Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(1):11-16 | DOI: 10.17221/353/2023-PSE

Six-year results on the effect of organic mulching on potato yield and tuber damagesOriginal Paper

Anikó Südiné Fehér ORCID...1, Mihály Zalai ORCID...2, György Turóczi2, Ferenc Tóth ORCID...3
1 Doctoral School of Plant Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gödöllő, Hungary
2 Department of Integrated Plant Protection, Plant Protection Institute, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gödöllő, Hungary
3 Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (ÖMKI), Budapest, Hungary

Due to its positive effects, mulching with organic matter is a popular soil conservation tool. However, opinions are divided on the effects of mulching on pests and pathogens. Our research aimed to investigate the effect of organic mulch on potato tuber damage caused by soil-dwelling pests and soil-borne pathogens. Therefore, mulching trials were carried out at four sites over six years, comparing the effects of straw, walnut leaves, mixed leaves, compost and two sowing methods (in soil, on soil surface, and under mulch). The total yield of the mulched plots was equal (2013, 2014) or significantly higher (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) than the control, while the weight of damaged tubers did not increase. Total yield was higher in plots mulched with compost, walnut leaves and mixed leaves than in control and straw-mulched plots. The seeding method had no effect on yield or tuber damage for any of the cover crops. Mulching potatoes with organic matter, especially compost and leaves, is recommended, as their application positively affected yield but did not increase the number of damaged tubers. Sowing potatoes under mulch can reduce the digging work and cutting damage without reducing the yield.

Keywords: Solanum tuberosum L.; organic mulch materials; soil protection; tuberous crop; intact tuber

Received: August 27, 2023; Revised: October 25, 2023; Accepted: October 26, 2023; Prepublished online: January 3, 2024; Published: January 22, 2024  Show citation

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Südiné Fehér A, Zalai M, Turóczi G, Tóth F. Six-year results on the effect of organic mulching on potato yield and tuber damages. Plant Soil Environ. 2024;70(1):11-16. doi: 10.17221/353/2023-PSE.
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