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The aim of the work was to assess relation between the chemical composition of the biomass of cover crops and the intensity of its decomposition during the winter period. Parameters for 13 cover crop species included contents of soluble sugars, cellulose and lignin (ADL), on the basis of which derived indicators were calculated – Sugars/ADL ratio and lignocellulosic index (LCI). Biomass decomposition was assessed according to weight loss after winter exposure. Results showed a significant variability in the chem...

A significant component of soil organic matter (SOM) is constituted by disintegrating plant residues containing particularly cellulose and lignin which are resistant to microbial decomposition. Yet, the degradation of lignin may begin already in the early stages of organic matter decomposition if there is a sufficient amount of available saccharides in the soil as these serve as a quick source of energy allowing the microorganisms to produce enzymes for lignin decomposition. The aim of this study was to verify whe...

The presented paper focuses the issue of finding new sources of phosphorus fertilizers to be used in conventional agriculture. Various types of pellets for heating purposes were tested. Based on the determination of phosphorus (P) content in ash obtained from the combustion of pellets produced from plant waste generated during the production of seed materials, it was found out that getting P from this ash is more effective than getting P from the ash of wooden pellets that are commonly used as fuel in households. ...

Potential environmental impacts of growing maize as monoculture lead to efforts focused on finding other potentially suitable crops or their combinations that could replace the pure maize cultures. The most frequent and most effective combination is a mixed crop of maize and legumes. The presented paper deals with the issue of the quality of post-harvest residues when growing maize in the system of mixed cropping. In the field experiment, yield and quality of post-harvest residues were studied during the growing s...

White sweet clover (Melilotus albus Medik.) is a plant species from the group of legumes, and this is why it has a capacity to fix atmospheric nitrogen on the basis of symbiosis with bacteria of the genus Rhizobium that is not available for most plants.The species is used primarily for the production of biomass and for soil remediation. Biomass of white sweet clover can be used in biogas plants. It is also one of important producers of nectar for pollinators. The aim of the experiment was to find out whether the a...

In 2021, a field experiment was conducted with white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) the seed of which is an interesting raw material in agriculture, industry and food production. Stands of tested plants were established without tillage into a freezing catch crop from the Fabaceae family within regenerative agriculture. The stand of clovers was used as a tool of bio-drilling to work the soil and as a source of nitrogen required by the subsequent crop, and the frozen biomass was applied as mulch onto the soil surface. Th...

The presented paper deals with the issue of enhancing soil erosion resistance in the cultivation of crops prone to soil erosion. In the period before growing maize (Zea mays L.) as a main crop, a system of cultivating intermediate crops was tested with the use of clovers. The main criterion in the classification of soil resistance to erosion was the soil aggregates stability (SAS). In 2017, the experimental plot was divided after the harvest of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) into the following four variants: a...

The main goal of this work was to determine the effect of fertilization with N and P on three varieties of clover (Trifolium incarnatum L., Medicago lupulina L., Trifolium repens L.), their biomass production and soil quality under the cultivated crop. Soil conditions were monitored using the following indicators: content of plant available nutrients (P, Ca, Mg), Ctot and Ntot. The measured values will be used as a basis for the technology of growing clover and maize in mixed cropping. Our greenhouse pot experimen...

Unequal distribution of annual precipitation is negative trend of last year?s influencing primary agricultural field production. One of the natural possibility for elimination of this gesture is to increase patience to the actual conditions and functionality of root system of the plants. Among possible abilities of field crops protection to abiotic stresses during vegetation period belongs strengthening of their natural tolerance. Present situation of soil degradation does not allow to plants sufficiently deploy r...

C:N ratio in after-harvest residues (including straw) decides on speed and intensity of decomposition. In one-year field small-plot experiment, there were included these variants: (1) monoculture of winter wheat fertilized with 140 kg N/ha; (2) monoculture of winter pea not fertilized with nitrogen; (3) mixed culture of both these crops in 1:1 ratio fertilized with 112 kg N/ha; (4) mixed culture of the crops in 1:1 ratio fertilized with 70 kg N/ha; (5) mixed culture of both crops in 1:1 ratio not fertilized with n...

Mixed intercropping of cereal-leguminose presents important tool to increase efficiency of using nitrogen from soil and fixing it from air while current recovery of soil fertility. The paper presents first results of a field experiment after its start in 2012. The main goals of a presented study were as follows: (a) to describe setting and assessing the results of the experiment in the system of mixed cereal-legume culture, (b) to investigate the utilization of N in the mixed culture of winter wheat and winter pea...