Eight species from the grass family were studied: wheat, rye, triticale, barley, oats, maize, couch grass, rice, and two dicotyledonous species: field pea and common flax. Seedlings of the tested species were grown in hydroponic cultures with haloxyfop or alloxydim alone (graminicides) and with haloxyfop or alloxydim plus one of the tested antagonists (diphenylamine, salicylic acid, or norflurazon). All investigated species of the grass family showed similar susceptibility to the tested graminicides (measured with their effect on root growth). The tested dicotyledonous species were completely unsusceptible. Except in maize, the addition of antagonistic substances to the medium with herbicide weakened considerably the inhibitory effect of both haloxyfop and alloxydim. The tested graminicides also had a significant effect on the fatty acid composition of susceptible species (except maize, where the effect was low). In the lipids of the apical parts of roots, a significant decrease in the content of oleic and linoleic acids and a considerable increase in the content of linolenic acid were observed.

The aim of this study was to estimate the level of annual and daily growth of lawn plant height of Kentucky bluegrass cultivars depending on the intensity of their utilization and to group bluegrass cultivars into slowly and quickly growing. The basis for the study was the results of cultivar tests conducted by COBORU in 1998-2004 at three Experimental Stations of Cultivar Testing – Lisewo (54°06’ N; 18°50’ E), Łopuszna (49°29’ N; 20°08’ E) and Pawłowice (50°28’ N; 18°29’ E). Two systems of utilization were applied: moderately intensive (Relaks) and extensive (Park). At extensive utilization, annual plant growth values of all the tested cultivars were smaller by 20-30 cm, and average daily growth values by 0.14 cm smaller than with their intensive utilization. The slowly growing cultivars were Alicia, America, Baron, Bartender, Broadway, Limousine, NIB398, Orfeo, RAH498, Samoa and Qantum Leap, and quickly growing – Gol, Mardona, Haga, Sobra and Evora. At the utilization system Relaks, daily growth values of slowly growing cultivars were on average by 25% smaller, and at the Park system, by 35% smaller than those of quickly growing cultivars.

The paper presents quality evaluation of grain and flour from winter wheat cv. Bogatka, cultivated in the years 2007-2009 on brown soil, of the good wheat complex. Experimental factors included: plant protection (extensive, intensive), nitrogen fertilization (60, 100, 140, 180 kg N·ha^-1), time of harvest (optimum and delayed for 2 weeks) as well as the time of grain storage. Quality evaluation of the grain was carried out directly after harvest and after its half-year storage. The following parameters were determined: weight of one thousand grains, hectoliter weight, vitreousness and grain mealiness as well as the content and quality of gluten. Intensification of the plant protection level did not significantly affect hectoliter weight, grain vitreousness and gluten extensibility, however its content and a thousand grain weight increased. Increase of nitrogen fertilization affected the increase of hectoliter weight and its vitreousness, as well as the amount of washed gluten. Gluten extensibility remained constant. Harvest delay resulted in the deterioration of hectoliter weight and its vitreousness as well as in the decrease of gluten efficiency, however its extensibility did not change.

This article presents quality evaluation of flour and bread from winter wheat grain cv. Bogatka, obtained from the field experiment conducted in the years 2006-2009. Experimental factors included: plant protection (extensive, intensive), nitrogen fertilization (60, 100, 140, 180 kg·ha^-1), harvest time (optimum and delayed for 2 weeks) as well as the grain storage time. Directly after the harvest and after a half-year storage, quality evaluation of flour and bread baked from it was conducted. Determination included: sedimentation index, falling number and water absorption of flour, as well as volume and density of bread crumb. Organoleptic evaluation of its quality was also conducted. Intensive plant protection, nitrogen fertilization of 140 and 180 kg N·ha^-1, grain harvest at optimum time and its short storage guaranteed obtaining flour of good quality parameters. Bread baked from it was characterized by good volume, porosity and texture of crumb, crust colour, good smell and taste. Bread baked from flour from wheat grain which was fertilized with 60 kg N·ha-1, after extensive agrophage control and delayed harvest time, was characterized by a large number of irregular pores, dense crumb, lower elasticity, as well as by a crust which was cracked, too dark and coming off the crumb.

The research concerned amino acid content in protein and the yield of amino acids from seeds of Chenopodium quinoa and Chenopodium album. Chenopodium quinoa seed material, cv. Sandowal, came from Germany, and Chenopodium album – from the commonly available forms occurring in Poland. Seeds of both Chenopodium species were characterized by beneficial amino acid composition, especially by the lysine content. Amino acid proportion profiles in the seeds protein of both studied species showed that their composition was different. Biological value of the protein of Chenopodium quinoa measured with the essential amino acid index (EAAI) was higher than the protein value of Chenopodium album. However, Chenopodium quinoa significantly exceeded Chenopodium album with yield of both exogenous and endogenous amino acids as well as with the yield of all amino acids.

Material for research was obtained from the field experiment conducted at the Experimental Station of Cultivar Testing in Chrząstowo (53°09’ N; 17°35’ E) in the years 2006-2008. Amino acid composition in the vegetation matter was determined after acid hydrolysis with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). High content of the total protein was found in the green matter. Profile analysis proved that protein of the analyzed species differs from each other in composition. However, it is characterized by a similar content of three exogenous amino acids (phenylalanine, isoleucine, valine) as well as two endogenous amino acids (alanine and serine). Chenopodium quinoa is distinguished from Chenopodium album by higher biological value of protein in the green matter, measured with the essential amino acid index (EAAI). The analyzed species are characterized by high yields of exogenous and endogenous amino acids in cultivation for green matter. Chenopodium quinoa as a crop plant is characterized by higher forage value than Chenopodium album. Small proportion of Chenopodium album in Chenopodium quinoa canopy will not significantly affect the change of quality of the produced green matter.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of superabsorbent and mineral fertilizers on coloring of lawns. The study was conducted in the years 2002-2004 and included two lawn experiments which were established in the split-block split-plot design with four replications. The experimental unit was a plot with an area of 1 m2. One experiment involved monoculture lawn turf (pure sowing). The other experiment involved lawn mixtures. Four cultivars of red fescue were cultivated in pure sowing: Adio, Libano, Corail, Simone. The tested mixtures differed in the percentage share of red fescue (20, 40, 60 and 80%). Both monoculture and mixture experiments were conducted on two types of substrates: 1) with the addition of superabsorbent (S), 2) without the addition of superabsorbent (BS). Nutrients necessary for the proper growth and development of grasses and ensuring an attractive lawn appearance were delivered in the form of two mineral fertilizers called Trawovit Komplet and Sierrablen. On the basis of research results, considerable differences were found between the colors of tested red fescue cultivars on a substrate with superabsorbent. The lawn colors among the tested cultivars of red fescue, irrespective on the kind of substrate, changed in the years of the study and on average of the three years of research, cultivar Libano had the most favorable grass green color (7.2^o). Along with an increase in the percentage of red fescue seeds in the mixture, their green color was worsened. Of the tested fertilizers, Sierrablen had a more favorable impact on color improving of monoculture turf, whereas Trawovit Komplet on the mixtures turf. This indicates the varied response of individual species of grasses occurring in the tested mixtures to the applied mineral fertilizers.

The research was conducted in the years 2006/2007-2008/2009 on the basis of an experiment set up in 2005 on the Experimental Farm in Bezek (51^o19’ N; 23^o25’ E), belonging to the University of Life Sciences in Lublin. The evaluation included the effect of tillage systems (plough tillage and conservation tillage with autumn and spring disking of catch crops) and of using various catch crops in spring wheat monoculture on chosen chemical properties of rendzina soil. Conservation tillage, compared with plough tillage, affected the increase of the content of organic carbon, nitrogen and potassium and the decrease of phosphorus content in the topsoil (0-20 cm). The highest content of magnesium and sulphate sulphur was determined in the soil with conservation tillage where catch crops were disked in spring. Stubble catch crop of white mustard influenced the increase of S-SO₄ content in the soil, compared with control and other plots where the catch crops were sown. Organic carbon content in the soil where red clover, Westerwolds ryegrass and white mustard were sown as catch crops, was greater than on plots after lacy phacelia or without catch crops. The highest phosphorus content in the soil was determined in the combination with undersown catch crop of red clover, in control and with lacy phacelia. The highest potassium content in the soil was found on plots with Westerwolds ryegrass and white mustard. In autumn, the content of P, K, and S-SO₄ in the soil was significantly lower than in spring. Similar tendency was observed for nitrogen and magnesium. The content of organic carbon, potassium, magnesium and sulphate sulphur in the soil increased in successive years of research. The highest phosphorus content was found in the first, and of nitrogen in the second year of research.

The aim of the study was to ascertain the impact of irrigation or its absence on respiratory and dehydrogenase activities in soils under maize growth. Investigations were carried out in years 2007-2009 at six times of analysis during the maize growth season. The experiment included experimental plots on which maize of Clarica hybrid (FAO 220, Pioneer) intended for CCM was grown. The experimental plots were irrigated with the use of semi-permanent sprinkling machines. Dehydrogenase activity in the soil was determined colorimetrically, and soil respiratory activity was determined with the titration method. Soil respiratory activity did not exhibit significant variability during the growth season with the exception of 2009 at the second time of analysis (at the 2-3 maize leaf stage), when the highest average values in the season were recorded. In the third year of the analysis (2009), practically speaking, no significant differences were observed in the activity of the examined enzymes between irrigated and nonirrigated plots. The comparison of the dates of the analyses showed that the highest activity of the investigated enzymes occurred in the spring before sowing and in the summer. Mean values of the respiratory activity did not show large differences in the individual seasons.

Physiological processes of plants can be modified by organic compounds called growth regulators. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of selected growth regulators: Moddus 250 EC, Bercema CCC and Flordimex 420 SL on the compactness of mixed lawn turfs, where the modifying element was the percentage of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) of the Inka cultivar. The study was conducted on the experimental plots of the University of Natural Sciences and Humanities in Siedlce (52°10’ N; 22°17’ E) in 2003-2005. Application of growth regulators had a significant effect on the compactness of the tested lawn grass mixtures. The upward tendency was visible in the case of application of Bercema CCC. This growth regulator had the highest beneficial effect in the case of mixtures with 20% and 40% proportion of perennial ryegrass. The lowest degree of lawn compactness was observed for the mixture with 20% of perennial ryegrass after application of Flordimex. The interaction between percentage proportion of perennial ryegrass in mixtures and applied growth regulators had a significant influence on degree of grass compactness of the studied lawn grass mixtures.

Pot experiments were conducted in 2006-2008 to evaluate the effect of nitrogen and boron fertilization on the morphometric features and yield of coriander. The research showed significant positive effect of increasing nitrogen fertilization on stem length, number of I line side branchings, inflorescences and fruit number per plant and negative effect on I side branching height. With increasing nitrogen fertilization fruit number and fruit yield per coriander plant were higher, and the maximum yield was obtained at the highest nitrogen rate. Coriander reacted to increasing nitrogen rates with an increase of fruit yield per plant, however at the same time decrease of the weight of 1000 fruits was observed, mainly as a result of formation of a greater number of them. In the research, boron fertilization did not differentiate morphometric features or the fruit yield of coriander.