North-eastern Poland Research Articles

MANAGEMENT OF AGRICULTURAL POST-PRODUCTION RESIDUES FOR ENERGY PRODUCTION IN RURAL AREAS - A CASE STUDY

The paper shows - from the point of view of the need to increase the share of energy obtained from renewable sources, examples of "good energy practices" for four locations. This goal is primarily related to the reduction of climate changes caused by high GHG emissions - but also fits in the "zero waste" strategy in the case of using post-production biomass as an energy source. Examples are described showing four RES installations in operation - two at the farm level and two at the municipal level. The data for the individual installations are summarized. All the described installations are located in north-eastern Poland - in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship. Biogas installations in two farms are described - one micro installation and one large. A large installation has a power of 0.999 MWe and 1.1 MWt, and a small one – 11 kW of electric and thermal power. In the case of a large biogas plant, the investment cost for W is 21% of the investment cost for a micro biogas plant. Operating costs of biogas plant operation in relation to the installed capacity - micro-scale biogas plants are only 59% of costs for a large biogas plant. It was shown how a particularly large biogas plant can cooperate with the local community - by distributing heat from cogeneration to the municipal heat network. On the other hand, two municipalities that have invested in ecological heat sources are described. In one case, it is biomass-fired boilers - providing some of the residents of the commune and communal buildings with domestic hot water. and central heating - and in the second - installation of heat pumps to cover the needs of the municipal school. These examples show that it is possible to implement such solutions. At the same time - local communities, which are often opposed to investing in renewable energy source (RES) in their vicinity, should be made aware of what social, energy and general benefits are associated with such solutions. Due to the calculated factor of 0.2% of biogas installations in relation to the number of potential farms where such installations are possible and justified - the promotion of such "good energy practices" is absolutely necessary.

Chevkinite-group minerals in selected intrusions of the Mazury Complex, North-Eastern Poland: insights into the formation of a titanite-like phase by hydrothermal alteration

Chevkinite-group minerals forming large and common (up to 0.03 vol%) accessory phases in monzodiorites and granodiorites from the Mesoproterozoic anorthosite-mangerite-charnockite-granite (AMCG) suite intrusions, Mazury Complex, north-eastern Poland, range from pristine magmatic types to hydrothermally altered varieties. The unaltered phase is perrierite-(Ce), with the uncommon feature of having Al dominant in the C site. Hydrothermal alteration of the perrierite-(Ce) followed two main trends: one shows depletion in Ca, Fe, Si, Al and Mg, and increasing Ti contents; the other shows increases in Si, Ti and Ca and decreases in light rare-earth elements (LREE), Y and Mg, at about constant Fe content. The second trend resulted in the formation of a phase compositionally similar to titanite. Result of chemical analyses show that the transition from perrierite-(Ce) to the titanite-like phase is sharp; an electron back-scatter diffraction (EBSD) study shows the titanite- like material to be amorphous. The hydrothermal alteration of a chevkinite-group mineral to titanite has commonly been reported in natural sequences but this is the first record of the identification of a titanite-like phase made on the basis of a structural analysis.

Under-Canopy Regeneration of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) as Adaptive Potential in Building a Diverse Stand Structure

Under-canopy natural regeneration of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stand is able to create stands with a complex structure, which are characterised by greater resistance to extreme phenomena related to climate change. The main aim of the work was to analyse the potential of pine undergrowth, its role in the stand, and its usefulness in further breeding plans to create stands of various structure, with greater stability and tolerance to stress factors, including greater resistance to climate change. The study was carried out in north-eastern Poland, in pine stands thinned by strong (hurricane level) wind in 2002. The study area covers 225.2 ha and is located in 29 stands. Naturally regenerated pine saplings with a minimum height of 0.5 m, characterised by a high density, growing under the upper cover of the stand, with varying degrees of thinning, were qualified for the study. On average 7.820 pine saplings were recorded in the area of one hectare. Over 65% of the examined saplings were determined to be of very good or good quality, prognostic for further development and the creation of the main stand in the future. The principle of increasing the structural diversity of stands is the method of increasing the adaptability of forests to environmental changes.

How do genetic relatedness and spatial proximity shape African swine fever infections in wild boar?

The importance of social and spatial structuring of wildlife populations for disease spread, though widely recognized, is still poorly understood in many host-pathogen systems. In particular, system-specific kin relationships among hosts can create contact heterogeneities and differential disease transmission rates. Here, we investigate how distance-dependent infection risk is influenced by genetic relatedness in a novel host-pathogen system: wild boar (Sus scrofa) and African swine fever (ASF). We hypothesized that infection risk would correlate positively with proximity and relatedness to ASF-infected individuals but expected those relationships to weaken with the distance between individuals due to decay in contact rates and genetic similarity. We genotyped 323 wild boar samples (243 ASF-negative and 80 ASF-positive) collected in north-eastern Poland in 2014-2016 and modelled the effects of geographic distance, genetic relatedness and ASF virus transmission mode (direct or carcass-based) on the probability of ASF infection. Infection risk was positively associated with spatial proximity and genetic relatedness to infected individuals with generally stronger effect of distance. In the high-contact zone (0-2km), infection risk was shaped by the presence of infected individuals rather than by relatedness to them. In the medium-contact zone (2-5km), infection risk decreased but was still associated with relatedness and paired infections were more frequent among relatives. At farther distances, infection risk further declined with relatedness and proximity to positive individuals, and was 60% lower among un-related individuals in the no-contact zone (33% in10-20km) compared among relatives in the high-contact zone (93% in 0-2km). Transmission mode influenced the relationship between proximity or relatedness and infection risk. Our results indicate that the presence of nearby infected individuals is most important for shaping ASF infection rates through carcass-based transmission, while relatedness plays an important role in shaping transmission rates between live animals.

The effect of harvest strategy on the energy potential of Jerusalem artichoke

Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) is a crop with a high potential for energy generation on account of its broad range of industrial applications, high yield potential and relatively low climatic and agronomic requirements. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different harvest strategies on the energy potential of Jerusalem artichoke (JA) aerial biomass. The yield and energy efficiency (EE) ratio of JA biomass harvested (i) once (August) and (ii) twice (June and October) during the growing season were investigated in a three-year field experiment. The study was conducted in north-eastern Poland. The energy inputs (EI) in JA production were determined at 23.0–23.5 GJ ha−1 in the year of plantation establishment and at 12.1–14.6 GJ ha−1 y−1 in the second and third year. Energy inputs were 11–12% higher when JA biomass was harvested twice during the growing season. Dry matter yield (DMY) was highest in the second year (28.1 Mg ha-1), and it was 32% and 58% lower in the first and third year of the study, respectively. Dry matter yield was considerably higher when JA biomass was harvested once in August. The energy gain (EG) in JA production ranged from 144 (year 3) to 346 GJ ha−1 y−1 (year 2). The EE ratio of JA biomass production ranged from 11.3 and 12.3 (years 1 and 3) to 26.1 (year 2). Energy gain and the EE ratio were significantly higher (by 67% and 63% on average, respectively) in treatments with a single- than a double-cut harvest strategy. The study demonstrated that both productivity and the volume of energy accumulated in JA biomass can be optimized by selecting an appropriate harvest strategy (single-cut or double-cut harvest during the growing season).

Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Listeria spp. isolated from bulk raw milk in north-eastern Poland

Purpose of research: The aim of the study was to determine the presence of Listeria spp. strains in the milk samples obtained from dairy farms in north-eastern Poland and to determine the profile of resistance to antibiotics recommended in the treatment of listeriosis. Material and methods: 500 samples of bulk milk were analyzed. Milk samples were obtained from dairy farms located in Warmia and Mazury region in Poland. Chronic mastitis, requiring frequent and long-term use of antibiotics has been documented in these herds. Isolation of Listeria spp. was performed according to the standard procedure PN-EN ISO 11290-1: 2017-07. Antibiotic resistance testing was performed by the disc diffusion method according to the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) recommendations. Results: In total, out of 500 samples of pooled milk, based on biochemical properties, 8 isolates were confirmed as belonging to the genus Listeria (1.6%). The further identification of Listeria strains on the basis of MicrobactListeria12L showed that 3 strains (3/8, 37.5%) belonged to L. monocytogenes species and 5 strains (5/8, 62.5%) belonged to L. innocua species. The analysis of sensitivity to commonly used antimicrobial agents showed that all isolates, both belonging to L. monocytogenes and L. innocua species, were sensitive to ampicillin. Multidrug resistance, defined as resistance to at least three classes of antibiotics, was confirmed among four isolates (50%). Research summary: The studies undertaken revealed that raw milk can pose a risk for public health due to the prevalence of pathogenic Listeria spp. among which multidrug resistant strains are present. It is therefore necessary to rationalize the use of antibiotics and to monitor bacterial resistance in the food production environment.

Assessment of PAH content in soil and aboveground parts of Lolium perenne L. next to the communication arteries of the urban agglomeration

The research on the content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil and grass ( Lolium perenne L.) was carried out on samples collected in the city of Białystok, in north-eastern Poland. The test samples came from green belts in the vicinity of communication routes, differentiated in terms of the surrounding buildings and infrastructure and characterized by a different car traffic intensity. The highest total concentration of all sixteen PAHs in soil and grass samples was found near a large intersection at Nicholas Copernicus Street, one of the most important communication routes connecting two parts of the city. In the aboveground parts of the studied grass samples, benzo[a]pyrene was the most abundant, its content ranging from 53.8 μg/kg DM up to 91.7 μg/kg DM. On the other hand, in soil samples, much higher benzo[a]pyrene content was found, and the dominance of this compound was observed in almost every measurement location. Based on the obtained results, it was found that car traffic is a significant source of PAH emissions to the urban soil environment and urban greenery. The squares and green belts located along communication routes and intersections are the most exposed to pollution.

Religiously Conditioned Health Behaviors within Selected Religious Traditions.

Background: Health is a value of paramount importance for human existence. It has a special place in every religious system, both on the doctrinal and practical levels. Most religions view health as a priority value to be cared for, and require followers of individual religious groups to take care of their physical and mental health, and to maintain a balance between body and spirit. The aim of the study was to verify whether the level of religious commitment significantly influences health behaviors and whether in selected religions the faithful have a different approach to health behaviors. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on a group of 296 people—118 Seventh-day Adventists (SDA), 134 Catholics, and 14 Jews living in southern Poland, and 31 Muslims living in southern and north-eastern Poland. The following research tools were used as part of the diagnostic survey method: a questionnaire survey designed by us; the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ); the Inventory of Health Behaviours (IHB); the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS 10) and anthropometric measurements, physical examination, laboratory tests. Results: Only 75% of Catholics who participated in the study declared a high level of religious commitment. On the other hand, all (100%) of SDA, Jews, and Muslim respondents declared their religious commitment at a high level. SDA were characterized by the most desirable health behaviors on the IHB (high and average levels), especially eating habits. They did not consume alcohol, did not smoke cigarettes. The physical activity of most ADS was high and moderate. Most of the SDA subjects were characterized by an average and low level of stress intensity. The most common correct scores for homocysteine, triglycerides, and CRP were SDA, cholesterol by Jews, glucose by Muslims, and HDL by Catholics. The most common negative results were: homocysteine, glucose and triglycerides among Jews, cholesterol and CRP among Catholics, HDL among Muslims. Optimal blood pressure was most common among Catholics, and hypertension was most often diagnosed among Jews. Most often, Muslims had the correct body weight, and at the same time it was the group of respondents most often diagnosed with obesity. In contrast, underweight was observed only among Catholics. The SDA subjects were most often overweight. Conclusions: The results suggest that public health professionals and nurses should develop culturally specific educational interventions, especially among Catholics.

The development of the Rook's (Corvus frugilegus) colony in the face of shifting spring phenology

Many birds species breed in colonies. One of the species in the Corvidae family nesting in groups is the Rook (Corvus frugilegus). The construction of the nest is costly for birds and needs high energy expenditure. Therefore, birds should optimize the time of nest building in relation to environmental, especially weather, conditions. Furthermore, birds should adapt their breeding phenology, including the date of starting the construction of nests for climate change. We observed the dynamics of increasing numbers of nests in a colony of Rooks in relation to air temperature, wind, rainfall, snowfall and day-length (indirect indicator of photoperiodism). Observations were carried out during three breeding seasons (2015–2017) in a large rookery in a big city in north-eastern Poland. The increase in the number of nests was correlated only with day length and no effect of climatic factors on the number of nests in the colony was observed. Number of nests varied significantly between successive years of research. In the case of the Rook (predictable breeders), the photoperiod seems to be the most important factor influencing breeding behavior, especially nest construction. In the last three decades, increasing temperature and time of spring phases have advanced and have influenced changes in the phenology of the availability of food resources. Simultaneously, a rapid decline in the numbers of breeding pairs of the Rook in Poland has been observed, especially in the last three decades. Conservative attachment to the length of the day, which is the main factor responsible for the development of the breeding colony, makes the Rook appear to be a species with low plasticity in the face of rapid climate changes. Thus, we suggest that may indirectly influence the decrease in the breeding population of the Rook.

Heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in leachates from autothermal thermophilic aerobic digestion as a potential threat to the environment in north-eastern Poland

This paper presents the concentrations of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and heavy metals in leachates from the autothermal thermophilic aerobic digestion (ATAD). The leachates from ATAD installations (Dąbrowa Białostocka, Hajnówka, Pisz, Olecko, Giżycko, Wysokie Mazowieckie) located in Poland were tested. The concentrations of PAHs in samples from Pisz, Giżycko, Wysokie Mazowieckie and Hajnówka were similar to those in industrial wastewater. The cluster analysis confirmed that in sites with a higher polyethylene (p.e.) input from the industrial sector, the leachates were more contaminated with PAH compounds. In samples from Dąbrowa Białostocka, Olecko, Pisz and Hajnówka, the heavy fraction of PAHs compounds prevailed over the light fraction. Concentrations of heavy metals in leachates from ATAD varied. The Ward’s method isolated the wastewater treatment plant in Giżycko. The p.e. from the industrial sector was the highest for this facility. Also, the samples from ATAD had the highest total concentration of heavy metals (5.87 mg/l). The leachates from ATAD are returned to biological systems of municipal sewage treatment plants, where they can be combined into more toxic compounds. Biological wastewater treatment processes do not ensure the removal of PAHs and heavy metals from the wastewater. As a result, harmful compounds can get into the water or ground, polluting the environment.

Abundance and size structure of invasive brown bullhead, Ameiurus nebulosus (Lesueur, 1819), in a mesotrophic lake (north-eastern Poland)

Abundance and size structure of invasive brown bullhead, Ameiurus nebulosus (Lesueur, 1819), in a mesotrophic lake (north-eastern Poland)

Assessment of the possibility of using waste from agri-food processing for fertilization purposes

In order to assess the possibility of using waste from agri-food processing for fertilization, residues in the form of apple pomace, carrot root, onion husks and dried nettle were selected for the tests. The research material came from food plants located in north-eastern Poland. In selected waste, the pH value, dry matter content, organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and carbon were determined. It was found that apple pomace, carrot root and onion husk were acidic and dried nettle was alkaline. The nitrogen content in the tested waste ranged from 0.61 to 2.29%, phosphorus from 0.07 to 0.55%, and potassium from 0.19 to 3.72%. Based on the results obtained, it was found that the examined post-production residues are characterized by good fertilizer properties. However, it should be remembered that fertilizers or soil improvers must meet a number of requirements and above all, they must be safe for the environment.

Identification of Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Francisella tularensis and Coxiella burnetii in ticks from selected regions of north-eastern Poland

Tick-borne diseases (TBD) are an increasing health problem for humans, pets, and livestock. It is closely related to the increasing frequency of ticks. The aim of the study was to identify Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Francisella tularensis, and Coxiella burnetii in ticks from selected regions of north-eastern Poland. The material for molecular tests were ticks belonging to two species: Dermacentor reticulatus (meadow tick) and Ixodes ricinus (common tick), collected in the period from July 2020 to June 2021. The studies were performed on arachnids collected mostly from the ground (90.4%), as well as removed from dogs (8.4%) and humans (1.2%). The genetic material was amplified by PCR in the multiplex PCR variant (B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum) and single PCR (F. tularensis, C. burnetii). Only 9 out of 500 ticks tested showed genetic material indicating infection with the above-mentioned microorganisms (1.8%). D. reticulatus ticks dominated in this group. The highest number of ticks, that is seven D. reticulatus and one I. ricinus, were infected with B. burgdorferi. Only one I. ricinus tick (0.3%) and one D. reticulatus tick (0.2%) carried genetic material of A. phagocytophilum. In the latter case, it was a co-infection with B. burgdorferi. Tests on ticks showed a low degree of infection with B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum bacteria (1.8%) and no genetic material of F. tularensis or C. burnetii. On the other hand, one D. reticulatus tick was coinfected with B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum (0.2%). The low percentage of infected I. ricinus ticks may have been due to the small number of specimens examined, which in turn resulted from the fact that D. reticulatus was the dominant tick species in the research area.

Analysis of the Impact of Climate Change on Surface Water Quality in North-Eastern Poland

This article presents the influence of climatic conditions on surface water quality. The research methodology, including physicochemical analysis from the Gołdapa and Bludzia rivers, is presented. The research lasted for two years. The results of the physicochemical studies of the Gołdapa and Bludzia rivers in early spring, spring, and autumn show that each of these seasons impacts the quality of surface waters. Moreover, it was proven that all the parameters are strongly correlated with the air temperature, the sum of daily precipitation, and water levels. For detailed analysis, the obtained results of own research were compared with meteorological and hydrological data from the last 15 years (2005–2021) for the region of north-eastern Poland. It was proven that temperature changes contribute to increased surface water pollution in the north-eastern part of Poland. Waters from areas that humans have not developed are of better quality than those that drain the urban area, which is reflected in the case of the superior quality of the Bludzia river compared to the Gołdapa river. The upward trend in temperature in the Gołdap region indicates that global warming will continue.

Evaluation of human exposure to parabens in north eastern Poland through hair sample analysis

Parabens (PBs) are a group of substances commonly used in industry. They also pollute the environment, penetrate into living organisms and adversely affect various internal organs. During this study, the degree of exposure of people living in Olsztyn, a city in north eastern Poland, to selected parabens most often used in industry was studied. The chemicals under investigation included: methyl paraben—MePB, ethyl paraben—EtPB, propyl paraben—PrPB, benzyl paraben BePB and butyl paraben -BuPB. To this aim, hair samples collected from the scalps of 30 volunteers were analyzed using a liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry technique. All PBs studied were present in a high percentage of analyzed samples (from 76.7% in the case of BePB to 100% in the case of MePB and PrPB). The mean concentration levels were 4425.3 pg/mg for MeBP, 704.0 pg/mg for EtPB, 825.7 pg/mg for PrPB, 135.2 pg/mg for BePB and 154.5 pg/mg for BuPB. Significant differences in PB concentration levels between particular persons were visible. On the other hand, gender, age and artificial hair coloring did not cause statistically significant differences in PB levels. Obtained results have clearly indicated that people living in north eastern Poland are exposed to various PBs, and therefore these substances may affect their health status. However, the evaluation of PBs influence on human health requires further research.

Stomach contents of the great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo inhabiting northeastern Poland

Stomach contents of the great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo inhabiting northeastern Poland

Heavy Metal Concentrations in Roadside Soils on the Białystok-Budzisko Route in Northeastern Poland

Civilization development has contributed to environmental pollution. In recent years, the number of vehicles has increased significantly; according to the Central Statistical Office, the number of passenger cars in Poland in 2000 was nearly 10 million, while in 2020 it was slightly more than 25 million. The study aimed to determine the content and spatial distribution of trace elements (Fe, Mn, Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Zn and Cu) in the roadside topsoil along the trunk road Białystok–Budzisko on different types of land use (urban, rural, agricultural and forestal areas). Forty-five soil samples were collected from a 160 km road section, at intervals of approximately 4 km. Metal contents were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. The concentrations of metals in roadside soils occurred in the following order: Fe > Mn > Zn > Cr > Cu > Pb > Ni > Cd. The average contents of Cd, Zn, Cu, and Pb were higher than the geochemical background values of the Polish soils. Moreover, the values of the Igeo showed for Cd moderate to strong, while for Zn, Cu and Pb, moderate soil contamination. The study indicates that significant metal-binding factors in the studied roadside soils are Fe and Mn oxides. The crucial source of metals is road transport, depending on its intensity, which means amount, type, and speed of vehicles. Moreover, based on the analysis of the course of the factor values and their dynamics, it was observed that the areas where typical activities connected with the population take place (urban and agricultural areas) are additional sources of heavy metals. The results of this paper are relevant to the prevention and control of heavy metal pollution in roadside soils. The study can contribute to reducing the concentration of toxic elements in ecosystems due to vehicle emissions with appropriate land-use policies.

Communities of ectoparasitic arthropods associated with the root vole Microtus oeconomus in north-eastern Poland

Ectoparasitic arthropods communities associated with root voles Microtus oeconomus (Pallas, 1776) were analysed in north-eastern Poland. The first M. oeconomus parasites recorded in the history were the fleas Palaeopsylla similis Dampf, Ctenophthalmus congerer Rothschild, C. bisoctodentatus Kolenati, and C. solutus Jordan et Rothschild. Ctenophthalmus uncinatus (Wagner) and Doratopsylla dasycnema (Rothschild) fleas and the Ixodes apronophorus Schulze tick were recorded on M. oeconomus in Poland for the first time. These species are relatively rare in Poland and specific to other species of small mammals. The incidence of M. oeconomus infestations with I. apronophorus, D. dasycnema and C. uncinatus ranged from 0.5 to 0.8 %, respectively. There are large differences in the infestation of Dermacentor reticulatus larvae and nymphs between July and August. In July, D. reticulatus may be considered the dominant ectoparasite species, in August, it is partly replaced by I. ricinus and fleas and is subdominant.

Bog pine dendrochronology related to peat stratigraphy: Palaeoenvironmental changes reflected in peatland deposits since the Late Glacial (case study of the Imszar raised bog, Northeastern Poland)

Resultsof dendrochronological analysis of subfossil pine (Pinus sylvestris) buried in the Imszar raised bog deposits (NE Poland, Podlasie Region), were compared with multiproxy analysis of peat deposits (pollen and Non Pollen Palynomorphs, plant macrofossils, Cladocera, and geochemical analyses). The peat (3.3 m thick) accumulation started in the Allerød interstadial. The oldest pine tree population grew in this peatland in ca 6790–6530 cal yrs. BP: floating chronology (determined with the wiggle–matching method) covers this period is 255 years long. The growth of trees on the fen was related to the drying out of the fen at that time, which caused the break in peat accumulation (hiatus). Apart from numerous fallen trees excavated during the peat extraction, a horizon of vertical in situ tree trunks ingrown to the ground, were exposed during peat exploitation. On the basis of a dozen or so trees, a second, “dead forest” floating chronology 197 years long, was compiled with a time range of ca 4255-4060 cal yrs. BP. The youngest, third pine floating chronology (310 years long), elaborated on the basis of ex situ tree trunks, covers the time frame of ca 3130-2820 cal yrs. BP. Multiproxy analyzes of fen deposits indicate that the three stage colonization of the peatland by bog pine was associated with the periods of warming and overdrying in the climate of the Holocene, during which the groundwater table in the Imszar peatland significantly lowered. In turn, the dying off stages of the pine trees occurred in the phases of climate humidity growth, during which the groundwater level in the fen raised. They are well correlated with analogous bog pine germination and dying-off phases in the other European peatlands.

Sewage sludge, digestate, and mineral fertilizer application affects the yield and energy balance of Amur silvergrass

Sewage sludge and digestate can be applied as fertilizers to reduce the use of mineral fertilizers and reliance on non-renewable resources in their production. A field experiment was conducted in north-eastern Poland (2016–2018) to evaluate the biomass yield and the energy efficiency ratio (EE) of Amur silvergrass [Miscanthus sacchariflorus (Maxim.) Hack] in production technologies that differed in the form and rate of nitrogen fertilization: (i) unfertilized control; (ii) 100 kg N ha−1 applied as mineral fertilizer; (iii) 100 kg N ha−1 applied as sewage sludge; (iv) 100 kg N ha−1 applied as digestate; (v) 160 kg N ha−1 applied as mineral fertilizer; (vi) 160 kg N ha−1 applied as sewage sludge; (vii) 160 kg N ha−1 applied as digestate. The application of 100 kg N ha−1 increased dry matter yield (DMY) by 15% relative to the control treatment (8.5 vs. 9.7–9.8 Mg ha−1). An increase in the nitrogen rate to 160 kg N ha−1 did not increase biomass yields. The yield-forming effects of digestate and sewage sludge were comparable with those exerted by mineral fertilizers. The energy inputs (EI) in the production technology involving mineral fertilizers ranged from 16.3 (100 kg N ha−1) to 20.9 GJ ha−1 (160 kg N ha−1). Organic wastes decreased EI in the production of Amur silvergrass by 34–40% (sewage sludge) and 41–48% (digestate). Energy output (EO) peaked when M. sacchariflorus was supplied with 100 kg N ha−1, regardless of fertilizer type. Energy gain (EG) was highest (131 GJ ha−1 y−1) when Amur silvergrass was fertilized with digestate at a rate equivalent to 160 kg N ha−1. Nitrogen fertilization decreased the EE of biomass production by 25–32% (sewage sludge and digestate) to 54–65% (mineral fertilizer). The EE was highest in the production technology involving digestate (13.2–14.4), followed by sewage sludge (11.4–13.0), and it was lowest under the influence of mineral fertilizers (6.7–8.8).