Possibility to predict the yield of potatoes grown under two crop production systems on the basis of selected morphological and physiological plant indicators

Abstract

In the study conducted in the years 2014–2016 at the Institute of Plant Breeding and acclimatization in Poland, the effect was tested of such indicators of plant productivity as: leaf area index (LAI), leaf greenery index (SPAD) and chlorophyll a fluorescence on the yield of potato tubers grown in two production systems, i.e. organic and conventional. It was found that in the organic production system the values of all tested indicators were significantly lower than in the conventional system and the decrease in chlorophyll content in the leaves, as well as the decrease in chlorophyll a fluorescence over time followed faster in the organic than in conventional system. The lower surface of the leaves, smaller greenery index and lower activity of photosynthesis contributed to a significant reduction in tuber yield in the organic system. The tuber yield in this system was about 30% lower than in the conventional one. The positive correlations between the value of the tested indicators and yield of tubers was obtained. The highest correlation was between the LAI index, the smallest between the performance index of photosystem II. In the conventional system the correlation coefficients were slightly higher than in organic, which indicates that in this system the possibility of predicting the final yield is simpler.