No abstract

The aim of experiments was to investigate a maximal efficiency of PSII, as a marker indicating growth, vigor, energetic value and physiological activity of sorghum fertilized with wastes from a biomass biodigestion to methane in a distillery integrated with a biogas plant using corn grains as substrate. The sorghum plants grown outdoor in different climate and in pots and in field were fertilized with different doses of the waste or Apol-humus – a soil improver and Stymjod – a nano-organic-mineral fertilizer. The maximal efficiency of PSII, in comparison with plant growth and health, chlorophyll content, gas exchange, activity of selected enzymes, element content in leaves and energetic value were studied. The wastes applied to soil resulted in increased maximal efficiency of PSII and the doses of 30 m3 ha-1 and 40–50 m3 ha-1 of the non-centrifuged and centrifuged ones, respectively, were most efficient. This enhancement was associated with the increased kinetics of plant growth, their health, fresh and dry biomass and physiological activity of plants as evidenced by activity of acid and alkaline phosphatase, RNase and dehydrogenase, as well as by gas exchange: net photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2 concentration and index of chlorophyll content in leaves. The fertilization with Apol-humus and Stymjod additionally increased maximal photochemical efficiency of PSII and plant development, biomass yield and physiological activity. The results indicate that waste from a biomass biodigestion to methane can be used as a natural fertilizer in sorghum crops and this ensures their recycling and environmental protection. The measurement values of maximal efficiency of PSII were proportionally to the vigor, growth and physiological activity of the plants. The obtained results indicate that the maximal efficiency of PSII in sorghum plants is a non-destructive method for defining the degree of growth and may be used as a marker of plant vigor and health, development and physiological activity expressed by gas exchange and activity of selected enzymes.

The effect of foliar application of Cyanobacteria and Chlorella sp. monocultures on physiological activity, element composition, development and biomass weight of basket willow (Salix viminalis L.) and the possibility to prepare biofuel from it in the fortification process was studied. Triple foliar plant spraying with non-sonicated monocultures of Cyanobacteria (Anabaena sp. PCC 7120, Microcystis aeruginosa MKR 0105) and Chlorella sp. exhibited a considerably progressive impact on metabolic activity and development of plants. This biofertilization increased cytomembrane impermeability, the amount of chlorophyll in plants, photosynthesis productivity and transpiration, as well as degree of stomatal opening associated with a decreased concentration of intercellular CO2, in comparison to control (treatments with water, Bio-Algeen S90 or with environmental sample). The applied strains markedly increased the element content (N, P, K) in shoots and the productivity of crucial growth enzymes: alkaline or acid phosphorylase, total dehydrogenases, RNase and nitrate reductase. Treatments did not affect energy properties of the burnt plants. These physiological events were associated with the improved growth of willow plants, namely height, length and amount of all shoots and their freshly harvested dry mass, which were increased by over 25% compared to the controls. The effectiveness of these treatments depended on applied monoculture. The plant spraying with Microcystis aeruginosa MKR 0105 was a little more effective than treatment with Chlorella sp. and Anabaena sp. or the environmental sample. The research demonstrate that the studied Cyanobacteria and Chlorella sp. monocultures have prospective and useful potential in production of Salix viminalis L., which is the basic energy plant around the word. In this work, a special batch reactor was used to produce torrefaction material in an inert atmosphere: nitrogen, thermogravimetric analysis and DTA analysis, like Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The combustion process of Salix viminalis L. with TG-MS analysis was conducted as well as study on a willow torrefaction process, obtaining 30% mass reduction with energy loss close to 10%. Comparing our research results to other types of biomasses, the isothermal temperature of 245 °C during thermo-chemical conversion of willow for the carbonized solid biofuel production from Salix viminalis L. biomass fertilized with Cyanobacteria and Chlorella sp. is relatively low. At the end, a SEM-EDS analysis of ash from torrefied Salix viminalis L. after carbonization process was conducted.

An increase in plant productivity and the limitation of environmental pollution through the use of natural fertilizers are becoming the most important issues in contemporary sustainable agriculture. Therefore, the purpose of the research was to demonstrate the effect of Jerusalem artichoke ash, used alone or together with biopreparations and biogas plant waste, on the growth and physiological activity of sorghum and to show their applicability as an alternative to chemical fertilization. The sorghum plants, cultivated in Central and North Poland, were fertilized with the YaraMila Complex, a chemical fertilizer (0, 150, 300 kg ha-1) and each concentration was supplemented with Jerusalem artichoke ash (0-4 t ha-1), applied separately or together with Apol-Humus (10 L ha-1), biogas plant waste (30 m 3 ha-1) and Stymjod (5 L ha-1). Within each YaraMila Complex addition, the all ash doses (preferably 2-4 t ha-1), biopreparations and biogas plant waste significantly enhanced plant growth, biomass yield, chlorophyll content, gas exchange (net photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO 2 concentration), enzyme activity (acid and alkaline phosphorylase, RNase, dehydrogenase) and slightly enhanced the content of the measured elements in plants and their energy properties. The ash applied together with a lower than recommended amount of YaraMila Complex (0 or 150 kg ha-1) increased plant development slightly more than twice the dose of YaraMila Complex used alone (150 or 300 kg ha-1 , respectively). This demonstrates that the studied ash can serve as a natural fertilizer and may halve the recommended chemical fertilizer doses. K e y w o r d s: fertilization, physiological activity, Jerusalem artichoke ash, sorghum growth

The aim of the research was to check the suitability of the Phytotoxkit test for quick assessment of usefulness of ashes from the combustion of sorghum and Jerusalem artichoke biomass as fertilizers in the cultivation of energy crops. Seeds of Sorghum bicolor L. were placed in the Phytotoxkit-plates, filled with Alonet Substrate KS (Latvia) and containing 0-100% of ash from burnt sorghum and Jerusalem artichoke plants. Based on daily measurements under greenhouse conditions, dynamics of seed germination, growth speed of shoots and roots, their fresh and dry biomass, index of chlorophyll content and parameters of gas exchange were evaluated. The results indicated that the modified Phytotoxkit biotest could be useful for quick assessment of ashes usefulness as fertilizers, it can be performed under greenhouse conditions regardless of the growing season and may be an alternative to laborious and long-term field trials. Biotest showed that the studied ashes, used in the proper dosages, improved seed germination, plant growth and biomass yield. These events were associated with increased index of chlorophyll content in leaves, net photosynthesis, stomatal conductivity, transpiration and proportionally decreased concentration of intercellular CO 2 . This indicate, that the studied ashes can be used as fertilizers in sorghum crops.