The application of selenium (Se) to tomatoes enhances accumulation of bioactive compounds. The physiological window of Se is very narrow, and Se overdose reduces the yield. Glycine betaine was shown to reduce Se’s negative effects on plants and to potentiate its beneficial effects. In this study, baker’s yeast vinasse (BYV), as an affordable source of glycine betaine, was tested for its interaction with Se in an optimized foliar fertilizer. The application dose was selected after a laboratory experiment, wherein assays on plant height, leaves surfaces, stomatal conductance, and chlorophyll fluorescence were done. The Se and BYV supplemented foliar fertilizers were tested for their effects on accumulation of bioactives in drip-irrigated tomatoes cultivated in a greenhouse. Under laboratory conditions, assays demonstrated Se and BYV induced effects on tomatoes plants. Both the stomatal conductance and photosynthesis efficiency increased compared to a water treated control. The greenhouse experiment demonstrated that BYV and Se addition increases the number of tomato fruits in the “extra” marketable class and enhances the accumulation of ascorbic acid, carotenes, polyphenols, and flavonoids. The effects depend on the composition of the foliar fertilizer, the most significant effects being recorded for the foliar applied product with the highest BYV and nitrogen content.

The main aim of this study is to find relevant analytic fingerprints for plants’ structural characterization using spectroscopic techniques and thermogravimetric analyses (TGAs) as alternative methods, particularized on cabbage treated with selenium–baker’s yeast vinasse formulation (Se-VF) included in a foliar fertilizer formula. The hypothesis investigated is that Se-VF will induce significant structural changes compared with the control, analytically confirming the biofortification of selenium-enriched cabbage as a nutritive vegetable, and particularly the plant biostimulant effects of the applied Se-VF formulation on cabbage grown in the field. The TGA evidenced a structural transformation of the molecular building blocks in the treated cabbage leaves. The ash residues increased after treatment, suggesting increased mineral accumulation in leaves. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) evidenced a pectin–Iα-cellulose structure of cabbage that correlated with each other in terms of leaf crystallinity. FTIR analysis suggested the accumulation of unesterified pectin and possibly (seleno) glucosinolates and an increased network of hydrogen bonds. The treatment with Se-VF formulation induced a significant increase in the soluble fibers of the inner leaves, accompanied by a decrease in the insoluble fibers. The ratio of soluble/insoluble fibers correlated with the crystallinity determined by XRD and with the FTIR data. The employed analytic techniques can find practical applications as fast methods in studies of the effects of new agrotechnical practices, while in our particular case study, they revealed effects specific to plant biostimulants of the Se-VF formulation treatment: enhanced mineral utilization and improved quality traits.

Circular economy systems employ minimizing the use of resource inputs and generation of waste.

In recent years, there have been growing concerns about finding alternatives to fossil fuels, and biomass could be one of them. To ensure the production of biogas as one of the alternative sources, the development of anaerobic digestion technologies for agricultural and animal waste is one of the promising directions. In this work, the process of biogas production from different types of solid substrates and microalgae was studied using an automatic gas flow measurement system. The biogas flow rate was monitored throughout the process. In order to use the digestate resulting from biogas production as a soil improver, the content of macroelements was analyzed.

At national and international level, mixed complex fertilizers are obtained using physical mixing

The pyrolysis process converts lignocellulose organic materials into gases, liquids (bio-oil), and solids (biochar)