EN
We obtain two equivalent conditions for m polynomials in n variables to form a p-basis of a ring of constants of some polynomial K-derivation, where K is a unique factorization domain of characteristic p > 0. One of these conditions involves Jacobians while the other some properties of factors. In the case m = n this extends the known theorem of Nousiainen, and we obtain a new formulation of the Jacobian conjecture in positive characteristic.