The study of herbicide dynamics in the soil and their interaction with the components of the environment makes it possible to ensure the selectivity of crops and the agronomical efficiency. The aim of this research was to evaluate the influence of soil physicochemical properties on the emergence and growth of soybean, with pre-emergence application of various saflufenacil rates. An experiment was carried out in a greenhouse with a completely randomized design, testing different soil types containing “Erechim”, “Santa Maria” and “Eldorado do Sul”, at different saflufenacil rates: 0, 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200, 400 g a.i. · ha–1. The application was performed 1 day after soybean sowing, and analyzed variables were: the phytotoxicity emergence of seedlings, dry mass and height of the soybean. The saflufenacil effective dose of 50% response in soybean (ED50) and the characteristics of the soils showed that the soil contained clay and sand which were the components most related to the saflufenacil availability to the plants. A lower ED50 by phytotoxicity to the soybean was found in soil with lower and greater content of clay and sand, respectively. The physicochemical properties of soil influenced the saflufenacil activity, having greater potential of injury to soybean in the soil from Eldorado do Sul, due to its clay and sand content.

The mining industry, including hard-coal mining, has a significant and multifaceted impact on all components of the environment. One of the factors is the production of various types of waste which, due to their physico-chemical and ecotoxic properties, do not always pose a threat to the environment and can be used in various ways. Such treatment of waste perfectly fits into the concept of the circular economy through the protection of natural resources and the maximum re-use of waste. One of the wastes generated by hard-coal mines is coal sludge from the purification of underground water in surface settling tanks. The article presents the results of research on the physico-chemical and phytotoxic properties of carbon sludges from two settling tanks with regard to assessing the possibility of their re-use in the reclamation of degraded areas. These sludges contain mainly sand fractions. An analysis of their chemical composition revealed the presence of heavy metals. Leachability studies have shown that despite the high concentrations of metals, a small quantity of these metals passes into the solution. In this respect, therefore, they do not pose a threat to the environment. However, a threat may result from the presence of chlorides and sulphates, the amounts of which are influenced by, among other factors, the time of waste storage in the settling tank. Phytotoxicity tests performed on garden cress ( Lepidium sativum) did not show a toxic effect at any concentration of the water extract. In addition, for one of the sludges, water extracts with concentrations starting from 12.5 and 50% stimulated the growth of the plant’s shoots and roots, respectively. The results show that the tested coal sludges may be used in appropriate doses for reclamation work, for example, when establishing a plant cover.

Atmospheric deposition, vehicular transportation and de-icing agents are major sources polluted snow in urban. This study investigates the current trace elements concentrations of snow and de-icing using ICP-MS, and phytotoxicity using three vascular plants in snow. The study assesses the contamination, classification and phytotoxicity of snow quality removed from roads of residential areas and piled on children’s playgrounds in residential territories. The research found that according to Russian environmental quality standard for water has been identified the exceeding trace elements in snow by W, Se, Mn, Cu, V, Mo, Ni and Zn. The pollution indices ( PLI, CF and Zc) were identified pollution level of snow piles from moderate contamination to very high contamination. Based on average germination index values for Sinapis alba L., Lepidium sativum L., and Triticum aestivum L., the degree of inhibition in snow piles varied from no inhibition to strong inhibition. The trace elements content in de-icing “Galit А” and salt sand mix are defined in the following descending order: Zn > Mn > Ba > V > Rb > Sr and Mn > Ba > Cr > V > Sr > Ni, respectively. High concentrations of trace elements in snow piles are a source of environmental pollution. To prevent snow storage and disposal in residential areas should be involved in future studies of environmental pollution and circular economy, so that environmental managers can reduce threats to the environment and public health, as well as initiate circular economy projects in urban areas.

New solutions in plant protection applications are still highly desirable. Aiming at higher efficiency, environmental safety and profitability of production which, in addition to reducing the costs of the application of plant protection products, limits the destruction of soil structure combined use of agrochemicals seems to be one of the most important method in modern agriculture. In 2016 and 2017, the Plant Protection Institute – National Research Institute in Poznań, Poland, conducted field experiments on the possibility of combining two popular herbicides used to control monocotyledonous weeds: pinoxaden and fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, with a two-component plant growth and development regulator (mepiquat chloride and prohexadione calcium) on KWS Ozon winter wheat. The tested substances were applied at the BBCH 24 stage of winter wheat – herbicide only, and at the BBCH 31 stage – a mix of herbicides with a plant growth and development regulator. Regardless of the method of application of pinoxaden (herbicide only or mixed), high effectiveness of Apera spica-venti control was obtained in both years of the study. The mix of pinoxaden with mepiquat chloride and prohexadione calcium reduced the wheat crop height to a similar extent as separate application of the substances. The combined application of fenoxaprop-P-ethyl with mepiquat chloride improved the effectiveness of wheat crop height control. The method of application of the substances had no significant effect on winter wheat yield. Grain yields harvested from plots treated with the above substances were significantly higher than control only in the case of high weed infestation of winter wheat. The technological value of wheat grain depended on the year of study, while the method of application did not have a significant impact on the evaluated parameters.