Yield forecasting is a rational and scientific way of predicting future occurrences in agriculture—the level of production effects. Its main purpose is reducing the risk in the decision-making process affecting the yield in terms of quantity and quality. The aim of the following study was to generate a linear and non-linear model to forecast the tuber yield of three very early potato cultivars: Arielle, Riviera, and Viviana. In order to achieve the set goal of the study, data from the period 2010–2017 were collected, coming from official varietal experiments carried out in northern and northwestern Poland. The linear model has been created based on multiple linear regression analysis (MLR), while the non-linear model has been built using artificial neural networks (ANN). The created models can predict the yield of very early potato varieties on 20th June. Agronomic, phytophenological, and meteorological data were used to prepare the models, and the correctness of their operation was verified on the basis of separate sets of data not participating in the construction of the models. For the proper validation of the model, six forecast error metrics were used: i.e., global relative approximation error (RAE), root mean square error (RMS), mean absolute error (MAE), and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). As a result of the conducted analyses, the forecast error results for most models did not exceed 15% of MAPE. The predictive neural model NY1 was characterized by better values of quality measures and ex post forecast errors than the regression model RY1.

Currently, modern agriculture aims to improve the quantity and quality of crop yield, while minimizing the negative impact of treatments on the natural environment. One of the methods to increase plant yield and quality, especially after the occurrence of both abiotic or biotic stress factors, is the application of biostimulants. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of Ecklonia maxima extract on plant growth, and the yield, nutritional, and nutraceutical properties of soybean seeds. A field experiment was conducted in three growing seasons (2014–2016). Soybean seeds of Atlanta cultivar were sown in the third 10-day period of April. Ecklonia maxima extract was applied in the form of single or double, spraying in the concentrations of 0.7% and 1.0%. Determinations were conducted for: biometric traits, seed yield, seed number, thousand seeds weight, contents of lipids, and proteins in seeds. Further analyses included the contents of total polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and reducing power. The number of seaweed extract applications and its concentration modified biometric traits, yield, and quality of crop, while also also altering the nutraceutical and antioxidative potential of soybean. The application of this preparation improved the growth and yield of soybean without any negative effect on the nutritive value of seeds.

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One of the main goals of industrial biotechnology is to develop an effective method for ethanol production for fuel purposes using lignocellulosic biomass. Variability of lignocellulosic raw materials, selection of an effective method for the pretreatment of raw material, and selection of microorganisms with the ability to ferment not only hexoses but also pentoses and are moreover resistant to environmental stress generated by the products of lignocellulosic complex decomposition, are the challenges encountered in ethanol production. The use of agricultural wastelands and overgrowing plants that have little possibility of application in processes other than energy production seem to be an interesting alternative to conventional, but very often rather cultivation demanding energy crops. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of using the stems of fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium L.), European goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea L.), and common broom (Cytisus scoparius L.) for ethanol production. The key elements studied were characteristics of the lignocellulosic complex structure, influence of the selected ionic liquids on the structural changes in biomass, and efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis and ethanol fermentation processes. The results showed that under the assumed conditions the best effect was observed with the fireweed materials subjected to pretreatment with 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium acetate and enzymatic hydrolysis with Viscozyme® preparation. The final concentration of ethanol obtained was 2.509 g L−1 with a yield of 92.3%. This was due to the highest share of cellulose (40.9%) in the whole lignocellulosic complex compared to other raw materials, which in combination with the selection of an appropriate ionic liquid and an enzymatic preparation, led to high bioprocess efficiency.

Production of ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass is considered the most promising proposition for developing a sustainable and carbon–neutral energy system. The use of renewable raw materials and variability of lignocellulosic feedstock generating hexose and pentose sugars also brings advantages of the most abundant, sustainable and non-food competitive biomass. Great attention is now paid to agricultural wastes and overgrowing plants as an alternative to fast-growing energetic crops. The presented study explores the use of stinging nettle stems, which have not been treated as a source of bioethanol. Apart from being considered a weed, stinging nettle is used in pharmacy or cosmetics, yet its stems are always a non-edible waste. Therefore, the aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of pretreatment using imidazolium- and ammonium-based ionic liquids, enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation of stinging nettle stems, and comparison of such a process with giant miscanthus. Raw and ionic liquid-pretreated feedstocks of stinging nettle and miscanthus were subjected to compositional analysis and scanning electron microscopy to determine the pretreatment effect. Next, the same conditions of enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation were applied to both crops to explore the stinging nettle stems potential in the area of bioethanol production. The study showed that the pretreatment of both stinging nettle and miscanthus with imidazolium acetates allowed for increased availability of the critical lignocellulosic fraction. The use of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate in the pretreatment of stinging nettle allowed to obtain very high ethanol concentrations of 7.3 g L−1, with 7.0 g L−1 achieved for miscanthus. Results similar for both plants were obtained for 1-ethyl-3-buthylimidazolium acetate. Moreover, in the case of ammonium ionic liquids, even though they have comparable potential to dissolve cellulose, it was impossible to depolymerize lignocellulose and extract lignin. Furthermore, they did not improve the efficiency of the hydrolysis process, which in turn led to low alcohol concentration. Overall, from the presented results, it can be assumed that the stinging nettle stems are a very promising bioenergy crop.

A single-factor field experiment concerned calculation of fuel consumption, time expenditure of the working time of machines, and winter wheat yield size in three technologies of soil cultivation. Fuel consumption in the tillage and non-tillage technology was comparable and amounted approximately to 31 l·ha−1, but the highest consumption was generated by basic soil cultivation (tillage or heavy cultivation cultivator). Fuel consumption in the strip cultivation technology was the lowest and it was 23.0 l·ha−1. Non-tillage cultivation allowed reduction of the time necessary to carry out the wheat cultivation technology by 28.8% (in comparison to tillage cultivation). On the other hand, strip cultivation allowed reduction of the total time of machines operation by 48.5 % (in comparison to tillage cultivation). The yield of winter wheat cultivated in the non-tillage technology was at the average by 4% better than the one cultivated in tillage cultivation. The highest yield of seed (7.63 t·ha−1) was obtained in the strip cultivation technology (by 6.7% in comparison to tillage cultivation).

Cite this article as: Piskier T., Smuga-Kogut M. A method of estimation of the caloric value of the biomass. Part II -energy balance of biomass production.