Current Agronomy

Impact of climate change on agriculture in Poland

Antonii Faber — 2024-08-08

Agriculture, on the one hand, emits greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change, and on the other hand, it is the
sector which is most affected by the progressing climate change. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of climate change on agriculture and to identify measures adapting agriculture in Poland to changing climatic conditions. The sources of information were legal acts, reports and documents of international institutions, as well as literature on the subject. The study analysed the impact of climate change effects on the conditions of conducting and the volume of agricultural production in global, European and national terms. The analysis showed that progressive climate change and its impact on changing agricultural production conditions threaten the productivity of agriculture, and thus limit the provision of food security. The dynamics of these changes, the extensive scope of threats and the strength of their negative impact prompt adaptation measures. Adaptation measures, the implementation of which enables adaptation to the current and expected climate and its impacts, have been identified.

Agricultural resilience and agricultural sustainability – which is which?

Adam Kleofas Berbeć — 2024-10-23

Agricultural sustainability and agricultural resilience are two related concepts focus on maintaining the productivity and functionality of agricultural systems. Agricultural sustainability, a part of sustainable development, focuses on the long-term viability of agricultural practices, with conservation and efficient use of natural resources, the promotion of biodiversity and the enhancement of ecosystem services delivery to ensure the continued productivity of agricultural systems as central point of the concept. Agricultural sustainability seeks to balance the environmental goals with economic and social aspects of agricultural operations. Agricultural resilience is a narrower concept, focusing mostly on the ability of agricultural systems to withstand and recover from specific external disturbances (negative effects of climate change, market fluctuations). The interconnections between two concepts are currently underexplored.
Agricultural resilience must be seen through the lens of a specific context or challenge to which it responds. Both concepts are essential for developing agricultural systems that can thrive in the face of evolving challenges and contribute to food security, environmental protection and economic stability. Agricultural sustainability provides a foundation for resilience, while improved agricultural resilience can contribute to long-term sustainability of agricultural systems. At the same time not all sustainable agricultural systems are resilient to specific shocks and stresses, and vice-versa. The aim of the study was to identify similarities and differences between the concepts of agricultural sustainability and resilience, with particular reference to their interaction.

Effect of different doses of apple pomace to the substrate on photosynthetic efficiency and yield in common buckwheat in a model experiment

Marcin Różewicz — 2024-10-23

By-products of apple juice pressing should be used for the benefit of the environment. One way to manage them is to add them to the soil in raw or composted form as a natural fertiliser and source of organic matter. A study was therefore undertaken to test several doses of apple pomace to the substrat on photosynthetic parameters and yield of buckwheat. The experiment was conducted in a vegetation hall under controlled, automatic irrigation to 60% of the field water capacity. The model study used the cultivar Red corolla and three doses of apple pomace applied to pots in the following amounts: 0 control, 70, 140 and 210 g per pot, which corresponded to field volume: 1, 2 and 3 t·ha-1. Four photosynthetic parameters (Pn, E, Gs and Ci) were measured and the water use efficiency was determined. Chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm and PI) was also investigated. The most suitable variant for buckwheat was the using 210 g which resulted in increased photosynthesis intensity, chlorophyll fluorescence and buckwheat yield.

Preliminary studies on the allelopathic potential of two invasive species of Solidago against selected cereal weeds

Jarosław Mołdoch — 2024-10-23

Agricultural sustainability and agricultural resilience are two related concepts focus on maintaining the productivity and functionality of agricultural systems. Agricultural sustainability, a part of sustainable development, focuses on the long-term viability of agricultural practices, with conservation and efficient use of natural resources, the promotion of biodiversity and the enhancement of ecosystem services delivery to ensure the continued productivity of agricultural systems as central point of the concept. Agricul- tural sustainability seeks to balance the environmental goals with economic and social aspects of agricultural operations. Agricultural resilience is a narrower concept, focusing mostly on the ability of agricultural systems to withstand and recover from specific external disturbances (negative effects of climate change, market fluctuations). The interconnections between two concepts are currently under- explored. Agricultural resilience must be seen through the lens of a specific context or challenge to which it responds. Both concepts are essential for developing agricultural systems that can thrive in the face of evolving challenges and contribute to food security, environ- mental protection and economic stability. Agricultural sustainability provides a foundation for resilience, while improved agricultural resilience can contribute to long-term sustainability of agricultural systems. At the same time not all sustainable agricultural systems are resilient to specific shocks and stresses, and vice-versa. The aim of the study was to identify similarities and differences between the concepts of agricultural sustainability and resilience, with particular reference to their interaction.

Agronomic characteristics and economic performance of cocoa farms in Haiti

Predner Duvivier — 2024-10-23

This study aimed to describe the agronomic characteristics of the cocoa based farms, estimate their agronomic and economic performance and carry out a gender analysis. Data relating to crops economic value or food security importance, household size, farm- ers’ age, farm size, crop yield and farm family income were collected by focus groups or individual surveys. The results showed that, in average, the households’ size was 4.37 people and the producers’ age, 52 years. The female headed farm size was 1.56 ha against 2.20 ha for the male headed ones. Cocoa farm yield was 562.98 kg/ha and average farm income, 622.3 USD for female headed farms against 1138.0 USD for male headed ones. Compared to male, female farmers possessed less land and earned lower farm income

Influence of sowing date and cultivar on grain and protein yield of grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]

Marcin Różewicz — 2024-11-08

Sorghum is a warm-climate crop that is tolerant of water shortages and drought. In terms of climate change in Europe, this cereal could be increasingly grown to replace maize where maize cannot be grown. Unfortunately, the agronomics and especially the optimum sowing date are currently not sufficiently researched, which means that many farmers potentially interested in growing sorghum do not know what sowing date to use. The diversity of cultivar also poses a problem in terms of their appropriate selection and sowing date for the weather conditions in Poland. The study used two different sowing dates for sorghum: in the first decade of May and the second decade of May. Three different grain sorghum cultivars were used: Albanus, Anggy and GK Emese. In the conducted experiment, such features as grain yield and its components as: plant density, number of panicles, tillering index, grain weight per panicle and thousand grain mass were studied. Protein content in grain was also studied and protein yield was calculated. The GK Emese variety proved to be the most stable in terms of grain and protein yield, but it was also the most sensitive to sowing date. The other two varieties Anggy and Albanus showed a varied response to sowing date in terms of grain and protein yield.

Alternariosis or brown spot of pomegranate bushes in the western part of Azerbaijan

Lala A. Huseynova — 2024-11-04

Alternariosis or brown spot (Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl.) is a widespread disease of pomegranate bushes in Azerbaijan. The disease occurs mainly in the western part of the country. Alternariosis or brown spot on pomegranate bushes (Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl.) is found mainly on leaves and fruits. On ripening pomegranate fruits, the lesion begins with small brown or black spots that increase in size and become round or oval. The causative agents of alternariosis or brown spot on pomegranate bushes (Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl.) are imperfect fungi of the genus Alternaria, from the order Hyphomycetales; Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl is more common in the conditions of the western part of Azerbaijan. Alternariosis or brown spot (Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl.) causes the greatest harm in conditions of sufficient moisture.
The aim of the article is to present the results of studies on the distribution, intensity of development and harmfulness of alternariosis or brown spot of pomegranate bushes (Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl.), as well as biological effectiveness of fungicides used to control alternariosis, in the western part of Azerbaijan. Research methods used are generally accepted in phytopathology and plant protection to identify and record the infectious potential of the causative agent of alternariosis or brown spot of pomegranate bushes (Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl.) as well as to disease monitoring. During field studies, the fungicides used were 0.4% Selphate (37.5% copper oxychloride + 16% zineb), 0.05% Azoxifene (20% azoxystrobin + 12.5% difenoconazole), 0.05% Conazole (25% difenoconazole) and 0.3% P-oxiride (50% copper oxychloride) and determined their biological effectiveness accordingly.
In the last 5 years, there has been a trend of increasing harmfulness of alternariosis or brown spot of pomegranate bushes (Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl.) in the western part of Azerbaijan. As our research results show, brown spot mainly affected the leaves of pomegranate bushes. Damage to pomegranate fruits differed only in certain years in the studied gardens. During field studies, it was found that the 0.4% fungicide Selphate gives the best results.