Pretreatment is aimed at making lignin structures, which in turn causes decrystallisation and depolymerisation of cellulose. This treatment allows to increase the energy potential of substrates. A properly selected method allows for obtaining larger amounts of biogas with a high content of biomethane. The aim of the study was to analyse selected pretreatment methods (ultrasonic and hydrothermal) for biogas yield, including biomethane, and to demonstrate the effectiveness of obtaining additional electricity and heat from these methods. It was based on the literature data. On basis the study, the following information was obtained: average yield of biogas and biomethane before and after treatment, difference in yield of biogas and biomethane after treatment, and the effect of treatment on the substrate used. Moreover, an estimate was made of the effectiveness of obtaining additional electricity and heat from selected pretreatment methods compared to hard coal. Based on the analysis of the ultrasonic treatment analysis, it was shown that the best result was obtained with the ultrasound treatment of the mixture of wheat straw and cattle manure with the following parameters: frequency 24 kHz, temperature 44.30°C, time 21.23 s. This allowed a 49% increase in biogas production. The use of pretreatment would therefore allow the production of more electricity and heat capable of replacing conventional heat sources such as coal.

Heavy metals constitute one of the threats to the natural environment and the health of living organisms. The sources of contamination of the environment with heavy metals are mainly industry, thermal and chemical processing of mineral resources, burning of coal, gases and liquid fuels, municipal economy (rubbish dumps, sewage), and agriculture consuming mineral fertilizers, plant protection agents, utilizing huge loads of pollution accompanying animal production. Accumulation of toxic elements in plant tissues leads to disturbances in plant reproduction and thus to lowering of their nutritional value. In humans and animals, in turn, it may cause poisoning and the occurrence of various disorders and diseases, including cancer. There are different ways to reduce the penetration of heavy metals into crops and deactivation in animal organisms—by using the tolerance of plants to heavy metals, cleaning the environment through phytoremediation, the use of antagonistic type interactions to reduce bioaccumulation in animal tissues, as well as the properties of compounds of organic and mineral origin. The aim of the chapter is to present the problems of environmental pollution and accumulation of heavy metals (mainly cadmium, mercury, and lead) in tissues of farm animals, their impact on human and animal health, as well as the possibility of inactivation of heavy metals in animal organisms.

Smart farming is about managing a farm using modern information and communication techniques in order to increase the efficiency and quality of plant and animal production and to optimise human labour inputs. It is an inseparable part of a sustainable agricultural economy, where energy-saving and low-emission solutions are of particular importance, e.g. in livestock construction. Animal buildings are one of the main building elements of a farm. The paper presents the use of modern solutions that may result in lower energy consumption, and thus lower operating costs of the building. They also reduce the consumption of natural resources and the emission of pollutants, and ensure animal welfare and safety of the operators’ work. Rational use of energy depends, among others, on from the used insulation materials for the construction of livestock buildings, technical equipment, i.e. lighting, heating, ventilation, as well as zootechnical devices. The profitability of livestock production can also be supported by the use of solar, wind, water and biomass energy. Photovoltaic cells, solar collectors, wind turbines, heat pumps and agricultural biogas plants are used for this purpose.

Our study analysed the content of selected heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Mn, Pb, Cd, Ni and Cu) in soils fertilised with mineral fertilisers (NPK and CaNPK), and fresh and granulated digestate. The content of the elements was compared with non-fertilised treatments (0 and control treatment). The maximum permitted limits were found not to have been exceeded in any of the treatments. The study demonstrated that the digestates under analysis were safe for use as fertilisers. The contents of Zn, Cu, and Mn after fertilisation with fresh digestate were found to be statistically significantly lower than in the control treatments. Following the application of the granulated materials, smaller quantities of Cu, Fe and Cd were noted.

This study analyses the results of research on the improvement of grain quality using a filling core in a grain silo. The research is a part of the research project aimed at developing an innovative system for drying and storing maize grain that, among other benefits, reduces grain damage. Two series were carried out: a control series, in which a chute was applied as the main element, and an operation series, in which a cascade chute was used for testing. The analysis conducted on the simulated operating conditions showed a 4-5-fold reduction in the amount of grain damaged following the application of the filling core compared with the control series. It has also been shown that a 6-meter cascade chute considerably decreases the velocity of the falling grain when loading the silo.