The level of cereal yields and the quality of these yields depend, to a large extent, on a crop management system, the genetic potential of a given cultivar, but also on factors that may cause damage to plants or a reduction in yield. Such factors include fungal diseases of cereals, which may cause a reduction in yield by 15–20%, and in extreme cases even by 60%. The main factors determining the occurrence of these pathogens are the weather conditions during the growing season of plants, crop rotation, the previous crop, the soil tillage system, and nitrogen fertilisation. Fungal diseases of cereals limit plant growth and development, as well as reduce grain yield and quality. This paper reviews the literature on fungal diseases of cereals.

Products derived from wheat grains are an important source of protein in the daily diet of people in many parts of the world. The biological value of protein is determined by its amino acid composition and the proportions of the individual amino acids. Synthesis of these compounds in wheat grains is influenced by genetic factors, as well as habitat conditions and the agrotechnology applied in cultivation. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of production technology (integrated, intensive) on the grain yield and the content amino acid profile of protein in common and durum wheat grain. Field research was conducted at the Experimental Station IUNG-PIB in Osiny (Poland) in two growing seasons. It was found that grain yield significantly depended on the weather conditions in the years of harvesting and genotype, but did not depend on the production technology. On the other hand, the protein content and their amino acid composition depended significantly on the production technology and genotype. A significantly higher content of protein substances was found in durum wheat grain. Increasing the intensity of production technology had a positive effect on the total protein content and the content of individual amino acids, both exogenous and endogenous. The amino acid limiting the biological value of protein contained in grains of both wheat species was lysine, and the deficiency of this amino acid was significantly lower in grain protein from intensive than integrated cultivation technology.

For economic, environmental, and climatic reasons, soil cultivation methods without the use of a plough have became increasingly popular in recent decades. As research has shown, their impact on the growth and yield of crops is not always positive, especially when direct sowing is used. Recently,...

Cultivar, habitat conditions and agrotechnology have an influence on the yield and chemical composition of rye grain. The main anti-nutritional substances present in rye grain include alkylresorcinols, water-soluble pentosans and trypsin inhibitors. The aim of this study was to determine the variability in yield and the concentration of anti-nutritional compounds in the grain of selected winter rye cultivars in relation to nitrogen fertilisation levels and weather conditions. Field studies were conducted at the Experimental Station of IUNG-PIB in Osiny (Poland) in two growing seasons (2018/2019 and 2019/2020). The experiment was located on pseudo-polylic soil using the randomised sub-block method in three replications. The first factor of the experiment was the level of nitrogen fertilisation (0, 70 and 140 kg N∙ha−1) and the second was the population (Dańkowskie Skand, Piastowskie) and hybrid (KWS Vinetto, SU Performer) winter rye cultivars. The study showed that the yield of winter rye depended on the genotype and the level of nitrogen fertilisation. The hybrid cultivars yield ed 17.9% higher in relation to the population cultivars. The content of anti-nutritional compounds in rye grain depended significantly on genotype, level of nitrogen fertilisation and weather conditions. The reason for the higher synthesis of anti-nutrients in rye grain was the stressful weather conditions occurring in the 2019/2020 season. Nitrogen fertilisation influenced the content of alkylresorcinols, water-soluble pentosans and trypsin inhibitor activity in grain. The interaction of cultivar and fertilisation was also found to shape the content of the aforementioned anti-nutrients.

The biological value of protein is mainly determined by its amino acid composition, and primarily depends on the optimal content of individual exogenous amino acids. The synthesis of these compounds in oat grain is influenced by genetic factors, habitat conditions and the agrotechnology used in cultivation. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of production technology (integrated, intensive) on the yield, content and amino acid profile of protein in the grain of hulled and naked oats. Field studies were conducted at the Agricultural Experimental Station Kępa—Pulawy, Osiny farm of IUNG—PIB (Poland) during two growing seasons (2019 and 2020). It was found that the total protein content of oat grain and its amino acid composition significantly depended on genotype and production technology. Naked oat grain was characterised by significantly higher protein content. The higher the intensity of production, the higher the content of total protein and exogenous and endogenous amino acids. Lysine was the amino acid that limited the biological value of protein in the grain of both oat cultivars. Its deficit was more frequent in grain from intensive production technology.

Apple pomace, as a by-product, is difficult to manage and is produced in significant quantities. This makes it necessary to manage the resulting biomass. It is important for the environment to use pomace in an ecological way. It can provide a source of organic matter and be composted, but it can also be added directly to the soil. The greatest impediments in the use of pomace are the constant process of its production and the fermentation processes taking place within it, which require storage of action and drying and transportation of the pomace. Using pomace immediately after its formation as an exogenous source of organic matter for soil is a possibility. This method of pomace management benefits society and the natural environment. Thus, a study was undertaken to determine the feasibility of applying apple pomace to soil in a model experiment. Tests were conducted on spring wheat of the Harenda cultivar in a greenhouse. Various amounts of apple pomace were added to the soil. Soil properties were studied, as well as photosynthetic parameters and crop yield structure. It was shown that it is possible to improve soil properties and plant yield by adding pomace to the soil, but only for a limited quantity of pomace. The highest maximum pomace that should be used, for spring wheat in field conditions, is a maximum of 2 t/ha⁻¹. At this dose of apple pomace, the characteristics of the wheat yielding structure were significantly improved, such as plant tillering, the number of ears and the weight of kernels per spike, and the weight of a thousand kernels. Since this was a model experiment, it should be treated as an introduction to research on the use of pomace, and further research on the possibility of using pomace in field conditions, including for other cereal species, should be continued.