Strawponic for No-Till Potato Production

摘要

Strawponic is an innovative and exotic system for growing potato on soil surface using crop straw as cover mulch. A field trial was carried out at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon to test the efficacy of this system for small potato producers. Barley (Hordeum vulgare) straw mulch at 25, 50 and 75 t/ha was used to cover potato tubers in no-till system. Potato plant number, height, number of shoots and leaves, root and shoot dry weight, and potato yield were collected. Results showed that all tested rates of straw significantly increased potato yield in comparison to the till system. Marketable yield was the highest with no-till potato at 50 and 75 t/ha compared to no-till potato at all tested surface straw rates. None of the treatments was harmful to potato plants compared to the till potato. This study could be a promising gate for production of potato for small-scale farmers.