Efficiency of using seeder crops for uncomplacing soil in the technology of cultivation of potato

Abstract

Relevance. The formation of the potato yield, along with a balanced diet, is significantly influenced by the physical condition of the soil, namely the hardness of the soil. As a basic option for soil decompaction, a technological method of soil cultivation to a depth of up to 40 cm using chiselless tools is currently used. As an alternative, biological means of soil decompaction can be used by introducing fields occupied by green manure crops into the crop rotation during the entire field season. The purpose of the research is to assess the effectiveness of a new technological method of soil decompaction, which consists in the use of green manure crops in potato crop rotation.

Materials and methods. Experimental studies were carried out from June to August 2019 on the experimental field of the IAEP in the crop rotation of growing organic potatoes. The previous cultivation was autumn plowing of the field from under perennial grasses. Yellow mustard was used as a green manure — a fast-growing one-year green manure crop.

Results. The results of experimental studies of the influence of sowing green manure (yellow mustard) on the change in soil hardness in a fallow field in a potato crop rotation are presented. The high efficiency of the studied biological method of soil decompaction was established, providing a decrease in hardness in the zone where the “plow sole” was previously noted from 4.8 to 2.5 MPa.