Innovative technology for accelerated potato propagation based on aerohydroponics

¹ Russian Potato Research Centre, Kraskovo, Russia
² Russian State Agrarian University - Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Moscow, Russia

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

One of the most effective and promising approaches is aerohydroponics, where plants are grown in an airborne environment with their roots regularly sprayed with a moisture-air mixture of nutrients. The experiment was conducted at the A.G. Lorkh Federal Potato Research Center in 2024. Minitubers were grown in AGM-60 aerohydroponic systems in a greenhouse under natural light. Test-tube plants were planted directly onto the module without prior cultivation. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of foliar treatments with sulfur- and silicon-containing preparations on the quantitative yield of minitubers under aerohydroponics conditions. The proposed method allows for an extended tuber formation period and the successful cultivation of tubers weighing 10 grams or more, while reducing the cost from 16 rubles/tuber when grown using traditional pot culture techniques to 3.02–9.38 rubles/tuber under aerohydroponics conditions; it also ensures high reproduction rates. The highest expenses during the growing season were: for viral disease diagnostics – 2.4 thousand rubles/60 plants (1 working table); for wages – 2.2 thousand rubles/60 plants; fertilizers and pesticides – 1.95 thousand rubles/60 plants. Treatment with sulfur- and silicon-containing preparations had a positive anti-stress effect from high daytime temperatures, which affected, first of all, the tuber reproduction coefficient, which increased on average for all varieties by 5.9…11.8 pcs./bush (38…53%). The average cost of one tuber for all varieties was 4.17…9.38 rubles/piece in the control variants and 3.02…6.59 rubles/piece in the experimental variants with the use of foliar treatment with sulfur- and silicon-containing preparations. The conditional net income (income of the experimental variant minus income of the control variant) amounted to 340...11875 rubles/desktop.