This experiment analyzed the effect of genetic determinants, the production technology, and the location on the nitrate and nitrites content in potato tubers directly after harvest. Nitrates and nitrites are anti-nutritional compounds, which limit or prevent the use of nutrients from consumed products and have a detrimental effect on the human body. The study was conducted on seven tetraploid potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) clones (‘13-VIII-10’, ‘13-VIII-27’, ‘13-VIII-45’, ‘13-VIII-49’, ‘13-VIII-50’, ‘13-VIII-60’, ‘TG-97–403’), and three cultivars (‘Jelly’, ‘Satina’, and ‘Tajfun’) at four locations in Poland under either an integrated (Młochów, Boguchwała) or organic (Radzików, Chwałowice) production system. The results showed that the production system, location, and year significantly affected the nitrate and nitrites content in potatoes. Potato tubers originating from organic farming exhibited a lower content of the tested compounds (NO₃⁻—124.1 mg kg⁻¹ FW; NO₂⁻—2.4 mg kg⁻¹ FW) than that in the tubers obtained from an integrated production system (NO₃⁻—203.7 mg kg⁻¹ FW, NO₂⁻—4.0 mg kg⁻¹ FW). Under conditions of moderate stress as usual in the case of organic farming, the production of nitrates and nitrites are significantly lower than in the integrated production system. In our research potatoes from an integrated production system were characterised by a nitrate content at the limit of the established standard, i.e., 200 mg kg⁻¹ FW. Tubers from the locality Chwałowice were characterised by the lowest nitrates and nitrites content, due to adequate environmental conditions, in addition to the best agricultural practice. The nitrates content depended to a greater extent on the environmental conditions than the potato on the genetic conditions. A higher content of nitrates and nitrites was found in the following potato clone 13-VIII-10 in Boguchwała from an integrated production system (NO₃⁻—269.2 mg kg⁻¹ F; NO₂⁻—6.0 mg kg⁻¹ FW), and in the ‘Tajfun’ cultivar (235.8; 5.8 mg kg⁻¹ FW, respectively). Such a relationship was not found in integrated production in Młochów, which indicates the influence of the environment.

The paper describes water quality in the Raszynka River based on selected chemical parameters dependent on different land use. The research was carried out in the Raszynka River catchment, characterized by a small surface area (75.9 km²) and length (17.14 km). The river is a right tributary of the Utrata River. It is located in the Piaseczno and Pruszkow districts in the Mazowieckie voivodship. The dominant type of land use in the basin is agricultural land. Water samples were collected from 2017 to 2019 from previously designated research points at similar distances along the river. Selected physicochemical indicators examined in the samples include total alkalinity, electrolytic conductivity (EC), pH, and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Moreover, the concentration of selected substances was determined, including nitrogen compounds: NO₃⁻ (nitrates) and NH₄⁺ (ammonium), TP (total phosphorus), and Cl⁻ (chlorides). The results showed that the values of some of the examined indicators do not meet the standards set for first-class surface water quality. Indicators significantly exceeding the limit included ammonium, chlorides, and pH. The highest concentration of chlorides, ammonium, and nitrate was found in urbanized areas. The highest concentrations of total phosphorus and COD were determined in agricultural areas and total alkalinity in meadows.

Parsley is an herb/vegetable rich in nutritional compounds such as carbohydrates, vitamins, protein, crude fiber, minerals (especially potassium), phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, and essential oils. Limited information is available in the literature on the quality of parsley roots depending on the cultivation technology used in the form of macronutrients and micronutrients, preparations to stimulate plant growth and development, as well as plant-protection products. A three-year study was undertaken to determine the effect of applying mineral fertilization with nitrogen, including magnesium on the nutritional value of parsley roots in terms of the content of ascorbic acid, total and reducing sugars, and minerals: (total N, K, Mg, Ca). The research material was the root of Petroselinum crispum ssp. tuberosum from an experiment where nitrogen was applied in soil at (0, 40, 80, 120 kg N ha⁻¹) and magnesium at (0, 30 kg MgO ha⁻¹). Nitrogen fertilization increased the nutritional value in terms of total and reducing sugars, as well as total N and Ca content. Applied magnesium fertilization caused a significant increase in the content of all tested nutrients. The most total sugars (127.7 g kg⁻¹ f. m.), reducing sugars (16.8 g kg⁻¹ f. m.), and total N (12.13 g kg⁻¹ d. m.) were accumulated by roots from the object where nitrogen was applied at a maximum rate of 120 kg N ha⁻¹, including magnesium. On the other hand, for the content of K (19.09 g kg⁻¹ d. m.) in the roots, a dose of 80 N ha⁻¹ was sufficient. For ascorbic acid (263.2 g kg⁻¹ f. m.) and Ca (0.461 g kg⁻¹ d. m.), a dose of 40 kg N ha⁻¹ with a constant fertilization of 30 kg MgO ha⁻¹ was sufficient. When applying high doses of nitrogen, lower doses of magnesium are recommended. This is sufficient due to the high nutritional value of parsley roots. Due to the worsening magnesium deficiency in soils in recent years, the use of this nutrient in the cultivation of root vegetables is as justified and timely as possible. Quality-assessment studies of root vegetables should be continued with higher amounts of magnesium fertilization. Different ways of applying magnesium in parsley cultivation should also be tested.

This research studied the impact of bare iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄ NPs), citrate-stabilized iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄CA NPs), and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) on the genetic stability and metabolic activity of Chrysanthemum × morifolium (Ramat.) Hemsl. plants obtained from synthetic seeds. For this purpose, axillary buds of chrysanthemum ‘Richmond’ were embedded in 3% calcium alginate supplemented with NPs and IAA, either singularly or in combination. Next, the synthetic seeds were stored at 4 °C in the dark (for eight weeks) on an agar-water medium and then transferred to room temperature for 30 or 60 days. Next, the germinated seeds were transplanted to the greenhouse until the plants were fully flowering. The total polyphenol content (TPC) was determined in the leaves and inflorescences of the plants. Moreover, the content of anthocyanins was measured in the inflorescences. RAPD markers were used to assess the genetic stability of plants. Most treatments stimulated the accumulation of polyphenols in the leaves of chrysanthemum by as much as 59% after 30 days, and up to 28% after 60 days. Fe₃O₄NPs and IAA + Fe₃O₄CA NPs stimulated the biosynthesis of polyphenols and anthocyanins in the inflorescences after 30 days of treatment (by 36% and 68%, respectively); however, a decline in the content of these compounds (22–33%) was reported after 60 days in most experimental objects, except for Fe₃O₄CA NPs and IAA + Fe₃O₄CA NPs. The inflorescences of plants treated with nanoparticles usually exhibited a larger diameter than the control, but only after a shorter exposure to the analyzed factors. In contrast, prolonged treatment resulted in an opposite effect. The genetic uniformity of the plants was confirmed as no polymorphism was detected in 2160 RAPD markers.

To ensure the protection of consumer health and the environment, it is crucial to delve into various aspects of potato cultivation, including analysis of the nitrate and nitrite content. Understanding the influence of potato genotype and specific growing conditions on nitrate and nitrite accumulation in tubers is key to ensuring food security and yield quality. Nitrate concentration in potato tubers is genetically determined, and is also subject to variability depending on environmental factors and storage conditions. The aim of the study was to evaluate the nitrate and nitrite content of tubers of 18 edible potato varieties belonging to different earliness groups grown under an integrated crop production system, immediately after harvest and after 6-month storage. The content of nitrates and nitrites in lyophilized raw potato tubers was determined with the application of ionoselective method with the use of a multifunctional computer device CX-721, Elmetron make. The study showed that the tested potato varieties had low nitrate content, not exceeding the established standard of 200 mg kg ⁻¹ f.m., according to FAO/WHO guidelines. The average nitrate content of the tubers ranged from 28.4 to 95.6 mg kg ⁻¹ f.m., and nitrite from 0.18 to 0.98 mg kg ⁻¹ f.m. The highest values were found in the Tacja variety, and the lowest in Wega variety. After storage under controlled conditions, a decrease in nitrates and nitrites was observed by 6.4% and 20.3%, respectively. These values vary according to the earliness group of the varieties, with medium-early varieties showing the greatest decrease.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the application of different organic matter, UGmax soil conditioner and simplifications in potato cultivation on the content of dry matter, starch and sugars in tubers of the medium-early edible cultivar ‘Satina’ after harvest and after long-term storage. The highest dry matter (173.4 g kg⁻¹) and starch (124.6 g kg⁻¹ f. m.) content was obtained with the simultaneous application of a manure with soil conditioner at 100% mineral fertilization. In the case of sugars, the withdrawal of the soil conditioner from the crop proved most beneficial, for total sugars on the stubble intercrop (5.06 g kg⁻¹ f. m.) and for reducing sugars (1.99 g kg⁻¹ f. m.) in the case of straw treatment. Each protection reduction applied resulted in a significant reduction in starch content. In this regard, the withdrawal of herbicides with the simultaneous application of manure and UGmax proved most beneficial. Long-term storage of tubers caused a significant reduction in their quality in terms of dry matter and starch content (average by −3.6 and −2.3%, respectively) and an increase in total and reducing sugars (average by 11.8 and 9.6%, respectively). The decrease in dry matter and starch content was significantly influenced by the 50% reduction in NPK fertilization applied during the growing season, while the application of soil conditioner with full protection contributed to the increase in reducing sugars after storage at 28.9 pts%. Our research is in line with current trends of used potato cultivation technologies focused mainly on environmental protection, so the results of this study can provide a basis for validation for researchers currently engaged in such evaluation.