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A field experiment was conducted in the years 2012-2014, at the Plant Breeding Station in Polanowice near Krakow (220 m a.s.l.). The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of silicon (Si) on seed yield and quality of timothy-grass (Phleum pratense L.) of “Egida” cultivar. A univariate field experiment in randomized block design was repeated four times, and the area of the experimental plots was 10 m2. The soil on the experimental plots was a loess derived haplic phaeozem of bonitation class I. The experimental factor was spraying with a silicon formulation in the form of Optysil® fertilizer at three doses: 0.2, 0.5 and 0.8 dm3·ha−1. During the growing season, the plants were evaluated for their height, leaf greenness index (SPAD) and general condition. After harvesting, the seed yield and quality were assessed. The study revealed a significant effect of silicon on plant height, general condition and yield and quality of the seeds. The plants treated with silicon showed lower infestation rate with pathogens and pests than the control ones. Foliar fertilization with the highest dose of the silicon formulation (0.8 dm3·ha−1) caused a significant increase in seed yield as compared with control. The effects were also satisfactory in the plants treated with the formulation at 0.5 dm3·ha−1. The seeds obtained from silicon-treated plants were bigger, as revealed by the weight of 1000 seeds, and exhibited higher germination ability than the control seeds.

The effect of three forms of active species protection in the Roman snail were studied. On the “source plot” the natural population was supported by introducing hatchlings of farmed Roman snails aged 1+, bred from adult specimens of this population. These hatchlings (age 1+) from “source plot” population were also introduced to the following two natural plots: to the “empty plot”, where the population was formed by introduction of farmed Roman snails in the second year of life (1+) into a selected area which had been emptied of the natural population; to the “inhabited plot”, where farmed Roman snails aged 1+, originating from breeding snails of the foreign population from a “source plot”, were introduced to the local natural population. It was established that introducing Roman snails aged 1+ and bred under farm conditions has a clearly positive influence on the age structure of the natural population in the studied plots. The rate of growth of these snails adjusted to the rate of growth of the specimens in the same age group belonging to the natural population. The farmed Roman snails grew most rapidly in the “empty plot” sown with fodder vegetation, more slowly in the “source plot” with access to appropriate herbaceous vegetation, and most slowly in the “inhabited plot”. The attempt to create a naturalized population in a specially adapted “empty plot” without the natural population was successful. This was determined not only by a large number of hiding places from calcareous stones available to the Roman snails but above all by the species structure of the herb flora, which met their nutritional requirements as it contained high proportions of plants such as Brassica rapa × Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis, white clover (Trifolium repens), red clover (Trifolium pratense) and the hybrid of lucerne (Medicago × varia Martyn)

Abstract:Titanium is one of a plant biostimulators. It stimulates life processes, growth and development, as well as affects physiological and biochemical pathways, often increasing biomass production and enhancing yield. An open field experiment was conducted in the years 2011-2013 in Polanowice, Poland to investigate the effects of titanium foliar fertilization on the growth of timothy grass (Phleum pratense L.). This single-factor, randomized block design study was performed in four replicates on research plots with the area of 10 m 2 each. The substrate was black loess soil (chernozem) typical for top class farmland. Titanium fertilization via leaf spray was performed with a water solution of Tytanit® at three doses of 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 dm 3 · ha -1. Foliar fertilization with the highest dose of Tytanit® significantly increased seed yield, thousand grain weight and germination capacity. Moreover, the middle dose of Tytanit® (0.4 dm 3 · ha ) was enough to observe a positive effect on the sample.

The purpose of this research was to assess the functional value of the “Super Trawnik” lawn mixture. The studies were carried out between 2017 and 2019 at the Experimental Station of the University of Agriculture in Krakow (50°07′ N, 20°05′ E), and the experimental factor was the AGRO-SORB® Folium, a biostimulant containing amino acids and applied at three doses: 1, 2, and 3 L·ha−1. Lawn visual quality was assessed on a 9-point scale, with 10–11 mowings at 4 cm during the growing period. An increase in the concentration of the stimulant applied as a spray resulted in a significant increase in its effectiveness; plants in plots with the highest dose of amino acid solution (Variant III) had the highest aesthetic and functional values. The AGRO-SORB® Folium reduced the occurrence of fungal diseases; compared to control plants, there was a 16% reduction of Fusarium patch (Microdochium nivale) infection and a 20% reduction of Dreschlera leaf spot (Drechslera siccans). Satisfactory effects were also recorded on plots where the product was applied at a dose of 2 L·ha−1 (Variant II). Those plots had more favourably rated turf, with higher resistance of plants to Fusarium patch by 12% and to Dreschlera leaf spot by 20% compared to control.

The aim of the study was to determine the yield and chemical composition of milk from TMR-(group I) and pasture-fed Simmental cows (group II). The study was conducted with second and third lactation Simmental cows between 30 and 200 days of lactation. The present research showed that compared to TMR feeding, the use of summer pasture feeding and proper supplementation with high-energy feeds allow for higher milk yield and higher nutritive value of the milk. Compared to TMR-fed cows (group I), milk from pastured cows (group II) was characterized by a more beneficial composition of protein fractions, and a higher content of α-lactalbumin, β-lactoglobulin and lactoferrin. It also contained more vitamins A and E, calcium, magnesium and iodine, and had a significantly (P≤0.05) lower cholesterol content. The milk of cows from group II contained over twice as much CLA (1.59% of all acids) and 35% more n-3 PUFA, which resulted in a more beneficial n-6/n-3 fatty acids ratio of 2.88. In addition, this milk contained significantly (P≤0.05) less saturated fatty acids (SFA) and significantly more (P≤0.05) mono-(MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Consequently, the MUFA:SFA and PUFA:SFA ratios in this group were more favourable at 0.448 and 0.066, respectively. Also the content of desirable fatty acids (DFA) with hypocholesterolemic effects was higher in group II, which resulted in a more beneficial DFA:OFA ratio of 0.8 in this group. In conclusion, the use of summer pasture feeding and a proper supplemented feeding ration in Simmental cows with high-energy feeds allow for high milk yield and high nutritive value of the milk.

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The aim of the study was to determine the influence of amino acid fertilizer on yielding ability, morphological characteristics and chlorophyll index of timothy cv. Owacja grown for seed. The experiment was conducted in 2015–2017 at the Experimental Station in Prusy near Krakow, which belongs to the Institute of Plant Production of the University of Agriculture in Krakow. The field trial was set up as a randomized block design with four replications. The soil in the experimental field was a degraded chernozem formed from loess. The plots were sprayed with three doses of Microfert amino acid fertilizer: 1.8, 3.0 and 4.5 L/ha. The highest application rate of foliar fertilization with amino acids (4.5 L/ha) caused a significant (P ≤ 0.05) increase in seed yield and germination capacity compared with the control plot. Successive years of use also had a significant effect on timothy seed yield, which was the highest during the first year of the study. Morphological characteristics were found to improve (taller and longer inflorescences and leaf blades). Satisfactory results (seed yield higher by about 11% to the control plot) were also obtained on the plots where the fertilizer was applied at the rate of 3.0 L/ha.