Fusarium culmorum is a ubiquitous, soil-borne fungus (ascomycete) causing foot and root rot and Fusarium head blight on cereals. It is responsible for yield and quality losses as well as grain contamination with mycotoxins, which are a potential health hazard. An extremely sensitive mitochondrial-based qPCR assay (FcMito qPCR) for quantification of F. culmorum was developed in this study. To provide specificity, the FcMito assay was successfully validated against 85 F. culmorum strains and 53 isolates of 30 other fungal species. The assay efficiency and sensitivity were evaluated against different F. culmorum strains with various amounts of pure fungal DNA and in the presence of background wheat DNA. The results demonstrated the high efficiency of the assay (97.2–106.0%, R²-values > 0.99). It was also shown that, in the presence of background DNA, 0.01 pg of fungal template could be reliably quantified. The FcMito assay was used to quantify F. culmorum DNA using 108 grain samples with different trichothecene levels. A significant positive correlation was found between fungal DNA quantity and the total trichothecene content. The obtained results showed that the sensitivity of the FcMito assay was much higher than the nuclear-based qPCR assay for F. culmorum.

Earthworm species composition, the density of individuals, and their biomass were investigated in spring barley and faba bean fields in a long-term (52-year) experiment conducted at the Production and Experimental Station in Bałcyny, in north-eastern Poland (53°40′ N; 19°50′ E). Additionally, post-harvest residues biomass, soil organic matter (SOM), and soil pH were recorded. The above traits were investigated using two experimental factors: I. cropping system—continuous cropping (CC) vs. crop rotation (CR) and II. pesticide plant protection: herbicide + fungicide (HF+) vs. no plant protection (HF−). A total of three species of Lumbricidae were found: Aporrectodea caliginosa (Sav.) in both crops, Aporrectodea rosea (Sav.) in spring barley, and Lumbricus terrestris (L.) in faba bean. The density and biomass of earthworms were unaffected by experimental treatments in spring barley fields, whereas in faba bean CC increased and HF+ decreased earthworm density and biomass in comparison with CR and HF− respectively. Total post-harvest residues in faba bean fields were higher under CC in relation to CR and under HF+ compared with HF− treatment in both crops. Compared to CR, CC increased soil pH in spring barley fields and decreased in faba bean fields. Experimental factors did not affect SOM. Earthworm density and biomass were positively correlated with SOM content.

In recent years, sustainable agriculture has revitalized interest in crop rotations and their effects on crop performance and agroecosystem biodiversity, including weeds. This article used winter rye as an example and focused on the crop rotation (CR) impact on species, taxonomic and functional diversity of weed communities and analysed the contribution of crop rotation to protecting yield and regulating weed abundance. Long-term continuous rye cropping (CC) provided a background for comparison. Two variants of plant protection were also adopted: herbicide application (H+) and no plant protection (H−). The data from the 10th, 30th and 50th years of the experiment were included in the analysis. Diversified crop rotation with no chemical protection resulted in a satisfactory rye yield and reduced weed abundance—especially problem species—without a decrease in weed species diversity or functional diversity. When rye was grown under crop rotation, the herbicide application had no effect on yield protection, but it was harmful to weed biodiversity. The rye yield correlated negatively with weed biomass, but did not show a link with weed biodiversity. Continuation of long-term experiments as a research basis for contemporary and future scientific challenges is necessary.

Renewable raw materials could be a valuable source of phosphorus for plants. The bioavailability of this element can be enhanced by phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria. Suspension biofertilizers have been produced from sewage sludge ash and animal bones and enriched with the bacteria Bacillus megaterium. The functional properties of these preparations were compared in field experiments (northeast Poland, 2014, four replications) on spring wheat (Triticum aestivum ssp. vulgare Mac Key) to conventional fertilizers (superphosphate, phosphorite), ash-water solution (without microorganisms) and a control treatment without P fertilization. The soil type and cultivation regime were adjusted to the requirements of spring wheat in line with good agricultural practice. The effects of biofertilizers on the following were investigated: wheat yield, ear density, number of grains in the ear, the weight of 1000 grains, harvest index, weed infestation, the weight and structure of crop residues, and the pH of soil. Phosphorus biofertilizers from ash and bones equalled commercial fertilizers in terms of their crop-enhancing efficiency. Biofertilizer from ash, and ash diluted with water reduced weed infestation of the growing crop. Biofertilizer from bones resulted in a greater weight of wheat crop residues. Biofertilizers did not change the pH of soil. It is expected that the production of biofertilizers containing recycled phosphorus will be an alternative to its non-renewable resources and will also contribute to effective waste management.