Rationale for growing potatoes using Streep-Till technology

Abstract

The research is devoted to the development of energy-saving environmentally friendly Streep-Till technology for growing potatoes on the surface of the field under a layer of straw mulch. Traditional potato growing technology requires significant energy costs associated with the use of agricultural machinery. Adverse weather conditions in recent years have significantly reduced the yield and marketability of this crop. During the performance of technological operations, modern machine-tractor units overcompact the soil, worsen the water-air balance, which reduces its fertility. Modern industrial technologies provide for the widespread use of pesticides in the cultivation of potatoes. In addition, changes in climatic conditions in recent years have led to higher air and soil temperatures during the growing season. These factors negatively affect the yield and marketability of potatoes. The developed environmentally friendly Streep-Till technology of mechanized potato cultivation includes
decomposition of potato planting material on the field surface and covering the entire field area, including row spacing, a layer of straw mulch and eliminates inter-row tillage during the growing season. Potato harvesting is simplified and consists only in picking potato tubers from the field surface by potato harvesters. The proposed technology provides the optimal temperature for the formation of potato crops, minimizes the impact of technology on the soil, the use of pesticides and reduces energy consumption.