Catch crop cultivation is facilitated by the systems of integrated and organic farming, which enable the best exploitation of natural factors affecting the yielding and chemical composition of potato tubers. The objective of this study has been to determine the effect of manuring with undersown catch crops and of a production system on the potato tuber content of macroelements. A field experiment was carried out in central-eastern Poland (52°03’N, 22°33’E), in 2009–2012. The aim was to examine the following two factors: I. manuring with undersown catch crops: control, (no manuring with undersown catch crop), farmyard manure, Persian clover, westerwolds ryegrass, Persian clover – mulch, westerwolds ryegrass – mulch; II. production system – integrated and organic. Total nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium content was determined in the dry matter of potato tubers. The highest nitrogen content was found in tubers of potato manured with Persian clover applied as mulch. Phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium were the highest only in tubers of potato manured with Persian clover incorporated into soil in the autumn. Potato tubers cultivated in the integrated production system contained more macroelements compared with organically grown potato. Potato manured with Persian clover mulch was supplied with the highest amount of nitrogen. Moreover, tubers of potato manured with Persian clover applied in the autumn contained the highest amounts of phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium.

23.1.2018