A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of biocyclic humus soil, a newly found apparently carbon stabilized form of organic matter with significantly different characteristics from common composts or other forms of organic matter (humus), on yield and quality of processing tomato. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with three replications and three fertilization treatments (untreated, inorganic fertilizer and biocyclic humus soil). The highest fruit yield (116.8 t/ha) was obtained by using biocyclic humus soil. There were no treatment effects on fruit firmness (4.34-4.60 kg/cm2), total soluble solids (4.29-4.76 °Brix) and total acidity (0.25-0.31 g citric acid/100 g fruit) content of fruits. In conclusion, the tomato plants grown in biocyclic humus soil had 45% more yield than in conventional plots, and this big difference is probably related to the fact that the humus soil as a substrate provides an optimum environment for plant growth.

Nitrogen fertilization is indispensable in increasing wheat crop productivity but, in order to achieve maximum profitable production and minimum negative environmental impact, improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) should be considered. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in a long-term wheat–maize–soybean rotation system with the final purpose of increasing the overall performance of the wheat cropping system. Research was undertaken at the Agricultural Research Development Station Turda (ARDS Turda), located in Western Transylvania Plain, Romania. The experimental field was carried out at a fixed place during seven wheat vegetation seasons. The plant material consisted of a wheat variety created by the ARDS Turda (Andrada), one variety of maize (Turda 332) and one variety of soybean (Felix). The experiment covered two planting patterns: wheat after maize and wheat after soybean and five levels of nitrogen fertilization (control-unfertilized, fertilization with 0—control plot, 30, 60, 90 and 120 kg N ha−1 y−1). The following indices were assessed: NUE (nitrogen use efficiency), N uptake and PFP (partial factor productivity). The results of the present study suggest that reduced N-fertilization doses could improve N uptake and utilization for both planting patterns.

The present paper aims to follow the behaviour of a forage mixture with red clover in the fourth experimental year. We followed the behaviour of a complex mixture consisting of Trifolium pratense (15%), Lolium perenne (20%), Festulolium (25%), Festuca arundinacea (25%) and Phleum pratense (15%) under the influence of mineral fertilization in the climatic conditions specific Plateau of Transylvania, Romania. Experience was installed in the spring of 2012 in experimental fields located inside the Agricultural Research and Development Station Turda. The mixture was sown on 2 densities namely 12.5 cm and 25 cm distances between rows and they were fertilized in early March with complex NPK and ammonium nitrate (33.3%) in four different doses: V1 -control variant, unfertilized, V2-N50P60K80, V3-N75P60K80 and V4 -N100P60K80. An interesting evolution of the forage mixture was observed in the fourth experimental year. Fertilization with N75P60K80 seemed to have a favourable influence on forage mixture productivity.

The importance of the maize fertilization system consists in its directly involvement in the plant growth and development processes conditioning the quantity, quality and economic level of the crops as well as the soil fertility status. Application of unilateral and combined fertilization with different doses of fertilizers and zeolite showed significant variations between experimental variants.

Winter wheat is strongly influenced by the precursory plant. The rotational experiences established in the experimental fields of ARDS Turda, started in 1967, and are installed as follows: winter wheat after soybean, soybean, potatoes, winter wheat after maize and maize. In this paper we studied the influence of precursory plant, as a factor which influences winter wheat productivity. Our results showed that the precursory plant has a distinguish effect on winter wheat productivity. We registered yields higher with 273 kg/ha when winter wheat was cultivated after soybean compared to the yields achieved when winter wheat was cultivated after maize (control variant). Indubitable fertilization had the greatest contribution to these results but the effect of precursory plant is also significant.