Biological and agrotechnical aspects of weed control in the cultivation of early potato cultivars under cover

Abstract

Problems with weed infestation under cover were the reason to conduct research on the regulation of weed infestation in potato cultivation for early harvest. The field experiment was carried out in 2015–2017 at the Experimental Station for Cultivar Assessment in Uhnin (51°34′ N, 23°02′ E) using the method of random subblocks, in a dependent system (split-split-plot). The first order factor was edible potato cultivars ‘Denar’ and ‘Lord’. The second order factor was cultivation technologies: (A) traditional technology, (B) technology using polyethylene film cover, (C) technology using polypropylene agrotextile. The third order factor was weed management methods: (1) mechanical, (2) mechanical and chemical method using Afalon Dispersion 450 SC preparation, (3) mechanical and chemical methods using Racer 250 EC herbicide, and (4) mechanical and chemical methods using a mixture of herbicides Afalon Dispersion 450 SC and Command 480 EC. Mechanical and chemical methods proved to be more effective than the mechanical method. The best effectiveness in limiting both fresh and dry weed mass in potato cultivation under cover was achieved using the mechanical and chemical method using a mixture of herbicides, Afalon Dispersion 450 SC and Command 480 EC.