Development of variety technologies for cultivation of potato in the Middle Urals

Abstract

Abstract. Potato is one of the most important human foods. It possesses high taste and nutritional properties. The optimal ratio in potato tubers of organic and mineral substances necessary for a person determines its value as a food product. The tubers contain on average 76–78 % of water and 13 to 36 % of dry matter, of which 12–15 % are starch, 1–3 % protein and about 1 % – mineral compounds. Potato proteins have a very high biological value, since they contain a complex of essential amino acids that are not synthesized in the human body and must be obtained from food. Potatoes are an essential source of vitamin C. The studies were carried out on the experimental field of the educational and experimental farm “Uralets” of the Ural State Agrarian University (USAU), the village of “Studencheskiy”, for three years (2016–2018) in the climatic zone of the Middle Urals. Purpose of research. The objective of this study was to study the influence of the feeding area of “Gala” potato, the use of fungicides on the yield and quality of tubers in the conditions of the Middle Urals. Results. The results analysis on the mineral and biochemical composition of tubers showed that the total nitrogen content changed from 0.25 to 0.37 % and did not depend on the feeding area. The phosphorus content varied from 0.034 to 0.063 % and depended on the feeding area, i. e. the less often the plantings were, the more phosphorus was contained. Potassium content fluctuated over the years. The starch content was stable and did not depend on weather conditions and feeding area and ranged from 11.3 to 15.4 %. The tasting result showed that the studied potato variety Gala has high taste. According to the taste assessment, the Gala variety was rated 5 points in the control variant. The variant with the use of the fungicide shirlan yielded to it by 0.5 points. Scientific novelty. The scientific novelty lies in the fact that for the first time in the conditions of the Middle Urals, the influence of the feeding area on the mineral and biochemical composition of potato tubers (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, dry substances, vitamin C and others).