The conditions for growing potatoes in the Russian Federation are notable for their diverse variety. It is logical that the most successful varieties in the country are those that are characterized by the greatest plasticity and can be successfully grown in different regions.
Anastasia Borovkova, Ph.D. s. Sci., Head of Potato, German Seed Alliance
Despite the recently widespread opinion about a decrease in the consumption of potatoes by residents of Russia, Rosstat testifies to the opposite. For example, in 1990, per capita consumption of potatoes was 106 kg, in 2000 - 118 kg, and in 2016 - 113 kg. That is, potatoes are still the "second bread" and firmly occupy their positions both on food shelves and tables of Russians, and in the fields of rural workers.
According to the AB Center, in 2017, potatoes in the commercial sector were grown on an area of 299,9 thousand ha in eight federal districts and in 78 regions. Is this not an indicator of the wide geography of cultivating culture? Of course, yes, especially if you look at how the areas under the crop have been redistributed over the past seven years.
In general, the dynamics of the areas under potatoes from 2010 to 2017 is not so rosy: in Russia over this period, the areas decreased by 16,2%, colossal changes took place in the Volga Federal District - minus 50,7%, the North Caucasian Federal District has ceased to plant potatoes on more than 32% of the previously used areas.
Not so much, but still the areas in the Central, South, North-West and Far Eastern FDs fell - by 10,8; 7,0; 3,3; 2,0% respectively. At the same time, the Ural and Siberian FDs have gone far ahead in comparison with the rest, adding 18,6 and 50,4% of the area under the "second bread".
Potatoes stepped far into previously atypical and "harsh" regions. This is partly due to climate change and its warming, but, to a greater extent, in my opinion, this is the merit of breeders: varieties have emerged that can successfully grow under such conditions.
After all, the task of the breeder is precisely this: to combine all factors (natural and market) and to bring out a variety that is maximally adapted to regional conditions, which gives not only a high yield, but also meets modern market requirements - that is, it is distinguished by a beautiful bright color of the peel, superficial occurrence of eyes , suitability for washing and cleaning, resistance to mechanical damage and darkening after cleaning, with a long storage period without loss of quality.
In support of this, we can cite data on gross yield in the commercial sector, indicators almost doubled: from 3388,0 to 6737,6 thousand tons from 2010 to 2017, despite a decrease in sown area.
The introduction of advanced technology and modern technology, the use of new varieties allow you to get crops of a different level in quantity and quality.
The main indicator of the technological development of the crop sector, combining the influence of the used plant varieties, mineral and organic fertilizers, means of combating diseases and pests, is the yield of crops.
The German Seed Alliance (GAW), one of the shareholders of which is the German seed-breeding company SOLANA (Solana), annually delivers seed potatoes from Europe to the Russian market, and also has been producing seed in our country for more than 20 years. With a wide network of demonstration tests and commercial production throughout Russia, we can reliably say how SOLANA varieties behave in different soil and climatic conditions.
In fig. 1 shows the average yield for 2016-2017. With an average yield in Russia of 236 kg / ha, five varieties out of 14 showed yields twice as high as these indicators (Labella, Red Lady, Koroleva Anna, Laperla, Lilly).
The leader of the trials was the early Laperla variety - 575 c / ha. The yield of other varieties ranged from 385 to 448 kg / ha. Even the "veterans" of the Zekur and Rosar portfolio are not losing their positions, their yield was 396 and 434 c / ha, respectively.
If this culture is in demand by the market, then how can an agrarian grow it with maximum economic efficiency? An integrated approach is important here. There are no superfluous elements in technology; each of them makes its own contribution to the “piggy bank” of the crop and, in the end, profit.
According to the Director of the Department of Plant Production, Mechanization, Chemicalization and Plant Protection of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation P.A. Chekmareva, the role of the variety and high-quality seed material is great, its contribution to the crop is estimated at 20%.
In 2017, the share of crop production from the use of seeds of new varieties was 603 billion rubles (24%). Other elements are no less important: the result of production depends on equipment and technologies by 25%, on fertilizers and plant protection products - by 23%, on soil and climatic conditions - by 20%, on crop rotation - by 12%.
The whole complex of factors and the degree of their contribution to the final result - yield - can be traced in Fig. 2, which shows the average yield for SOLANA potato varieties tested in these regions in 2017.
The 2017 season turned out to be difficult and in most regions was characterized by a prolonged cold spring, which led to a late landing and long shoots. Summer also did not differ in favorable weather conditions, the excess of moisture at long temperatures below the climatic norm left its imprint on the formation of the crop.
Cleaning in many parts of the country was also complicated by the constant rainfall. At the same time, in the regions that are leaders in areas under potatoes - Bryansk, Nizhny Novgorod, Tula, Sverdlovsk regions - the maximum yield was obtained: 625 c / ha, 528 c / ha, 530 c / ha, 525 c / ha. Farms of these regions, using advanced equipment and technologies, competently working with fertilizers and plant protection products, were able to effectively realize the potential of varieties. The maximum yield of our test rating - 646 c / ha - was obtained in the Republic of Ingushetia, where farmers most accurately applied varietal agricultural techniques, listening to the recommendations of breeders and combining all aspects of technology into a single whole.
From 400 to 500 c / ha was obtained in the Moscow, Tambov, Voronezh, Orel, Kursk, Chelyabinsk, Rostov regions. From 300 to 400 c / ha - in Kurgan, Pskov, Belgorod, Ulyanovsk regions, the Republics of Tatarstan, UdmurTiya, Bashkortostan, Stavropol Territory.
The yield of marketable potatoes in 2017 on average in Russia amounted to 236 kg / ha. Is this enough to profit the farm? As calculations show (Table 1), when using advanced modern equipment and technologies for the production of potatoes on an area of at least 100 hectares (90 hectares of marketable potatoes and 10 hectares of seed), the project will pay for itself within five years with yield commercial potato 500 c / ha, a decrease in productivity of only 50 c lengthens the payback up to 7 years. The average yield in the Russian Federation threatens farmers with significant losses.
Remembering once again about a complex campaign, I want to end with a quote from the wise theologian Halford E. Luccock: “No one can play a symphony alone. To do this, you need a whole orchestra "... And which violin will be the leading one in this orchestra is up to you.