The article analyses the condition of organic farming in Poland on the basis of the data published by the Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection, the Central Statistical Office and available literature sources. The aim of the study was to assess the condition and prospects for the development of organic produc-tion in Poland. The results of the analysis indicate that there is a growing demand for organic products among consumers, which may contribute to the development of organic farming and an in-crease in the processing of organic products. However, in recent years, a decline in the number of organic farms and the total area of organic farming has been observed. Fodder plants, cereals as well as meadows and pastures are predominant in the structure of crops. Orchards, berries and vegetable cultivation as well as industrial crops are of lesser importance. Poultry, sheep and dairy cattle are predominant in organic livestock farming, whereas goats and cattle intended for meat account for a lower percentage. Among the organic agricultural products milk and dairy products are produced in the greatest quantities.
After triticale, Tritordeum is the second cereal obtained by means of hybridization. As a new type of cereal, it can be introduced in the long term into cultivation in Polish conditions after conducting scientific research. However, it is necessary to identify its requirements regarding climate, soil conditions as well as agricultural engineering. Since this cereal has a high nutritional value, it may be successfully used in the production of food products with increased nutritional value. At the same time, the grains have a good fodder value, therefore they can also be used for the production of feed for livestock. In this work, a description of Tritordeum and an assessment of the cultivation potential of this crop in Poland are undertaken, with considerations for its nutritional and fodder value, based on the scientific literature.
Fig (Ficus carica L.) belongs to Moraceae family, is clearly of greatest importance as a source of human food and nutrition. The fig’s fruits are a good natural source of nutrients, phytochemicals, and minerals which may improve human health and nutrition. All relevant papers in English language were collected. The keywords of pharmacology, traditional medicine, phytochemistry, fig and health promoting were searched in Google Scholar, Scopus, Research Gate and PubMed. The most important pharmacological characteristics of Ficus carica are anticancer, antioxidant, antiparasitic, antiviral, antibacterial, antimutagene, anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, antidiabetic, antipyretic, reproductive, antiplatelet, endocrine, immunological, dermatological, antispasmodic, hypolipidemic, nootropic, antidiarrheal, nephro- and hepato-protective and anti-warts effects. Fruits have anti-oxidative, anti-spasmodic and nephroactivity protective, branches have both anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics. Leaves have anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, anti-diabetic, helpato-protective, anti-angiogenic, immunomodulatory, antinematicidal effect, inhibit of osteoclastogenesis, and are used in the case of ischemia and reperfusion injuries. Latex has anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, anti-angiogenic, antiviral and anthelmintic properties. Moreover, fig’s stem bark has anti-diabetic characteristics. The aim of this review was to go through some important studies on chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of fig. The obtained findings show potential of different parts of the fig plant as an additive in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
Azotobacter spp. are soil bacteria capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen and making it available to plants. This makes them microorganisms of hight importance to the agriculture. The distribution of these bacteria is a complicated subject and is correlated with diverse factors, witch determine the presence or absence of the bacteria in a specific soil. The soil properties as soil and fertility and climate conditions affect the abundance of diazotrophs. Research material consisted of 182 soil samples taken in 2015 from agricultural land in various voivodeships. The number of Azotobacter spp. was determined based on plate method. The presented study evaluated the abundance of Azotobacter spp. in various Polish soils and confirmed the relationship between soil properties and the presence of these bacteria. The studied bacteria were present in 37% of soil samples and numbers of these bacteria varied widely, from 3 to 10801 cfu g-1 of the soil. In the case of Azotobacter spp., soil acidity was also an important factor restricting the occurrence of these bacteria in soils.
The history of using medicinal herbs and plant dates back to the ancient times. Chinese onion (Allium chinense) is famous as a plant for both food and medicinal purposes. It is widely cultivated as a vegetable and native to China. Its bulbs are commonly processed into pickles and spices. The bulb is anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge, hypoglycaemic, hyptensive, lithontripic, stomachic and tonic. It can be also used to prevent oral infection and tooth decay. The most important chemical constituents of the essential oil derived from Allium chinense are: dimethyl disulfide, diallyl sulfide, allyl isothiocyanate, methyl allyl disulfide, methyl propyl disulfide, α-pinene, dimethyl trisulfide, β-pinene, 1,3-dithiane, limonene, diallyl disulfide, linalool, methyl allyl trisulfide, methyl propyl trisulfide, dimethyl tetrasulfide, diallyl trisulfide, diallyl thiosulfinate, and allyl methyl tetrasulfide.
Mung beans, also known as Lu Dou, are one of the traditional soy foods consumed mainly in East Asia, especially by Chinese and Japanese. It has been used both as nutritional food and herbal medicine. Mung is a valuable plant for sustainable agriculture due to its ability to use atmospheric nitrogen. Because of energy crises and high mineral fertilizer prices cultivation of legumes become one of the most promising strategies for sustainable agriculture. The factors determining the efficiency of symbiotic process are the genetic constitution of the host plant and bacteria, environment, and technological inputs (inoculums, fertilizers and pesticides). Inoculation of mung bean with Bradyrhizobium enhanced nodulation, and results in increasing of shoot biomass and grain yield. The legume residues are also a good source of mineral nitrogen for the succeeding crops. Mungbean is rich in easily digestible protein, it also contains vitamin A, B1, B2, C, niacin, folate, iron, calcium, and zinc. Nutrition therapy on the basis of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is quite effective at treating common diseases. The most important health benefits of mung beans are anti-oxidant effects, antifungal and antimicrobial activity, anti-inflammatory activity, activity against diabetes, hypertension and cancer. Mung bean clears heat, detoxifies, reduces swelling, promotes urination, quenches thirst, aids edema in the lower limbs. It is recommended for conjunctivitis, diabetes, dysentery, summer heat, heatstroke, dehydration, edema and food poisoning.
The object of research was the soil from an orchard after 27 years of apple cultivation, showing signs of fatigue resulting in weaker growth of apple seedlings planted into it, and the soil sampled on the same farm, but not used for growing fruit trees. The physicochemical properties of both soils did not differ significantly. In sick soil, no pathogens of fungal or fungi-like origin were found, and the number of nematodes was below the threshold of economic threat. There is a suspicion that abiotic factors could be responsible for soil fatigue. It has been demonstrated that the cultivation of spring and winter wheat, triticale and white mustard before planting apple ‘Antonovka’ seedlings, had a positive impact on their growth. The best effect was obtained after the cultivation of white mustard or after the introduction of mustard seed meal into the soil, which was also confirmed by measurements of the intensity of apple seedlings photosynthesis. The cultivation of these phytosanitary plants or the addition of mustard seed meal positively influenced the biological potential of the soil expressed by a significant increase in the population of bacteria from the genera Pseudomonas and Bacillus. There was also a very large increase in the number of Trichoderma spp. fungi after the addition of mustard seed meal into the soil and winter wheat cultivation.
