The Water Requirements of Grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.) Under Climatic Conditions of Central Poland

The purpose of this study was to estimate the water needs of grapevines in central Poland in 1981-2010. Water needs were calculated by the plant coefficients, which were assumed according to the Doorenbos and Pruitt method. Reference evapotranspiration was assessed by the Blaney-Criddle’s equation, modified for Polish conditions. Rainfall deficit with the occurrence probability of normal, medium dry and very dry years was determined by the Ostromęcki’s method. Water needs of grapevines during the growing season was 434 mm. Upward time trend in the water needs both in the periods May-October and June-August was estimated. Temporal variability in the water needs was significant for most of the provinces. The rainfall deficit was recorded with the occurrence probability of normal as well as medium or very dry years in the entire study area. Due to climate changes, vineyards will require irrigation in the near future. This research significantly broadens and refines the knowledge about the water needs of grapevines in central Poland, which will allow the design of resource-efficient irrigation programs for grapevines in the studied region of Poland

Potrzeby wodne szparaga w różnych regionach Polski

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.), due to their deep and well-developed root system, are relatively resistant to the water deficits in the soil. On the other hand, asparagus plants grown on the light soil positively respond to the irrigation treatments. The aim of the present study was the determination of water needs of asparagus plants in the different agro-climatic regions of Poland. The calculations of asparagus water requirements, considered as the crop evapotranspiration, based on the precipitation measurements collected during the thirty-year period from 1981 to 2010. The estimations were achieved for the months, including July and August, critical in terms of the amount of water available to the plants. The calculation of asparagus water needs using the plant coefficients was performed. The plant coefficients for asparagus cultivated in the Polish field conditions were determined by Rolbiecki. Published by him calculations based on the long-term observations of the irrigated asparagus crop. The reference evapotranspiration was calculated according to Grabarczyk's method. The Grabarczyk's formula was chosen because it allowed estimating the reference evapotranspiration in a simplified way, i.e. based only on the precipitation measurements. The rainfall deficit was considered using the Ostromęcki's method. The precipitation deficit in the period from July 1 to August 31 was calculated as the difference between the water needs of asparagus, expressed as the crop evapotranspiration for a considered month and the total precipitation in this month. The water needs of asparagus plants were determined for five agro-climatic regions of Poland with the representative meteorological stations located in Olsztyn, Bydgoszcz, Warszawa, Wroclaw and Krakow. The highest variability of asparagus water requirements was calculated in the central-north-west (C-N-W) region of the Poland. The variation coefficient in July and August was 7.7% and 7.6%, respectively. In contrast, the lowest variability of asparagus water needs were find in the south-west (S-W) and south-east (S-E) region of Poland. The highest water needs of asparagus plants, on average 228 mm, in the period from July to August were noted in the C-N-W and central-east (C-E) region of Poland. The highest rainfall deficit, calculated for medium dry years, average dry years and very dry years, was 91 mm and 89 mm, 157 mm and 166 mm, and 209 mm and 245 mm, respectively, in the C-N-W and C-E region, re-spectively. Generally, higher precipitation deficiencies were noted in August than in July.Szparagi (Asparagus officinalis L.), ze względu na swój głęboki oraz dobrze rozwinięty system korzeniowy, są roślinami uważanymi za stosunkowo odporne na niedobory wody w glebie. Z drugiej strony, rośliny szparagów uprawiane na glebie lekkiej bardzo pozytywnie reagują na przeprowadzone zabiegi nawadniające. Podstawowym celem niniejszej pracy było określenie potrzeb wodnych roślin szparagów w różnych regionach agro-klimatycznych Polski. Obliczenie zapotrzebowania roślin tego gatunku warzywnego na wodę, wyrażonego jako ewapotranspiracja potencjalna, wykonano na podstawie pomiarów opadów atmosferycznych przeprowadzonych w okresie trzydziestu lat licząc od 1981 do 2010 roku. Obliczenia wykonano dla dwóch miesięcy, dla lipca oraz dla sierpnia. Miesiące te stanowią okres krytyczny pod względem ilości wody dostępnej dla roślin. Potrzeby wodne roślin szparaga oszacowano przy użyciu współczynników roślinnych. Współczynniki roślinne dla roślin szparaga uprawianych w Polsce w warunkach polowych zostały ustalone przez Rolbieckiego w oparciu o długoterminowe obserwacje nawadnianych nasadzeń szparaga. Ewapotranspirację wskaźnikową obliczono zgodnie z metodą zaproponowaną przez Grabarczyka. Metoda Grabarczyka została wybrana do niniejszych badań, ponieważ pozwoliła ona na określenie ewapotranspiracji wskaźnikowej w uproszczony sposób, to znaczy tylko na podstawie pomiarów opadów atmosferycznych. Niedobory opadów zostały obliczone przy użyciu metody Ostromęckiego. Deficyt opadów w okresie od 1 lipca do 31 sierpnia obliczono, jako różnicę między potrzebami wodnymi roślin szparagów, wyrażonymi jako ewapotranspiracja potencjalna dla danego miesiąca, a sumą opadów atmosferycznych w tym miesiącu. Potrzeby wodne roślin szparaga określono dla pięciu różnych regionów agro-klimatycznych Polski wraz z reprezentatywnymi stacjami meteorologicznymi zlokalizowanymi na terenie Olsztyna, Bydgoszczy, Warszawy, Wrocławia i Krakowa. Największą zmienność potrzeb wodnych roślin szparaga obliczono w środkowo-północno-zachodnim (C-N-W) regionie Polski. Współczynnik zmienności w lipcu oraz w sierpniu wyniósł odpowiednio 7,7% i 7,6%. Natomiast najmniejszą zmienność potrzeb wodnych roślin szparaga stwierdzono w południowo-zachodnim (S-W), a także południowo-wschodnim (S-E) regionie Polski. Największe potrzeby wodne roślin szparagów, średnio 228 mm, w okresie od 1 lipca do 31 sierpnia, odnotowano w C-N-W, a także środkowo-wschodnim (C-E) regionie Polski. Największy deficyt opadów atmosferycznych, obliczony dla przeciętnie suchych lat, średnio suchych lat oraz bardzo suchych lat, wynosił odpowiednio 91 mm i 89 mm, 157 mm i 166 mm oraz 209 mm i 245 mm, odpowiednio w C-N-W i C-E regionie Polski. Podsumowując, większe niedobory opadów atmosferycznych odnotowano w sierpniu niż w lipcu

Determination of the Effect of a Thermal Curtain Used in a Greenhouse on the Indoor Climate and Energy Savings

In order to reduce the impact of outdoor extreme weather events on crop production in winter, energy saving in greenhouses that are regularly heated is of great importance in reducing production costs and carbon footprints. For this purpose, the variations in indoor temperature, relative humidity and dew point temperature in the vertical direction (2 m, 4 m, 5.7 m) of thermal curtains in greenhouses were determined. In addition, depending on the fuel used, the curtains’ effects on heat energy consumption, heat transfer coefficient, carbon dioxide equivalents released to the atmosphere and fuel cost were investigated. To reach this goal, two greenhouses with the same structural features were designed with and without thermal curtains. As a result of the study, the indoor temperature and relative humidity values in the greenhouse with a thermal curtain increased by 1.3 °C and 10% compared to the greenhouse without a thermal curtain. Thermal curtains in the greenhouse significantly reduced fuel use (59.14–74.11 m3·night−1). Considering the heat energy consumption, the average heat energy consumption was 453.7 kWh·night−1 in the greenhouse with a curtain, while it was 568.6 kWh·night−1 in the greenhouse without a curtain. The average heat transfer coefficient (U) values were calculated at 2.87 W·m−2 °C with a thermal curtain and 3.63 W·m−2 °C without a thermal curtain greenhouse. In the greenhouse, closing the thermal curtain at night resulted in heat energy savings of about 21%, related to the decrease in U values. The use of a thermal curtain in the greenhouse reduced the amount of CO2 released to the atmosphere (116.6–146.1 kg·night−1) and fuel cost (USD 21.3–26.7·night−1). To conclude, extreme weather events in the outdoor environment adversely affect the plants grown in greenhouses where cultivation is performed out of season. A thermal curtain, used to reduce these adverse effects and the amount of energy consumed, is essential in improving indoor climate conditions, providing more economical greenhouse management and reducing the CO2 released into the atmosphere due to fuel use

An Investigation on the Energy Balance and Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Orange Production in Turkey

In agricultural production, it is important to determine where input usage saving can be implemented by taking energy use into consideration and to analyze the greenhouse gas emissions of agricultural activities. This study has been conducted to review orange (Citrus sinensis L.) production in terms of energy balance and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This study was carried out during the 2015/2016 production season in Adana, a province in Turkey. Energy balance and GHG emissions have been defined by calculating the inputs and outputs of agricultural nature used in orange production. The findings of the study indicate that the distribution of energy inputs in orange production are 11,880 MJ ha−1 (34.10%) of electricity, 10,079.75 MJ ha−1 (28.93%) of chemical fertilizer energy, 7630 MJ ha−1 (21.90%) of chemical energy, 3052 MJ ha−1 (8.76%) of diesel fuel energy, 1348.91 MJ ha−1 (3.87%) of human labor energy, 378 MJ ha−1 (1.09%) of irrigation water energy, 351.22 MJ ha−1 (1.01%) of machinery energy and 118.80 MJ ha−1 (0.34%) of lime energy. In total, input energy (IE) in orange production has been calculated as 34,838.68 MJ ha−1 and the output energy (OE) has been calculated as 95,000 MJ ha−1. Energy use efficiency (EUE), specific energy (SE), energy productivity (EP) and net energy (NE) have been calculated as 2.73, 0.70 MJ kg−1, 1.44 kg MJ−1 and 60,161.32 MJ ha−1, respectively. The total energy input in the production of oranges was divided into: 47.82% direct, 52.18% indirect, 4.96% from renewable sources and 95.04% from non-renewable sources. The GHG emissions figure for orange production was 3794.26 kg CO2–eq ha−1, with electricity having the greatest share, 1983.96 (52.29%); the GHG ratio was 0.08 kg CO2–eq kg−1. According to the results, the production of orange was considered to be profitable in terms of EUE

The Use of Chosen Biological Methods for Forest Soil Revitalization in Scots Pine Cultivation

The purpose of this investigation was to indicate the most effective method of revitalizing degraded forest area. The different modifications of wood chips were used as a substitute for humus layer. The mites (Acari), and moss mites (Oribatida) as the bio-indicators of soil succession changes were used. The study began 2 years after planting of Scots pine seedlings on the land devastated by military activity, at the former military training ground (GPS: 53.156943N, 17.986440E). The soil on this area was in the type of rusty soils and subtype of the rusty algae soils. Scots pine seedlings were planted in spring 2011, in a distance 1.5×0.8 m. In one-factor experiment four soil mulching treatments were tested: 1. uncovered soil – control (C), 2. soil mulched with wood chips (W), 3. W + mycorrhizal preparation (WM), 4. W + forest litter (WL). Three replicates of microplots arrangement was applied. Each microplot was 5 m long with 3 rows of Scots pine. Each replication covers 10 rows. Mulching with wood chips was carried out on April 12, 2012. On October 25, 2012, the wood chips on the WM microplots were inoculated with the mycorrhizal biopreparation, and on the WL microplots, a 10% addition of fresh forest litter from the ripe fresh coniferous forest was applied. After the end of the growing season of 2012, 2013 and 2014, the measurement of the plants was carried out (the height, the root neck diameter, the length of one-year increments in the last whorl, the number of one-year increments of the last whorl and the lengths of one-year increments of the last whorl). The samples for acarological tests were collected four times. In total, 40 substrate samples with a volume of 50 cm3 each were collected from each treatment. Mites extraction was carried out for 7 days in Tullgren apparatus. Mites were identified to the order, and moss mites to the species or genus, including juvenile stages. Calculated: the average density of mites, the dominance index, the species richness, the diversity of moss mites, the average number of species, and the Shannon general species diversity index. The use of soil mulching with the Scots pine wood chips did not significantly affect the growth and developmental characteristics of the Scots pine plants. After mulching with wood chips, the total number of mites increased many times, and moss mites began to dominate among micro-arthropods. Mulching treatments increased the number and the species diversity of moss mites in the substrate. The number of moss mites increased the most in wood chips without additives. The highest species diversity was observed in the wood chips with the addition of forest litter. Among moss mites Tectocepheus velatus visibly dominated in all study treatments. Oppiella nova and Scutovertex sculptus also constituted numerous mites populations. The study shows that the wood chips are very useful for use in the regeneration of the devastated and degraded forest soils

Deficit Irrigation Stabilizes Fruit Yield and Alters Leaf Macro and Micronutrient Concentration in Tomato Cultivation in Greenhouses: A Case Study in Turkey

Water is crucial for agriculture and needs to be used effectively due to climate change and drought in the Mediterranean region. For this reason, to adapt to water deficit scenarios, deficit irrigation applications are increasing in importance. The aim of this research was to determine the effect of varying levels of irrigation on growth parameters and concentration of nutrients in tomato plants grown under greenhouse conditions. The irrigation schedule used in this study was designed to include 100% (control), 90%, 80% and 70% of evaporation from the class-A pan. Water deficit was found to cause a stress effect in tomato plants, which was reflected in changes in the physiological function plants, such as flowering and early ripening. In addition, the SPAD values were examined, for which the lowest value of the green color intensity of the leaves was 47.3 (I3) and the highest was 48.7 (I4). However, the results of statistical analyses show that the difference was not significant. We also observed that the height values of tomato plants were the highest in the period of seedling and fruit ripening under full irrigation. Furthermore, analysis of the macronutrient content of tomato leaves showed that the obtained values were below the threshold values recommended for manganese. Based on these and similar studies, we believe that the application of water stress is most effective during the phases in which the plants are least affected. We believe that determining the periods during which tomato or any other crop is be affected by the least water stress will be more accurate for both plant development and economic production

The influence of irrigation on the growth of Paulownia trees at the first year of cultivation in a light soil

eISSN 2345-0916; eISBN 9786094491283The field experiment was carried out in 2016 on sandy soil in the forest nursery Białe-Błota (Bydgoszcz Forest Division, Poland). The effect of sprinkler irrigation on the growth Paulownia Shan Tong trees was investigated. The experiment was established as one factorial. The variability factor was the irrigation: S-sprinkler irrigation and C- without irrigation (control). The process included the controls of growth parameters: tree height, trunk diameter, number and surface of leaves. It was found that the sprinkled seedlings of Paulownia Shan Tong were significantly higher than those growing in the non-irrigated plots. The sprinkler irrigation applied in the experiment resulted in an increase in the number of leaves of the Paulownia and their surface area, which resulted in an increase in biomass yield. By analysing the results of the study on trunk diameter, leaf number and surface, it may be stated that irrigation watering significantly influenced the tested parameters. Irrigation significantly increased the height of Paulownia trees. The positive effect of the usage of sprinkler irrigation may indicate the possibility of effective application of this method in the field cultivation of Paulownia Shan TongVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij

Concentrations of some chemical components in white asparagus spears depending on the cultivar and post-harvest irrigation treatments

The effect of post-harvest irrigation and genotype on the quality components of white asparagus spears was investigated. The field experiment was conducted in 2003-2008 on a very light soil in the Bydgoszcz region. The research was based on a two-factorial split-plot design with randomly selected sub-main blocks. The first studied factor was irrigation applied as two treatments: drip irrigation and microsprinkler irrigation. Non-irrigated plants were tested as the control. The second factor considered was genotype represented by three male cultivars of the garden asparagus: ‘Gijnlim’, ‘Ramos’ and ‘Vulkan’. The irrigation started after the harvest of the spears, while the concentrations of chemical ingredients were measured in the white spears collected in the next growing period. The level of the tested components was significantly influenced by both factors studied. The average amounts of dry matter, potassium, iron and nitrates measured in the white spears were 6.37%, 268.9 mg 100 g−1 f.m., 0.29 mg 100 g−1 f.m. and 62.1 mg kg−1 f.m., respectively. Compared to the control, both irrigation treatments considerably increased the dry matter and potassium contents. The irrigation reduced the amount of nitrates, although the microsprinkler irrigation gave better results than the drip irrigation. The highest concentrations of potassium and iron were measured in the spears of ‘Ramos’, especially in the case of drip-irrigated (potassium) and non-irrigated (iron) plants. The amount of dry matter was high in the spears of ‘Ramos’, while ‘Vulkan’ presented a low tendency to accumulate nitrates

Possibilities of Using Whey Wastes in Agriculture: Case of Turkey

Liquid wastes are generated during production in the milk and cheese industries. During cheese production, whey emerges as a liquid product. Researchers define waste as raw material instead of waste alone. Hence, there is no doubt that the use and management of waste will gain greater importance in the upcoming years. This study discusses the use of whey, which is food waste, in agriculture and the benefits derived from it in terms of energy value. Our research was based on the current literature and the amount of whey that emerged in the dairy industry. For this purpose, the existing literature was evaluated to determine how much waste was produced from whey. The total amount of whey waste in Turkey for 2021 was determined. Afterwards, the amount of potential energy was determined in evaluating these wastes. Turkey’s total amount of potential energy obtained from whey waste was calculated as 570.11 × 106 MJ, with 158.36 × 106 kWh as potential electrical energy. Moreover, it was calculated that a total of 158.36 × 106 kWh of electrical energy would meet the electrical energy of 688,548 families of four people for a month. It is also stated that this potential energy will be used in the field of equivalent electrical energy content and agriculture. It is a fact that cheese wastewater, rich in nutrients and organic matter, can be used in agriculture. Whey is used as animal feed in agricultural fertilization activities and the livestock sector. It has also been understood from the literature that it can also be used in biogas production. However, it should not be forgotten that whey released into rivers, water sources, or sewers threatens the environment due to its high protein content. Therefore, by increasing the number of similar studies on the subject, a wide range of wastes, such as whey, can be utilized in the most accurate manner. As a result, environmental protection, conservation of water resources, and energy conservation can be ensured by properly benefiting from whey waste. Considering that the world population will increase in the future, it is a fact that we will need a cleaner environment and more energy. It was concluded that greater importance should be given to waste management practices for a cleaner environment and energy saving