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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 experiment was conducted in 2008–2010 at the Experimental Station of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences in Zamość, University of Life Sciences in Lublin. The research design included two factors: I. Method of cultivation – sole cropping and strip cropping (the cultivation of three plants: maize, narrow-leafed lupin and oats, in neighboring strips); II. Weed control method – mechanical and chemical. The subject of this study was weed infestation in maize, narrow-leafed lupin and oats. The greatest diversity of weeds was found in the narrow-leafed lupine crop, while the lowest diversity in maize. The dominant weed species in maize, lupine and oats were Echinochloa crus-galli, Chenopodium album and Galinsoga parviflora which ranged from 34% to 99% of the total number of weeds. Strip cropping clearly reduced the number of weeds per unit area in the narrow-leafed lupin and oat crops as well as the aboveground dry weight of weeds in all plant species. Chemical weed control significantly decreased both the number and weight of weeds in comparison with the mechanical method.

The purpose of experiment conducting on the field, weedy by Agropyron repens (L.) P. B. was established what is the degree of elimination of Agropyron repens plants from experimental plots by single Roundup spraying. The changes of the species composition on the fields with different clover-grass mixtures or with Phacelia tanacaetifolia Benth. were studied as well. The stand tables have been made in the first year of the conducting experiment, to determination the density of weeds, after different agricultural practices. It has been found the great elimination of Agropyron repens (L.) P. B. plants after Roundup spraying and the great density of Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. B. plants. It has been found the great density of Chenopodium album L. at VII treatment and Galinsoga parviflora Cav. at III, V, VII and VIII treatments as well (Table I).

The paper presents differences and similarities between segetal and ruderal flora in the Olsztyn Lake District. The investigation was conducted in rural areas and in areas of small towns. 415 taxa of vascular plants were noted altogether in the flora examined. The segetal flora includes 259 species, and the ruderal flora – 334 ones. A comparison between species of those two florae (table 1, figure 1), 81 species appear in segetal habitats, and 156 in ruderal habitats. Common species, for those two comparsing florae (segetal and ruderal) were 178. The following plants were classified as frequent or common in ruderal habitats of the Olsztyn Lake District, having (under certain conditions) a significant influence on the weed infestation of cultivated fields: Amaranthus retroflexus , Artemisia vulgaris , Atriplex patula , Chamomilla suaveolens , Cirsium arvense , Conyza canadensis , Descurainia sophia , Galinsoga ciliata , Galinsoga parviflora , Geranium pusillum , Lapsana communis , Melandrium album , Poa annua , Polygonum aviculare , Rumex crispus , Sisymbrium officinale , Sonchus arvensis , Sonchus asper , Sonchus oleraceus , Tussil farfara .

Field studies were carried out in 1989–1995 and 2006–2012 on plantations of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L. subsp. vulgaris). During this period, 542 phytosociological relevés were made using the Braun-Blanquet method. In total, 46 weed species were found. In 1989–1995, the occurrence of 36 segetal species was reported. The highest cover indices were determined for Chenopodium album and Amaranthus retroflexus. Galium aparine, Echinochloa crus-galli, and Elymus repens were the dominant species, as well. Analysis of the frequency of occurrence revealed one constant species (Chenopodium album), two frequent species (Amaranthus retroflexus and Galium aparine), and two medium-frequent species (Echinochloa crus-galli and Matricaria maritima ssp. inodora).In 2006–2012, the occurrence of 40 weed species on the sugar beet plantations was recorded. The plantations were clearly dominated by Chenopodium album, accompanied by Polygonum persicaria and Polygonum lapathifolium ssp. lapathifolium. Other dominant species comprised Setaria viridis, Galinsoga parviflora, Brassica napus ssp. napus, and Fallopia convolvulus. The Chenopodium album was a constant component of the sugar beet plantations. In turn, no frequent species were observed and six medium-frequent species were found (Setaria viridis, Galinsoga parviflora, Brassica napus ssp. napus, Echinochloa crus-galli, Amaranthus retroflexus, and Capsella bursa-pastoris).Noteworthy, the presence of previously unreported species, e.g., Abutilon theophrasti, Hyoscyamus niger, or Artemisia vulgaris, was revealed. These species are rare components in sugar beet crops. A reverse phenomenon, i.e., the disappearance of some species such as Euphorbia helioscopia, Malva neglecta, Rumex acetosella, Sinapis arvensis, or Sisymbrium officinale, was also observed.

The experiment was conducted in the years 2004-2006 in a private farm in the village of Frankamionka in Zamość district. There were two experimental factors: I. Cultivation methods - sole cropping and strip intercropping; and II. Tending methods - mechanical, mechanical-chemical, and chemical weed control. The subject of the study was weed infestation of the Mela variety of common bean. Beans were sown between 30 April and 5 May. Weed infestation was assessed in the last week before harvesting by determining its floristic composition and the frequency of occurrence of particular weed species, as well as the air-dry weight of weeds. The dominant weed species were Galinsoga parviflora, Echinochloa crus-galli, Chenopodium album, and Amaranthus retroflexus, which comprised 84.7% of the total number of weeds. Strip intercropping markedly reduced the number of weeds per unit area (by 50%), as well as the dry weight of their aerial parts. The most effective method of weed control was the mechanical-chemical method, which resulted in the lowest occurrence of weeds. It also significantly reduced the weight of weeds.

A field experiment was conducted in the years 2008-2010 at the Research Station of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, on brown soil with a slightly acidic pH, a high content of available phosphorus and potassium as well as an average magnesium content. The experiment was set up in a random split-plot design with four replications, with two methods for controlling weed infestation: I. mechanical - weeding of inter-rows twice; II. chemical - the herbicide Afalon Dyspersyjny 450 SC (a.i. linuron, 900 g × ha-1). Next, potassium, calcium and magnesium contents were determined in maize and in the dominant weed species. Based on the dry weight yield of maize and the biomass of particular weed species, nutrient uptake per hectare area was calculated. The chemical method of weed control reduced both the number and dry weight of weeds more than the mechanical method. The dominant species in the maize crop were Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv., Chenopodium album L., Galinsoga parviflora Cav., and Cirsium arvense L. All the weed species examined were more competitive than maize in accumulating potassium, calcium and magnesium. Galinsoga parviflora Cav. was the most competitive species with maize for potassium, Cirsium arvense L. for calcium, and Chenopodium album L. and Polygonum lapathifolium L. subsp. lapathifolium for magnesium. Weeds are serious competitors in taking up nutrients relative to crop plants; their share in the total uptake of macroelements from the soil by the maize crop and weeds together was considerable and it averaged as follows: for K - 35%, Ca - 27.3%, Mg - 27.4%.

Patches of the association Echinochloo-Setarietum typicum, subvariant with Veronica persica (Panico-Setarion alliance), two associations from the Polygono-Chenopodion alliance: Oxalido-Chenopodietum and Galinsogo-Setarietum, as well as the community with Veronica persica, were noted on compact soils of the stubble fields in the area of the Podlaski Przełom Bugu mesoregion. The occurrence of Echinochloo-Setarietum typicum subvariant with Veronica persica and the community with Veronica persica was frequently observed in the studied area on fertile, loamy soils included in the wheat complex (good and imperfect), rye complex (very good and good) and corn-fodder strong complex. Phytocenoses of Galinsogo-Setarietum dominated by plants of the genus Galinsoga, especially by Galinsoga parviflora, were also frequently noted on fertile habitats near farm buildings. Patches of Oxalido-Chenopodietum were observed more seldom in the studied area. They were developing on fertile alluvial soils and black earths along the river.

The characteristics of communities found in unploughed stubble fields of the Mazowiecki Landscape Park and its agricultural buffer zone are presented in the paper. The association Echinochloo-Setarietum divided into a typical variant, the variant with Galinsoga parviflora, and the variant with Bidens tripartite, was the most frequently noted and floristically differentiated association. Patches of Digitarietum ischaemi were also frequently observed in stubble fields on the poorest habitats. Rarely, on fertile soils, small patches of floristically rich communities with Veronica agrestis were recorded. Periodically, excessively wet habitats were seldom occupied by the speciesrichest phytocoenoses of Centunculo-Anthoceretum punctati. Single patches of the community with Setaria pumila, the form with Aphanes arvensis, were observed only in the south-eastern part of the Park.

Analysis of plant communities accompanying root crops on compact soils is presented in the paper. It is the next part of the review of plant communities of agrocenoses of the Podlaski Przełom Bugu (Podlasie Bug Gorge) mesoregion. The studied phytocoenoses were identified on the basis of 103 phytosociological relevés, made according to the Braun-Blanquet method. In the studied agrocenoses, plots of the associations Lamio-Veronicetum politae, Galinsogo-Setarietum and Oxalido-Chenopodietum polyspermi from the Polygono-Chenopodion polyspermi alliance were noted. Small patches of Lamio-Veronicetum and Oxalido-Chenopodietum were rarely noted in the studied area due to a small proportion of suitable habitats. In the area of Podlaski Przełom Bugu mesoregion, phytocoenoses of Oxalido-Chenopodietum developed in the river valleys on fertile muds and black soils. Typical plots of Galinsogo-Setarietum distinguishable by the mass occurrence of Galinsoga parviflora were only observed in the vicinity of farm buildings. Intermediate communities between Panico-Setarion and Polygono-Chenopodion polyspermi as well as phytocoenoces of Echinochloo-Setarietum typicum - subvariant with Veronica persica and Echinochloo-Setarietum fumarietosum - were also quite frequently noted in root crops on compact soils.

The purpose of this work was to determine the influence of conventional tillage (fall ploughing at 25 cm) and minimum tillage systems (chisel ploughing at 30 cm) and two differentiated fertilization and plant protection levels on number, species composition and air dry weed mass in spring barley cv. Rataj. This spring barley was cultivated in crop rotation potato - spring barley - winter rye. The analysis of field infestation was made prior to spring barley harvest with quantitative- weighting method. There was estimated number of weeds, weed species composition and air dry weight of weeds in two randomly chosen areas of each plot of 0.5 m2. The density of weeds and weed air dry weight was statistically analysed by means of variance analysis, and the mean values were estimated with Tukey's confidence intervals (p=0.05). Intensive level of fertilization and chemical crop protection decreased number of monocotyledonous weeds and total weeds in canopy of spring barley. Conventional system of soil cultivation decreased in a canopy of spring barley the following species of weeds: Geranium pusillum, Galinsoga parviflora, Stellaria media, Apera spica-venti, Poa annua and Echinochloa crusgalli. Conventional tillage increases number of Chamomilla suaveolens and Fallopia convolvulus in a canopy of spring barley. Intensive fertilization and plant protection levels decreased weed infestation first of all through Echinochloa crusgalli, Apera spica-venti, Fallopia convolvulus, Galinsoga parviflora, Geranium pusillum, Chenopodium album and Setaria pumila.