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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 aim of the study was to compare variable rate (VRA) and uniform (UNI) application of mineral nitrogen fertilizers in winter wheat and to evaluate the effect on the achieved yields, nitrogen balance and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). For these purposes, a field experiment with an area of 16.98 ha of winter wheat was established in 2022 at farm Agra Risuty s.r.o. (Czech Republic, EU). Variable nitrogen topdressing was realized twice during the vegetation period based on yield potential (YP) maps. The evaluation ...

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...

Agriculture has been the only known and proven method to obtain food in order to meet demands of human population already for thousands of years. Quality and quantity of produced food depend on the technologies used in plant cultivation and on the condition of used land. Soil organic matter (SOM) together with soil biota form basic soil property referred to as soil fertility. Maintaining appropriate content of SOM in soils is possible by the application of organic fertilizers. However, these are not always availab...

The paper deals with the monitoring of selected indicators of soil health and quality in order to assess the impact of farm using conventional farming on arable land. The main objective of the work was to find suitable indicators of the state of the soil environment, and to set the monitoring of these indicators to obtain information usable for the agronomics of the monitored enterprises when deciding on interventions on land. Every responsible farmer tries to care best for his land because only good and healthy l...

Cultivation of high-yielding crops (winter wheat, corn, oil seed rape etc.) represents the only opportunity for Czech farmers to achieve profitable economic results. On the other hand, the above crops have significant demands on nutrients intake from soil. The withdrawn nutrients must be returned which is mainly carried out by mineral fertilizes. Nevertheless, it is not sustainable way from the long-term point of view. The most convenient source of nutrients are fertilizers of organic origin (compost, manure etc.)...

Cultivation of maize for silage production presents significant source of biomass for feed and energy. Unfortunately, convectional ways of maize cultivation bring a range of negative phenomena, such as soil erosion, decrease in soil fertility, etc. The present work deals with the possibility of maize cultivation in intercropping system together with legumes to prove its effect on soil properties (Cmic, Ctot and Ntot content in soil, dehydrogenase activity of soil microorganisms ? DHA). Three experimental variants ...

Maize is a major energy crop for the production of silage, processing in a biogas plant, or livestock feed. However, its cultivation is associated with the possibility of soil erosion and other soil degradation processes. This paper deals with the comparison of the development of the root system of maize and selected leguminoses ? Broad bean (Vicia faba L.), Common vetch (Vicia sativa L.), White lupin (Lupinus albus) which can be grown in mixed culture system (MC). Four variants of the experiment were prepared in ...

Municipal wastewater represents interesting source of irrigation water, especially in the situation where shortage of water is a growing problem in arid areas around the world. The potential decrease in soil fertility and expansion of arid areas due to global climate change represents the actual problem in agriculture in both developed and developing countries. The main objectives of the present study were to describe the impact of irrigation by different types of wastewater on content of C and N in soil, leaching...

One of the important factors affecting nutrient uptake by the root system of the plants includes soil reaction. Increased soil acidity may adversely affect the use of biogenic nutrients, such as phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulphur and molybdenum. In soil, nutrients are immobilized to insoluble forms. Although their amount in soil may be sufficient, the plants cannot obtain the optimal quantities, causing a decrease in the yield or production quality. On the other hand, in the metabolism of plants, a...

Up to 50% of arable land is threatened by water erosion in the Czech Republic. Annually, water erosion causes billions of dollars of damage. It is especially reflected in the reduction in value of agricultural land and yield of the erosion damaged soil. In erosion affected areas, the soil is washed off and depleted of the finest particles binding nutrients and contributing to the formation of humus. In our study, we include five effects of water erosion on the content and quality of humus in chernozem, in topsoil,...

Water erosion is not only agricultural but also environmental problem. Water erosion washes off the finest particles that bind nutrients and other substances. These nutrients are piled up in the accumulation part of the slope. In the worst case, they are completely washed off the farmland, i.e. into water reservoirs and water courses. Additionally, damage to soil and its depletion of nutrients is reflected in lower yields. The aim of our study is to determine the effect of water erosion on total nitrogen content a...

Depletion of soil fertility due to decrease in soil organic matter content represents a considerable problem in both developed and undeveloped countries. This paper deals with the comparison of compost (Cp) and mineral nitrogen fertilizer (NF) application on selected soil parameters which indicate state of soil environment, its health and quality. The main objectives of this study were (a) to investigate influence of Cp and NF application on total nitrogen (TN) and carbon (TC) content in soil (b), to determine pos...