The article presents the behavior of phenoxy acids in water, the levels in aquatic ecosystems, and their transformations in the water environment. Phenoxy acids are highly soluble in water and weakly absorbed in soil. These highly mobile compounds are readily transported to surface and groundwater. Monitoring studies conducted in Europe and in other parts of the world indicate that the predominant phenoxy acids in the aquatic environment are mecoprop, 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid (MCPA), dichlorprop, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), and their metabolites which are chlorophenol derivatives. In water, the concentrations of phenoxy acids are effectively lowered by hydrolysis, biodegradation, and photodegradation, and a key role is played by microbial decomposition. This process is determined by the qualitative and quantitative composition of microorganisms, oxygen levels in water, and the properties and concentrations of phenoxy acids. In shallow and highly insolated waters, phenoxy acids can be decomposed mainly by photodegradation whose efficiency is determined by the form of the degraded compound. Numerous studies are underway on the use of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) to remove phenoxy acids. The efficiency of phenoxy acid degradation using AOPs varies depending on the choice of oxidizing system and the conditions optimizing the oxidation process. Most often, methods combining UV radiation with other reagents are used to oxidize phenoxy acids. It has been found that this solution is more effective compared with the oxidation process carried out using only UV.

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of increasing potassium fertilization (0, 140, 190, and 240 mg K2O/kg of soil) in the interaction with nitrogen fertilization (130 and 170 mg N/kg of soil) on the trace elements content in the typical, non-contaminated agricultural soil. The trace elements content in the soil depended on nitrogen and potassium fertilization. Potassium fertilization had a more significant effect on trace elements content in the soil fertilized at the same time with a lower nitrogen dose (130 mg N/kg soil). Increasing potassium fertilization increased the content of cadmium by 83% and lead by 32% and reduced the amounts of chromium by 10% and iron by 3% in the soil, particularly in the series with a lower nitrogen dose (130 mg N/kg soil). The effect of potassium fertilization on the content of other trace elements was less unambiguous since, for most of trace elements, lower doses of this fertilizer contributed to growth of trace element, while higher doses lead to a decrease in their accumulation in the soil. Nitrogen fertilization increased the contents of zinc and iron—3%, copper—9%, manganese—12%, chromium—15%, and cobalt—59%, while reducing the contents of cadmium and nickel—24% and lead—45%. Permissible standards for trace elements content in the soil have not been exceeded.

The study assessed the effect of various forms of sulphur (Na 2 S 2 O 3 , elemental S and Na 2 SO 4) and nitrogen (UAN-30, NH 4 NO 3) on calcium and magnesium content and uptake in spring wheat and cocksfoot. A two-year pot experiment was conducted on soil material of clayey silt granulometric composition. Before the experiment, the soil was characterized by slight acidity and low content of assimilable forms of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and sulphur. The results show that the experimental factors caused noticeable variation in the content and uptake of calcium and magnesium in spring wheat and cocksfoot. Among the sulphur fertilizers, the greatest increase in calcium and magnesium content and uptake was produced by application of sodium sulphate. The increase in calcium and magnesium uptake was more marked in the case of plants fertilized with nitrogen in the form of ammonium nitrate. The effect of nitrogen fertilization on the analyzed parameters also depended on the species of plant. Wheat grown in the series with ammonium nitrate was characterized by higher Ca and Mg content and uptake than plants fertilized with nitrogen in the form of liquid UAN 30. Calcium uptake by wheat fertilized with NH 4 NO 3 was on average 15% higher for grain and 9% higher for straw compared to wheat fertilized with UAN 30. As for magnesium, the increase was 24.5% and 18%, respectively. Concerning cocksfoot, fertilization with UAN 30 had a greater affect on content and uptake of the analyzed nutrients than ammonium nitrate. S ³ o w a k l u c z o w e : zawartooeae wapnia, zawartooeae magnezu, pobranie, forma siarki, nawo¿enie azotem, pszenica jara, kupkówka pospolita.

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.

This study aimed to determine the possibility to increase the the effect of different amendments (compost, bentonite and zeolite) on the shoot yield and the concentration of trace elements in shoots of maize (Zea mays L.) on soil contaminated with Cu. The yield of shoots and concentration of the trace elements in shoots of maize depended on Cu dose and amendment incorporation into the sandy soil. Cu-spiked soil caused an increase the yield of shoots (only to 100 mg Cu/kg of soil), in the concentration of Cu, Co, Mn, Ni and Fe in shoots of maize and, to a smaller degree, in the concentration of Zn and bioconcentration factor (BCF) of all elements except copper, compared to the control soil without Cu. Under the influence of 150 and 200 mg Cu per kg of soil, a decrease in yield of shoots of maize was observed. Compost, bentonite and zeolite increased the yield of shoots and reduced the concentration of Cu, Co, Mn, Fe and Zn in shoots of maize. Bentonite had a more positive effect than compost and zeolite on the yield of shoots and the concentration of Co, Mn and Zn in shoots of maize. The effect of these amendments on the Cu and Fe concentration in shoots of maize was reverse. A reverse effect of these amendments (especially bentonite and zeolite) on the Ni concentration in plants was observed. The amendments applied to soil, especially compost, increased the BCF of Ni and, to a small degree, BCF of Cu in shoots of maize, compared to the control series. Compost, zeolite and especially bentonite are very good amendments in the restoration of maize growth in polluted areas.

and commodities science 2 department of agricultural and environmental chemistry 3 department of herbology and plant cultivation techniques university of life sciences in lublin abstract The test material originated from a field experiment conducted in 2010-2013, at the Experimental Farm in Felin (51°22' N, 22°64' E), which belongs to the University if Life Sciences in Lublin. A two-factor experiment was conducted in randomised blocks with 4 replicates. The chemical composition of grain of 4 wheat species was analysed: common wheat (Triticum aestivum ssp. aestivum L.) cv. Tonacja, durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) cv. Komnata, spelt (Triticum aestivum ssp. spelta (L.) Thell.) cv. Schwabenkorn, and einkorn wheat (Triticum monococcum L.) line PL 5003 (material acquired from the National Centre of the Plant Gene Pool), grown at different production technology intensity (medium and high level of cultivation technology). The analyses on wheat grain included the content of total protein, crude ash, crude fat, crude fibre, carbohydrates, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, copper, iron, manganese and zinc. The results were subjected to an analysis of variance, while the differences were estimated by the Tukey's test at the significance level of p = 0.05. In order to identify the correlations and relationships between selected grain quality traits, an analysis of multiple correlation was employed and coefficients of variation were calculated (CV, %). Einkorn wheat proved to have the highest levels of protein, fat, ash, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, copper, zinc, iron and manganese. Among the remaining genotypes, common wheat had the highest levels of carbohydrates and fibre. Irrespective of the genotype, more intensive chemical weed and pest control and nitrogen fertilisation had a favourable effect

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This study has analyzed the effect of fertilization with various forms of nitrogen and sulphur on cocksfoot yield and on the content of these nutrients in the plant. The study was based on a strict experiment conducted on soil material from the arable layer of brown soil of clayey silt granulometric composition. The soil used in the experiment was characterized by slight acidity and low content of assimilable forms of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and sulphur. The results indicate that the experimental factors caused significant variation in cocksfoot yield. Significant variations in yield also occurred as a result of the interaction between these factors. The highest yields were obtained where nitrogen was applied in the liquid form (UAN-30) and sulphur was applied in the form of Na 2 SO 4. Significant increases in yield after application of elemental sulphur were not observed until the second cut was harvested, which clearly indicates that this is a slow-acting fertilizer. Fertilization with various forms of nitrogen and sulphur also caused marked variation in total S content, total N content and N-NO 3 in the plants. Total sulphur content-depending on the experimental object and on the time of harvest-ranged from 1.37 to 3.15 g S⋅kg-1 , while total nitrogen content ranged from 29.06 to 38.72 g N⋅kg-1. The data obtained indicate that sulphur content in plants that were not fertilized with this nutrient was much lower than is considered optimal for grasses. This explains the effect of sulphur on yield observed in the experiment. Fertilization with sulphur also had a beneficial effect on nitrogen metabolism, manifested as a more than twofold decrease in nitrate nitrogen in the plants fertilized with sulphur.