Biochemical potential of Knyahynia potato variety depending on intensification factors in crop rotations and monoculture

Abstract

Purpose. To substantiate and experimentally evaluate the impact of the potato crop rotation saturation degree, various fertilization systems, and planting material renewal levels on the content and total yield of starch and dry matter in potato tubers of Knyahynia variety, as well as to establish mathematical and statistical correlation patterns between these quality parameters to optimize the biochemical potential of the crop under the conditions of the Southern Polissia of Ukraine. Methods. Field experiment (four independent trials in crop rotations and monoculture), laboratory biochemical methods for analyzing potato tubers of Knyahynia variety (determination of dry matter and starch content on a wet weight basis), calculation method for determining the total yield of substances per unit area, mathematical and statistical method of Pearson's pairwise linear correlation, and variance analysis of data based on the least significant difference criterion (LSD0.5). Results. Research (2023–2025) established that over-saturation of the area structure with potatoes (Knyaginya variety) from 20 % to 50–100 % is accompanied by a decrease in dry matter concentration in tubers by 0.9–1.4 % and a total output of dry matter and starch by 0.5–1.3 t/ha due to the cumulative effect of soil fatigue It was determined that organo-mineral fertilization systems (40 t/ha of humus + N90P60K90 or straw + green manure) ensure the maximum gross yield of dry matter (3.7–3.9 t/ha) and starch (2.3–2.4 t/ha) for the Knyaginya variety under all growing conditions. Pure mineral fertilizers optimize the dry matter content up to 22.0 %, but are inferior in terms of yield per hectare. Annual renewal of planting material (category Y) in monoculture increases dry matter content by 0.5 %, starch by 0.4 %, and increases their total yield by 18.1–25.8 % compared to using lower reproduction seeds of long-term use (category X). The presence of a moderate direct relationship between starch and dry matter content (r = +0.54) and a very strong relationship between their yield per hectare (r = +0.89) was proven. Conclusions. To obtain potato tubers of Knyahynia variety with high biochemical quality parameters and maximum total yield of dry matter and starch, it is technologically feasible to grow the crop in short-rotation crop rotations with 20 % saturation against the background of organo-mineral fertilization. Under conditions of continuous cultivation of the Knyaginya variety, an essential element in optimizing the potential of a monoculture is the annual renewal of planting stock to Category Y, which improves the biochemical quality indicators of the crop.