The Positive Effects of Mechanical and Chemical Treatments with the Application of Biostimulants in the Cultivation of Solanum tuberosum L.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of mechanical and chemical treatments with the application of biostimulants on the effectiveness of weed infestation reduction and potato yielding. A three-year field research study was conducted at the Agricultural Experimental Station Zawady (52°03′ N; 22°33′ E). The field experiment was set up in a split-plot design with three replicates. The first factor was the two edible potato cultivars, and the second was five methods of mechanical and chemical treatments with biostimulants: (1) control object—mechanical weeding, (2) the herbicide Avatar 293 ZC (clomazone + metribuzin), (3) the herbicide Avatar 293 ZC and the biostimulant PlonoStart, (4) the herbicide Avatar 293 ZC and the biostimulant Aminoplant, (5) the herbicide Avatar 293 ZC and the biostimulant Agro-Sorb Folium. Before emergence, the control object was double ridging and single ridging with harrowing and double ridging after emergence. On other objects (2–5) before emergence, two ridgings were applied. The assessment of weed infestation was performed using the quantitative weight method on two dates: about 2 weeks after the application of the herbicide and biostimulants and before the potato tubers harvest. The herbicide and the herbicide with biostimulants applied to the potato crop showed a positive influence in reducing the number and fresh weight of weeds compared to mechanical-only treatments. The highest effectiveness, calculated on the basis of the number and fresh mass of weeds, was found on the fifth object. It was, on average, 70.5 and 71.6% for cultivars, respectively. Research into the use of biostimulants in potato cultivation will continue due to the pro-environmental nature of biostimulants and the importance of this crop. It is certain that the methodology of future field experiments will meet the challenges of sustainable development.