Macroand microelements have an effect on the process of photosynthesis and transpiration. Foliar fertilizers increase the content of elements in leaves and affect the course of gas exchange. This work have presented the results of the study aimed to estimate the effect of soil (NPK 280 and 420 kg·ha^-1 ) and foliar (Basfoliar^® 12-4-6, ADOB^® Mn, Solubor^® DF) fertilizer application on the intensity of gas exchange in potato plants of semi-early to late cultivars. In the research hypothesis it was assumed that macroand microelements contained in foliar fertilizers will affect the intensity of process of photosynthesis and transpiration in the field conditions, which in consequence may affect the yield and quality of potato tubers. Measurements of photosynthesis and transpiration were made using the portable gas analyser LI-COR 6400 (DMP AG SA LTD). Readings for gas exchange parameters were performed at several days’ intervals. The obtained high photosynthesis rate, reaching even up to 35.59 µmol CO2·m^-2·s^-1 in 2010, indicated a good general state of plants. The late cultivar Ślęza has shown the highest photosynthesis rate – 18.45 µmol CO2·m^-2·s^-1. No effect of differentiated rates of soil fertilizers on photosynthesis intensity was observed. In the experiment, potato ultivars and the applied rate of soil NPK fertilization of 280 kg·ha^-1 significantly differentiated transpiration intensity. For the semi-late cultivar, the lower rate of soil fertilization resulted in a higher intensity of the process of transpiration. Transpiration proceeded more dynamically after a period of heavy rainfalls. No effect of microelements contained in foliar fertilizers on processes of gas exchange has been indicated.

In recent years cereals, including triticale, have been more often grown in simplified crop rotations. This study aimed to determine the effect of zero tillage and ploughing on the yield level of winter triticale cultivars Pizarro and Pigmej under conditions of 50, 75 and 100% of cereals in the structure of cropland. The study was conducted in 2010/2011 and 2013/2014 at SD IUNG – PIB in Osiny in the soil classified as the good wheat complex. Yield of winter triticale depended mainly on the course of the weather conditions and the winter triticale cultivar. Tillage systems did not exert the explicit effect on yield of winter triticale. The cultivar Pigmej gave higher yields than cv. Pizarro. At moderate rainfall deficit, plants cultivated with simplified tillage managed better, whereas at the optimal rainfalls, ploughing ensured higher grain yields of winter triticale. The highest yields of winter triticale were obtained at 50% of cereals in the structure of cropland, and the lowest under conditions of cereal monoculture.

This paper presents a methodical attempt to determine criteria for the optimum surpluses of gross nitrogen balance, with regard to the conditions of agricultural production in recent years in Poland. To determine those criteria, factors such as active nitrogen and its gaseous compound emissions as well as atmospheric rainfall deposition were taken into account on the input side of the balance. Nitrogen that can be possibly taken with the yield, under optimal weather conditions is the main factor on the output side of the balance. The optimal permissible nitrogen balances, due to the calculated methodological assumptions, are in the range of 30.8 to 75.9 kg·ha^-1 UAA. The average permissible gross nitrogen balance, based on the data from the years 2011-2013, should be approx. 50 kg·ha^-1 UAA. Currently, it is higher than the determined optimal balance only by 2.5 kg·ha^-1 UAA.

Compared with ploughing tillage, no-tillage systems through their diversified effect on soil, modify its properties, and consequently conditions of plants’ growth and development. The aim of the study was evaluation of the long-term effect of various tillage systems on the pea yield and some soil properties. The experimental design included 5 tillage variants: 1 – conventional tillage applied annually: skimming + harrowing, sow ploughing to a depth of 25 cm, cultivator unit (cultivator with a string roller), 2 – reduced tillage applied annually (stubble cultivator), 3 – direct sowing into stubble applied annually, 4 – direct sowing applied alternately with reduced tillage, 5 – direct sowing interrupted after 2 years with an annual reduced tillage. The highest pea yields were obtained after reduced tillage, while application of conventional tillage and direct sowing under this plant resulted in a decrease in the grain yield by 7.5 and 11.0%, respectively. Differences in the grain yields in pea between tillage systems resulted mainly from a different plant density per 1 m² before harvest. No-tillage systems did not decrease protein content in pea grains compared with pea cultivation in a ploughing system. No beneficial effect was observed of the applied direct sowing interrupted with reduced tillage on the yield of pea. Long-term application of reduced tillage and direct sowing was favorable for increasing moisture and bulk density of the soil as well as for decreasing capillary water capacity. Moreover, it stimulated activity of soil enzymes to a depth of 10 cm.

In 2012, in the south-eastern part of Poland, a study was carried out on former farmland, not used for agricultural purposes. The goal of this thesis is to define the speed and directions of changes occurring in plant communities on deserted former farmland because of the immediate surroundings of another land. Observations of plant communities were conducted at six research stations. The choice of research stands was conditioned by the size of the area of abandoned land, their immediate neighborhood, representativeness and homogeneity of communities. The occurring species of plants, including the abundance and sociability, were recorded in the form of phytosociological records. Flora was grouped in four layers (each independently). Factors examined the state of abandoned farmlands were abiotic environmental variables, such as: slope fields, stoniness substrate richness and soil pH, as well as the history of the land and the age of the abandoned fields. Some subsequent stages of a secondary succession can be observed on the deserted land situated near the forests. The succession is developing into a deciduous forest. On the land which is far from natural forest communities, the changes are much slower or hardly noticeable. The degree of species diversity in the abandoned former farmland was dependent on the nature and composition of adjacent plant communities. Vegetation dynamics in the different plant communities is, however, dependent on environmental factors and soil properties. The land which is not cultivated and more grassy can be a permanent part of a former farmland landscape. Discontinuation of agricultural production and leaving the former farmland has a significant influence on shaping the landscape in South-Eastern Poland. There are alternatives for land management of a former farmland to integrate new environments to modern agricultural landscape, such as reforestation, restitution of pastures, restoration or creation of foothill grassland ecological, so that will be preserved areas of natural habitat conditions occurring vegetation there.

Biodiversity of grasslands depend on several factors, like abiotic conditions, management history of vegetation and landscape structure. Region of Stołowe Mountains National Park is mainly forested, the grasslands cover only 8% of the area, that is about 500 ha. Meadows are distributed in four distinctive complexes: Darnków, Pasterka east, Pasterka west, and Łężyce. The grasslands form discrete patches in forest landscape. In spite of relatively high species richness, only a few grass species (mainly Agrostis capillaris and Festuca rubra) dominated in the vegetation of grasslands. The species richness was influenced mainly by beta diversity (both among relevés and complexes), whereas Snannon-Wiener index by alpha diversity. Basic factors influencing beta diversity seems to be soil pH and affinity of particular relevé to grassland complex. Differences between old and young grasslands in species richness and Shannon-Wiener index were statistically not significant. On the area of grasslands of Stołowe Mountains National Park numerous protected and rare plant species occurred, e.g.: Traunsteinera globosa, Colchicum autumnale, Platanthera bifolia, Listera ovata, Gladiolus imbricatus, Carlina acaulis, Trollius europaeus, Lilium bulbiferum.

On the basis of a pot experiment set up according to the additive design, the effect of competitive actions of spring barley on the morphological characteristics of red clover in the conditions of water stress was evaluated. Biometric analyses were carried out on five dates set by the growth rhythm of barley in pure sowing with a higher water dose. The study included: plant height, number of shoots and leaves per plant, and root length. On the basis of plant biomass, relative yield, relative yield total, and competitive balance index were determined. It was demonstrated that spring barley, from tillering to the end of growth, limited red clover plant height and root length. At the straw-shooting stage, negative effect of the cereal intensified and caused the formation of a smaller number of leaves and shoots than in clover in pure sowing. Water shortage caused plant shortening (from barley tillering to the end of growth) and reduction in the number of leaves (tillering – earing) and shoots (straw-shooting and ripening) of clover.