significantly affected by MSM treatment. At harvest, MSM had decomposed completely, supplying considerable amounts of phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium to the soil, but did not affect its pH or organic matter content. MSM suppressed weed density by 37%–46% during the period of highest sensivity of borage to weed competition. Among dominant weeds occurring in the experiment, Gnaphalium uliginosum and Stellaria media were the most susceptible to MSM, while Amaranthus retroflexus and Galinsoga ciliata were mildly susceptible, Echinochloa cruss-galli and Poa annua were less susceptible, and the least susceptible species was Capsella bursa-pastoris. Obtained results show that MSM may have value for early season weed suppression in borage cultivation.

Badania przeprowadzono w latach 2001–2003 na Wyżynie Sandomierskiej. W doświadczeniu oceniano wzrost i plonowanie drzew odmiany 'Szampion' po zastosowaniu ręcznego przerzedzania, które polegało na pozostawieniu określonej liczby zawiązków na drzewie po opadzie czerwcowym. Wykazano, że przerzedzanie zawiązków miało istotny wpływ na plonowanie. W warunkach Wyżyny Sandomierskiej uzyskano bardzo obfite plonowanie odmiany 'Szampion' (średnio 60,6–113,4 ton owoców z 1 ha). Najwyższe plony uzyskano z drzew kontrolnych i z drzew, na których pozostawiono po 150 zawiązków. Wzrost i produktywność drzew zależały od wieku i podkładki.

The cultivation of vines in temperate climates poses many difficulties to be overcome. The soil and climatic conditions in Poland limit the choice of vine varieties that can be used in the field; therefore, growers are often limited to varieties that are tolerant to extreme winter temperatures and spring frosts and to cultivars that are able to achieve optimum berry maturity at the end of the season. The study evaluated the effect of six rootstock types and own-root bushes on yield quantity and quality and on the content of biologically active compounds and antioxidant activity in Regent grapevine fruit. The research was conducted in 2015 at NOBILIS Vineyard (50°39′ N; 21°34′ E) in the Sandomierz Upland. Among the evaluated rootstocks, 125AA turned out to exert the significantly best effect on the yield, grape and berry weight, and number of grapes per bush. The fruit from bushes grafted on the 5BB rootstock were characterised by the highest content of L-ascorbic acid and tannins.

This paper presents the possibility of the energetic utilization of biowaste in the form of lignified one-year shoots from the cultivation of grapevines of the Seyval Blanc (WSBL), Solaris (WSOL), Regent (WREG) and Rondo (WRON) varieties, grown in temperate climate zones. A technical analysis, an elemental analysis and the determination of the highest heat value and lowest heat value were performed to define the quality parameters of waste as fuel. In addition, the emission factors of SO2, NOx, CO, CO2 and dust were estimated to demonstrate the impact of potential biowaste from combustion. Based on the stoichiometric equations, the exhaust gas composition, the theoretical oxygen demand and the total flue gas volume were evaluated. The study showed that the material with the highest energy potential was WREG (LHV-16.19 MJ·kg−1), with an ash content of 3.68%, while the lowest potential was found for WRON (LHV-15.88 MJ·kg−1), with an ash content of 4.21%. The study showed that the use of the studied viticulture waste instead of hard coal could reduce CO emissions by 26–27%, CO2 by 24–26%, NOx by 55–56%, SO2 by 96–97% and dust by 77–80%.

Abstract. The research objective was assessment of growth and yielding of four cultivars of sweet cherry trees grafted on two rootstocks. The studies were carried out over the years 2011-2013 in the orchard located in the Sandomierska Upland area. The research material included four 3 to 5 years old sweet cherry trees of `Kordia`,`Regina`,`Summit`,`Vanda` cvs budded onto GiSelA 5 and Colt rootstocks. The growth of four sweet cherry cultivars estimated by the trunk cross-sectional area, volume of the crown, cropping efficiency coefficient and productivity of the crown significantly depended on a cultivar and rootstock type. On average, the ‘Summit’ cv. trees produced the significantly highest yields throughout the study period, whereas ‘Kordia’ and ‘Vanda’ the significantly lowest. The trees grafted on the GiSelA 5 rootstock had the significantly decreased trunk cross-sectional area and the crown volume together with significantly higher cropping efficiency coefficient, productivity of the crown and average yielding over the research period as compared to the trees developed on the Colt rootstock. The significantly highest fruit and stone weight was determined for the ‘Regina’ cv. The sweet cherry fruit of ‘Kordia’ and ‘Regina’ cultivars showed a significantly higher extract content as against the others. A rootstock type did not affect significantly sweet cherry fruit and stone weight, stone percentage in fruit or extract content

During transport, reloading and handling, apples are often damaged, among which bruises are the most common cause of permanent, visible changes in colour on the surface of the fruit. Discoloration of the apple skin affects the consumer assessment. The aim of the research was a parametric assessment of bruises colour on apple skin at shelf life, after impact loading at 0,74 J; 1,32 J, and 2,06 J. The tests were carried out on ‘Szampion Arno’ apples specifying lightness parameter L* and chromaticity parameters a* and b* in accordance with the CIE L*a* b* standard. It was observed that the brighter side of the base colour of fruit blended to a greater degree the changes of colour during the shelf life. In that period, the lightness parameter L * of the base colour decreased from 74.47 to 39.21, proving darkening of fruit, similarly to the yellow colour which decreased over the entire surface of the fruit, while the chromatic parameter a *, representing the red colour, rose from 6.8 to 29.68, so that darkening of flesh was visible on the opposite side. The darkening of bruises described by the lightness parameter L* on the blush of fruits was reduced to a lesser extent, from 41.28 to 27.82, and after 6 days of shelf life the differences between blush and bruises were invisible. The chromaticity parameter a* was also confirmed by the reduction of the red colour on the surface of the blush, in the range from 47.32 to 34.79, however, bruising was more visible on the base colour of fruit, as this parameter a * increased from 7.86 to 27.38. Generally, the colour of bruised apple on the surface of the blush was more even, however, after 2 days of shelf life, the base colour of apples evoked a negative quality assessment.

The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of growth regulators on the quality of maidens of apples tree cv. ‘Szampion Reno’ cultivated on M.9 and M.26 rootstocks in the conditions of the Lublin Upland. Growth regulators in the form of AGRIMIX PRO and ASAHI SL preparations were applied to 6 youngest well-developed side buds together with leaves just under the growth cone of the guide, every year when the apple-tree maidens reached 80 cm in height. The use of AGRIMIX PRO had a significant beneficial effect on the maiden trunks, their height and branching degree, i.e. the number of lateral shoots, the average length of one shoot and the sum of length and the diameter of the rootstocks trunks only in 2015. As the dose of AGRIMIX PRO was increased, the number and sum of the length of the syruptic shoots significantly increased. The opposite significant relationship was demonstrated in the case of the height of the examined trees. The addition of the ASAHI SL growth regulator had a significant impact on the diameter of the tree trunks, height, number, mean length and sum of side shoots of maidens of apple tree cv. ‘Szampion Reno’. The type of rootstock significantly influenced the level of all growth and quality parameters examined, and the trees on the more strongly growing M.26 rootstock were thicker, taller and better branched than those growing on M.9. Weather conditions prevailing during the study had a significant impact on the growth and branching degree of plants assessed. Significantly the best quality parameters were obtained in the first year of research, and significantly the weakest in 2015.

The main idea of a circular economy (CE) is to separate economic growth from resource consumption and environmental impacts. The characteristic approach of a CE assumes the minimisation of the amount of waste generated at the design level and, as a standard, includes innovations throughout the value chain. From an agricultural point of view, agricultural biogas plants are particularly important because they enable the management of all waste biomass and its conversion into useful energy and agricultural fertiliser. This paper presents methods for assessing the economic effectiveness of an investment in an agricultural biogas plant. The research goal was to develop a financial model. The authors of this study used available examples of the profitability of commercial ventures. We considered the investment aspects of agricultural biogas plants. Exemplary solutions are discussed, allowing the reader to become acquainted with various methods and proposals for thus far estimated investments. It may seem chaotic, but this is how the biogas market is characterised in the context of the implementation of biogas projects. Guidance is given regarding how to understand investing in this sensitive private farming sector. It is admirable that the renewable energy market has been systematised, and we hypothesise that it is necessary to develop an investment model in Polish conditions.

In this study, we determined the effect of hormonization treatment on yield quantity and quality, content of biologically active compounds, and antioxidant activity in fruits and raisins of ‘Einset Seedless’ grapevine. Field studies were conducted in 2017 at Nobilis Vineyard (50°39′ N; 21°34′ E) in the Sandomierz Upland. Analytical studies were carried out in the Laboratory of the University of Life Sciences in Lublin. Hormonized fruits and raisins, which were dried at 40 °C in a food dryer for 7 days, were the experimental material. It was shown that the application of the hormonization treatment had a significant effect on yield size and quality. The hormonization treatment and the form of plant material analyzed had a significant effect on the content of biologically active compounds and the antioxidant activity in ‘Einset Seedless’ grapevine fruits and raisins. The concentration of applied gibberellic acid had a significant effect on the levels of acidity, content of anthocyanins, and antioxidant activity determined with the FRAP and DPPH methods. The application of the multivariate analysis technique showed that, in the fresh fruits and raisins, the level of biologically active compounds and antioxidant activity in the case of the 200 mg∙GA3∙L−1 concentration and in the control combination was similar but differed significantly in the case of the 300 mg∙GA3∙L−1 application.

The article reviews selected methods and techniques of agricultural biogas desulphurization. Presented is the current state of technological and measurement systems as well as raw biogas purification methods in terms of control and measurement-socio-economic aspects were also pointed out. On the example of a pilot agricultural biogas with the use of pig slurry, the required technical and technological criteria for the production and processing of agricultural biogas were indicated. The article presents the preliminary results of experimental studies on the course of changes in the volumetric composition of biogas on the basis of the average daily production of agricultural biogas.The amount of H2S in raw and purified biogas was analyzed with the proprietary biogas desulphurization method in terms of the process parameters. A novelty is the use of a developed carbon mixture (activated carbon) with turf ore (iron compounds), which allows for 100% desulfurization of raw agricultural biogas under process conditions for mesophilic fermentation. The measurement results show a clear influence of desulphurization using the proprietary adsorption-absorption technique-agricultural biogas.

cluster weight; berry weight; soluble solids; berry composition

Control fruits and fruits subjected to 1-MCP application were placed in cold storage at 2°C, 90% r.h. for 18 weeks. The susceptibility of ten apple cultivars: ‘Beni Shogun’, ‘Braeburn Hillwell’, ‘Elise’, ‘Gloster’, ‘Golden Delicious’, ‘Idared’, ‘Jonagold Decosta’, ‘Ligol’, ‘Mutsu’ and ‘Šampion’ was tested using an impact test to obtain bruising of fruits. The analyses were performed on fruits immediately after harvest and four times after different period of cold storage (9 and 18 weeks) and shelf-life (7 days). The following analysis and characteristics of apples were determined: soluble solids content, dry matter content, acidity, fruit mass and size, and firmness. Impact test was carried out by dropping a glass ball with a mass of 25.68 g from height of 40 cm, due to which kinetic energy value of 0.1 J was obtained. Slight differences in acidity and soluble solid content were observed. On the other hand, stress noticed at firmness test was significantly higher for fruits treated with 1-MCP. It was also observed that firmness decreases after the shelf-life and after storage of fruit at room temperature. The ‘Beni Shogun’ apples fruits stored for 9 weeks are most susceptible to bruising (volume = 438.26 mm3). After cold storage, less susceptible cultivar was ‘Szampion’, for which the volume of fruit bruise was 145.62 mm3 only. After 9 weeks of cold storage, for most cultivars, there was no significant differences in bruise volume; however, the shelf-life had significant influence by differing the cultivars, and for all studied cultivars, the bruise volume was lower.

Globally, the application of rootstocks for grapevine cultivation has been a standard, while in the northern regions, like in Poland where the viticulture tradition is relatively short, the selection of the most suitable rootstock types requires multi-year observation and research. The objective of the present study was to assess the effect of six following rootstock types: ‘101-14 Mgt’, ‘161-49C’, ‘125AA’, ‘5BB’, ‘SO4’, ‘SORI’, and own-rooted vines on yield quantity and quality of ‘Regent’ grapevine in south-eastern Poland. The three-year research period indicates that the vines on ‘125AA’ tended to produce not only the highest yields but had positive influence on the number and weight of clusters and berry weight as well. Whereas the vines grafted onto ‘161-49C’ gave the lowest yields and had the smallest number of clusters per vine. The fruit extract content in ‘Regent’ grapes on ‘101-14 Mgt’ rootstock was found to be significantly lowest among those under study. The extract content and yield of grapevines evaluated in the own-rooted vines and those grafted to the rootstocks which formed one group, did not differ.

The properties, types, and physical and chemical aspects of pig slurry used in the fermentation process were presented. Characterization of the pig slurry microflora for a controlled biogas production process was performed. A pilot biogas treatment installation was presented on the example of a farm with 1100 Dan Bred fatteners kept in a grate system. The research was carried out to measure the biogas flow rate resulting from the reference pressure in the fermentor. An independent assessment of the amount of biogas and the pressure drop in the skeletal deposit was carried out. The basis for assessing the hydrodynamics of gas flow through the adhesive bed is the flow characteristic, which results from the pressure that forces this flow. In each case, the determination of this characteristic consists in determining the influence of the biogas stream on the value of this overpressure, equivalent to the pressure drop (it is tantamount to determining the total biogas flow resistance through the adhesive bed). The results of the measurements indicate the practical application of pig slurry-a substrate in a polydisperse system for the production of agricultural biogas in the context of renewable energies. The article indicates that the ferment was periodically mixed during the day, together with the fermentation of the ferment with fresh substrate. The tests were conducted for 49 days, thus demonstrating that it is more advantageous to mix the ferment hydrodynamically, obtaining a CH4 level of about 80%.

The research was carried out in a commercial apple orchard in southeastern Poland. The aim of the research was to evaluate the effect of fertilizer with biostimulation and humic acids with algae extracts and agrogel on the reception and growth of newly planted maiden apple trees of the ‘Gala Must’ variety. One-year-old budwoods were planted annually on the site where fruit trees had grown for 20 years. For the purpose of the experiment, old trees were grubbed up every year in autumn. The experiment assessed the growth and quality of apple trees in the fall of the first year after planting them permanently using a biostimulator in the form of fertilizer and agrogel. On the basis of 3-year studies, it was shown that the application of the assessed preparations had a positive effect on the quality parameters of the trees. The experiment showed the positive effect of the preparation with biostimulation on the best growth and quality parameters every year, which was confirmed by the multidimensional cluster analysis. The fact that the use of agrogel significantly modified the height of the evaluated apple trees in the second year of the study, when lower amounts of rainfall were recorded, is particularly noteworthy.

Peppermint (Mentha ×piperita L.) rootstock cuttings with 9–11 internodes were planted on April 10, 2014 in rows 50 cm apart and with 25-cm distance in the row, on well fertilized muck-peat soil containing 82.1% of organic matter with a pH of 5.9. Peppermint plants were sprayed once with an activated EM-1 preparation, then on two or three further occasions as follows: at 10 cm height (May 10), at branching stage (May 29), and during rapid growth (June 19). EM did not affect peppermint growth or yield. Yields of the fresh and dry herb were high (means: 15,563 and 2,661 kg ha−1, respectively) and characterized by a medium (1.85–1.90%) essential oil content in the dry herb. Twenty-nine compounds were identified in the oil and its main components were menthol (53.1–58.5%), menthone (14.6–16.8%), isomenthone (6.3–6.7%), menthyl acetate (4.0–5.0%), germacrene D (2.3–3.4%), ß-caryophyllene (1.8–2.4%), viridiflorol (1.5–2.3%), and 1,8-cyneole (0.3–3.7%). EM did not affect the content of essential oil in the dry herb or the oil composition (except for 1,8-cyneole). Thirty-four days after planting, 22 weed species grew in the experimental plots and the dominant were common meadow grass (Poa pratensis L.) accounting for 20% of total weed population, annual meadow grass (Poa annua L.) 17%, common chickweed [Stellaria media (L.) Vill.] 20%, creeping yellowcress [Rorippa sylvestris (L.) Besser] 8%, hairy galinsoga [Galinsoga ciliata (Raf.) S. F. Blake] 7%, gallant soldiers (Galinsoga parviflora Cav.) 6%, Canadian horseweed [Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronq.] 6%, common groundsel (Senecio vulgaris L.) 5%, and annual nettle (Urtica urens L.) 5%. Other species occurred sporadically. The total number and fresh weight of weeds growing on 1 m2 were 412 and 246 g on plots treated with EM and 389 and 227 g on control plots, respectively, but the differences were not statistically significant.

The research objective was to determine and compare dry matter, crude protein, mineral elements (total), dietary fiber, easily hydrolysable sugars, vitamin C, and minerals (K, Na, Mg, Cu) as well as the content of epicatechin and phenolic acids (homovanillic, chlorogenic, caffeic, coumaric, and ferulic) in the flesh and peel of ‘Šampion’ cv. apples grafted on 4 different rootstocks types: M.26, P2, M.9, and P22 in 2014–2015. The apples from trees grafted on the P22 rootstock had the highest content of dry matter, crude protein, fiber, easily hydrolysable sugars, and vitamin C. The highest mineral compound concentration was exhibited by apples from trees growing on rootstocks P22, P2, and M.9. The highest concentration of phenolic acids was determined in the peel of fruits from trees growing on P22 and M.9. The observations confirm that rootstocks characterized by the lowest growth rate (P22, M.9) ensure the highest accumulation of nutrients in ‘Šampion’ fruits.

Celem pracy było zbadanie wpływu mechanicznych i chemicznych zabiegów stymulujących rozgałęzianie na jakość okulantów jabłoni odmian ‘Gloster’ i ‘Jonagold’ okulizowanych na podkładce M.9. Na podstawie przeprowadzonych badań wykazano, że wysokość ocenianych okulantów jabłoni w większości kombinacji zależała od odmiany, okulanty odmiany ‘Gloster’ latem, w trakcie intensywnego wzrostu, były istotnie niższe niż odmiany ‘Jonagold’, jesienią wykazano odwrotną zależność. W trakcie całego okresu wegetacji nie wykazano istotnego wpływu zastosowanych zabiegów na przyrosty wysokości, średnicę pni podkładek i okulantów oraz sumę długości pędów bocznych jabłoni badanych odmian. Trzykrotna aplikacja preparatu Globaryll 100 SL w przypadku drzewek odmiany ‘Jonagold’ wpłynęła istotnie na zwiększenie liczby pędów syleptycznych w stosunku do pozostałych kombinacji. Liczba pędów bocznych w większości kombinacji istotnie zależała od odmiany.

Sour cherry is one of the most important fruit crops in Poland and cultivar is an important factor in its cultivation. The experiment was conducted in a commercial family orchard in a year characterized by a warm and wet spring and also by a very hot and dry summer. Fruit yields harvested from well fertilized 19-years old ‘Kelleris 16’, ‘Nefris’ and ‘Łutówka’ trees grafted on Mahaleb cherry and protected against pests using integrated plant protection system were medium high and of good quality, however productivity index of a tree was low. The fruits attained high weight and diameter and contained big amounts of sugars, vit. C, anthocyanins and flavonoids and medium amount of phenolic acids. Among anthocyanins the most important were cyanidin 3-glucosyl-rutinoside and cyanidin 3-rutinoside. Antioxidant activity of fruits measured as percent of DPPH inhibition was high and similar among compared cultivars. Łutówka was the most productive cultivar of medium leaf and fruit size and with fruits of highest vit. C and flavonoids content and lowest total sugars and monosaccharides content. The least productive cultivar was Nefris, though its fruits were the biggest and contained dry matter, soluble solids, anthocyanins and phenolic acids in the highest amounts of all and vit. C at the lowest level of all. Kelleris 16 was the medium productive cultivar characterized by widest leaf blades and smallest fruits. Content of total sugars and monosaccharides in its fruits was the highest and content of anthocyanins and phenolic acids was the lowest. Residues of dodine and thiacloprid determined in the fruits immediately after harvest were much lower than the permissible residue maximum level.

In a two-year field experiment, no-tillage cultivation using white mustard (Sinapis alba L. ‘Bardena’), 30 kg ha−1, as a cover crop did not influence emergence of red beet (Beta vulgaris L. ‘Czerwona Kula REW’) and had a favorable effect on emergence of carrot (Daucus carota L. ‘Berlikumer 2 – Perfekcja REW’). However, further growth of both vegetables was significantly slower under no-tillage cultivation. Both vegetables produced a higher yield of roots and the diameter of these roots was bigger under conventional cultivation. The effect of cultivation method on the content of total nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium in carrot and red beet leaves varied, while the content of dry matter, monosaccharides and total sugars was significantly higher in the roots of both vegetables harvested under no-tillage cultivation. The number of weeds growing on no-tilled plots covered with mustard mulch 4 weeks after seed sowing was lower by about 75%, but their fresh weight was higher more than 6 times in comparison to that under conventional cultivation. This was caused by the emergence of wintering and winter hardy weeds in places not covered by mustard plants in the autumn of the year preceding the cultivation of vegetables. Next year, they started to grow in the early spring and some of them produced a considerable amount of fresh weight and attained the flowering stage in the middle of April.