For more efficient realization of the National Plan of Development and the strategy of equalizing regional needs of rural areas and agriculture it is necessary to develop applied research on changes in the infrastructure and multifunctional character of rural areas. It is necessary to update and develop new methodologies and methods of horizontal and vertical comparisons of the studied space objects, i.e. villages, communes or regions (counties) in a selected region (province) or macro region of Poland. A comparative assessment has been suggested with a division into:- characteristics of studied objects (e.g. communes),- their structural development,- multifunctional character of the studied rural area.Proposed characteristics of researched objects (communes) should by based on an assessment of at least 10 factors pertaining to the area (total area, forest, arable area, permanent grasslands and soil quality) and rural dwellers, their households connected and unconnected with farms.A hitherto development of commune technical infrastructure can be determined using 10 factors, the parameters of which may be assessed by percentage numbers (%) in relation to the number of households per commune.Characterizing of commune multifunctional character may be established according to jobs and employment structure or sources of income of the inhabitants. It was suggested to consider 15 sources of ...
Some results of analyses and forecast studies conducted by IBMER on development of sustainable agricultural production integrated with multifunctional development and protection of rural areas were presented in the paper. Good quality plant and animal production must be intensified on decreasing arable lands (AL) with changing structure of material, energy and production service outlays to make possible leaving the agricultural and rural development to the next generation in a better condition than now. Quantitative and substitute changes in man power expenditure, material and investment outlays and in direct energy carrier expenditure in agriculture and its infrastructure influence not only the level of unit production costs of agricultural raw materials for foodstuff manufacturing, but also affect the progress of rural multifunctionality and the rate of implementation of agro-environmental programmes. Using the methodology of research, updated by the IBMER, on the current state and forecasts concerning cumulated material and energy expenditure computed by the rolling costs method we find that: – unit energy consumption in agricultural production calculated by the number of energy units (EU) per assumed corn unit (CU) decreases systematically and will further decline owing to rationalization of employment and the use of agrochemicals, utilization of durable means and reducing ...
The article presents some results of investigations and prognostic studies of the Institute of Buildings Mechanization and Electrification of Agriculture (IBMER) on the future model of agriculture and agricultural engineering resulting from Common Agricultural Policy implementation and pro-ecological effect on the multifunctional development of agriculture and rural areas. Initiated process of technological modernization of developing family farms and large commodity farms is associated with promoted transfer from traditional and intensive systems of agricultural production to sustainable, organic and precision systems of agriculture. A systematic influence of the scientific progress on the effectiveness of plant and animal production was observed as constantly diminishing family commodity farms. Further technological progress, diminishing of accumulated energy consumption and unit agricultural production costs will stimulate development of about 400 thous farms and producer groups able to compete on food markets. It was also found that considering the agricultural production sustainability, integrated by the multifunctional rural development, energy saving and environmental protection in rural areas, science and technology face increasingly serious tasks. These among other include judging and harmonizing interests of agri- and food producers with ecological requirements connected with soil, water, air, forest and other environment protection. It must be decided whether agrochemicals should be ...
The current situation and predicted socio-economic, technological and ecological changes, which under the influence of scientific progress, implemented Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and globalied food markets will happen in Polish agriculture and its infrastructure by 2030 are presented in the paper. Owing to the progressive integration with the economy and markets of the European Union (EU), further intensified polarization processes and modernisation of farms is perceived accompanied by restructuring of agriculture, agri-food processing industries, production services, rural supply chains and the other infrastructure in rural areas. The future model of agriculture and agrotechnology is shaping, which is characterized by arable area (AL) diminishing to 12M ha, a decreasing number of family commercial farms and smaller agricultural holdings to 400 thousand, diminishing livestock population and number of farms specializing in commercial production of milk, meat, eggs but also sugar beets, potatoes, vegetable and fruit. Crop yield and animal productivity will increase, so despite diminishing AL and livestock population, both the global production and final output of Polish agriculture will be growing annually by between 0.5 and 1.0%. Quantitative and qualitative increase in plant and livestock production will be taking place accompanied by farms and agricultural enterprises switching to the system of ...
The paper presents some results of Author’s own studies and field research, as well the model research conducted by IMBER on agricultural holdings transformation from extensive and intensive conventional organization of production to sustainable systems of agricultural production integrated with the rural environment. Such evolutional restructuring will involve almost all commercial farms covered by the obligations stated in the European Union Directives and requirements of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The main objective of the organizational, technological and ecological transformations in the activities of development agricultural holdings remains and will remain obtaining increasingly safer (healthy) raw materials and food products under conditions of better energy and the environment saving in rural areas. The development of organic agricultural production, i.e. conducted without the use of any agrochemicals, was viewed critically. A necessity for practical utilisation of the latest achievements of agrochemical industry and biological progress, including genetically modified organisms (GMO) was indicated. It was recommended that a precise, sustainable production should be developed using organic methods and modern technical means. The standards and methods of checking the supply of safe food to the market were assessed. It was found that not all parameters applied for certification of agricultural raw materials and ...
Presented were the results of prognostic studies conducted by the Author on the necessary development of agricultural infrastructure against the back-ground of the future model of agriculture and its services until 2030. The level of agricultural infrastructure must be integrated with the level of rural infrastructure which is connected with the infrastructure of the whole country. The infrastructure should meet the requirements resulting from the current scientific progress and the future needs of farmer and rural populations. The development of agricultural in-frastructure will bring measurable results in the spheres of production, energy, economics, ecology, as well as social effects. Infrastructural investments in water economy of Poland, in rural areas and in agriculture were considered the most difficult for realization but at the same time the most needed ones. Investments in the construction of sewerage and sew-age disposal systems in the country, outlays on road and electricity lines and in-vestments in commodity turnover, services, advisory and informatization have been considered in the next place. Modernization and development of internal infrastructure of agricultural commodity farms are becoming increasingly important. A major part of necessary outlays on internal infrastructure and the devel-opment of local infrastructure will originate from payments, donations and credits from ...
Described were IBMER (Institute for Buildings Mechanization and Electrificationof Agriculture (IBMER)) activities aimed at the development and verificationof research procedures used for the assessment of commercial family farmactivities and for evaluation of progress in their technological and ecological modernization.Current assessment of agricultural farm activities has been conducted usingan appropriate IBMER procedure [Wójcicki 2008], which comprises tables forparametric (numerical) description of commercial farm equipment and activitiesin 2008.Development family farm is modernized on the basis of the project of itsorganization and mechanization in the nearest 5-7 years (e.g. until 2015). Suchproject may be developed using new IBMER technological and balance sheet procedure(methods), which has been currently (2009) elaborated and verified.A comparison of the recent activities with the accepted organizational projectallows to determine the level of progress in the sphere of technical and ecologicalmodernization of the analysed farm and its infrastructure.Both research procedures contain a number of common methodical bases,the part of which was synthetically compiled in tables concerning the assessmentof modernization of a sample farm with farm area 40 ha AL, specializing in potato,milk and beef cattle production. ...
Presented were some research results and forecasts concerning directions of organizational and technical transformations occurring in agriculture and its infrastructure.The main aim of transformations in agricultural enterprises will be acquisi-tion of increasingly safer (healthier) raw materials and food products under con-ditions of better energy and environment efficiency in rural areas. Energy effi-ciency implies decreasing unit material and energy outlays and manpower, therefore decreasing the costs of own products supplied to the market at the prices satisfactory for both producers and consumers.Competitive rivalry on the world food markets decreases and will decrease the number of Polish commodity farms. In the perspective of 15-20 years there will be about 300 thous. of those and they will supply almost all marketable agri-cultural output for processing or directly to the market. All family commodity farms will have to modernize and develop their production on the basis of pre-pared business plan, i.e. a project of equipment, mechanization and investment on farm. Each farm will be able to assess the needs and potential concerning its ad-justment to the requirements posed to future family agricultural enterprises.The paper presents the methodology of farm modernization using techno-logical cards and the way of assessment of investment potential of modernized ...
The influence of transportation conditions and work organization on the unitary costs of transportation were determined in selected farms in the Małopolska region. It was verified that factors lowering the costs are increasing the load capacity and its utilization and increasing the efficiency of loading and especially unloading.High transportation costs are strongly influenced by many factors, such as the transportation conditions and the work organization (the structure of working time, mechanization of loading etc.) ...
In medieval times the flat and marshy bottom of the Barycz valley was used to create fish ponds. The first ones were established probably as early as in the XII century by the Order of Cistercians. The human use of the valley which began caused a unique mosaic landscape, consisting of ponds, farming fields, forest complexes and human settlements to develop. Building the fish ponds was also the beginning of reclamation in the valley area. Adjusting the riverbed, building weirs on the river and the augmentation system changed the area's initial form com-pletely. The article analyzes the influence of two anthropogenic factors, agriculture and water balance, on the landscape variety of the Barycz Valley. Farming is highly responsible for shaping the environment, maintaining natural and landscape quality and protecting natural resources. The other element considered in the article are the water conditions, which define the landscape quality of the area. Their protection and rational use will determine the effectiveness of protecting the whole area. ...
A forecast of socio-economic changes in agricultural holdings and sustain-able agriculture until 2030 was presented against the background of necessary energy and ecological changes occurring in rural areas and in the whole Poland.Results of Agricultural Census of 2010 (PSR'10) and initial results of Na-tional Census (GUS) of 2011 were used to determine the trends of changes in rural areas and in agriculture. It was forecasted that by 2030 about 39% of the population of Poland will live in rural areas constituting 33.0% of individual households. Farmer population in agricultural holdings over 1.0 ha AL will con-stitute 13.3% of rural communities and 5.2% of the whole country population. There will be about 530 thousand commodity farms (agricultural enterprises) which will supply to the market almost all commercial output of food raw materials. Introducing sustainable production and new technologies based on modern machinery aggregates will diminish unit labour and energy outlays, simultaneously contributing to an improvement of ecological requirements for soil, water, air, plants animals and human protection in rural areas. Agriculture will reduce methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emission to the atmosphere, among oth-ers through increased use of renewable energy sources (RES). A critical and re-served attitude should be adopted ...
The aim of the study is to present the patchwork of fields as a factor which restricts the possibility of using agricultural land. The paper presents a review of Polish and foreign literature and identifies the existing limitations and benefits as-sociated with fragmentation of rural areas. It has been concluded that Polish pub-lications see the issue as a particular restriction in making full use of the agricul-tural potential, while foreign literature shows both sides of the problem - difficulties, but also benefits of such fragmentation. For researches method of analysis of literature. Its idea depends on proving authentity and new approach of the problem. ...
The agricultural production in Poland carried out on almost 60% of the country. Much of this activity takes place in areas which are protected by law or the ones which display adverse natural conditions for agricultural production. This creates a number of restrictions for agricultural intensification. These limitations have a different character and different degree of "discomfort" for the farmer. Moreover, very often difficulties of various types overlap in a particular area. The purpose of this study was to present the spatial distribution of these limitations by using GIS tools. The most advers conditions for farming management (over 80% of agricultural land of voivodeship is located on areas were agricultural production is difficult) the agriculture meets in podkarpackie, lubelskie and małopolskie voivodeship. The least of the impacted agricultural areas, about 53%, is located in kujawsko-pomorskie voivodeship. ...
This work presents the analysis of appearing the natural disasters in opolskie province in years 2008-2010. Dates was received from protocols of losses from administrative districts and cities which rose as a result of disaster and/or adverse weather conditions. On the basis of this information analysis of the scale of this phenomenon have been done. With the use of the statistical test chi-square the comparing of the number of farms embraced with disaster, the size of losses in the zloty and the degree of damage in % and numbers of farms applying for credit in the period of three years. Data concerning the frequency of appearing the natural disasters and adverse atmospheric phenomena in individual local governments on the map of the Opole province was presented. Carried analyses and statistical comparisons are showing that this kind of phenomenon appearing more and more often and defines the areas which suffered particularly in years 2008-2010. Basic of the map it is possibility to isolate north and north west area of our region as the most exposed to losses with adverse atmospheric phenomena and/or natural disasters and the south part of the province where the scale of these phenomena is lesser. ...
The paper presents the results of analyses of economic and investment activities conducted on 53 selected family farms in 2009 and 2010. Obtained results were compared with the respective data assumed in the projects of these farms modernization until 2015.The analyses were conducted to determine the needs and investment possibilities of the studied farms and seek the method of an assessment of investment activity pursued by individual family farms.Farms with an area of between 8 and 150 ha AL (arable lands) were investigated in 2009-2011. Average area of the researched objects was 44.23ha AL in 2009, 45.88ha AL in 2010,whereas in 2015 it will be 49.49ha AL, i.e. it will increase by 11.9%.It was found that with growing farm area the reconstruction needs decrease (depreciation), whereas possibilities of investment activity for development grow. Also potential investment possibilities of farms were estimated and the difference between the real family incomes and the incomes comparable with non-farmer families were added to the incurred investment expenditure.In 2009 average unit reconstruction investment needs were 1140 zł ∙ha-1AL, incurred investment expenditure was 1930 zł ∙ha-1AL , whereas potential investment possibilities were estimated at 3391 zł ∙ha-1AL.Respectively, in 2010 average unit investment needs were 1106 ...
The primary function of rural areas is their use in agricultural production. Currently, according to the balanced development of rural areas, one needs to tend to make those areas more attractive, create new jobs, create new sources of income for the rural population and to improve rural spatial planning. The agricultural production is extremely important in the areas of outstanding natural beauty. The management on protected areas can contribute to the protection of valuable qualities from excessive investment process. It must be conducted in accordance with legal requirements for environmental protection. The purpose of the research was to analyze the changes in agriculture in the context of rural area development. The communities within the Barycz Valley Landscape Park boundaries were selected for analysis. The study was based on the statistical data, including the data from the agricultural censuses of 1996, 2002, 2010, data concerning planning works and planning documents to lay down the development directions of the analyzed communities. ...
The main purpose of the paper was to determine the influence of catchment management on the bottom sediments quality of small water reservoirs as well as to determine toxic metal content in rushes. Samples of bottom sediments were collected in winter 2013 year, form 4 sediment layers (0-5, 5-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm) at three points along the body of water. The 48 samples were collected. Soil material was prepared according to the procedures used in soil science, the analysis was performed for the fraction with a particle diameter of less than 1 mm. Plant samples from single species aggregations were randomly cut from 5 to 10 locations of 20-50 m2 area. From these samples the average composite sample was prepared. The total content of such elements as Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (using the Thermo Scientific iCE 3000 series spectrometer) after prior digestion in the mixture (5:1) of concentrated acids HNO3 (65%) and HClO4 (60%). Total Hg content was determined by the AMA 254 analyzer. Between the small water reservoirs adjacent to the areas where organic farming is used, and the reservoirs adjacent to the areas with mineral fertilization ...
The main purpose of this work was to determine the degree of negative impact of heavy metals accumulated in the water sediments to aquatic organisms. Samples of sediments were collected in winter 2013, from 4 layers of sediment (0-5, 5-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm) at three points along the water reservoir. Sediments were prepared for analysis in accordance with the procedures applied in soil science. The analysis was carried out for the fraction with a particle diameter less than 1 mm. The total content of such elements as Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn, was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (using the Thermo Scientific iCE 3000 series spectrometer) after digestion in a mixture (5:1) of concentrated acid HNO3 (65 %) and HClO4 (60%). The total Hg content was obtained by using the AMA 254 analyzer. Only the lead content in the analyzed samples of bottom sediments exceeded the contamination value given by polish law (the Regulation of the Minister of Environment). According to the classification of PGI samples of sediments are classified mainly as medium polluted sediments (Class II), with the exception of zinc and lead concentrations (Class III). Due to the value of the indicator ...
Recently, trehalose becomes more and more popular compound. Increasing interest in this disaccharide results from the role as it starts to play in water economy of plants. In conditions of water shortage mentioned organic substance prevents their dehydration. Therefore, application of such interesting additive can contribute to the preparation of materials that can be applied in such areas as agriculture or cultivation of plants. It is also worth mentioning that properties of trehalose make this substance interesting from the medical point of view. Presented additive can have an impact on maintaining organs for transplantation in good condition. In presented research series of polymer superabsorbents modified with described disaccharide have been prepared. Obtained by means of photopolymerization materials differed in an amount of the additive. In the further step, physicochemical properties of superabsorbents have been determined. Following studies have been carried out: swelling studies and incubation studies in simulated body fluids aimed at determination of behavior of prepared materials in solutions similar to those one occurring in human body. Additionally, chemical structure of the hydrogels have been defined using spectroscopic technique. Based on the research it can be concluded that proposed materials are characterized by low sorption capacity and did not ...
This paper presents the results of physical and chemical tests of surface water samples taken from the areas of the Ostrzeszów Commune, which is part of the Ostrzeszów County, located in the southern part of the Wielkopolska Province. The Ostrzeszów commune is included in the urban-rural areas. The physicochemical analysis of surface waters covered samples taken from seventeen measurement and control points from places as accessible as possible. The water quality was assessed in accordance with the applicable regulations of the Minister of the Environment. Surface waters were characterized by typical variability for agricultural areas, i.e. slightly alkaline, pH in the range of 7.5-8.45; specific conductivity in the range of 246-512 μS/cm; turbidity in the range of 1.7-10.5 NTU; total hardness in the range of 1.6-3.2 mmol∙dm-3 Ca2+, Mg2+; alkalinity in the range of 66-142 mg∙dm-3 CaCO3; chloride content in the range of 19-47 mg/dm3 Cl-; content of biogenic compounds, ie: nitrites in the range of 0.02-0.36 mg∙dm-3 N-NO2-; nitrates in the range of 0.05- 4,9 mg∙dm-3 N-NO3-; ammonium ion in the range of 0.04-0.94 mg∙dm-3 N-NH4+; the content of orthophosphate in the range of 0.11-1,56 mg∙dm-3 P-PO43-. The content of metals, i.e. manganese Mn, Fe iron, was characterized by ...
