The impact of biologically enhanced fertilisation systems on sweet potato (Ipomoеa batаtas) productivity and quality

Abstract

The relevance of this research lies in determining the potential use of microbial preparations with varying functionalities to optimise the nutrition and stimulate the growth processes of sweet potato plants, as well as the synergistic effects of different preparations. The developed nutrient optimisation systems are designed to restore soil fertility, reduce the anthropogenic load on vegetable agroecosystems, produce high-quality yields, and increase sweet potato productivity without relying on energy-intensive production methods. This study aimed to investigate the impact of biological fertilisation systems on the biometric parameters, yield, and quality of sweet potato tubers. The research programme was implemented through field, statistical, computational-analytical, and laboratory methods. An increase in the number (7.33-9.83 per plant) and length (175.55-184.89 cm) of shoots was observed with the application of the biological preparations “Groundfix” + “Humifriend”, “Help-Rost for vegetables”, and “Mycofriend”. The use of foliar fertilisations in three terms of “Help-Rost for vegetables”, both in combination with “Mycofriend” during fertigation and with the foliar fertilisation “Humifriend”, resulted in maximal leaf mass formation on the plant (2.41-2.56 m2 /ha in the third decade of June and 23.12-27.45 m2 /ha in the third decade of August). Microbial preparations significantly increased net photosynthetic productivity by 28.9-63.9% during the period from the third decade of June to the third decade of July, especially when “Groundfix” and “Humifriend”, or “Humifriend” and “Help-Rost for vegetables” were combined. A substantial commercial yield of tubers (17.4 t/ha) was achieved by applying the mycorrhizal preparation “Humifriend” (1.5 L/ha) in the first fertigation and conducting three foliar applications of “Help-Rost for vegetables” at 2.0 L/ha. Treatments involving biological preparations demonstrated improvements in key biochemical parameters. The use of “Groundfix” + “Humifriend” and “Humifriend” + “Help-Rost for vegetables” resulted in a decrease in nitrate levels in the produce. The authors hypothesise that the optimal supply of micronutrients, particularly iron, manganese, and molybdenum, enhances the transformation of nitrates into organic matter. This research provides valuable insights for the rational application of biologically enhanced fertilisation systems to achieve high yields and quality of sweet potato tubers in various agricultural settings

Keywords

• ipomoea batatas l.
• biopreparations
• irrigation
• photosynthetic productivity
• yield