TECHNOLOGICAL ALTERNATIVE FOR POTATO GROWING IN THE MOSCOW REGION

Abstract

Due to the need to replace worn-out mechanization tools with more modern high-performance brands, the search for alternative technologies for growing potatoes is rather relevant. Tha author made a comparative analysis of the production efficiency of the ridge-band and ridge technologies of potato cultivation for CJSC Lenin State Farm in the Moscow Region. The area of potato cultivation of the "Pirol" variety was 400 hectares. With the ridge-band technology, the main and pre-sowing tillage was carried out by the MTZ 1025 and K744R1 tractors, while ZA1500 was used for fertilization. The PLN-5-35 plow and a KSS-9 cultivator were used as tillage tools. When shifting to the ridge technology of potato cultivation, alternative means of mechanization can be considered. Tractors MTZ 1025 and K744R1 are proposed to be replaced by John Deere 8295R. During autumn tillage, plowing was replaced by deep loosening, carried out by the Digger N Fert + COMPACT deep loosener with the simultaneous application of complex fertilizers. The GL 430 was chosen as the sowing machine instead of the energy-saturated Grimme VL20 KLZ machine. Potato harvesting is proposed to be carried out with a Ventor 4150 self-propelled harvester, which is less productive than the DR-1500, but more fuel efficient; moreover, it cuts the tops while harvesting. The proposed measures made it possible to reduce the production cost of one centner by 10.8% or by 33.5 rubles per 100 kg, increase profit by 16.0% and production profitability by 9.8%, thus reaching 43.7%. The practice of using new machines exemplified by this enterprise can be useful for other potato farms operating in the Non-Chernozem Zone of Russia.