Bio-Kartoffeln unter Transfermulch

Growing organic potatoes under transfer mulches is a possible strategy to preserve the soil and regulate the water balance. To investigate if cultivating organic potatoes under transfer mulch is a viable option in Switzerland, a block trial was conducted in 2021 with organic potatoes under the three mulch materials grass cuttings, straw and grass silage with four replicates. Despite the cold and wet year, the yield of the mulched replicates could keep up with the ones without mulch. Weeds were successfully suppressed by all mulch materials. In the straw treatment, significantly less leaf damage by the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) was recorded. These promising initial results need to be confirmed in further two trial years.