THE EFFECT OF APPLYING SEWAGE SLUDGE TO THE SUBSTRATE ON THE PARAMETERS AND YIELD OF MINI-TUBERS OF THE GULLIVER POTATO VARIETY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18623/rvd.v23.7807Keywords:
Solanum tuberosum L. , Potato, Mini-tubers, Variety «Gulliver», Sewage Sludge, Peat Substrate, Plant Growth, Yield EnhancementAbstract
Sewage sludge (SS) improves soil properties, yet its potential to enhance potato mini-tuber production in soilless substrates remains underexplored. This study evaluated the effects of liquid cavitated SS mixed with the peat-based substrate «Agrobalt-S» on the growth and yield of the early-ripening potato variety «Gulliver» in a greenhouse. Meristem microplants were cultivated in 5.5 L containers across three variants: control (pure substrate), substrate with 5 mL SS, and substrate with 10 mL SS. No additional fertilization was applied during the growing season. Biometric parameters, tuber fraction distribution, and latent virus presence were assessed. SS addition significantly promoted plant height, with the 5 mL variant producing the tallest plants (up to 22% taller than the control). The 10 mL SS dose significantly increased total mini-tuber yield by 15% versus the control, primarily by shifting production toward larger standard-sized fractions (10–50 mm). Notably, no latent viral infections or fungal diseases were detected in any variant. In conclusion, incorporating 10 mL of cavitated sewage sludge into peat substrates is an effective strategy for increasing mini-tuber output without compromising phytosanitary quality. However, observed variability in tuber count per plant suggests that further optimization of SS dosage or frequency could unlock even greater multiplication rates for this variety.
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