The effects of high temperature and low humidity on crop water stress index of seed pumpkin plants (Cucurbita pepo L.) in semi-arid climate conditions

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of high temperature and low humidity on the crop water stress index (CWSI) of seed pumpkin plants grown under semi-arid climate conditions to determine the optimum irrigation time. This research unveils the critical impact of high temperature and low humidity on seed pumpkin growth, emphasizing the vital role of the CWSI in optimizing irrigation strategies and seed yield. Moreover, the relationship between CWSI, physiological parameters, and seed yield of the pumpkin was investigated. The mean CWSI values in the I70 (0.40) and I35 (0.56) treatments were 42% and 100% higher, respectively than those in the full irrigation (I100) treatment (0.28). While the I70 treatment showed manageable water stress with minimal impact, the I35 treatment experienced severe stress, significantly reducing crop growth and yield. The mean seed yield (SY) in the I70 treatment increased to 1245.2 kg ha–1 compared to I35 (903.3 kg ha–1) but remained lower than I100 (1339.3 kg ha–1). The CWSI had negative correlations (p ≤ 0.01) with seed yield, chlorophyll content, and leaf area index, while it had positive correlations with water use efficiency and irrigation water use efficiency (p ≤ 0.01). This study showed that pumpkins could be grown successfully at 30% water deficit conditions, and a water deficit higher than 30% may cause a significant seed yield loss in semi-arid climate conditions. In addition, the results highlight the importance of optimal irrigation and CWSI monitoring for informed irrigation decisions and sustainable agricultural practices. Therefore, moderate water deficit (I70) can be adopted in pumpkin cultivation as an alternative to full irrigation

Response of Chosen American Asparagus officinalis L. Cultivars to Drip Irrigation on the Sandy Soil in Central Europe: Growth, Yield, and Water Productivity

The aim of this study was to verify the response of 13 American asparagus cultivars cultivated for green spear on surface postharvest drip irrigation. Irrigation, used to compensate for periodic deficiencies in precipitation, allows for high- and good-quality crops for many species. The field experiment was carried out in 2006–2008 on a very light sandy soil in central Europe (Poland). Irrigation treatments were applied using the tensiometer indications. Water requirements of asparagus were calculated on the base of reference evapotranspiration and crop coefficients. The following evaluations were made: Height, diameter, and number of summer stalks, as well marketable yield, weight, and number of consumption green spears. Drip irrigation applied for 2 years (2006–2007) in the postharvest period had a positive effect on all studied traits in both summer stalks and green spears in 2007–2008. A significant increase in the height, number, and diameter of summer stalks, as well an increase in the marketable yield, weight, and number of green spears was observed for most of the cultivars. In general, postharvest drip irrigation of asparagus cultivated in very light sandy soil significantly contributes to the increase in productivity of American cultivars of this species

Requirements and Effects of Surface Drip Irrigation of Mid-Early Potato Cultivar Courage on a Very Light Soil in Central Poland

The purpose of this research was to determine the water needs and results of drip irrigation of mid-early potato cultivar Courage. Studies were carried out in central Poland in 2011–2013 on very light soil. The experiment was designed as two-factorial trials with four replications. The first factor was drip irrigation: O = control (without irrigation), D = drip irrigation. The second factor was the nitrogen fertilization method: P = broadcasting, F = drip fertigation. Nitrogen fertilization was 120 kg N ha−1 on each plot. Crop coefficients for irrigation period were 0.4 in June and 0.6 in July and August. According to calculations based on the crop coefficients and correction coefficients acc. HargreavesDA model the water requirement of potato for June–August was 202 mm. Drip irrigation increased the marketable tuber yield by 55%. Irrigation water use efficiency increased from 257 kg ha−1 mm−1 in D + P to 264 kg ha−1 mm−1 in D + F. The productivity of 1 kg of nitrogen fertilization was 189 kg ha−1 in control non-irrigated plots and 321 kg ha−1 in drip-irrigated plots, and it rose up to 337 kg ha−1 when fertilization was applied by fertigation

Impact of ectohumus application in birch and pine nurseries on the presence of soil mites (Acari), Oribatida in particular

Intensively used forest nurseries are characterised by degradation processes that lead to a drop in the quality of seedlings. The main reason of this problem is a decrease in biological soil diversity. Therefore, an attempt of nursery soil enrichment by introducing ectohumus – as compost and fresh litter – from the pine forest was carried out. The research was carried out in 2009–2011 in the Bielawy forest nursery near the city of Toruń, Poland. The objective of the study was to determine the impact of organic fertilisation (compost made up of forest humus) and mulching using fresh ectohumus on the density and community composition of Acari mites and on species composition of oribatid mites (Oribatida) in the nurseries of silver birch and Scots pine. Mites, especially oribatid mites, were treated as bioindicators of soil biological activity. Research has shown that mulching using fresh ectohumus caused a multiple increase in the density of mites, especially in saprophagous mites Oribatida. Oribatid mites were clearly more numerous in birch cultivation than in that of pine. Overall, 27 species of oribatid mites were found. Mulching resulted in a significant growth in species diversity in both cultivations. The most numerous oribatid mite in the area under the study was Oribatula tibialis. This species was present in all plots and showed clear preference for birch cultivation. Tectocepheus velatus and Oppiella nova, common and known to be present in a variety of environments, were slightly less numerous

Impact of ectohumus application in birch and pine nurseries on the presence of soil mites (Acari), Oribatida in particular

Intensively used forest nurseries are characterised by degradation processes that lead to a drop in the quality of seedlings. The main reason of this problem is a decrease in biological soil diversity. Therefore, an attempt of nursery soil enrichment by introducing ectohumus – as compost and fresh litter – from the pine forest was carried out. The research was carried out in 2009–2011 in the Bielawy forest nursery near the city of Toruń, Poland. The objective of the study was to determine the impact of organic fertilisation (compost made up of forest humus) and mulching using fresh ectohumus on the density and community composition of Acari mites and on species composition of oribatid mites (Oribatida) in the nurseries of silver birch and Scots pine. Mites, especially oribatid mites, were treated as bioindicators of soil biological activity. Research has shown that mulching using fresh ectohumus caused a multiple increase in the density of mites, especially in saprophagous mites Oribatida. Oribatid mites were clearly more numerous in birch cultivation than in that of pine. Overall, 27 species of oribatid mites were found. Mulching resulted in a significant growth in species diversity in both cultivations. The most numerous oribatid mite in the area under the study was Oribatula tibialis. This species was present in all plots and showed clear preference for birch cultivation. Tectocepheus velatus and Oppiella nova, common and known to be present in a variety of environments, were slightly less numerous

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

Występowanie mechowców podczas rewitalizacji szkółek leśnych

The study was conducted in the years 2008-2010 in the bare root nursery Białe Błota that produced pine, beech and linden, and belonged to Bydgoszcz Forest District. The experiments included the following variants: C – control, O – organic fertilization, M – mulching with raw humus, OM – organic fertilization and mulching with raw humus. Relatively small but significant increase in the number and diversity of Oribatida species was observed in O variant for the deciduous trees. Mulching was the soil revitalization method that clearly improved the density and biodiversity of Oribatida species. In total, the investigated area harbored 37 species of oribatid mites. The most effective bioindicator and stimulant of soil revitalization was a common fungivorous species Tectocepheus velatus.Badania były prowadzone w latach 2008-2010 w należącej do Nadleśnictwa Bydgoszcz, szkółce leśnej Białe Błota produkującej sosnę, buk oraz lipę. Badania prowadzone były w następujących wariantach: C – kontrola, O – nawożenie organiczne, M – mulczowanie świeżym humusem, OM – nawożenie organiczne i mulczowanie świeżym humusem. Stosunkowo mały, ale znaczący wzrost liczby i zróżnicowania gatunkowego mechowców zaobserwowano w wariancie O dla drzew liściastych. Mulczowanie było metodą rewitalizacji gleb, która wyraźnie wpłynęła na intensywność i zróżnicowanie gatunkowe mechowców. Na badanej powierzchni stwierdzono ogółem 37 gatunków mechowców. Najskuteczniejszym bioindykatorem i stymulatorem rewitalizacji gleby był powszechnie występujący gatunek grzybożerny Tectocepheus velatus

Research of Soil Moisture Dynamic in The Recultivated Plėgai Landfill

In Lithuania, the transportation of waste to landfills is a major way of eliminating them. However, this is not the safest way taking into account the environmental impact, especially when landfills are installed in inappropriate places without complying with installation and recultivation requirements. According to the data of the Department of Statistics, about 1.2 million tons of municipal solid waste or 361 kilograms per capita were accumulated in Lithuania in 2015. In this work the results of soil moisture dynamic in the recultivated Plėgai landfill are analyzed. The landfill is located in Plėgai village, Šakiai district, Lithuania. The work assessed whether the recultivated landfill was installed in accordance with EU requirements. The scientific hypothesis was put up that after the proper installation of the recultivated landfill, soil moisture in it will be the same as in the nearby natural meadow. The research covered the period from June 2nd, 2016 to September 29th, 2016. In the course of the research period, half of the annual precipitation of the year 2016 fell within 4 months, i.e. 336 mm. The highest rainfall was 119 mm in July, the driest was 46 mm in June. During the period of the research it was established that in the landfill and perennial grass meadow soil moisture reserves varied evenly until the first decade of August, the lowest soil moisture values were fixed on 11-20 days of June, then it was 15.11% in the landfill and 15.3% in the perennial grass meadowVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij

Nawadnianie w rekultywacji składowisk odpadów komunalnych

The study identifies irrigation (sprinkler and slope) as a critical component in the biological reclamation and management of the municipal waste landfill in Boduszewo, the commune of Murowana Goślina in the Wielkopolska province. Irrigation was carried out in the vegetative periods during which, due to the rate and distribution of precipitation (2015 and 2016), it was considered necessary. The irrigation doses were determined corresponding to the water consumption by the vegetation covering the landfill. Results show that precise irrigation with the use of two complementary systems: sprinkler and slope, allows for the prevention and accurate control of the drought, resulting in continuous and uninterrupted growth and development of vegetation in the landfill. During the vegetative period of 2015, when the total precipitation (242 mm) was lower by 78 mm than the multi-year average for this season, rainfall deficiencies were supplemented by means of irrigation with doses from 18 mm to 25 mm. These were varied depending on the vegetation water consumption. On the southwest scarp of the landfill, the water consumption was 124 mm on average, whereas in the same period on the northeast scarp it was 46% lower. During the vegetative period of 2016, there was identified an additional need for irrigation of shrubs and trees. Sprinkler irrigation combined with slope irrigation was carried out with doses ranging from 25 mm to 35 mm, depending upon the water consumption by plants. During the vegetative period of 2017, there was no additional irrigation due to the favourable distribution of precipitation and its high rate (459 mm), higher than the multi-year average (by 139 mm), which retained optimal moisture in the root layer of grasses, trees and shrubs in the landfill. The use of irrigation of plants in the municipal waste landfill proved to be an indispensable process contributing to its effective and fast biological reclamation.W pracy przedstawiono nawodnienie (deszczowniane i stokowe), jako jeden z elementów niezbędnych w przeprowadzeniu rekultywacji biologicznej, składowiska odpadów komunalnych we wsi Boduszewo, gmina Murowana Goślina w województwie Wielkopolskim. Nawodnienia prowadzono w okresach wegetacyjnych: 2015 i 2016 roku, w których ze względu na wysokość a przede wszystkim rozkład opadów występowała potrzeba nawadniania. Określono dawki polewowe, odpowiadające zużyciu wody przez rośliny pokrywające składowisko. Wykazano, że precyzyjne nawadnianie, przy pomocy dwóch uzupełniających się systemów: deszczownianego i stokowego, pozwala uniknąć i zapobiegać okresom suszy, wpływając tym samym na niezakłócony wzrost i rozwój roślinności na składowisku. W okresie wegetacyjnym 2015 roku, w którym suma opadów (242 mm), była niższą o 78 mm od średniej z wielolecia, występujące niedobory opadów uzupełniono nawadnianiem dawkami w ilości od 18 mm do 25 mm. Były one zróżnicowane w zależności od zużycia wody przez rośliny. Na skarpie południowo-zachodniej składowiska, zużycie wody wynosiło średnio 124 mm, podczas gdy w tym samym okresie na skarpie północno-wschodniej było o 46% niższe. W okresie wegetacyjnym 2016 roku, wystąpiła dodatkowo potrzeba nawadniania krzewów i drzew. Nawodnienie deszczowniane połączone ze stokowym przeprowadzono dawkami w ilości od 25 mm do 35 mm, uzależnionymi od zużycia wody przez rośliny. W okresie wegetacyjnym 2017 roku, nawodnień nie prowadzono, z powodu wystąpienia opadów o dużej wysokości (459 mm), wyższych od średniej z wielolecia (o 139 mm), a przede wszystkim korzystnego ich rozkładu. Spowodowały one optymalne uwilgotnienie w warstwie korzeniowej roślin trawiastych oraz drzew i krzewów na składowisku. Zastosowanie nawodnienia roślin na składowisku odpadów komunalnych, okazało się niezbędnym zabiegiem, przyczyniającym się do efektywnej i szybkiej jego rekultywacji biologicznej

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