The aim of the study was to compare the effect of conventional, simplified, and organic farming systems on changes in the content of soil organic carbon, organic matter fractions, total nitrogen, and the enzymatic activity. The research was conducted from 2016–2018 on arable land in the south-eastern part of Poland. The selected soils were cultivated in conventional tillage (C_Ts), simplified tillage (S_Ts), and organic farming (O_Fs) systems. The analyses were performed in soil from the soil surface layers (up to 25 cm depth) of the experimental plots. The highest mean contents of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and organic matter fractions were determined in soils subjected to the simplified tillage system throughout the experimental period. During the study period, organic carbon concentration on surface soil layers under simplified tillage systems was 31 and 127% higher than the soil under conventional tillage systems and organic farming systems, respectively. Also, the total nitrogen concentration in those soils was more than 40% and 120% higher than conventional tillage systems and organic farming systems, respectively. Moreover, these soils were characterised by a progressive decline in SOC and Nt resources over the study years. There was no significant effect of the analysed tillage systems on the C:N ratio. The tillage systems induced significant differences in the activity of the analysed soil enzymes, i.e., dehydrogenase (DH) and catalase (CAT). The highest DH activity throughout the experiment was recorded in the O_Fs soils, and the mean value of this parameter was in the range of 6.01–6.11 μmol TPF·kg⁻¹·h⁻¹. There were no significant differences in the CAT values between the variants of the experiment. The results confirm that, regardless of other treatments, such as the use of organic fertilisers, tillage has a negative impact on the content of SOC and organic matter fractions in the O_Fs system. All simplifications in tillage reducing the interference with the soil surface layer and the use of organic fertilisers contribute to improvement of soil properties and enhancement of biological activity, which helps to maintain its productivity and fertility.

The dynamics of litterfall and its quantitative differentiation in stands with different species composition suggest that the origin of the organic matter accumulated in the organic horizons of forest soils affects their physical properties, and thus, their ability to retain rainwater. The main aim of the study was to determine the physical properties, the degree of decomposition and capillary capacity of individual ectohumus sublevels of mountain forest soils, formed under fir stands (Abies alba Mill.) and beech stands (Fagus sylvatica L.), and to compare them with the physical and retention properties of the organic horizons of spruce stands [Picea abies (L.) H. Karst], as determined by Kucza (2007). The study was conducted on soil monoliths, sampled in a way that allowed preserving their natural structure. For individual ectohumus sublevels contained in the monoliths, the content and degree of decomposition of organic matter, bulk density, total porosity and capillary capacity were determined. It has been shown that the capillary capacity of the litter layer (Ol) differed significantly between beech, fir and spruce stands, assuming average values equal to 1.60 (±0.10), 2.76 (±0.11) and 4.44 (±0.10) mm H₂O in the layer of 1 cm, respectively. In the case of detritus (Ofh) horizons, the smallest water storage capacity characterized beech stands, wherein the capillary capacity was approximately 1.39 mm lower than in fir stands and over twice lower as compared to spruce stands.

The chemical composition of biochars varies considerably depending on the chemical composition of biomass used for its production and conditions of the the

In the presented manuscript, the method of production, mechanism of action and the potential fertilizing effect of fertilizer soil microgranules, characterized by a controlled release of ingredients, that were produced from thermally processed bone waste and protein were described. The prepared fertilizer was tested in 3 doses in a pot experiment and thereafter the selected dose of 30 kg ha⁻¹ was utilized in field conditions. The applied dose of fertilizer caused an average increase of maize yield of 620 kg ha⁻¹ (grain moisture 14%). It was found that the obtained increase of maize did not result from the amount of supplied micro and macro elements to the soil, but it was a consequence of the fertilizer’s mechanism of action. It was shown that the release of nitrogen in ammonium form from protein degradation due to the influence of fertilizer components and water had impact on the intensive growth and development of plant root system. This resulted in an increase in plant resistance to water stress during the growing season and consequently, greater yield. The developed soil fertilizer (produced mainly from the processed waste) with the proposed mechanism of action should be successfully applied in fertilizing plants that are grown in areas characterized by cyclical water shortages during the growing season