An increase in the area under soybean and other legume crops in Europe is one of the assumptions of the European Soya Declaration. A study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of cropping system and tillage system on yield, some quality characteristics of soybean seeds and economic evaluation. Therefore, this paper is of interdisciplinary nature. On average over a four-year study period, the soybean seed yield was significantly higher in monoculture compared to the yield obtained in crop rotation. A decreasing trend in yield of monocultured soybean was only observed in the 4th year of the experiment. Seeds grown in monoculture were characterized by a significantly higher percentage protein content and a lower fat content compared to obtained in crop rotation. Plough tillage affected more beneficially soybean yield. Under no-tillage conditions, soybean seeds were shown to have a higher percentage protein content and a lower fat content. The average income per ha of soybean grown under plough tillage system was higher by EUR 64.6 than that under no-tillage. In comparing production profitability depending on the cropping system, it can be noted that it was more beneficial to grow soybean in monoculture. In monoculture, both plough tillage and no-tillage generated a higher income per ha than in the case of soybean grown in crop rotation.

Chamomile is a herbal plant of very high economic importance worldwide. Its organically grown raw material is particularly valuable. Under organic farming conditions, weeds and fungal diseases are an important problem in a chamomile plantation. Seeking agronomic solutions designed to eliminate the occurrence of these pathogens in chamomile crops is constantly valid. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of some foliar sprays (enhancing the condition of the crop plant and its competition against pathogens) and different row spacing of two chamomile cultivars on weed infestation and health of a chamomile plantation. The study results presented in this paper were collected from field experiments carried out in the organic system in the village of Dys (the central Lublin region, Poland) over the period 2014–2016. Experiments were conducted on podzolic soil (class III) as a split-block design in 3 replicates in plots with an area of 525 m2 (6.25 m2 a single plot). This study included two chamomile cultivars (“Złoty Łan”, “Mastar”). The second experimental factor was single or double foliar application of three bioproducts (Herbagreen Basic, Bio-algeen, Effective Microorganisms—EM Farming). The other experimental factor was a different row spacing of chamomile (40 cm and 30 cm). The obtained study results show that 10–16 annual weed species and 1–3 perennial species occurred in both chamomile cultivars. Foliar application of the bioproducts contributed to a reduction in the total number of weeds in the crop, but at the same time to greater weed species diversity. In the control treatments (without the bioproducts), the dominance of several weed species (Viola arvensis, Galeopsis tetrahit, Spergula arvensis, Juncus bufonius, Scleranthus annuus) and lower biodiversity of the weed flora were observed. The largest reduction (by about 20%) in the number of annual weeds was found under the influence of the bioproducts Herbagreen Basic and Bio-algeen applied once. Bio-algeen and Effective Microorganisms (EM), in turn, had a significant effect on decreasing the weed weight. A narrower (30 cm) row spacing of chamomile had a significant impact on reducing the weight of weeds in chamomile crops compared to the wider spacing, which was 40 cm. It should be concluded that infection of the chamomile plantation with fungal diseases was overall at a low level. Significantly higher infection with fungal diseases was found in the case of the cultivar “Mastar”, regardless of the experimental factors. A statistically proven decrease in infection of chamomile plants with fungal diseases was determined under lower crop density conditions (a row spacing of 40 cm). Chamomile plants were found to exhibit better health under the influence of double application of the biofertilizers Herbagreen Basic and Bio-algeen.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of substitution of 50% of soybean meal protein with 310–350 g/kg diet of raw chickpea seed protein on the chemical composition, fatty acid profile, dietary value, and antioxidant status of breast and thigh muscles, as well as the antioxidant status of blood serum, in Ross 308 male broilers. In the 42-day experiment, one-day-old male broiler chicks were assigned to two nutritional groups (n = 100 in each, 20 birds in each group, and 5 replications). In the control group, 100% of protein in the feed was derived from soybean meal. In the experimental group, 310–350 g/kg protein from raw chickpea seeds was introduced. Data with a normal distribution were analyzed using the Student t-test, and the relationships between the traits were assessed with the use of Pearson’s correlation coefficients. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The replacement with chickpea protein did not exert an impact on the final body weight, feed consumption, and feed conversion ratio compared to the control group. However, it induced changes in the color of the breast muscles (increased L* and b* values), and reduced the cholesterol content. The addition of chickpea seeds improved the fatty acid profile, mainly in the breast muscle. A decrease in the total SFA content and a higher level of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), UFAs/saturated fatty acids (SFAs), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), omega-3, and omega-6 were observed in the experimental group. Additionally, the chickpea-supplemented group exhibited better values of meat quality indicators (atherogenic index-AI; thrombogenic index–TI, ratio of saturated fatty acids to unsaturated fatty acids-S/P, n-6/n-3, hypocholesterolemic/Hypercholesterolemic ratio-h/H). It can be concluded that raw chickpea seeds are a good source of protein in broiler chicken nutrition, and can replace the traditionally used protein source (soybean meal), simultaneously exerting a positive effect on the dietary value of poultry meat and an expected enhancing impact on consumer health.

Agronomic factors, and mineral fertilization in particular, have a strong impact on the quality of carrot roots. In recent years, researchers have begun to design eco-friendly agricultural practices that would stimulate the quality and yield of carrot roots. Our aim has been to analyse selected quality parameters pertaining to the chemical composition of carrot roots, and relate them to the application of different growth stimulators and cover crops. For this purpose, a field experiment was conducted in 2009-2011 investigating the effect of growth stimulators and stubble crops on the accumulation of chemical components in storage roots of carrot (cv. Laguna F1). The study included three growth stimulators: Asahi SL, Bio-algeen S 90 and Tytanit. Plots without any foliar application of these growth stimulators served as control treatment. Another factor consisted of the previous crop (spring barley) and stubble crops: tansy phacelia and a mixture of spring vetch and field pea, grown after the harvest of barley and then ploughed in. All the growth stimulators significantly reduced the NO 3 content in carrot roots. Asahi SL significantly increased the phenolic content. The effects of the growth stimulators on the macronutrient content in carrot roots were statistically significant in the case of Mg and Na. Stubble cropping contributed to the reduction of nitrates and stimulated an increase in the content of phenolics as well as of P, K, Ca and Mg in carrot roots.

Corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas L.) and cornflower (Centaurea cyanus L.) are two overwintering weed species found in crop fields in Europe. They are characterised by a similar life cycle, similar competitive efforts, and a spectrum of herbicides recommended for their control. This review summarises the biology and herbicide resistance phenomena of corn poppy and cornflower in Europe. Corn poppy is one of the most dangerous dicotyledonous weeds, having developed herbicide resistance to acetolactate synthase inhibitors and growth regulators, especially in Mediterranean countries and Great Britain. Target site resistance to acetolactate synthase inhibitors dominates among herbicide-resistant poppy biotypes. The importance of non-target site resistance to acetolactate synthase inhibitors in this species may be underestimated because non-target site resistance is very often associated with target site resistance. Cornflower, meanwhile, is increasingly rare in European agricultural landscapes, with acetolactate synthase inhibitors-resistant biotypes only listed in Poland. However, the mechanisms of cornflower herbicide resistance are not well recognised. Currently, herbicides mainly from acetolactate synthase and photosystem II inhibitors as well as from synthetic auxins groups are recommended for the control of both weeds. Integrated methods of management of both weeds, especially herbicide-resistant biotypes, continue to be underrepresented.

The world's non-renewable energy resources continually decline and therefore there is an urgent need to seek and use any available renewable energy sources. An alternative to conventional fuels can be the usage of plant biomass for energy purposes. This particularly relates to plants with C4 photosynthesis, a large increase in biomass, low habitat requirements, and high resistance to diseases and pests. All these characteristics are met, among others, by switchgrass which in many countries occurs as a common wild plant. In agricultural production, switchgrass does not pose many agronomic problems; moreover, it is a very durable plant that can be used in one stand for even 10 years and can be grown in all soils, even contaminated ones. Effective use of switchgrass for bioethanol, biogas or syngas production provides measurable ecological benefits and in the long term offers a chance to maintain a sustainable national energy balance, given the continuously shrinking non-renewable fuel resources. Due to the multifaceted use of this plant and a number of features important from the point of view of the power generation industry, it is worth having a closer look at the possibility of spreading the cultivation of this species.

The effects of conventional and organic farming system on some quality parameters of grains were studied in winter and spring common wheat, spelt wheat and proso millet. Under organic farming conditions, spelt wheat was characterized by the most favorable grain chemical composition (essential amino acids index [EAAI] 85.3, o-dihydroxyphenol 2.00 g kg , magnesium [Mg] 705, zinc [Zn] 32.9 mg kg -1 ), followed by millet (total dietary fiber [TDF] 185.3 g kg -1, Mg 904, copper [Cu] 6.27, iron [Fe] 57.0 mg kg -1 ). The above-mentioned cereals also showed a satisfactory yield level under the organic system (spelt wheat 2.69, proso millet 1.42 t ha -1). Both in winter and spring common wheat organic farming led a significant reduction in productivity, but the content of chemical components in grain (dihydroxyphenols-spring wheat 1.68 g kg -1, winter wheat 1.74 g kg ) was more favorable compared to the conventional system. The present study showed that the organic farming system does not result in reduced productivity neither in spelt wheat or proso millet, but contributes to an improvement in their grain quality parameters. On the other hand, common wheat performed better under the conventional system.Key words: cereals, grain chemical composition, conventional system, organic system Introduction Cereal crops provide raw material for the production of many food products and the grains of cereals are the main source of carbohydrates, proteins, dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, phenolics, inulin, sterols, etc. (Duthie et al. 2000, Fan et al. 2008, Ciołek et al. 2012, Shahidi and Chandrasekara 2013. Protein in spelt grain shows very high digestibility, at a level of 80-85% and compared to common wheat spelt grain it has more gluten (by 8%) and oil (by 30%) (Ruibal-Mendieta et al. 2004, Tyburski andŻuk-Gołaszewska 2005). Proso millet grain contains: 1-3% of oil, 70-83% of starch, 10.8-12.5% of protein, 11.0-12.5 % of dietary fiber, and 2.8-3.2% of ash (Baltensperger et. al. 1997(Baltensperger et. al. , 2004. Spelt wheat or proso millet are known to have healthpromoting properties (Piironen et al. 2002). Spelt wheat contains phytosterols which depresses the blood cholesterol concentration and it also has a beneficial effect on the digestive system and stabilizes the nervous system functions (Piironen et al. 2002). Proso millet is recommended in gluten-free diet and for persons suffering from coeliac disease. In traditional Chinese medicine, tumors -even at an advanced stageare treated using a very strict and consistent diet consisting of 50% cereal grains (mainly millet grains), 30% vegetables and 20% (Acko 2012).Agricultural producers and consumers are more and more aware of the need both to produce and consume healthy foods free of chemicals and to take care of the environment in which we live. Attention is generally paid to the possibility of potential food contamination with residues of crop protection agents or nitrates. Thus, the demand for organic products is increasing. There is a view among consumers, which...

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