During 2011-2014 the effects of fertigation and storage on certain quality attributes of potato tubers (Courage variety) and their extracted starches were assessed. The effect of those factors on the FFQ was also evaluated. When processed, potato tubers are exposed to high temperatures (frying) and this can cause unfavorable physico-chemical changes in the starch quality. The highest content of AM and P tot in starch, as well as the starch lightest in color, were obtained from the tubers of potatoes irrigated and fertigated with a soil fertilizer. The use of a soil fertilizer increased the P tot content in starch and the share of starch grains in the desired fractions (20-40 mm). All experimental factors had an unfavorable effect on starch pasting temperature and a positive effect on the DM and starch contents in the tubers of the studied cultivar. A highly significant positive effect, i.e., a decreased water content after defrosting, was recorded after irrigation with fertigation. The most favorable FFQ was found immediately after the harvest of potatoes grown with the application of all the factors, while the process of storage decreased FFQ by 4.3%.

In Poland, under conditions of the moderate climate and transition between maritime and continental climates, the average rainfall totals of the growing season are in the range of 350–400 mm; however, they are distinguished by great temporal and spatial variability. Climatological studies demonstrate that the drought frequency is approximately 30%. Therefore, under such conditions, irrigation has a supplementary and intervention nature and is applied only when dry periods occur. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of sprinkler irrigation and increased nitrogen fertilization on the yield and quality of sugar beet roots and yield of sugar. The average increase of the yield under irrigation was 18.1 t·ha−1 which constituted a 22.8% increase in the yield. Furthermore, there was a marked tendency of a higher sugar content in the roots of irrigated plants. The absolute, relative, and unit average sugar beet root yield increases obtained under the influence of sprinkler irrigation and the lack of a significant diversity in the sugar content in roots confirm that irrigation contributed to an appropriate pace of plant growth and development. The increased rate of nitrogen fertilization (N2) of 160 kg N·ha−1 plus an additional 40 kg N·ha−1 resulted in the significantly greater root yields compared to the control (N1) (160 kg N·ha−1), i.e., an average of 7.6 t·ha−1 (9%). Based on the crop-water production function, the maximum root yields were obtained for the N1 rate at a total precipitation and irrigation amount of 382 mm, compared with 367 mm for the N2 rate.

The objective of the work, carried out as part of research programme on current change of the regional climate, was to confirm the hypothesis about the increasing frequency and intensity of droughts in May and June in the region of Kujawsko-Pomorskie (central Poland) in the years 1981-2010. Furthermore, the aim was to confirm a significant relationship between indicators characterizing meteorological and agricultural droughts. Material for the research was the data from five meteorological measuring points located in the region. Atmospheric precipitation and air temperature in the period of high water needs of cereals and rapeseed (May-June) were used. Statistical methods widespread in climatological studies were applied, particularly the method of trends. The average multiannual totals (1981-2010) of rainfall in May-June allow ranking the region of Kujawsko-Pomorskie into the area of the lowest rainfall in Poland. The frequency of meteorological drought in May and June is 23.3-30.0% in the region. In the analyzed period there were no significant changes in the frequency and intensity of these droughts with the passage of years. Rainfall shortages in cereal crops and rapeseed production range on average from-19 to-35 mm, and extend to maximum of-93 to-117 mm. The values of shortages did not show any significant changes in the years of the study. The significant dependence between the indicators of meteorological and agricultural droughts allows for determination of the rainfall shortages in crop production on the basis of the SPI values.