Page 10 - Atskaite 2013 Albit

Summary

The effectiveness of biostimulant Albit was investigated in a field crop trial by the
Priekuli State Institute of Field Crops Breeding (Latvia) in 2013 on potato breeds Prelma
(mid-early ripening) and Imanta (medium-late ripening). Weather conditions of the
vegetation season were unfavorable – plants suffered from the lack of atmospheric
precipitation (drought).

Soil type: sod podzolic and sandy clay soils (pH of 5.2), and 1.9% of humus content.
2
The plot area was 44 m . The preceding crop was winter triticale. Autumn tillage was
applied. The experiment was conducted in 4 replicates. 3 t/ha of the pretreated potato
th
tubers were sowed on June the 5 . Harvesting was conducted manually.
The control variant included the following: NPK fertilizer, tubers pretreatment,
spraying with herbicides during vegetation twice (Feniks 3.0 l/ha, Pantera 1.5 l/ha),
fungicides in triple (Gloria 2.0 l/ha, Infinito 1.6 l/ha), and insecticide once (Proteus 0.6
l/ha).

In experimental variants Albit was used in сombination with chemical pesticides as
follows:
1) Control: chemical (pesticide) treatments without Albit;
2) Control + pre-planting treatment of potato tubers with Albit 100 ml/t + double
spraying with Albit at dosages of 50 ml/ha in tank mix with herbicide and insecticide;
3) Control + pre-planting treatment of tubers with Albit 50 ml/t + double spraying
with Albit at dosages of 50 ml/ha in tank mix with herbicide and insecticide.

The application of Albit had a positive impact on productivity of both potato breeds,
but to a different extent. Prelma breed (yield in control 40.5 t/ha) showed the yield
d
increasing by 8.6% only in the 3 variant of the experiment, whereas Imanta breed (control
nd d
yield of 30.8 t/ha) showed the yield increasing by 14.1 and 9.7% in the 2 and 3 variants
respectively.
Albit application increased starch content in potato tubers of both breeds on average
of 12% (Prelma), and by 15% (Imanta) regardless of dosage. In general, medium-late
ripening breed Imanta was more responsive to Albit. The optimal application protocol of
Albit proved to provide high positive impact on both breeds should be determined as 50
ml/t + 50 ml/ha + 50 ml/ha.

Thus, the application of biostimulant Albit for pre-planting treatment and in tank
mixes with herbicides and insecticides in the standard protocol of chemical protection of
potato is promising for crop yields increasing even under unfavorable climatic conditions
of the vegetation season (drought).