Integrated Effect of Fertilizer Application and Protective Measures on Weed Infestation and Potato Yield

Abstract

Abstract—The integrated effect in application of the mineral fertilizer application and protective measures influencing the weed infestation and potato yield was revealed. It was mostly developed during the second half of the vegetation and expressed in stronger suppression of plant development (from 36.6 to 20.4 and 11.1 g/m², respectively, on low, moderate, and high mineral nutrition), in the reduction of species diversity (from 12 to 10 and 10 species/m², respectively), and number of weeds (from 69 to 42 and 32 specimen/m²). The highest biological (biomass reduction was 95.3% and the number of weeds was 79%) and economic (yield increase was 228 c/ha or 107%) effects were achieved by the high rates of mineral fertilizer application and combined protective measures of potato plants from weeds. This variant was also characterized by the greatest profitability (125.3%), whereas chemical protection, providing double treatment of potato plantings with herbicides, even at the moderate and high levels of mineral nutrition, was less effective (102.6 and 109%) in economic terms.