Study of the Effectiveness of Humic Fertilizers for Potatoes

Zhytomyr Region

Experiments 21 and 22

The experiments were conducted on the experimental plot of Luhyny district to study the effectiveness of humic fertilizers Adept Agro.Bio at various dosages for potato varieties No.1 and No.2. The preceding crop was sugar beet.

Yield results are presented in Table 21.

Table 21. Effect of Different Doses of Adept Agro.Bio on Potato Yield

The data show that the humic fertilizer Adept is significantly more effective than an equivalent amount of mineral fertilizers for both potato varieties. Yield increases with higher Adept dosage. According to the results, the optimal dose is 2 l/ha.

Experiment 23

A similar experiment with potato variety No.3 was conducted on control field No.10 in Luhyny district. The preceding crop was buckwheat, with four replications.

At harvest, the following yield increases were obtained compared to the unfertilized control:

• NPK, equivalent to 2 l Adept/ha: 12 c/ha
• Peat-manure compost 30 t/ha in furrows: 48 c/ha
• Adept 1 l/ha: 35 c/ha
• Adept 1.5 l/ha: 55 c/ha
• Adept 2 l/ha: 78 c/ha

Humic fertilizers were more effective than the equivalent mineral mixture. Peat-manure compost at 30 t/ha (10 times more) showed lower efficiency.

Economic indicators of the experiments are presented in Table 22.

Table 22. Economic Efficiency of Humic Fertilizers for Potatoes (Luhyny District)

Analysis shows that the lowest cost per yield increase is achieved with local application of Adept at 2 l/ha. Increasing the rate to 2 l/ha is economically beneficial, with potential for further improvement.

Chernihiv Region

Experiment 24

A small-plot experiment with potato variety No.1 was conducted on control field No.1. The preceding crop was winter rye. Planting was done with a potato planter at 8-10 cm depth. Fertilizers were applied before planting under spring plowing at 15 cm depth.

Results and economic efficiency are presented in Table 23.

Table 23. Efficiency of Humic Fertilizers for Potatoes (Chernihiv Region)

Conclusions

• Humic fertilizers are most effective at doses of 1.5-2 l/ha under shallow plowing.
• Peat-manure composts were not economically justified in this experiment.
• In farms without nearby peat deposits, peat compost use should be limited to livestock bedding needs, enriched with mineral fertilizers.
• Pure peat application is not recommended.
• Humic fertilizers are beneficial in farms with established production in peat enterprise zones.

The aftereffect of fertilizers depends not only on nutrients but also on their influence on soil biological activity.

Kyiv Region

Experiment 25

The experiment was conducted on control field No.2 in Makariv district on 10 ha with potato variety No.2. Fertilizers were applied under spring plowing.

Results and economic efficiency are presented in Table 24.

Table 24. Efficiency of Humic Fertilizers for Potatoes (Makariv District)

Conclusions

• High yields are impossible on poor sandy soils without fertilizers.
• The highest increases were obtained with humic fertilizers, especially Amino Energy.
• The economically optimal dose of humic fertilizers (Amino Energy and Adept) is 1.5-2 l/ha.
• Peat-humus compost (40 t/ha) provides an increase of 2.75 c/t, while humic fertilizers provide 98-198 c/l.
• Mineral fertilizers and composts are justified but less effective.

Experiment 26

An experiment with potato variety No.1 was conducted on the control field of Makariv district. The preceding crop was winter wheat. Fertilizers were applied with seeds under spring plowing.

Yield increases compared to control:

• Amino Energy 1.5 l/ha: 19 c/ha
• Amino Energy 2 l/ha: 21 c/ha
• Adept 1.5 l/ha: 37 c/ha
• Adept 2 l/ha: 52 c/ha
• Manure 10 t/ha: 14 c/ha
• Superphosphate + calcium nitrate 1.5 c/ha: 19 c/ha
• Superphosphate 2 c/ha: 19 c/ha

Economic efficiency is presented in Table 25.

Table 25. Efficiency of Humic Fertilizers for Potatoes

Conclusions

• Adept provides the highest yield increase compared to manure and mineral fertilizers.
• The efficiency of Amino Energy and Adept per 1 l of fertilizer is several times higher than that of manure.

Forest-Steppe Zone

Experiment 27

An experiment with potato variety No.1 was conducted on podzolized chernozem in Cherkasy district, Cherkasy region. The preceding crop was sugar beet.

Phenological observations:

• Emergence on variants with humic fertilizers (1-2 l/ha, locally): May 31.
• Emergence on Adept (1.5-2 l/ha): June 1-2.
• Emergence on control: June 4.
• Budding on Adept variants: 2 days earlier.

Yield increases compared to control:

• Adept 2 l/ha (under cultivation): 21 c/ha
• Adept 1.5 l/ha (under cultivation): 16 c/ha
• Humus 11 t/ha (under cultivation): 28 c/ha
• Adept 1 l/ha (in hills): 2 c/ha
• Adept 2 l/ha (in hills): 13 c/ha
• Phosphate slag 1 c/ha + sodium nitrate 30 kg/ha: 9 c/ha

Conclusions

• Adept (1.5 l/ha) yields less than humus (11 t/ha), but the increase per 1 l of fertilizer is higher.
• The highest increase is achieved with Adept 2 l/ha application.

Conclusion

Analysis of humic fertilizer trials in various soil-climatic zones of Ukraine shows their effectiveness for increasing yields of corn, potatoes, sugar beets, and vegetable crops.

Effectiveness and optimal doses depend on soil-climatic zones (Table 48).

Table 48. Effectiveness of Humic Fertilizers and Recommended Doses for Potatoes in Ukraine

Humic fertilizers outperform mineral and organic ones in yield increase. They provide products with low cost and high transportability. Application of humic fertilizers for potatoes provides additional income due to accelerated ripening and improved product quality.

Further study is required considering zonal and soil conditions.