INFLUENCE OF FERTILIZATION WITH THE USE OF BIOMASS ASH AND SEWAGE SLUDGE ON THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE USED FOR ENERGY-RELATED PURPOSES

The experiment was based on two factors: 4 levels of fertilization with ash from biomass-0; I-4.28; II- 8.57; III-12.85 t∙ha-1 and 2 levels of fertilization with sewage sludge: 0; 1-30.3 t∙ha-1. The experimental plant was Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.), Gigant cultivar. The contents of nitrogen tended to increase in response to fertilization with sewage sludge and to decrease with a growing dosage of fertilization with biomass ash. The use of municipal sewage sludge as a fertilizer did not produce visible changes in the contents of six macronutrients (carbon, phosphorus, potassium, sulfir, calcium and magnesium) in overground part of Jerusalem artichoke. The use of ash at the dose of 12.8 t∙ha-1 resulted in an increase in potassium contents in the plants, to the level of 5.63 g K∙kg-1 during the first year of trials and the trend was continued in the second year. Biomass chemical stability in 2-year experiment was noted except the content of nitrogen, cadmium and lead which were increasing while the level of sewage sludge increased . The content of zinc, copper, lead and cadmium in overground part of Jerusalem artichoke did not exceed threshold values defined for wood pellets and briquettes by the standards set forth by DIN 51731 1996-10

Effect of Ascophyllum nodosum Alga Application on Microgreens, Yield, and Yield Components in Oats Avena sativa L.

This paper describes the influence of Ascophyllum nodosum algae on the seeds, microgreens, yield, and yield components of oat Avena sativa cv. Bingo. This article includes the results from three experiments. In one of the experiments, the oat seeds were soaked in a solution of demineralized water with dried comminuted and homogenized algae. For the FT–Raman spectra measurements, a spectrometer with an Nd:YAG laser, with a germanium detector, was used. The results obtained show that an excessively low as well as an excessively high alga concentration did not have an influence on the change in oat composition. Other algae concentrations that were used in these experiments caused significant chemical changes in the oat seeds. For the FT–Raman data, separation of the control from all the oat grains treated with different algae concentrations was possible. The aim of the pot experiment was to determine the effect of the application of algae (in different doses) on the A. sativa green mass of young plants (microgreens). The certified oat seeds, after being soaked in a solution with algae, were planted in the ground. For the chemometric analysis of the oat samples, a Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer device was used. The data were recorded with a viewing diamond with an attenuated total reflection (ATR) crystal plate. The FTIR spectra showed that soaking in an algae suspension affected the germination, general metabolism, and chemical composition of the oats. The use of algae did not change the lipid content of the plant. The three-year field experiment was established by introducing two factors: A. nodosum application (A) and a pre-sowing stimulation with a low-frequency magnetic field (S). The influence of experimental factors on the oat yield and its structure (yield structure components and yield components) was investigated. The beneficial effect of algae on oat yield was demonstrated by improved parameters such as the number and weight of the grains; however, under field conditions, the pre-sowing magnetic field stimulation of seeds did not have a beneficial effect. Various weather conditions also had a great influence on the yield. This study also considered the role of A. nodosum as a biostimulant in plants, and this showed potential under less favorable conditions

Raman Method in Identification of Species and Varieties, Assessment of Plant Maturity and Crop Quality—A Review

The present review covers reports discussing potential applications of the specificity of Raman techniques in the advancement of digital farming, in line with an assumption of yield maximisation with minimum environmental impact of agriculture. Raman is an optical spectroscopy method which can be used to perform immediate, label-free detection and quantification of key compounds without destroying the sample. The authors particularly focused on the reports discussing the use of Raman spectroscopy in monitoring the physiological status of plants, assessing crop maturity and quality, plant pathology and ripening, and identifying plant species and their varieties. In recent years, research reports have presented evidence confirming the effectiveness of Raman spectroscopy in identifying biotic and abiotic stresses in plants as well as in phenotyping and digital selection of plants in farming. Raman techniques used in precision agriculture can significantly improve capacities for farming management, crop quality assessment, as well as biological and chemical contaminant detection, thereby contributing to food safety as well as the productivity and profitability of agriculture. This review aims to increase the awareness of the growing potential of Raman spectroscopy in agriculture among plant breeders, geneticists, farmers and engineers

Assessment of the Bioactive Compounds in White and Red Wines Enriched with a Primula veris L.

The aim of this paper was to analyze selected physicochemical properties and the pro-health potential of wines produced in southeastern Poland, in the Subcarpathian region, and commercial Carlo Rossi wines enhanced with cowslip (Primula veris L.). This study used ultra-performance reverse-phase liquid chromatography (UPLC)-PDA-MS/MS to perform most of the analysis, including the polyphenolic compounds and saponin content in wines enriched by Primula veris L. The initial anthocyanin content in Subcarpathian (Regional) red wine samples increased four times to the level of 1956.85 mg/L after a 10% addition of Primula veris L. flowers. For white wines, a five-fold increase in flavonol content was found in Subcarpathian (Regional) and wine samples, and an almost 25-fold increase in flavonol content was found in Carlo Rossi (Commercial) wine samples at the lowest (2.5%) Primula veris L. flower addition. Qualitative analysis of the regional white wines with a 10% Primula veris L. flower enhancement demonstrated the highest kaempferol content (197.75 mg/L) and a high quercetin content (31.35 mg/L). Thanks to wine enrichment in triterpenoid saponins and in polyphenolic compounds from Primula veris L. flowers, which are effectively extracted to wine under mild conditions, both white and red wines can constitute a highly pro-health component of diets, which is valuable in preventing chronic heart failure

INFLUENCE OF FERTILIZATION WITH THE USE OF BIOMASS ASH AND SEWAGE SLUDGE ON THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE USED FOR ENERGY-RELATED PURPOSES

The experiment was based on two factors: 4 levels of fertilization with ash from biomass-0; I-4.28; II- 8.57; III-12.85 t∙ha-1 and 2 levels of fertilization with sewage sludge: 0; 1-30.3 t∙ha-1. The experimental plant was Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.), Gigant cultivar. The contents of nitrogen tended to increase in response to fertilization with sewage sludge and to decrease with a growing dosage of fertilization with biomass ash. The use of municipal sewage sludge as a fertilizer did not produce visible changes in the contents of six macronutrients (carbon, phosphorus, potassium, sulfir, calcium and magnesium) in overground part of Jerusalem artichoke. The use of ash at the dose of 12.8 t∙ha-1 resulted in an increase in potassium contents in the plants, to the level of 5.63 g K∙kg-1 during the first year of trials and the trend was continued in the second year. Biomass chemical stability in 2-year experiment was noted except the content of nitrogen, cadmium and lead which were increasing while the level of sewage sludge increased . The content of zinc, copper, lead and cadmium in overground part of Jerusalem artichoke did not exceed threshold values defined for wood pellets and briquettes by the standards set forth by DIN 51731 1996-10

Influence of <i>Eisenia fetida</i> on the Nematode Populations during Vermicomposting Process

Vermicomposting stands as a sustainable and environmentally friendly waste management practice, leveraging the metabolic prowess of earthworms to facilitate the decomposition of organic matter into nutrient-rich compost. The aim of this experiment was to study the influence of Eisenia fetida on the density and the tropic structure of a nematode community during the vermicomposting process over a period of 3 months. Sewage sludge and green waste served as composting substrates. Overall, six compost variants were prepared consisting of three variants incorporating E. fetida and three control variants lacking E. fetida. Throughout the investigation, samples were gathered on a monthly basis, with each variant undergoing three repetitions. The aim was to isolate nematodes, determine the population density of the five trophic groups, and identify the dominant community. The anaysis was conducted employing both microscopic examination and molecular metabarcoding (NGS). It was shown that the bacterial-feeding community maintained dominance. The introduction of E. fetida into the compost led to a significant rise in the abundance of Diplogasteridae. In the variant without E. fetida, the amount of Diplodasteridae exceeded 0.1% only after the 30th (C3) or the 60th (C1, C2) day of composting, while in the compost with E. fetida, they were present in large amounts (ranging from 11.0% to 28.0%) already on the 30th day of composting. The introduction of Eisenia fetida also led to a notable reduction in H. gingivalis with significant implications for mitigating the risk of halicephalobiosis. The introduction of E. fetida resulted in reducing H. gingivalis to levels below 0.1% in all compost variants

Bioactive Phenolic Compounds from <i>Primula veris</i> L.: Influence of the Extraction Conditions and Purification

Our experiments may help to answer the question of whether cowslip (Primula veris L.) is a rich source of bioactive substances that can be obtained by efficient extraction with potential use as a food additive. A hypothesis assumed that the type of solvent used for plant extraction and the individual morphological parts of Primula veris L. used for the preparation of herbal extracts will have key impacts on the efficiency of the extraction of bioactive compounds, and thus, the health-promoting quality of plant concentrates produced. Most analysis of such polyphenolic compound contents in extracts from Primula veris L. has been performed by using chromatography methods such as ultra-performance reverse-phase liquid chromatography (UPLC−PDA−MS/MS). Experiments demonstrated that the most effective extraction agent for fresh study material was water at 100 °C, whereas for dried material it was 70% ethanol. The richest sources of polyphenolic compounds were found in cowslip primrose flowers and leaves. The aqueous and ethanol extracts from Primula veris L. were characterized by a quantitatively rich profile of polyphenolic substances, and a high antioxidative potential. Selective extraction with the use of mild conditions and neutral solvents is the first step to obtaining preparations from cowslip primrose with a high content of bioactive substances

Effect of the Pyrolysis Process Applied to Waste Branches Biomass from Fruit Trees on the Calorific Value of the Biochar and Dust Explosivity

The article discusses the findings related to the calorific value as well as the explosion and combustion parameters of dust from the raw biomass of fruit trees, i.e., apple, cherry, and pear branches, and from biochars produced using this type of biomass during pyrolysis processes conducted under various conditions. The plant biomass was thermally processed at 400, 450, or 500 °C for a duration of 5, 10, or 15 min. The study aimed to identify the calorific value of the biomass obtained from waste produced in orchards and to estimate the explosion hazard during the processing of such materials and during the storage of the resulting solid fuels. Tests were conducted to assess the total contents of carbon, ash, nitrogen, hydrogen, and volatile substances as well as the calorific value. The findings show a significant effect of the thermal transformation of fruit tree branches on the calorific value of the biochars that were produced. It was found that the mean calorific value of all of the biochars was increased by 62.24% compared to the non-processed biomass. More specifically, the mean calorific values of the biochars produced from apple, cherry, and pear branches amounted to 27.90, 28.75, and 26.84 MJ kg−1, respectively. The maximum explosion pressure Pmax measured for the dust from the biomass and for the biochars was in the range 7.56–7.8 and 7.95–11.72 bar, respectively. The maximum rate of pressure rose over time (dp/dt)max in the case of the dust from the biomass, which was in the range of 274.77–284.97 bar s−1, and the dust from biochar amounted to 282.05–353.41 bar s−1. The explosion index Kst&nbsp;max measured for non-processed biomass and biochars was found to range from 74.46 to 77.23 and from 76.447 to 95.77 bar s−1, respectively. It was also shown that a change in the temperature and duration of the pyrolysis process affected the quality of the biochars that were obtained. The findings show that pyrolysis, as a method of plant biomass processing, positively affects the calorific value of the products and does not lead to an increased risk of explosion during the treatment and storage of such materials. It is necessary, however, to continue research on biomass processing in order to develop practices that adequately ensure safety during the production of novel fuels