Katarzyna Rymuza

Multi-trait analysis of agroclimate variations during the growing season in east-central Poland (1971-2005)

Abstract The work is based on meteorological data recorded by nine stations of the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management located in east-central Poland from 1971 to 2005. The region encompasses the North Podlasian Lowland and the South Podlasian Lowland. Average values of selected agroclimate indicators for the growing season were determined. Moreover, principal component analysis was conducted to indicate elements that exerted the greatest influence on the agroclimate. Also, cluster analysis was carried out to select stations with similar agroclimate. Ward method was used for clustering and the Euclidean distance was applied. Principal component analysis revealed that the agroclimate of east-central Poland was predominantly affected by climatic water balance, number of days of active plant growth, length of the farming period, and the average air temperature during the growing season (Apr-Sept). Based on the analysis, the region of east-central Poland was divided into two groups (areas) with different agroclimatic conditions. The first area comprized the following stations: Szepietowo and Białowieża located in the North Podlasian Lowland and Biała Podlaska situated in the northern part of the South Podlasian Lowland. This area was characterized by shorter farming periods and a lower average air temperature during the growing season. The other group included the remaining stations located in the western part of both the Lowlands which was warmer and where greater water deficits were recorded.

The assessment of drinking water quality using zero unitarization method

Abstract The work is an attempt to assess piped water quality in four counties located in east central Poland. Piped water was analysed for three successive years in each county. Water samples were tested for the following physical and chemical parameters: turbidity, colour, conductivity, taste, odour, pH, nitrates (III), nitrates (V), iron and manganese. They were compared with the current standard values. Preliminary data analysis included an analysis of maximum and minimum values of physical and chemical parameters, and it revealed that turbidity, colour, iron and manganese contents exceeded the permissible standards in all the counties. Percentages of parameters exceedances and mean values of the exceedances were used to rank the counties in terms of water quality. The ranking was obtained by means of multidimensional comparative analysis. It was demonstrated that best quality water was supplied by Węgrów County water supply system which was followed by Mińsk Mazowiecki County. The third rank was assigned to Łosice County and the poorest quality water was found to be supplied by Siedlce County water supply system.

PRINCIPAL COMPONENT ANALYSIS AND CLUSTER ANALYSIS IN MULTIVARIATE ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY

This paper deals with the use of multivariate methods in drinking water analysis. During a five-year project, from 2008 to 2012, selected chemical parameters in 11 water supply networks of the Siedlce County were studied. Throughout that period drinking water was of satisfactory quality, with only iron and manganese ions exceeding the limits (21 times and 12 times, respectively). In accordance with the results of cluster analysis, all water networks were put into three groups of different water quality. A high concentration of chlorides, sulphates, and manganese and a low concentration of copper and sodium was found in the water of Group 1 supply networks. The water in Group 2 had a high concentration of copper and sodium, and a low concentration of iron and sulphates. The water from Group 3 had a low concentration of chlorides and manganese, but a high concentration of fluorides. Using principal component analysis and cluster analysis, multivariate correlation between the studied parameters was determined, helping to put water supply networks into groups according to similar water quality.

APPLICATION OF A LOGISTIC FUNCTION TO DESCRIBE THE GROWTH OF FODDER GALEGA

It was attempted in the paper to describe the growth of oriental goat’s rue (Galega orientalis Lam.) growth by means of a logistic function. The studies demonstrated that the function describes empirical data well as the coefficients of determination obtained ranged between 97 to 98%, depending on the growing season. The estimated function parameters indicate that both the plant height and growth rate were conditioned by thermal conditions and moisture during the growing season. Plants had the longest stems in the year 2010 (127.9 cm), and the shortest in 2008 (105.9 cm). The maximum growth rate ranged from 2.12 to 3.97 cm per day in, respectively, 2009 and 2008. Also the inflection point, the point at which plants grew the fastest, depended on the conditions of the growing season.

Wielowymiarowa ocena warunków przyrodniczych determinujących rozwój agroturystyki w gminach nadbużańskich

Problematyka rozwoju regionalnego jest jednym z wazniejszych kierunkow badan we wspolczesnych naukach ekonomicznych. Niniejsza publikacja wpisuje sie w szeroko rozumiany nurt badan regionalnych, lokalnych i przestrzenno-czasowych. W szczegolności poruszane są w niej zagadnienia zrownowazonego rozwoju, gospodarek opartych na wiedzy, funkcjonowania samorządow regionalnych. Prezentowane analizy zostaly przeprowadzone z wykorzystaniem zroznicowanych narzedzi, takich jak: metody i modele ekonometrii przestrzennej, eksploracyjna analiza danych przestrzennych, metody wielowymiarowej analizy porownawczej, hurtowni danych (Data Warehouse) i narzedzi Business Intelligence. Ksiązka jest adresowana do praktykow gospodarczych, analitykow, naukowcow, studentow i do wszystkich zajmujących sie problematyką empirycznych badan regionalnych.

The Impact of Precipitation Conditions on Medium-Early Cultivars of Potato Yielding

This elaboration was based on yields of nine medium-early cultivars of potato grown in Karzniczka station belonging to COBORU(Research Centre for Cultivar Testing) and on monthly precipitation sums during the growing season (April – August). For each of the cultivars separately in subsequent years and for precipitation sums in particular months of the growing season (IV–VII) polynomial regression models of precipitation – cultivar’s yield – were calculated. At the beginning of the growing season the yield of medium-early cultivars of potato was negatively correlated with monthly precipitation sums, while in the final stage of vegetation – this correlation was positive. The lowest yield of Stasia cultivar was noted with monthly precipitation sum of 34–38 mm in April, Tajfun cultivar with May precipitation from 100 to 120 mm, Finezja and Jurek cultivars with monthly June precipitation of 120 mm. Whereas maximum yield of Cekin and Jurek cultivars was noted with August precipitation of about 100 mm.

Multi-trait evaluation of value for cultivation and use of early maturing edible potato cultivars registered in Poland

The work presents an analysis of diversity and comparison of value for cultivation and use of early maturing potato cultivars registered with the Polish National Register of Cultivars. The comparison was based on 17 yield and appearance traits and quality attributes of tubers as well as their resistance to diseases. The analysis employed the following multi-dimensional statistical methods: principal component analysis and cluster analysis. The principal component analysis revealed that over 70% of the total variation was associated with the first 6 principal components. Cluster analysis yielded 4 groups of genotypes. The first group consisted of the cultivars which produced tubers with the most shallow eyes, the best flavour and the least severe darkening of raw flesh. The cultivars in the second group produced high yields and were low in starch, dry matter and glycoalkaloids. The tubers of cultivars which were classified into the third group had the highest starch, dry matter and vitamin C contents. However, they produced the lowest yields and were quite susceptible to most diseases. The fourth group was made up of high-yielding cultivars which tended to accumulate glycoalkaloids but were most resistant to hollow heart in tubers.

ANALYSIS OF HYDROTHERMAL CONDITIONS AND THEIR IMPACT ON EARLY POTATO YIELDS

The work is based on data on monthly air temperatures, monthly sums of atmospheric precipitation and early potato yields in 2000–2013 obtained from seven COBORU (Research Centre for Cultivar Testing) stations situated in east-central Poland. Hydrothermal conditions during the growing season (April–July) of early potato were described by means of the Sielianinow’s coefficient. The relationships between potato yields and the Sielianinow’s hydrothermal coefficient of the growing season were examined using multiple regression equations generated by means of the step-wise regression procedure followed by polynomial regression procedure. The average Sielianinow’s coefficient values ranged from 1.43 in April to 1.66 in May during the early potato growing season in east-central Poland. The applied statistical methods revealed that the hydrothermal factors impacted on early potato yields, particularly in the second stage of potato growth and development.

INFLUENCE OF PRECIPITATION AND THERMAL CONDITIONS ON STARCH CONTENT IN POTATO TUBERS FROM MEDIUM-EARLY CULTIVARS GROUP

The basis of this elaboration constituted data concerning mean starch content in nine medium-early cultivars of potato grown in six experimental stations belonging to COBORU (Research Centre for Cultivar Testing) in years 2010–2013. Using stepwise regression analysis the influence of thermal and precipitation conditions on starch content in potato cultivars was examined. Such analysis was performed for locations, years and particular cultivars. The analysis showed that starch content in tubers of medium-early potato cultivars depends more on precipitation than on thermal conditions. The relationship between starch content in tubers and precipitation and thermal conditions varied in different stations. In four stations (Karżniczka, Sulejów, Uhnin, Węgrzce) it depended on precipitation noted in August, in two (Uhnin and Słupia) – in July and in other two (Naroczyce and Słupia) – in June. Positive influence of temperature on starch content was noted only in August in Karżniczka. Starch content in tubers of Ametyst and Gawin cultivars depended on precipitation sum in August, Satina cultivar – in July, Oberon cultivar – in June and July, and Cekin, Finezja, Jurek, Stasia and Tajfun cultivars – on precipitation in July and August.

Genotype-environment interaction in evaluating yielding of selected edible potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars

Genotype-environment interaction in evaluating yielding of selected edible potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars In the research carried out in the years 1999-2001 the following characteristics of three edible potato cultivars were determined: tuber yield, starch content, dry matter content, vitamin C content and starch yield. Genotype-environment interaction for the above characteristics was evaluated on the basis of main effects (genotypes and years) and interaction effects by means of the variance analysis for repeated experiments and according to the linear model for the design which confounds the type 33 interaction. Moreover, there were calculated the variance of genotype stability describing the environmental variation of the genotypes, and the ecovalence coefficient which describes the genotype x environment interaction. All the analysed characteristics were influenced by the cultivars (genotypes) and the environment. The genotype-environment interaction reflecting different response of the cultivars to changeable environmental conditions proved to be significant for all the examined characteristics. The analysis of results does not allow to unambiguously indicate the stabile genotype because the Muza cultivar was most stable for vitamin C and dry matter contents, and starch yield whereas Aster and Ania proved to be most stable as far as tuber yield and starch content, respectively, were concerned.