This study aimed to analyze the seasonal dynamics of sugar beet leaf and root yield and quality in different plant populations and the nitrogen fertilization rate. The field trials were set as four different planting densities (60,000 to 140,000 plants ha⁻¹) and three different spring nitrogen fertilization rates: no fertilization, pre-sowing (45 kg ha⁻¹ N), and pre-sowing with top dressing (99 kg ha⁻¹ N in 2014 and 85.5 kg ha⁻¹ N in 2015. The changes of leaf growth were done measuring leaf area (LA), leaf area index (LAI), specific leaf area (SLA), and leaf area ratio (LAR). The highest LAI in 2014 was determined on 30 July at 140,000 plants ha⁻¹ (9.35 m² m⁻¹) and in 2015 on 20 June at 100,000 plants ha⁻¹ (4.83 m² m⁻²). In both years, the SLA and LAR was highest at the end of May. In relation to plant density, higher plant densities had on average the highest root yield, sucrose content, and white sugar yield. In both years, pre-sowing with top dressing spring nitrogen fertilization resulted in the highest root (95.0 t ha⁻¹) and white sugar yield (11.4 t ha⁻¹), whereas the highest sucrose content was after pre-sowing fertilization (14.9%).

Due to the increasing presence of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) and its multiple possibilities of use, the influence of different light and several biopreparations based on beneficial fungi and bacteria on hemp’s morphological and physiological properties were examined. Different biopreparations and their combinations were inoculated on hemp seed and/or substrate and grown under blue and white light. A completely randomized block design was conducted in four replications within 30 days. For biopreparation treatment, vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM) in combination with Azotobacter chroococum and Trichoderma spp. were inoculated only on seed or both on seed and in the substrate. Generally, the highest morphological parameters (stem, root and plant length) were recorded on plants in white light and on treatment with applied Trichoderma spp., both on seed and substrate. Blue light negatively affected biopreparation treatments, resulting in lower values of all morphological parameters compared to control. Leaves pigments were higher under blue light, as compared to the white light. At the same time, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), flavonoids, total flavanol content and phenolic acids were not influenced by light type. Biopreparation treatments did not significantly influence the leaves’ pigments content (Chl a, Chl b and Car), nor the phenolic and flavanol content.

The aim of this study was to examine the possibilities of reducing the mineral nitrogen fertilizers by applying the free-living (Azotobacter chroococcum) and associative (Azospirillum brasilense) nitrifying bacteria in the sugar beet production, without a reduction in the yield and quality of the sugar beet root. Along with the vegetables, most nitrates are collected by the species of the family Chenopodiaceae, to which the sugar beet belongs. Nitrogen is one of the most vital elements in the achievement of high yields, so it is used in large quantities in fertilization. However, it is the most unstable macroelement that flushes into the deeper soil layers, and a groundwater eutrophication is caused very often. Numerous diseases are associated with the high amounts of nitrates, nitrites, and nitroso compounds, i.e., the nitrite and nitroso compounds originating from the foodstuffs having a plant origin, water, and the cured meat products. The results of the study have demonstrated that it is possible to reduce a mineral nitrogen fertilizer quantity by using the nitrogen-fixing bacteria while even obtaining a higher quality of the studied parameters. The nitrogen-fixing bacteria predominate in the rhizosphere, so the plants could use the amounts of nitrogen necessary in a given vegetation period, which is not the case upon a nitrogen fertilization.

Two-year experiments were conducted on two different types of soil during 2021 and 2022, respectively. The influence of microbiological preparations Mycor-FAZOS, Vitality-FAZOS, and Super Green-FAZOS on the yield and quality parameters of wheat the M...

Wheat is the most important bread grain in the Republic of Croatia (Croatian Encyclopedia 2013-2025). Other small grains are minimally used. Wheat's prevalence in crop rotations has led to the intensification of diseases and pests specific to it, necessitating adequate protection. Chemical pesticides and fertilisers contribute to environmental pollution, the development of resistant pests, and serious health issues. Chemical substances containing heavy metals contaminate soil and may affect human health due to residues in the final product. Similar issues arise with mineral fertilisers, especially phosphorus-based ones (Verkleij 1993, Defarge et al. 2018). Furthermore, heavy metals and metalloids (e.g., Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Sn, Hg, Pb) exhibit toxicity to humans and animals, negatively impacting plant growth, food safety, and soil microflora. Chemical pesticides are the main sources of heavy metals in agricultural soil (

The challenge of today’s agriculture is to maintain stable production and at the same time improve soil conditions. Appropriate crop management can contribute to the increase of yields, nutritional status of plants, and below-ground biomass which consequently increases soil organic carbon (SOC). One promising approach to increase yield and reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers involves using plant growth-promoting microorganisms. The present study explores the possibility of applying microbial bioagents as a sustainable alternative to synthetic fertilizers in Italian ryegrass cultivation. Four microbial formulations, consisting of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms, and beneficial fungi, were evaluated under full and reduced nitrogen fertilization regimes. The experiment consisted of the two levels of nitrogen fertilization, and the experimental treatments where four different microbial bioagents that were a combination of several different microorganisms were applied in four different application treatments (control (without microbial bioagents), in soil, on seed, and in soil and seed). The results indicate that by reducing mineral fertilization and using microbial bioagents we can achieve twice-as-high yields compared to the sole full mineral fertilization, significantly increasing the uptake of nutrients and SOC. The uptake of toxic trace elements also increased, however, all levels remained below permissible thresholds, ensuring feed safety. The findings highlight the potential of microbial bioagents to enhance soil health, improve plant nutrition, and increase ryegrass yields while reducing reliance on synthetic inputs, contributing to climate change mitigation through improved SOC storage, and presenting a pathway for sustainable agriculture.