Productivity of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) in the conditions of the RF CRNZ

Abstract

Abstract The results of sweet potato yield in the climatic and soil conditions of the Non-Chernozem zone are presented, which allow to recommend the expansion of the areas of valuable crops to ensure the industrial production of flour, starch, ethanol, and raw materials for semi-finished products. Due to its origin from a warm subtropical climate, it requires appropriate temperature conditions and humidity, especially in May, when there is a high risk of spring frostsю Therefore, an assessment of growing technology under cover for the total and commercial yield of tubers of six sweet potato varieties was carried out. In the conditions of the Non-Chernozem zone of Russia, the sweet potato samples Sukhumskiy (yield 21.7 t/ha), Amsterdamskiy (24.8 t/ha), and Jewel variety (23.4 t/ha) showed high productivity on average over 2 years. Under experimental conditions, a change in the growth rate was noted depending on changes in agro-climatic conditions, while periods of growth stoppage under unfavorable conditions (drought) and periods of continued growth, which subsequently caused deformation of tubers (especially in the Pobeda 100 sample) were noted. The rate of increase in the mass of tubers showed a positive correlation with the amount of precipitation.