Effect of deep loosening of interrows on physical properties of sod-podzolic soil and yield of organic potato

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to study the effect of deep loosening of row spacings on the physical properties of the soil and yield of organic potatoes. Two variants of soil cultivation were used in row spacings: usual and 25 cm deep. The soil cultivation was carried out with a row-crop chisel cultivator. Its design was developed at the institute. Analysis of the data obtained as a result of experimental studies showed that deep loosening of row spacings had a positive effect on soil compaction both in the inter-row width and directly in the plough ridge. The soil compaction in the row spacing during normal tillage was in average above 20 %, and in the ridge by an average of 13 % compared to deep tillage. The assimilation of moisture by the soil with when using of deep loosening of row spacings also had a positive trend, especially under condition of a large amount of precipitation in a short period of time. Thus, with a loss of 34 mm, the soil in the variant with loosening the row spacings in a larger volume absorbed moisture and the moisture indicators increased sharply in layers, at 15 cm by 27 %, at 25 cm by 20 %, at 35 cm by 5 %. Potato yield increased by 8.7 % when using deep loosening of row spacings. The obtained results of experimental studies should be used as recommendations when carrying out technological operations aimed at caring for potato plantings.