Abstract:
The aim of the experiment was to investigate the effect of grass mulch
and the term of its application on the yield and quality of potatoes and weed
biomass under organic system. The experiment with 2 varieties of early
potatoes (Finka and Katka), 2 row spacings (28 000 and 38 000 tubers per
hectare) and 2 terms of grass mulch application (after planting and after
second hoeing) was carried out in the Czech Republic in 2008. Results
showed that the yield was influenced mostly by mulching (55.9 %), then by
variety (39.2 %) and by growth structure (4.9 %). The highest yield was
reached in the variant with grass mulch applicated after planting. The yield
of this variant increased statistically about 9.3 t/ha in comparison with
control variant (bare soil). Results of the weed control showed a positive
effect of grass mulch on weed biomass, where the lowest weed biomass was
found out in variant with grass mulch applicated after planting (weed
biomass was lower by 67.6 % in comparison with the control variant - bare
soil).
