The aim of the study was to compare weed species diversity in organic and conventional farms in Poland. The study was carried out between 2012 and 2014 on production fields located in Lublin province, one of the easternmost regions of Poland. The results showed that diversity and abundance of weeds in spring cereals were generally higher in organic farming system than in conventional one. No significant differences between systems were found in 2013, because local flooding of fields in spring made impossible the execution of agricultural weed management treatment for some farmers. Both above-ground and soil seed bank weed communities were the mainstay of valuable weed species, which is confirmed by the presence of the species threatened with extinction, for example, summer pheasant’s-eye (Adonis aestivalis), poorman’s blue weatherglass (Anagallis foemina) and others in both tested farming systems. Dwarf everlast (Helichrysum arenarium) was the only found species that is subject to partial protection by Polish law. Both organic farms, run under CAP policy and support, and conventional extensive farms of the province of Lublin were the mainstay of biodiversity. Future rural development and CAP should be adapted and implemented regionally. Traditional extensive farms could contribute to the biodiversity and valuable plant species conservation.

This study was carried out in 2012 to determine the effects of different irrigation intervals and irrigation water amounts on the cut flower performance of oriental lilium (Lilium L.) ‘Casa Blanca’ cultivated in greenhouse conditions. Different ratios of the plant water consumption (Tr) calculated using exterior radiation values of the greenhouse were applied to the plants as irrigation water. Irrigation water amounts varied between 199.3-589.0 mm, whereas measured plant water consumption (ETa) varied between 314.9-613.8 mm according to the treatments. Different irrigation water amounts and irrigation intervals had statistically significant effects on flower stem length, flower stem diameter, stem weight and number of flowers. In the study the stem length varied between 26.4-74.7 cm, stem weight varied between 72-175 g, stem diameter varied between 5.0-9.5 mm and the number of flowers buds varied between 3.6 and 8.0. The experimental treatment on which about 1.25 times of the potential plant water consumption calculated in two day intervals and the experimental treatment on which about 1.50 times of the potential plant water consumption calculated in four day intervals were selected as irrigation program.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of industrially designed light-emitting diode (LED) lamp lighting on the nutritional quality of Brassicaceae microgreens. Red pak choi (Brassica rapa var. chinensis ‘Rubi F1 ’), tatsoi (Brassica rapa var. rosularis) and mustard (Brassica juncea L. ‘Red Lion’) were grown in a greenhouse (20±2/18±2 °C) during winter season, and the solar daily integral (DLI) was ~3.46±1.16 mol mE-2 dE-1. The light spectra of lamp consist of 8 violet (420-430), 16 blue (460-470 nm), 8 orange (610-615 nm), 3 red (620-630 nm), 56 red (660-670 nm), 8 white (contain blue (400-500 nm), green (500-600 nm) and red (600-700 nm)) LEDs. The treatments of ~150 and ~250 µmol m-2 sE-1 LED irradiance levels (LED 150 and LED 250) for 16 h dE-1 in comparison with high pressure sodium (HPS) lamps (~150 µmol mE-2 sE-1) as a control were performed. Photophysiological response to the artificial light varied among Brassicaceae species. Microgreens treated with LED 150 and LED 250 were significantly (P is less than or equal to 0.05) shorter and formed smaller hypocotyls. The photooxidative changes were evoked by both lighting treatments and led to higher phytochemical (phenols, ascorbic acid, flavonols, anthocyanins) and mineral element (Ca, K, Mg, Na, P, Fe, Zn) contents, and the DPPH and ABTS free radicals scavenging activities in all microgreens. Significantly lower content of nitrate was obtained with LED 150 treatment. Finally, LED lamps have the potential to be used as the main light source for growing high nutritional quality microgreens in greenhouses.

This paper provides an overview of recent progress reached in semi-transparent photovoltaic systems (STPV), which are being assessed as a potential solution to enhance the productivity of plant grown in greenhouses. Utilizing this kind of renewable energy resources, relating with plant growing is attractive solution to increase sustainability for citizens. The aim of this study is to find out recent advances for application of various semi-transparent photovoltaic systems which can be integrated in greenhouses. Solar PVs are among dependable, mature and cost-effective renewable energy systems and solutions, which are promising for building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) application. The main emerging photovoltaic candidates for BIPV are amorphous silicon, kesterite, chalcopyrite, CdTe, dye-sensitized, organic and perovskite based systems. A monographic study approach has been utilized in this investigation, in ordain to compile and analyse the photovoltaic systems for BIPV mainly investigating and comparing two main parameters: average visible transmittance (AVT) and power conversion efficiency (PCE). The rapid development of new materials and structures for the manufacture of semi-transparent solar panels allows a balance to be struck between AVT, PCE and a comparison of the reviewed materials indicates that organic and perovskite are the most promising for semi-transparent solar panel production and application in greenhouse constructions, based on their PCE and AVT results.