PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY OF TUBERS OF EARLY-MATURING POTATOES IN THE PREPARATION OF CALCULATING DOSES OF FERTILIZERS AND IRRIGATION
The studies were carried out to determine the effectiveness of applying calculated doses of fertilizers to the planned potato tuber yields of the early-ripening Molly and Colette group in the conditions of the forest steppe of the middle Volga region. The influence of mineral nutrition backgrounds, calculated on obtaining tuber yields of 25, 35 and 45 tons per hectare in comparison with the unapproved control, has been studied. The analysis of the leaf area dynamics of potato plants, the parameters of the leaf photosynthetic potential, the coefficient of photosynthetically active radiation factor showed that these indicators of photosynthetic activity are directly dependent on the level of mineral nutrition. Against the background of natural fertility, the Molly variety produced 16.76 tons of tubers per hectare and 18.32 tons of the Colette variety. Fertilizers, calculated for 25-45 tons of tubers per hectare, ensured the formation of Molly 28.23-43.57 t ons per hectare, Colette - 29.72-42.54 tons per hectare. The introduction of calculated doses of fertilizers at 25 and 35 tons of tubers per hectare did not result in a significant decrease in the starch content in the tubers, and the doses that were calculated for a yield of 45 tons per hectare increased the amount of nitrates and reduced the starch content in the tubers.