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Functioning of the Energy Sector Under Crisis Conditions—A Polish Perspective
In the context of the coronavirus pandemic and the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine, energy security is essential to economic challenges nowadays. The basis for the proper operating of the energy sector is to ensure a stable supply of energy to end users and to secure finances of energy companies, so that they can operate sustainably in times of uncertainty. In our studies, we have addressed this issue with the main objective of assessing the state of energy security from the perspective of the stability of the financial situation of energy sector companies in the context of the global energy crisis and a sustainable energy future. Financial indicators and a canonical variable analysis were used to examine the financial situation of companies in the energy sector and to describe links between selected groups of energy companies. Such companies operating during political and economic instability did not record worse financial results than in the year 2018. It was found that in case-studied firms, total debt decreased and moreover, liquidity and return on assets improved. Companies have focused on securing their financial health and ensuring the stability of their energy supplies and the issue of the environmental impact of energy production has unfortunately become a secondary concern. Nevertheless, in the event of further crises, it is reasonable to assume that a focus on maintaining liquidity and generating profits for energy companies will be more important to companies than environmental challenges and the fight against climate change.
Assessment of Water Quality Indicators in the Orla River Nitrate Vulnerable Zone in the Context of New Threats in Poland
Currently, one of the most serious threats to the environment in rural areas is industrial livestock production, which generates a significant amount of chemical and biological pollution. It causes pollution of waters, affects biodiversity, and has an impact on the climate. Research was carried out in the Orla River (Poland) with a catchment area of 1.546 km2. Studies were concentrated on pH, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, and other factors. Analyses were conducted on the area of livestock buildings in two buffer zones, 1 and 3 km wide, respectively, and included the abundance of phosphorus and potassium in soil as well as its potential impact on the quality of river water. Seasonal variability was observed for nutrients. In the winter period the highest concentrations of nitrates were observed, while in the summer this was the case for phosphates and total phosphorus. The highest concentrations of nutrients occurred in 2012, particularly total and ammonium nitrogen. There was a positive correlation between livestock building area and parameters such as ammonium, organic, and total nitrogen in the 1 km buffer, as well as organic and total nitrogen, potassium and dissolved oxygen in the 3 km buffer. Negative correlation in the case of pH was observed in both buffer zones. Relationships were found between the area of livestock buildings and parameters analyzed during seasons.
Wpływ warunków klimatycznych na opłacalność produkcji jabłek w warunkach replantacji oraz płodozmianu
The production of apples is conditioned by many environmental and economic factors, including the cultivated variety, the condition of the plants, the stress factors, demand, supply, costs incurred, prices of fruit and means of production. The aim of the study was to analyse the influence of climatic conditions on the profitability of production of apple trees of the Najdared cultivar. Between 2015 and 2017 an experiment was conducted on apple trees growing on replantation soil and on crop rotation soil in Wielkopolska Region. The analysis of climatic conditions indicated significant differences in air temperatures and precipitation in particular years. When analysing the profitability of the production of apples, it was found that significantly more favourable financial results are obtained on the soil after crop rotation compared to the production on replanted soil. Moreover, the decrease in the profitability of apple production of the trees grown on the replantation soil, especially during unfavourable weather conditions, was greater than the trees grown at the crop rotation soil. On the basis of the research, it was found that in the future, sustainable cultivation of apple trees should be carried out on sites after crop rotation.
Financial Security as a Basis for the Sustainable Development of Small and Medium-Sized Renewable Energy Companies—A Polish Perspective
In conditions of economic and political instability, when unpredictability affects business, the need for security, including financial security, becomes particularly important. In our study, we address this issue, with the main objective of comparing and evaluating the financial security of small and medium-sized renewable energy companies in Poland according to sustainable development goals. In order to study and describe relationships between selected groups of companies, financial ratios were used, including canonical variate analysis. The liquidity ratios of the surveyed companies indicated a low level of financial security in terms of the ability to meet short-term liabilities. The profitability of operations was low and did not contribute to the improvement of financial security in most of the companies. The lowest return on assets was found in the group of biogas plants. Higher profitability of assets was found in solar power plants, including those with system installations. Solar power plants were also characterized by a high level of total debt and a rapid turnover of assets in comparison to other studied companies. The results show that the financial security of small and medium-sized renewable energy enterprises in Poland is low, which may be a threat to sustainable development in the future.
Sustainable Use of Organic Matter Obtained from the Bottom of a Post-Mining Pit Reservoir—A Case Study on the Creation of Raduszyn Lake in Poland
According to historical sources, a watermill existed in the valley of the Trojanka River on the north-western shore of Raduszyn Lake from the 15th century. Its dams lasted for centuries causing the water flow through the Raduszyn reservoir to slow down and deposit various mineral fractions in it. The aim of paper was to develop a scientific background for the sustainable management of organic matter extracted from the peat top and from deeper layers that are unsuitable for direct use, that is, decomposed peat. A SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis was used to describe ways of restoration of the water reservoir alongside the characterization of organic matter and the financial condition of the studied enterprise. For the use of the studied material as a homogeneous substrate for plant cultivation, the contents of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and copper were insufficient, whilst calcium was excessive. Microbiological analyses of the organic materials intended as an additive for horticultural substrates confirmed the presence of plant growth-promoting bacteria. The occurrence of such microorganisms in the substrate can limit the use of mineral fertilizers and chemical plant protection products. The results of the research can be an example for enterprises restoring or creating water reservoirs by extraction of organic matter, which is often considered as waste that generates costs and does not bring financial benefits. Such a measure can be used to improve the efficiency of water reservoir restoration enterprises and at the same time contribute to sustainable land development.
Determinants of social attitudes towards fees and restrictions on the use of the Wielkopolska National Park
The purpose of this paper was to present the results of research on the willingness of visitors to Wielkopolska National Park (WNP) to pay fees for using its resources and to assess their attitudes towards hypothetical restrictions on access to the park. The analysis was based on survey data from 2012 and 2025, obtained using the following techniques: Paper and Pencil Interviewing (PAPI) and online surveys based on the Computer-Assisted Web Interviewing (CAWI) technique, administered via Internet platforms. A total of 860 valid questionnaires were examined, and a logit model and correspondence analysis were used for the investigation. The findings suggest that the propensity to pay fees is mostly contingent upon the extent of awareness of natural values, the inclination to engage in park maintenance, perspectives on environmental financing mechanisms, and affiliation with environmental organisations. In turn, demographic factors proved to be insignificant. The analysis of the expected compensation for access restrictions demonstrated the influence of age, gender, environmental views, and distance from the WNP. The research findings corroborate that respondents’ attitudes towards environmental financing are predominantly influenced by their environmental awareness and beliefs.
A Case Study on the Effect of Foliar Nitrogen Fertilization on the Microbiological and Biochemical State of the Soil and the Uptake of Macro- and Microelements by Winter Triticale (Triticosecale)
Due to the increasing demand for food, the agricultural sector is facing a huge challenge related to its production without having a negative impact on the environment. The above issues are regulated by the current EU policy, indicating the need to conduct plant production by the European Green Deal strategy (2020), based on reducing the use of chemical plant-protection products by 50% and reducing the level of mineral fertilization by 20% by 2030. Using appropriate techniques of applying mineral fertilizers, which have a positive effect on the development and activity of soil microorganisms, the availability of nutrients in the soil can be increased while reducing fertilizer applications. This study aims to show whether the use of foliar nitrogen fertilizers in combination with sulfur in a two-year field experiment with triticale stimulates the multiplication of selected groups of microorganisms and the level of soil enzymatic activity. In addition, effects on the content of available forms of nutrients in the soil, triticale yield, and total nutrient uptake were analyzed. It is shown that the applied foliar fertilizers enriched with sulfur, compared to fertilization with ammonium nitrate, contributed to a 100% increase in the number of analyzed groups of microorganisms, urease, and alkaline phosphatase activity; a 44% increase in dehydrogenase activity; and a 15% increase in acid phosphatase activity. The hybrid application technique, with reduced doses of nitrogen fertilizers enriched with sulfur by 20 and 25%, resulted in grain yields exceeding 8 t/ha. Moreover, compared to conventional fertilization based on ammonium nitrate, an increase in the grain yield of triticale was obtained in the range of 16 to 24%, as well as an increase in the accumulation of nutrients in the plant. It is shown that foliar fertilization is a promising alternative to standard fertilization techniques.
Assessing the Impact of Selected Attributes on Dwelling Prices Using Ordinary Least Squares Regression and Geographically Weighted Regression: A Case Study in Poznań, Poland
The price of dwellings is determined by a number of attributes among which location factors are usually the most important. Comprehensive analyses of the real estate market should take into account a broad spectrum of attributes including economic factors, physical, neighborhood and environment characteristics. The primary objective of the study was to answer the question of what determinants affect transaction prices within the housing market in Poznań. The analysis was performed on the basis of source data obtained from the Board of Geodesy and Urban Cadastre GEOPOZ in Poznań. In our study, we used two research regression methods: ordinary least squares and geographically weighted regression. The estimated models made it possible to formulate specific conclusions related to the identification of local determinants of housing prices in the Poznań housing market. The results of the study confirmed that the use of the proposed techniques makes it possible to identify attributes relevant to the local market, and, moreover, the use of spatial analysis leads to an increase in the quality of the description of the characteristics of the analyzed phenomenon. Finally, the results obtained indicate the diversity of the analyzed market and highlight its ambiguity and complexity.
Spatial-Temporal Differentiation of Soil Biochemical Parameters and Their Relationship with Nitrogen Resources during the Vegetation Period of Selected Crops
Understanding the spatial–temporal variability of soil enzymatic activity and its relationship with nitrogen (N) resources in the soil and crop yield is crucial in rational management practices of mineral fertilization. The scarcity of comprehensive studies on geostatic analyses of agricultural soils and plant yields, which would take into account both temporal and spatial variability, was the reason for undertaking this research. The aim of this study was to determine the spatial and temporal variability of the activity of soil enzymes, such as acid (PAC) and alkaline (PAL) phosphatases, urease (URE) and protease (PROT), the content of N-NH4 (ammonium ions), N-NO3 (nitrate ions), phosphorus (P), pH, moisture, as well as crop yield on a conventionally managed farmland of 40 ha. During the two-year experiment, soil samples were collected from 37 measurement points. Wheat was the first tested crop, followed by oilseed rape. It was shown that all the tested soil parameters showed temporal and spatial variability, and a significant number of them were significantly higher in July. The creation of raster maps showing the distribution of the tested parameters allowed for the observation of the considerable activity of PAC, PAL, URE, and PROT, as well as a high application of N-NO3 in the southern part of the field during the growth of the plants. The statistical analysis revealed a negative interaction between the N-NH4 and N-NO3 and the urease in the soil under the cultivation of plants. The pH and the percentage of moisture in the soil also had higher values in the south of the field. This pointed to the existence of separate production zones in the south-central part of the field, characterized by a higher yield of wheat and rape. On the basis of the conducted research, it was unequivocally stated that the values of enzymatic and chemical parameters of the soil were reflected in the size of the yield obtained, which allows conclusions to be drawn with respect to the rational management of N in the production process, laying the foundations for precision agriculture.
The Influence of some Climatic Conditions on the Yield and Fruit Quality of Replanted Apple Orchard
Assessment of the Influence of Aluminum, Iron, and Manganese Forms on the Phytocenoses of Post-Mining Lands in the Lengerskoye Brown Coal Mine
Post-mining land in areas where mineral extraction has occurred may constitute a significant portion of the land used for various purposes. Such land serves as soil-forming parent material for developing anthropogenic soils, which sometimes exhibit unfavorable physicochemical properties. The toxicity of the waste generated during lignite mining is due to a number of factors, whose determination permits the identification of its origin for the subsequent design of technologies for the waste reclamation. The purpose of the study, in consistence with sustainable development, is to identify the causes of the toxicity of brown coal waste from the Lengerskoye deposit, in southern Kazakhstan. These studies have provided the results essential for planning remedial actions necessary to improve the well-being of the local population, in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. The studies were performed using single extraction; forms of Al, Fe, and Mn; soil texture; elemental analysis; phytocoenosis analysis; and diffractometric, IR spectroscopic, SEM, route reconnaissance, and comparative statistical methods. A decrease in the biodiversity of plant species was noted, with a gradual increase with distance from the waste storage sites. The most resistant plant species in the vicinity of the waste dump were Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers and Alhagi pseudalhagi (M. Bieb.) Desv. ex B. Keller & Shap., while Dodartia orientalis (L.) was the only plant species found at the edge of the waste dump. The high toxicity of lignite waste is determined by such factors as low pH values, about 3.0; high content of active forms of aluminum, iron, and manganese (344.0, 0.90, and 20 mg/kg); high electrical conductivity—2835 µS/cm; waste composition poor in nutrients; and climate aridity. It has been observed that a content of exchangeable aluminum above 100 mg/kg resulted in an almost complete lack of vegetation.
Impact of Hybrid Fertilization on Winter Triticale Yield and Its Stability Based on SVD Analysis
Nitrogen fertilization is extensively applied in agricultural activities to improve food production. However, the applied dose of nitrogen is often higher than that required for the desired productivity level of a given crop. Thus, research on methods that could increase the uptake of nitrogen supplied with fertilizers by plants is of high significance. One way to achieve this goal is to employ a hybrid fertilization technique (a combination of the application of solid fertilizers in the first dose with foliar application of liquid fertilizers in the second and third doses), using reduced doses of nitrogen fertilizers as well as fertilizers enriched with 10% sulfur in the form of thiosulfate. The aim of our study was to assess the productivity resulting from different fertilization treatments and the stability of the resulting yield based on interactions between the method of fertilizer application and environmental conditions. To determine interaction patterns, an additive main effects and multiplicative interaction model was employed. The key finding is that sulfur-enriched fertilizers can significantly increase yield, but at the expense of reduced stability. However, yield stability was more strongly related to meteorological conditions. Understanding of such interactions can help increase the efficiency of selection and accuracy of recommendations for new technologies of crop cultivation.
The Effect of Biofumigation on the Microbiome Composition in Replanted Soil in a Fruit Tree Nursery
The imbalance of the soil microbiome is a primary indicator of ARD (apple replant disease). Biofumigation is a treatment that enables the restoration of microbiome balance. This study involved an analysis of the taxonomic and functional diversity of bacterial communities in replanted soil (ARD), in replanted soils with forecrops of French marigold (Tagetes patula L.), white mustard (Sinapis alba), and oilseed radish (Raphanus sativus var. oleifera), and in agricultural soil. The biofumigation treatment with phytosanitary plants changed the structure and abundance of the replanted soil microbiome in a fruit tree nursery. The count of operational taxonomic units (OTU) of the Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Patescibacteria, Chloroflexi, and Verrucomicrobiota phyla increased, whereas the count of the Firmicutes, Acidobacteriota, and Actinobacteriota phyla decreased. Biofumigation caused an increase in the content of some dominant bacterial genera, such as Flavobacterium, Massila, Sphingomonas, Arenimonas, and Devosia, in the replanted soil. Their presence in the soil may improve the growth of plants, induce their systemic resistance, and thus improve the production properties of soil with ARD. The research results led to the conclusion that the use of phytosanitary plants in nursery production can be an effective alternative to the chemical fumigation of soil.