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The study focusses on alternative substrates with the potential to replace common substrates, such as mineral wool and perlite, as the influence of these on ecosystems and resources is being debated. To this aim, wood fibre, sheep wool and coco peat substrates were selected for testing. Leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. ‘Lisboa’) is taken as the model crop for the evaluation of alternative substrates. The closed hydroponic system ebb and flow with growing in pots was used for the experiment. The parameters of the nutrient solution were EC 1.5–2 mS and pH 6–7. Biological parameters, content of nitrates, plant stress indicators, antioxidant activity (AA) as % scavenging of DPPH (AA), glutathione (GSH), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), total phenol content (TPC) and the content of chosen elements in the drain from substrates were evaluated. According to the biomass production of lettuce, the substrates can be ranked from the lowest as follows: sheep wool < wood fibre < mineral wool < perlite < coco peat. The levels of GSH and APX did not affect AA. The TPC showed the greatest effect on AA and the stress response in general. The nitrate content ranged between 426 and 686 mg · kg–1 of fresh mass. Instead of mineral wool and perlite, coco fibre could be a promising alternative organic substrate for lettuce production in the ebb and flow hydroponics system. Wood fibre and sheep wool still have unresolved circumstances regarding their physical and chemical parameters.

Waste management in the agri-food industry is an important technological and environmental problem. Slaughterhouse waste is particularly problematic, as it contains significant amounts of proteins and lipids, neither of which constitute a good substrate for methane production. The physical properties of mixtures of fat and polar solvents inhibit the methanogenesis process. The aim of this research was to assess the impact of the addition of fat emulsifiers and biochar on the amount of biogas produced and the level of carbon conversion per unit of waste weight. The assumed goal was achieved based on a laboratory experiment using static methane fermentation, carried out in accordance with the methodology of the DIN 38414/S8 standard. The results of the experiment indicate that the addition of fat emulsifiers increased the biogas yield from slaughterhouse waste from approximately 370 to 430 dm3 per 2 kg dry weight of waste. Each technological variant resulted in an increase in the amount of carbon that was transformed in the methanogenesis process. Although the level of carbon transformation in the methanogenesis process increased by approximately 20% in objects with emulsifier addition, the use of biochar and fat emulsifiers did not change the amount of methane production. Within the assumed system limits, therefore, the use of fat emulsifiers and biochar seems to be pointless. However, the use of the developed technology can improve the efficiency of biogas production by up to 18% and shorten the process by 5 days. Assuming the continuous operation of the biogas plant, the use of the developed technology will increase the efficiency of biogas production from slaughterhouse waste in the long term by over 30% without the need to modify the infrastructure in the biogas plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Smart management in crop cultivation is increasingly supported by application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPM), which sustain soil fertility and plant performance. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the effects of consortia composed of (Claroideoglomus claroideum BEG96, Claroideoglomus etunicatum BEG92, Funneliformis geosporum BEG199, Funneliformis mosseae BEG 95, and Rhizophagus irregularis BEG140) and PGPM (Azospirillum brasilense – AZ, or Saccharothrix sp. – S) on onion cultivated in growing media with a composition corresponding to a degraded soil. Methods: Three types of substrate formulations were used, with peat:sand ratios of 50:50, 70:30, 100:0 (v:v). The analysis of substrate parameters crucial for its fertility (pH, salinity, sorption complex capacity, and elements’ content) and characteristics reflecting onion seedlings’ performance (fresh weight, stress biomarkers, and elements’ content) was performed. Results: AMF colonized onion roots in all treatments, showing increasing potential to form intercellular structures in the substrates rich in organic matter. Additionally, co-inoculation with PGPM microorganisms accelerated arbuscular mycorrhiza establishment. Increased antioxidant activity and glutathione peroxidase (GPOX) activity of onion roots sampled from the formulations composed of peat and sand in the ratio of 100:0, inoculated with AMF+S, and positive correlation between GPOX, fresh weight and antioxidant activity of onion roots reflected the successful induction of plant acclimatization response. Total phenols content was the highest in roots and leaves of onion grown in substrates with 70:30 peat:sand ratio, and, in the case of roots, it was correlated with AMF colonization parameters but not with antioxidant activity. Discussion: AMF and PGPM efficiency in supporting onion growth should be linked to the increased onion root system capacity in mineral salts absorption, resulting in more efficient aboveground biomass production. AMF and PGPM consortia were effective in releasing minerals to soluble fraction in substrates rich in organic matter, making elements available for uptake by onion root system, though this phenomenon depended on the PGPM species. Microorganism consortia enhanced onion seedlings’ performance also in substrates with lower content of organic carbon through plant biofertilization and phytostimulation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research presented in this paper deals with issues related to the implementation of management and organizational innovations and their impact on the company’s competitiveness. The target group of the study are enterprises from the micro- small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) sector based in the Malopolska Voivodship, which in the years 2011-2014 were beneficiaries of the project “Transforming enterprises into intelligent organizations - advisory support for companies Malopolska Voivodship” implemented by The Rabka Region Development Foundation under the Operational Program Human Capital (POKL), Measure 8.1 - Development of employees and enterprises in the region, Sub-measure 8.1.1 - Supporting the development of professional qualifications and consulting for enterprises. The injection of knowledge from Mechanical engineering specialist and other specific areas of activity has a great impact in the development and modernization of the enterprises by introducing process, product, organizational or marketing innovations.

The objective of this study was to assess the potential of implementing GLOBAL. G.A.P. in bean-producing farms in the region of Talas in northern Kyrgyzstan. The assessment concerned the analysis of non-conformities with the GLOBAL G.A.P. standard in farms that had implemented the standard but had not been certified. The detailed objective was to identify critical areas in implementing said standard. To achieve the objective established, research was conducted in 2018. The research covered 112 farms that produce beans (local variety called ‘Łopatka’). Internal audits were carried out in the examined farms, in accordance with the checklist of the GLOBAL G.A.P. standard version 5.1. The results of the conducted research indicate that at the current level of agricultural development and awareness of farmers from Kyrgyzstan, implementation of the GLOBAL G.A.P. standard is going to be very difficult. Problems apply both to infrastructure and to producers’ mentality. Problems with infrastructure concern primarily the places to store plant protection products as well as mineral and organic fertilizers. Moreover, the identified non-conformities concerned adequate infrastructure serving for segregation and management of waste (both production waste and municipal waste). With respect to hygiene, problems concern both lack of sanitary infrastructure, as well as producers’ mentality associated with the need for maintaining hygiene. In most cases, the issue of the possibility of improving the condition of the environment within the farm’s premises is omitted. With respect to production technology, using organic and mineral fertilizers is problematic. In no case was water, soil or products analyzed, which is obligatory in the standard being discussed. A considerable problem in the area of the study is lack of support from government entities or companies dealing with efficient implementation of the standard. Effective development of the standard also depends on educating at the level of producers, inspectorate bodies, as well as on introducing quality management courses at individual education levels to the curriculum.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the content of Ni, Pb and Zn in the water and larvae of fish of the genus Atherinidae L., caught in three bays in the area of Sevastopol. The study was conducted in 2012 in the three bays in the area of Sevastopol: Galubaya, Omega and Karantinna. The results indicate that the content of all elements studied was at a higher level than that observed in the uncontaminated basins. The average concentration of Ni, Pb and Zn in water was respectively: 1.199; 14.62 and 64.32 μg · dm-3. The content of the elements studied in the examined fish larvae Atherinidae ranged from 6.413 to 19.65 mg Ni kg -1, from 1.749 to 5.393 mg Pb kg -1 and from 97.16 to 215.24 mg Zn kg-1.

Raspberry fruits are a valuable source of bioactive compounds. The study used the modification of the substrate (coconut fibre), consisting of the use of various organic and mineral additives, in the soilless cultivation of raspberries. The additives influenced the biosynthesis of bioactive compounds in the raspberry fruits by modifying the sorption properties and the abundance of the substrate. The influence of the additives on the content of polyphenols was determined as well as their profile (UPLC-MS), antioxidant potential (ABTS), vitamin C content, and the activity of selected enzymes that are markers of stress and resistance to abiotic factors. In the study, a significant effect of these additives was observed on the biosynthesis of polyphenols in raspberry fruit. The highest increase in the content of these compounds in relation to the control sample (substrate—100% coconut fibre), namely 37.7%, was recorded in the case of fruit produced on coconut substrate enriched with sheep wool. These fruits were also characterised by a significantly different profile of these compounds. These changes were caused by readily available ammonium nitrogen and free amino acids in the decomposition of proteins contained in the sheep wool. This was confirmed by the recorded content of chlorophyll SPAD in the plant leaves and the activity of selected enzymes, which proves a low level of stress and good condition of the plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of optimizing plant fertilization is important in quality systems, such as Integrated Plant Production, GLOBAL G.A.P., or SAI. Effective implementation of these systems depends on the use of a plant nutrition technology based on plants’ nutrient demand. In developing countries, low efficiency production technologies are used very frequently, and a significant level of anthropogenic pressure is therefore observable. The objective of this research was to assess grapevine fertilization efficiency according to particular nitrogen fertilization strategies. Within the scope of the research, a two-factor field experiment was conducted in a commercial vineyard located in Gissar Valley, the Republic of Tajikistan, in 2018. The experiment was established on sandy soils and involved the following factors: the overall quantity of mineral nitrogen used, and the number of fertilizer application cycles (one or three). The designed systems were assessed on the basis of commercial yield, productivity ratio, agronomic efficiency ratio, removal efficiency ratio, and physiological efficiency ratio. The findings obtained from the field experiment indicate that the plant yield was the highest, at 24.85 Mg ha-1, in the conventionally fertilized object, with the nitrogen dosage of 250 kg N ha-1. Similar yield was obtained when the amount of nitrogen was divided into 3 doses. In this variant, the values of ratios representing fertilization efficiency, such as the agronomic efficiency ratio, removal ratio and productivity ratio, were the most beneficial as well. No significant variations were determined in respect of the physiological efficiency ratio value, which may be an indication that no factors occurred in any of the variants which would distort the plants’ growth and development. Optimizing fertilization is an important aspect that defines the quality and safety of products of agricultural origin, especially in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]