In 2003 - 2005 the impact of intercropping white cabbage ‘Bently F1’ with French Marigold (Tagetes patula nana ‘Kolombina’) and Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis ‘Promyk’) on the occurrence of pest insects was estimated. On plots where cabbage was intercropped the number of cabbage aphid Brevicoryne brassicae L. and flea beetles Phyllotreta was significantly lower when compared with control variant (homogenous crop). Intercropping had an effect on the butterfly oviposition too. The lower number of eggs of the small white butterfly Pieris rapae L., large white butterfly P. brassicae L., cabbage moth Mamestra brassicae L. and larvae and pupae of the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella L. were observed on plots with Calendula and Tagetes. Intercropping with Pot Marigold was the most effective pest control on cabbage.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of biostimulants enhancing plant growth and development, i.e. organic stimulator based on metal sulphates, Bacillus subtilis, humic acids, on the chemical composition and level of bioactive compounds in garlic leaves, stems, and bulbs. The study was conducted in three growing seasons on the ‘Ornak’ winter garlic cultivar. The propagating material was treated in solutions of the biostimulants and after emergence the plants were sprayed with the products three times. The most valuable edible organ proved to be the leaves, which contained the most protein, fat, and mineral components expressed as ash, were the richest source of fibre, vitamin C, and polyphenols, and also had the highest antioxidant activity among the organs tested. The nutritional value of the stems was comparable to that of the bulbs, and the level of polyphenols and antioxidant activity were even higher. The use of the growth and development biostimulants influenced the chemical composition of the garlic, but the effect was modified by the course of weather in different years of the research and also depended on edible organ. On average for years and organs all biostimulants increased the level of protein, minerals expressed as ash and enhanced antioxidant activity, whereas decreased the level of total carbohydrates.

The experiment was carried out in 1999-2001 at the University of Agriculture in Krakow (Poland) to study the capacity of nine crops (red beet, field pumpkin, chicory, bean, barley, white cabbage, maize, alfalfa, and parsnip) to remove cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) from different soil horizons (0-20, 20-40, 40-60 cm). The content of exchangeable Cd, Pb, and Zn decreased along with the depth in the soil profile. Red beet cultivation reduced the exchangeable Cd content in the soil by 10.3% and by 8.6% in field pumpkin, barley and maize cultivation in the 0-20 cm horizon. White cabbage and maize decreased Cd in the 20-40 cm horizon by 40.0 and 28.8%, respectively. White cabbage was found to be the most effective in removing Pb from the soil profile. Common bean, maize, and alfalfa reduced exchangeable Pb in two upper horizons of the soil: 0-20 and 20-40 cm. After field pumpkin cultivation, the decrease in Pb contamination in the 0-20 cm horizon was 7.4%. White cabbage and chicory reduced exchangeable Zn content in the surface horizon by 21.5 and 14.1%, respectively. According to their efficiency in metal reduction, maize and red beet may be indicated as potential removers of Cd, cabbage and field pumpkin, of Pb, and cabbage, of Zn.

Tomato yield and biomass growth are closely linked to climatic conditions during vegetation period. Low temperatures and high precipitation in summer constitute the main cause of the large variability of field tomato yielding contributing to worsen the quality of the yield. The aim of the investigation was determining the influence of meteorological basic components in the growing season of the tomato to total and marketable yield of twelve determinate cultivars. Experiment took place in the open field in the Vegetable Experimental Station of Agricultural University of Mydlniki near Cracow in the years 2008 - 2010. A different sensitivity of examined tomato cultivars to the course of weather conditions was stated. ‘Ondraszek’ cultivar get the highest marketable yield in all years of investigation what indicate the most adaptation to variable weather conditions and cultivars ‘Hetman’, ‘Hubal’ and ‘Babinicz’ were the least adaptated and they gave the lowest yield. Analysis of the influence of weather condition on total and marketable yield of twelve determine tomato cultivars showed, that the sum and distribution of precipitation were decisive. High precipitations decreased total and marketable yield, whereas frequent and lower precipitations influenced favorable. Since from the third stage, i.e., the beginning of fruits setting to the beginning of ripening, a larger impact of meteorological factors on marketable than total yield had been observed. In the fruits ripening stage a marketable yield depended only on sum of temperatures.

This study was designed to determine the chemical composition, antioxidant activity, and selected bioactive compound content and occurrence in whole immature and mature garlic plants grown from air bulbils. Two winter garlic cultivars, Harnaś and Ornak, of Polish origin, were cultivated from air bulbils at the Experimental Station of the Agricultural University in Kraków, Poland. Harvest bunching of garlic of both cultivars was carried out in May and in June. Mature plants were harvested in July. In whole plant proximate analysis, the concentration of vitamin C, total polyphenols, antioxidant activity, carotenoids, chlorophyll a and b, as well as glutathione level were determined. P-coumaric acid was found in Harnaś and Ornak samples collected in May. Sinapinic acid was identified in Ornak samples collected in June and July. Identification of sulphur compounds depended on the term of harvesting. Significantly higher content of total phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, as well as other bioactive compounds, was measured in the Harnaś and Ornak cultivars harvested in May. A significantly lower level of bioactive compounds was determined in mature plants harvested in July. The organosulfur compound profile and polyphenolic profile depended on the time of harvesting. Immature garlic cultivated from air bulbils is recognized as a potential source of bioactive compounds in human nutrition, however, more research, in particular in vivo studies, is required to confirm its functional properties.

The effect of different methods of NANO-GRO ® application on tomato plant growth and yield and its quality was determined. Four treatments were used: soaking seeds with NANO-GRO ® , plants spraying, double application: soaking seeds + plants spraying and a control without NANO-GRO ® . The cultivar Mieszko F 1 was used for the study. A significant influence of NANO-GRO ® application method on tomato plant growth, yield and quality was observed. Pre-sowing application positively influenced plant height and the thickness of the stems. The highest total and marketable yield was observed in plants whose seeds were soaked with NANO-GRO ® (respectively 87.02 and 53.13 t ha

A b s t r a c tIntercropping combines different aspects of the interaction between organisms in ecosystems and may be classified as a pro-ecological method of plant cultivation limiting the harmful human interference in the environment, especially the use of chemicals. It also allows high yield, good quality, and economic productivity to be achieved. The aim of the present study, conducted in the years [2003][2004] in Mydlniki near Kraków, was to determine the effect of intercropping carrot Nardin F 1 with French marigold (Tagetes patula nana L.) 'Kolombina' and pot marigold (Calendula officinalis L.) 'Promyk' on carrot yield, its quality, and the occurrence of pests. On average in both years of the study, intercropping did not reduce total or marketable carrot yield. In 2003 intercropping contributed to a significant increase in marketable yield compared with yield from sole cropping. In 2004 the dry matter content was higher in the roots of carrots grown with pot marigold. The treatments intercropped with both French and pot marigold were characterized by an increased content of sugars in carrot roots and in 2004 year -of carotenoids. Intercropping had a significant effect on the number of roots damaged by the carrot rust fly, Psila rosae, (the best in this respect was the combination with Tagetes) and by nematodes (the best in this respect was the combination with Calendula). The number of larvae of carrot psyllid, Trioza viridula, was significantly lower in the plots where carrot was intercropped. The study did not find intercropping to have a positive effect on reducing the occurrence of the root aphid.

Ethephon is used to accelerate fruit ripening on plantations with well-developed plants which have formed a large quantity of fruits. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of ethephon on the chemical composition of the fruits of seven cultivars of processing tomato ('Rumba', 'Hubal', 'Sokal' F 1 , 'Mieszko' F 1 , 'Polset' F 1 , 'Hysioux' F 1 and 'AF1120' F 1 ), applied to the plants when most of the fruits had reached the mature-green stage. The study was conducted during three consecutive years, characterized by different weather conditions. Meteorological elements, i.e. air temperature and precipitation totals, were monitored in the experimental station in Mydlniki, near Krakow, Poland. Ethephon was found to have a beneficial effect on the content of extract and soluble sugars of the harvested tomatoes and on their acidity. Dry matter and lycopene levels were not dependent on the use of this compound, while the ascorbic acid content was reduced by the procedure. The chemical composition of the tomato fruits differed significantly in consecutive years of the study, which confirmed the weather impact on fruit quality and on the varied responses of different cultivars to use of ethephon. The tested cultivars were also compared in terms of their suitability for processing. The 'Hubal' cultivar had the highest content of dry matter, extract, soluble sugars of all the cultivars tested. The highest level of lycopene was noted for the tomatoes of the 'Rumba' and 'Sokal' F 1 cultivar, ascorbic acid of the 'Rumba' and the highest acidity for 'AF 1120' F 1 .