Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) soil covering with organic matter: Results and knowledge gap

Summary

Potato mulching practices and their effects often differ, and the results are sometimes contradictory in the
literature, as they vary depending on climatic conditions and growing practices. In this study, we analysed
68 peer-reviewed publications to reveal which problems of potato cultivation were intended to be solved by
mulching with organic materials. We have found that the main goals of mulching are the preservation of
soil moisture, the reduction of soil temperature, and the suppression of weeds, in which mulching provides
effective help. In different parts of the world, different organic mulches increased the yield of potatoes in
78% of the studies. Although the occurrence and damage of pests, pathogens and weeds are extremely
understudied (16, 18, 29% of the studies), we can conclude that organic mulches effectively reduced their
damage.