The populations of parasitic nematodes colonizing the rhizosphere of Helianthus tuberosus L. grown in Polish plantations were studied in the summer of 2016 and the spring of 2017. A total of 35 nematode species were identified: Paratrichodorus pachydermus, Trichodorus cylindricus, T. viruliferus, Longidorus attenuatus, L. elongatus, L. leptocephalus, Criconema annuliferum, Criconemoides informis, Mesocriconema rusticum, M. solivagum, M. xenoplax, Paratylenchus nanus, P. neoamblycephalus, P. projectus, Bitylenchus dubius, B. maximus, Merlinius brevidens, M. nothus, Scutylenchus quadrifer, S. tartuensis, Helicotylenchus digonicus, H. pseudorobustus, H. vulgaris, Rotylenchus pumilus, R. robustus, Pratylenchus crenatus, P. fallax, P. neglectus, Hirschmanniella gracilis, Aphelenchoides fragariae, Aphelenchus avenae, A. eremitus, Ditylenchus dipsaci, and D. medicaginis. Aphelenchoides fragariae and Ditylenchus dipsaci could be foliar pathogens of H. tuberosus L. This is the first study to demonstrate the presence of A. fragariae on the leaves of the Jerusalem artichoke in Poland. The frequencies of occurrence and population densities of the 35 nematode species were determined.

The aim of this research was to show the effect of the ozonation process on the quality of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.). The quality of the ozonated berries of sea buckthorn was assessed. Prior to and after the ozone treatment, a number of parameters, including the mechanical properties, moisture content, microbial load, content of bioactive compounds, and composition of volatile compounds, were determined. The influence of the ozonation process on the composition of volatile compounds and mechanical properties was demonstrated. The ozonation had negligible impact on the weight and moisture of the samples immediately following the treatment. Significant differences in water content were recorded after 7 days of storage. It was shown that the highest dose of ozone (concentration and process time) amounting to 100 ppm for 30 min significantly reduced the water loss. The microbiological analyses showed the effect of ozone on the total count of aerobic bacteria, yeast, and mold. The applied process conditions resulted in the reduction of the number of aerobic bacteria colonies by 3 log cfu g⁻¹ compared to the control (non-ozonated) sample, whereas the number of yeast and mold colonies decreased by 1 log cfu g⁻¹ after the application of 100 ppm ozone gas for 30 min. As a consequence, ozone treatment enhanced the plant quality and extended plant’s storage life.

The cultivation of corn holds immense importance as a foundational global grain crop, catering to human sustenance and serving as vital animal feed. Moreover, corn plays a substantial role in biofuel production. Additionally, cultivating corn can have a positive effect on crop rotation by improving soil quality and reducing erosion. In a pot trial using six distinct compost variations derived from different organic wastes as fertilizers for GS210 corn, specific indices, such as Fv/Fm (0.80, 0.80, 0.81), Fv/F0 (4.07, 3.99, 4.03), PI (4.62, 4.22, 5.21), and RC/ABS (1.71, 1.68, 2.01), exhibited the highest values. Interestingly, mineral fertilization with NPK displayed significant benefits on various growth parameters like plant height (188.9 cm), cob length (17.50 cm), grains per cob (324.0), and thousand-grain weight (MTZ) (285.2). The difference in the cob grain count between NPK mineral fertilization and the control reached 168.5 grains, which was statistically confirmed. Furthermore, the grain’s protein content notably increased with mineral fertilization (9.5) compared to the control (8.5). While organic fertilizers showed lower outcomes (9.1–9.3) than NPK mineral fertilization, they generally outperformed the control (8.5). This prompts the need for future studies to assess the effectiveness of individual organic fertilizers in combination with mineral nitrogen fertilization.

Compost has a broad application in terms of the improvement of the soil properties. This research work was conducted to present the molecular implications of using compost obtained from different substrates to improve soil parameters for cucumber seedlings cultivation. In the experiment, the following compost mixtures were used: sewage sludge (80%) + sawdust (20%); sewage sludge (40%) + sawdust (10%) + biodegradable garden and park waste (50%); biodegradable garden and park waste (90%) + sawdust (10%); sewage sludge (80%) + sawdust (20%) + Eisenia fetida; sewage sludge (40%) + sawdust (10%) + biodegradable garden and park waste (50%) + Eisenia fetida; biodegradable garden and park waste (90%) + sawdust (10%) + Eisenia fetida. The final substrate compositions consisted of compost mixtures and deacidified peat(O) (pH 6.97; Corg content—55%, N content—2.3%), serving as a structural additive, in different mass ratios (mass %). The produced plants underwent biometric and physiological measurements as well as enzymatic analyses of stress markers. Based on the conducted studies, it has been found that the substrate productivity depends not only on the content of nutrient components but also on their structure, which is moderated by the proportion of peat in the substrate. The most effective and promising substrate for cucumber seedling production was variant 2 (I), which consisted of 25% compost from sewage sludge (40%) + sawdust (10%) + biodegradable garden and park waste (50%) and 75% deacidified peat. Despite the richness of the other substrates, inferior parameters of the produced seedlings were observed. The analysis of the enzymatic activity of stress markers showed that these substrates caused stress in the plants produced. The study’s results showed that this stress was caused by the presence of Eisenia fetida, which damaged the developing root system of plants in the limited volume of substrate (production containers). The adverse influence of Eisenia fetida on the plants produced could possibly be eliminated by thermal treatment of the compost, although this could lead to significant changes in composition.

Substituting peat moss with compost derived from organic waste in plant nurseries presents a promising solution for reducing environmental impact, improving waste management, and enhancing soil health while promoting sustainable agricultural practices. However, selecting the appropriate proportions of both materials is crucial for each plant species. This study investigates the effects of different ratios of compost and peat mixtures on the growth and development of pepper seedlings. The compost mixtures used in the study included the following combinations: sewage sludge with sawdust (A), sewage sludge with sawdust and biodegradable garden/park waste (B), and biodegradable garden/park waste with sawdust (C). The final substrates used for seedling production were composed of composts (A, B, C) and peat (O) as a structural additive, mixed in different proportions by mass: I-O 25%, II-O 50%, and III-O 75%. Seedlings grown in these substrates were assessed using biometric and physiological measurements. Nematode species present in substrates were identified by metabarcoding analysis. The results revealed that substrate productivity depended not only on nutrient content but also on structural properties, which were significantly influenced by the peat proportion. Among the tested compost mixtures, variant A I emerged as the most effective substrate, promoting optimal seedling growth. Molecular nematode analysis revealed significant nematode contamination in substrates with higher peat proportions (C II and C III), including Meloidogyne sp. Lichtenburg (26%), Meloidogyne hispanica (5%), Meloidogyne sp. Mi_c1 (3%), Meloidogyne ethiopica (2%), and Meloidogyne thailandica (1%). The findings underscore the critical importance of achieving an optimal balance between nutrient content and structural properties in substrates to support the healthy growth and development of pepper seedlings. To further enhance crop performance and reduce the risk of pest-related damage, it is essential to prioritize the improvement of substrate selection strategies. Monitoring for nematode contamination is crucial to prevent potential compromises in seedling quality and overall productivity.

Biodiversity within composting systems involves a variety of microorganisms including nematodes. In the research, nematode populations were monitored within six simultaneously operating composting processes. These processes involved varying proportions of feedstock materials. The primary objective was to evaluate the consistency of nematode community succession patterns across the composting processes over a time of 3 months. During the study, samples were taken every month to isolate nematodes, determine the population density of the five trophic groups (per genus) and determine the dominant nematode species. It was shown that the bacterial-feeding community maintained dominance, while the fungus-feeding nematodes gradually increased in dominance as the maturation process progressed. The presence of predatory nematodes Mononchoides which were initially absent, along with the total absence of parasitic nematodes in the late stages of waste stabilization, serves as strong evidence for the reliable evaluation of the biodegradable waste processing level. Based on the obtained results, it is evident that the succession of nematode communities holds promise as a reliable method for evaluating compost maturity.