The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the biostimulant Kelpak and different nitrogen rates on cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin contents as well as non-structural carbohydrates in orchard grass and Braun’s festulolium. The experiment was a split-plot arrangement with three replicates. It was set up at the experimental facility of the University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Siedlce, in late April 2009. The following factors were examined: biostimulant with the trade name Kelpak SL applied at 2 dm3 ha−1 and a control—no biostimulant; nitrogen application rates 50 and 150 kg ha−1 and a control (0 kg ha−1); pure stands of grass species grown in monoculture—orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata), cv. Amila,—Braun’s festulolium (Festulolium braunii), cv. Felopa. Kelpak significantly increased non-structural carbohydrates, and increasing nitrogen rates reduced the concentration of these components in plants. Increasing nitrogen rates significantly decreased cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and non-structural carbohydrate contents. Compared with orchard grass, Braun’s festulolium proved to be of a higher nutritional value due to lower cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin contents and more non-structural carbohydrates. The aforementioned contents in the grasses differed significantly depending on the cut. Most cellulose and non-structural carbohydrates were determined in second-cut grass whereas most hemicellulose and lignin in second-cut grass.

The objective of the work was to evaluate selected properties of spent substrates used for growing button mushrooms (SMSs) and the content and quality of the organic matter in this material in the context of rational use for fertilisation purposes and potential impact on the soil environment. The materials were sampled at production facilities located in the east of Mazovia. The density and amount of spent substrate on shelves where mushrooms were cultivated were determined. The following were analysed in the laboratory: reaction, carbonate content, TC (total carbon) and TOC (total organic carbon) contents, total nitrogen, organic matter fraction composition, and humic acids properties. It was confirmed that this material had a marked potential to enrich soils in organic matter, nitrogen, and carbonates. The analysis revealed that the most important qualitative properties of the organic matter were related to the relatively high share of labile organic compounds (the fraction separated with 0.05 M H2SO4 and the fraction of fulvic acids). The humic acids had similar properties regardless of their origins. The humic acids (HAs) molecules displayed a substantial share of aliphatic structures which are typical of these materials at their initial decomposition stage. It can be assumed that, due to such properties, spent mushroom substrates are materials which can be directly introduced into the soil to improve their quality and prevent degradation.

The objective of the present work was to determine the effect of various biostimulants on sand lucerne yielding and content of chlorophyll, proteins, and simple sugars against the background of nitrogen fertilisation regime. A field experiment was arranged as a randomized subblock design (splitplot) with three replicates at the Siedlce Experimental Unit of the University of Natural Sciences and Humanities in Poland in the second decade of August 2013). The following factors were examined: type of biostimulant: Algex, Tytanit, Asahi SL and a control (no biostimulant addition); nitrogen application rate: 0 (control) and 30 kg ha -1 . Statistical analysis demonstrated that the biostimulants applied significantly increased plant biomass yields but the effect was more beneficial in plots to where no nitrogen had been applied. Chlorophyll content in lucerne leaves and monosaccharide content were significantly higher following an application of all the biostimulants. Their effect on the sand lucerne content of protein compounds varied. An application of Tytanit and Algex contributed to an increase in protein compounds in test plants but, for Algex, the differences were statistically insignificant. By contrast, an application of Asahi SL was followed by a significant decline in the concentration of protein compounds in lucerne plants. Significantly higher average dry matter yields, a higher average chlorophyll content and a higher average concentration of protein compounds were noted in plots fertilised with nitrogen compared with non-fertilised units. However, nitrogen fertilisation regime significantly reduced the sand lucerne content of simple sugars.

The studied bogs of the Siedlce Heights in eastern Poland are currently undergoing decession. In the course of pedological studies, a significant modification of the structure of soil profiles caused by the murshing process was found. The total contents of carbon and nitrogen values (TC/TN = 11.1-17.3) obtained in the study, as well as slight acidification (pH KCl 5.42-6.15) indicate the eutrophy of the studied soil environment, high biological activity and a significant degree of organic matter processing as a result of the processes of mineralization and humification. In addition, the upper levels covered by the process of murshing, compared to peat, are characterized by lower carbon content and, most often, similar nitrogen content. In the studied soils, humic substances are mostly represented by the fraction of humic acids. As a consequence, high values of the quotient expressing quantitative relations between soil humus fractions (HAs/FAs) were noted. For all profiles, the highest share of fulvic acids was recorded in turf murshic levels (M1). The occurrence of the most mature humic acids was found in the peat levels not covered by secondary transformation processes after dehydration.

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of an application of biostimulants, against the background of varied nitrogen regime, on the share of neutral detergent fraction (NDF), acid detergent fraction (ADF), and acid detergent lignin (ADL) in the crude fiber fraction of Italian ryegrass as well as its digestibility. A field experiment was arranged as a randomized subblock design (split-plot) with three replicates at the Siedlce Experimental Unit of the University of Natural Sciences and Humanities in Poland in 2013. The following factors were examined: type of biostimulant: Algex, Tytanit, Asahi SL and a control; nitrogen application rate: 0 (control); 120 and 180 kg·ha−1. There were confirmed positive effects resulting from an application of biostimulants in Italian ryegrass cultivation. There was confirmed the assumed hypothesis that an application of both natural and synthetic biostimulants will make it possible to improve the feeding value of grasses by reducing the fiber fraction. Particular attention should be paid to the biostimulant Algex whose application in Italian ryegrass cultivation produced the most beneficial response in terms of the share of NDF, ADF, and ADL fractions, which resulted in the greatest increase in the plant dry matter digestibility. Increasing nitrogen rates significantly reduced the quantity of analyzed fiber fractions, and increased grass digestibility.