PAHs belong to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) found in the natural environment. They eventually accumulate in the highest quantities in soil. The purpose of this study has been to determine quantities of PAHs in soil depending on the method applied to control weeds in rows of a 4-year plantation of hazel (mulch fabric, bark chips, sawdust, manure compost, bare fallow, chemical fallow, grass sward). The highest concentration of PAHs (16 PAHs) was found in soil kept as bare fallow. The second most abundant concentration of these compounds was determined in soil under grass sward, followed by soil under sawdust, chemical fallow, and fabric. Less of these compounds accumulated in soil mulched with bark chips. The best method for protection of orchard soil against the accumulation of unwanted and toxic PAHs was mulching with manure compost. In most cases, lower concentrations of PAHs (total 16) were found in the subsoil (30–60 cm) than in the topmost soil layer, except the soil covered with mulch fabric, where fourfold more PAHs accumulated.

The phytoextraction is a process that uses living plants for cleaning up the heavy metals from contaminated soil. The cadmium and lead contamination of soils results from the application of sludge or urban composts, fertilizers, pesticides, motorization, metallurgy, and different technological processes. In industrial terrain the content of cadmium and lead in soils has increased in the recent years. This study was undertaken to evaluate the potential of Amaranthus caudatus L. ‘Atropurpureus’ and Ricinus communis L. ‘Sanguineus Apache’ for phytoextraction of cadmium and lead. Two species of ornament plants, i.e. Amaranthus caudatus L. ‘Atropurpureus’ and Ricinus communis L. ‘Sanguineus Apache’, were planted in drainless containers in a substrate artificially polluted with cadmium and lead in order to evaluate their suitability for phytoremediation of soils or substrates contaminated with these metals. Cadmium was applied at increasing rates of 0, 1, 5 and 10 mg Cd∙dm^-3 in the form of cadmium sulfate 3CdSO₄∙8H₂O, while lead was used at 0, 100, 500 and 1000 mg Pb∙dm^-3 in the form of lead acetate (CH₃COO)₂Pb∙3H₂O. The applied doses of cadmium and lead in the experiment reflected different degrees of soil pollution. After five months of growth it was found that Amaranthus caudatus L. accumulated the biggest concentrations of cadmium and lead in leaves and the lowest concentrations in inflorescences. Ricinus communis L. accumulated the highest concentrations of cadmium in stems, while the lowest concentrations in inflorescences, whereas the biggest concentration of lead was accumulated in inflorescences and the least lead was accumulated in leaves. The biggest reduction of cadmium and lead concentrations after the completion of the experiment was found in substrates, in which Amaranthus caudatus L. was grown. The tested species of ornamental plants may be used in the phytoextraction of cadmium and lead from soils contaminated.

The aim of the study was to analyse the quality of soil in urban allotment gardens in the context of the production of home-grown vegetables. The study was conducted on six allotment gardens (31 individual plots) in Gorzów Wielkopolski, a medium-sized Polish city with an average level of industrialisation. The following soil characteristics were analysed: pH, electric conductivity, organic matter, organic carbon, humus, total nitrogen, C:N ratio, NH₄⁺-N, NO₃-N⁻, P, K, Ca, Mg, SO₄⁻-S, Cl, Na, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Ni, Cr, Cd, Pb. The analyses showed that the soils were abundant in necessary nutrients for vegetable growing. They had high content of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. However, the soil pH in areas of vegetable cropping was too high. The content of toxic heavy metals—cadmium (0.22–0.59 mg∙kg⁻¹ d.m.) and lead (3.46–16.89 mg∙kg⁻¹ d.m.)—was within the acceptable limits. Nevertheless, the chemical analysis of carrots used as test vegetables showed that the permissible limits of cadmium and lead content in their roots were exceeded. The excessive uptake of these toxic metals can be reduced by lowering the soil pH and applying organic carbon to the soil.

Open Access Agricultural Journals published by Institute of Agricultural Economics and Information

Cultivation of sweet cherry trees is growing in popularity in Poland thus there is an increasing demand for good quality nursery material. The growth of maiden sweet cherry trees of ‘Vanda’ depending on three rootstocks was compared within three years of the nursery experiment. Also the nutritional status as well as photosynthetic activity of maiden trees after the use of four foliar preparations were in the scope of interest. On the basis of the size of the trunk diameter and weight of maiden sweet cherry tree fresh mass as well as on the basis of dry mass of leaves, the strongest vigor of growth was observed on Colt rootstock, contrary to the vigor on GiSeLa 5 rootstock, in which it was the weakest. Maidens produced on Colt rootstock formed more lateral shoots in comparison to other rootstocks. After foliar fertilization, maiden sweet cherry trees growing on Colt rootstock did not show better parameters of growth, except for Maxi Grow Excel preparation that caused better results of growth. The influence of preparations used on the content of macro and microelements was differentiated. A positive effect of all preparations was noted as far as gas exchange parameters were concerned, especially in the case of Maxi Grow Excel.