In the vicinity of copper foundry “Głogów” agricultural farms exist for 35 years. The aim of the work was to determine if biotypes of common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.) growing for many years in heavy metals polluted environment showed any differences in the efficacy of herbicides’ control. Seeds of C. album were collected near Głogów, from four cultivated fields with different content of heavy metals in soil (mainly copper). From these seeds experimental plants were grown in greenhouse conditions. In greenhouse experiments the efficacy of control of C. album by different pyridate (6-chloro-3-phenylpyridazin-4-yl S-octyl thiocarbonate) doses also in combinations with 0.2% CuSO₄ was compared. Also the efficacy of pyridate in control of C. album seedlings which were grown in pots with soils collected from the vicinity of smelter was tested. Additionally, in growth chamber, the effect of increasing copper concentration on shoot and root growth was analyzed. Pyridate showed similar efficacy on tested populations of C. album without respect of soil contamination level, seeds’ origin and presence of copper ions in spray solution in which herbicide was used in full dose. Statistical differences were observed when herbicide was applied at ⅓ pyridate full dose, especially in the presence of Cu²⁺ ions in spray solution.

The invasion, development and number of generations of Heterodera goettingiana in pea plants were examined in a glasshouse experiment after plants were treated with herbicides, recommended for pea cultivation (terbutryn + terbuthylazine, methabenz rhiazuron, prometryne, bentazone, cyanazine, pendimethalin, benthiocarb and fluazifop-butyl). There was a non-target effect of herbicides. Prometryne, cyanazine and benthiocarb reduced female number in the roots. This effect may be due to the inhibition of hatching or/and retardation of female development.