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Energy crops, on account of high biomass yields, have high nutrient requirements in relation to macroelements. Municipal sewage sludge can be a potential source of micronutrients for plants with high nutrient requirements. The use of macronutrients from sewage sludge by energy crops is an alternative form of nutrient recycling from organic waste. The aim of the research was to assess the content, uptake and use of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Na from municipal sewage sludge by reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) and giant miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus Greef et Deu). The effect of sewage sludge on the ratios between macroelements in the biomass of the tested plants was also assessed. The multi-year field experiment involved four levels of fertilization with sewage sludge at doses of 0, 10, 20, 40, 60 Mg DM·ha−1. Due to the low potassium content in this waste, supplementary potassium fertilization (100 kg K·ha−1 in the form of 40% potassium salt (KCl)) was applied once on all plots. It was established that the increasing doses of sewage sludge had a considerable effect on the increase in the content and uptake of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Na by the biomass of the tested energy crops. The research shows that, compared to giant miscanthus, reed canary grass had a higher macronutrient content. The largest amount of uptaken N, P, K, Ca and Mg was found in reed canary grass (at a dose of 40 Mg DM·ha−1), whereas Na was detected in giant miscanthus (at a dose o 20 Mg DM·ha−1). It was established that giant miscanthus, on account of its higher yielding, recovers macroelements from sewage sludge applied to soil at a dose of 10 Mg DM·ha−1 to the greatest extent. The increasing doses of sewage sludge considerably decreased the value of K:Mg, Ca:Mg, Ca:P ratios in miscanthus biomass yield. The applied doses of sewage sludge (40–60 Mg DM·ha−1) increased the value of K:Ca, Ca:P, K:Na ratios in miscanthus biomass yield.

The paper presents concentrations and correlations between Zn, Cd and Pb in the aboveground parts of purple moor-grass (Molinia caerulea L.) in forest soils heavily contaminated with heavy metals around a zinc and lead ore tailing landfill at Mining & Metallurgy Enterprise “Bolesław” SA in Bukowno. Field observations have indicated that purple moor-grass, which occurs as one of the few vascular plants in locations with tailing mud, is probably a species with high adaptability to conditions in contaminated environments. The research was carried out in a network of 20 regular monitoring sites. At these sites, a detailed inventory of purple moor-grass was carried out and samples of the aboveground parts of the plants were collected from the leaves and ears and from the soil at a depth of 0-20 cm. It was found that there was no significant correlation between the concentration of heavy metals in the soils and aboveground parts of the plants in the most heavily contaminated zones. This may indicate the existence of mechanisms limiting uptake of heavy metals by this species, and therefore the need for further research in the context of its suitability for biological regeneration of tailing landfills and phytosanitary protection of adjoining areas.

The objective of the study was to assess the effects of long-term application of liquid manure from pig production and digestate from manure fermentation installation for biogas production on chemical changes in the soil, i.e.: soil reaction, accumulation of available forms of phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium in the soil arable layer, as well as the phosphorus balance. The assessment was carried out in two highly productive farms specialising in pig production, located in the Zachodniopomorskie Province. The soils under the study were treated with slurry and digestate annually for subsequent 12 years. The assessment of changes in nutrient content and accumulation was performed twice: after 10 and 12 years of fertiliser treatments. The rate of changes in soil reaction due to slurry and digestate application varied depending on the analysed field. Irrespective of the analysed field, 12-year application of slurry caused a drop in soil pH by an average of half a unit. The direction of changes in the content of available nutrient forms in the soil varied depending on the element evaluated. Notwithstanding the analysed field and the type of slurry used, a decrease in the content of available forms of potassium in the soil was observed. Slurry fertilisation did not affect magnesium contents in the soil. In the study period, the content of magnesium remained unchanged. Among the evaluated nutrients, an increased nutrient content in the soil was only found in the case of phosphorus – as a result of application of liquid manure in combination with mineral fertilisation. In the analysed farms, in the case of fields fertilised with slurry and digestate, the phosphorus balance was positive, and ranged from 15 to 40 kg P·ha−1. The obtained values of the phosphorous balance strongly suggest that regardless of the type of liquid manure used on the farm, measures should be taken to introduce changes in the scope of fertilisation plans, with particular emphasis on the principles of balanced fertilisation.

Irrigation of cultivated plants can be a source of toxic lithium to plants. The data on the effect of lithium uptake on plants are scant, that is why a research was undertaken with the aim to determine maize ability to bioaccumulate lithium. The research was carried out under hydroponic conditions. The experimental design comprised 10 concentrations in solution differing with lithium concentrations in the aqueous solution (ranging from 0.0 to 256.0 mg Li ∙ dm-3 of the nutrient solution). The parameters based on which lithium bioretention by maize was determined were: the yield, lithium concentration in various plant parts, uptake and utilization of this element, tolerance index (TI) and translocation factor (TF), metal concentrations in the above-ground parts index (CI) and bioaccumulation factor (BAF). Depression in yielding of maize occurred only at the highest concentrations of lithium. Lithium concentration was the highest in the roots, lower in the stems and leaves, and the lowest in the inflorescences. The values of tolerance index and EC50 indicated that roots were the most resistant organs to lithium toxicity. The values of translocation factor were indicative of intensive export of lithium from the roots mostly to the stems. The higher uptake of lithium by the above-ground parts than by the roots, which primarily results from the higher yield of these parts of the plants, supports the idea of using maize for lithium phytoremediation.

Municipal sewage sludge contains considerable amounts of macro and microelements essential for plant nutrition. With decreasing use of natural and organic fertilizers, there is a need to search for alternative sources of organic matter (which is a substrate for humus reproduction). In a field experiment carried out on heavy soil with neutral reaction, the effect of single application of municipal sewage sludge in a dose of 5.34 Mg·ha−1 DM was compared to an equivalent dose of mineral fertilizers. The test plant was spring barley. After application of municipal sewage sludge, slight positive changes in the chemical properties of the soil were observed. The sewage sludge increased the yield of spring barley grain and straw by, respectively, 14 and 13% in relation to treatment with mineral fertilization. Spring barley fertilized with sewage sludge contained more elements than barley grown only on mineral fertilizers. It was shown that application of municipal sewage sludge to the soil had a significant effect on increase in nutrient uptake by spring barley. Fe was taken up in the highest amount, followed by Al and Mn, and Co was taken up in the smallest amounts. Utilization of Fe, Mn, Co and Al from sewage sludge by spring barley was at 6.0, 4.7, 0.7 and 0.7%, respectively of the amount applied to the soil with this waste. The mass ratios (Fe:Mn, Fe:Al, Mn:Co) analyzed in spring barley biomass were much wider in straw than in grain. In terms of grain feed value, Fe:Mn ratio in grain and straw was greater than optimum.

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]

Due to the fact that soils in Poland are mostly light soils, there is a need to improve their physical, chemical and biological properties. In addition, as a result of the decrease in the number of farm animals, a decrease in production of natural fertilizers can be observed. Low production of natural fertilizers speaks in favor of agricultural use of municipal sewage sludge in Poland. Municipal sewage sludge is composed of large quantities of macronutrients necessary for plants. This waste also contains significant amounts of organic substance. Chemical properties, including a high content of nitrogen, phosphorus, and often calcium, speak in favor of environmental use of municipal sewage sludge. Increasing requirements with respect to environmental protection cause the necessity to assess the effects of using organic waste for fertilization. In a farm located in the commune of Iwanowice (Małopolska province), municipal sewage sludge was applied under spring barley cultivation. The soil on which municipal sewage sludge was applied was classified into the category of heavy soils with neutral reaction. When assessing the content of available nutrients (P, K, Mg) in the soil, their low content was determined. After application of municipal sewage sludge in a dose of 24 Mg fresh matter per hectare, which corresponded to 5.34 Mg DM·ha−1, under spring barley, beneficial changes in chemical properties of the soil were observed. An increase in soil abundance in organic carbon and total nitrogen was observed, as well as an increase in the content of available forms of phosphorus, potassium and magnesium. Based on the results of the conducted chemical analyses, it was established that biomass of spring barley fertilized with sewage sludge contained more macronutrients (N, P, K, Na, Ca and Mg), which improved its feed value. The field experiment showed that application of municipal sewage sludge increased uptake of macronutrients by spring barley.

Badano wpływ dodatku różnych materiałów, tj.: osadu ściekowego, popiołu i torfu oraz różnych dawek mieszanin popiołowo-osadowych i popiołowo-torfowych, na całkowitą zawartość metali ciężkich (Cr. Zn. Pb. Cu. Cd. Ni) oraz ich frakcje. Zasto- sowanie w doświadczeniu osadu ściekowego oraz mieszanin popiołowo-osadowych i popiołowo-torfowych powodowało stopniowy wzrost zawartości badanych metali ciężkich w glebie. Popiół charakteryzował się niską zawartością metali ciężkich w porównaniu do komunalnych osadów ściekowych. W wyniku zastosowania torfu oraz jego mieszanin popiołowro-torfowych nastąpiło obniżenie zawar- tości badanych metali ciężkich, sam zaś toif był źródłem największego wzrostu zawartości węgla organicznego. Rozmieszczenie metali ciężkich w:e frakcjach wyodrębnionych w różnych kombinacjach, charakteryzowało duże zróżnicowanie w zależności od badanego metalu i zastosowanego podłoża. Główną rolę w magazynowaniu chromu, cynku, ołowiu i kadmu pełniła frakcja pozostałości (FV). zaś najwięcej miedzi i niklu związane było z materią organiczną (FIV). Stwierdzono, że wprowadzanie do gleby materiałów o charakterze alkalicznym jest przyczyną małej rozpuszczalności większości metali ciężkich, przez co ograniczone jest ich pobieranie przez rośliny Wyjątek stanowiły chroni i miedź, których rozpuszczalność wzrastała wraz ze w zrostem zasadowości.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the content, uptake, and utilization of Al, Mn, Fe, Co, and Mo from municipal sewage sludge by the reed canary grass (RCG) and the giant miscanthus (MG). The impact of sewage sludge on the mass ratios between microelements contained in the plant biomass was analyzed as well. The long-term field experiment consisted in application of four levels of fertilization with sewage sludge: 10, 20, 40, and 60 Mg DM·ha−1. A non-fertilized control object (0 Mg DM·ha−1) was used as well. The miscanthus biomass was characterized by higher content of Al and Mn, whereas higher levels of Fe, Co, and Mo were determined in the reed canary grass biomass. As in the case of the element content, the giant miscanthus was characterized by highest level of Al and Mn uptake, while the highest uptake of Fe, Co, and Mo was exhibited by the reed canary grass. In the group of the analyzed microelements, the giant miscanthus showed the highest the recovery of Mo (47%) followed by Mn (39%), Fe (35%), and Co (15%), and the lowest uptake was determined in the case of Al (5%). In addition to the use of their biomass for the production of renewable energy, energy crops (reed canary grass, giant miscanthus) can be used to recover microelements from municipal sewage sludge. Energy crop biomass can therefore be a potential source of microelements in animal feed. Attention was paid to the mass ratios of Fe:Mn, Fe:Al, Fe:Co, Fe:Mo, Mn:Al, Mn:Co, Mn:Mo, and Co:Mo in the biomass yield of the species used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various types of pesticides are commonly used in modern agriculture. Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are sensitive indicators of environmental contamination with these substances. Exposure of honey bees to pesticides can lead to changes in their behaviour and increase mortality, so it is important to develop alternative formulations to common ('chemical') pesticides. The recently developed preparation Siltac EC (patent no. WO 2016/061259) shows promise as an effective substitute. It is based on a physical interaction with the pest and does not contain chemicals classified as pesticides. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the toxicity of Siltac EC to adult honey bee workers. The experiments showed that both contact and oral acute toxicity were very low, and that the preparation can preliminarily be considered safe for honey bees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]