The aim of the experiment was to determine the effects of storage conditions on the incidence of fungi on spring barley grain and its quality. Spring barley grain (cultivars Rastik and Rataj) was harvested in three years (2000, 2001, 2002), using extensive, conventional and intensive cultivation systems, stored in hygrostats at controlled relative air humidity, 40, 60 and 85%, respectively and at variable temperatures 15-20°C for two months. It was found that spring barley grain (Rastik, Rataj) stored in the medium at 40 and 60% relative air humidity retained its good health, quality and germination rate. Among the fungi isolated from this grain the following were predominant: Alternaria alternata (45-57%) Bipolaris sorokiniana (9-22%), Epicoccum purpurascens (5-17%) and fungi from the genus Fusarium (9-20%). On the grain stored at 85% relative air humidity a substantial increase of “storage fungi” was observed, especially Penicillin spp. (32-67%),) which probably caused the health, quality and germination capacity of the grain to deteriorate. Spring barley grain (cultivar Rataj) was more infected by fungi than Rastik.
In 2001, on podsolic soil at Chrząstowo (kujawsko-pomorski district) and Bałcyny (warmińsko-mazurski district) the influence of farmyard manure (30 t·ha⁻¹), whiter wheat straw (6 t·ha⁻¹ + 40 kg N·ha⁻¹ in urea form) and compost (10 t·ha⁻¹) application on field emergence, crop density, yield, technological quality and health of sugar beet was tested in comparison to mineral fertilization (120 kg N·ha⁻¹, 39,3 kg P·ha⁻¹ and 166 kg K·ha⁻¹). Organic fertilization (farmyard manure, straw and compost) showed positive influence on health of sugar beet seedlings in comparison to the mineral fertilization. In the first period of growth the mass of plants was largest on plots with farmyard manure fertilization. Health of sugar beet at the end of vegetation was the best on plots with compost fertilization. Used organic manures positively influenced on the yield of roots. At Bałcyny, organic manures showed advantageous effect on yield of technological sugar. Lowest content of sugar and potassium ions were obtained from sugar beet fertilizated by the straw.