The aim of this paper was to estimate the persistence and stability of 8 cultivars of Lolium perenne L. in pasture and meadow sward in peat-muck soils. The research was carried out over 1996-2005 at Sosnowica, the Wieprz-Krzna Canal Region. Pasture mixture sward was grazed by Limousine meat cattle (4-5 rotations), while meadow sward – cut (3 regrowths). Over the studies pasture utilization stimulated a larger share of the cultivars tested in comparison to meadow use. Over the 2002-2003 winter season there were observed freezing and limitation of Lolium perenne L. share in the sward of the first regrowth, yet at the same time a fast regeneration of this species in the successive years of use.

Yields of winter wheat were determined and described in the canopy of different plant density sown at early date and the date 2-weeks delayed as compared to the recommended one. It was shown that the density of winter wheat ears which would guarantee the grain yield of 72.9 dt per hectare can be obtained already by sowing 240 germinating grains per 1 m². In the years of good humidity in spring, even sparse sowing density (120 and 240 grains · m^-2), due to good productive tillering, ensures high grain yields. Under semi-drought in spring a higher sowing density (480 or 600 grains · m^-2) is more favorable to the yield. When sowing took place on the 24th of September the highest yield was achieved. 10-14 day earlier sowing date increased the number of ears in the canopy and the number of grain per ear, however it helped a decrease in 1000 grain weight and resulted in a greater plant infection with Septoria nodorum Berk., which resulted in a decreased yield.

Degradation of wood in nature is caused mainly by white rot fungus representing Basidiomycetes, such as Phanerochaete chrysosporium. The aim of this studies was to investigate the production of xylanolytic enzymes (endo-1,4-β -xylanase and β-xylosydase) by Phanerochaete chrysosporium cultivated on Czapek mineral medium to which straw or wheat bran was added. The results showed that P. chrysosporium produced both enzymes endo-1,4-β -xylanase and β-xylosydase in culture medium with the two substrates added. The activity of endo-1,4-β -xylanase and β-xylosydase depends on temperature and it is highest at 70 and 60^oC. The maximum activity of both enzymes was found for the acid reaction, pH = 4.6.

The ability of six strains belonging to the genus Pseudomonas isolated from the rhizosphere of wheat to produce pyoverdin was examined. The studied strains demonstrated a varied level of production of the siderophore, depending on the culture conditions. The highest level of pyoverdin was determined after 72 hours of growth at 20-25°C in iron-free medium supplemented with succinate. The synthesis of pyoverdin by all the strains studied was strongly repressed by the addition of iron ions (III) to the growth medium. Calcium, cadmium and magnesium ions stimulated the synthesis of the siderophore examined, whereas zinc and lead ions partially decreased its level. Enrichment of the growth medium in cobalt ions completely inhibited the synthesis of siderophores as well as growth of the bacteria.

The study dealt with the evaluation of the productive efficiency of water for selected grass species under different ground water levels and grass mixture species composition. The productive efficiency of water was estimated based on lysimetric measurements of 2001-2003 which involved Poa pratensis¸ Phleum pratense and Lolium perenne in pure stand as well as P. pratensis with Ph. pratense and P. pratensis with L. perenne mixtures. Grasses developed under constant levels of ground water (50 and 90 cm). The same level of mineral fertilization was applied for all the treatments. The results demonstrate that the mean productive efficiency of water for the vegetation period at Sosnowica ranged from 1.6 to 3.2 g dm·m^-2·dm^-3 of water and varied depending on the botanical composition of the sward and the ground water level. At lower ground water level (90 cm), two-species communities and P. pratensis and its mixture with Ph. pratense at a higher water level (50 cm) showed the highest efficiency. Water was used least effectively by L. perenne sward. Keeping a high level of ground water decreased the productive efficiency of water. Significant dependences between the yield and the productive efficiency of water were found.

The aim of the paper was to determine the effect of important meteorological factors on the moisture of light soil under rye and potato at their respective development stages. The analysis was based on daily (24-hour) results of soil moisture measurements under rye and potato and values of meteorological factors for 2001-2003 at the Lipki Agrometeorological Station, located at the vicinity of Stargard Szczeciński. It was observed that weather conditions determined the soil moisture under rye greater than under potato. A possibility of describing the soil moisture with the same meteorological factors also varied depending on the crop development stage. The greatest effect of meteorological factors on daily (24-hour) variability of soil moisture under rye was observed during the flowering – milk stage phenophase, and under potato during the sprouting – flowering phenophase.

The exact field experiment in split-plot design was carried out over 2001-2003 on the farm at Bodzanówek. The first factor included four technologies of bean cultivation (extensive, integrated, semi-intensive and intensive) and the second one – three bean cultivars: Igołomska, Narew and Avanti. The average yield of bean seeds increased significantly up to semi-intensive technology. The seed yields of bean cultivated in the integrated technology accounted for as much as 83% of the yields obtained in the semi-intensive and 76% of the yields in the intensive technology. The increase in bean seed yield was observed following increasing total doses of N and under moderate rainfall over the generative plant development. Igołomska and Avanti cultivars yielded significantly higher than Narew. Anthracnose and bacteriosis occurrence was limited most by intensive technology, while the lowest number of fungi colonies on bean seeds was found following integrated and semi-intensive technologies.

Detailed materials and methods of the experiment were published in the first part of the paper [Prusiński 2006]. The greatest increase in bean seed yield observed when the intensity of bean cultivation technology becoming more intensive resulted from increasing pod density. The increasing N doses in the successive technologies resulted in significant decrease average agricultural (Er) and physiological (Ef) effectiveness. The N consumption index amounted to 77%. Increase in the intensity of bean technology resulted in an increase in the value of seed production, direct costs and direct surplus. The greatest direct surplus – 64% for cultivars was obtained when intensity of technology increased from the extensive to integrated technology. Further intensification of bean technology gave lower direct surplus increase. The marginal analyses of costs revealed that the semi-intensive technology was justifiable for common bean cultivation for seeds.

Over 2003-2005 at the Agricultural Experiment Station, Pawłowice, of the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences there were carried out experiments to evaluate the yielding of Persian clover and Westerwold ryegrass in pure stand and in mixtures depending on nitrogen fertilization. The yielding of these species was compared with the yielding of one-cut cereal-and legume mixture of triticale with pea, harvested at the triticale milk stage. The field emergence potential was lower, as compared with the planned sowing rate; it ranged from 41 to 77%. The three-year mean was from 5.62 (Westerwold ryegrass in pure stand) to 8.25 t of dry matter per ha (triticale and pea mixture). Nitrogen fertilization increased the dry matter yield, and the highest effect (a 63% increase) was recorded for Westerwold ryegrass in pure stand. The effectiveness of nitrogen fertilization of clover in pure stand and the mixture of triticale with pea was low and the yield increase ranged from 13 to 19%. The one-cut mixture of triticale with pea can be an alternative for annual papilionaceous and grass mixtures due to a higher yield of dry matter and lower harvest costs.

Over 2003-2005 an experiment aimed at evaluating yielding and quality characters of Korweta cultivar winter wheat. The cultivar yielded highest after pea, lower – by 10.1-10.7% – after potato and single sowing after itself, whereas the lowest – (by 19.3-24.9%) after 2- and 3-time sowing after itself. Similarly winter forecrops differentiated the quality characters of the grain. The highest amount of total protein and wet gluten and the Zeleny sedimentation value were found after potato, wheat sown 3 times after itself and after pea. The falling number, test weight of the grain and grain uniformity were differentiated only by weather conditions over the research years analyzed. The grain yield was negatively correlated with the content of protein and gluten in the grain and positively – with the test weight and grain uniformity. The total protein content was positively correlated with the content of gluten and the Zeleny sedimentation value.

The research results come from a field experiment carried out over 2002-2004. The aim of the present paper was to determine the effect of soil tillage and weed control methods for herbicides on the content of total protein and true protein in the edible potato tubers. The herbicides used in the potato treatment increased the total protein content and true protein content in the tubers, as compared with the control. The statistical analysis also revealed a significant effect of the soil tillage and weather conditions over the experimental years on the characters investigated.