Potato (Solanum tuberosumL.) growing under different organic production systems in Curitiba metropolitan region, Parana State, Brazil

Abstract

Potato crop (Solanum tuberosum L.) has been of great economic importance in the State of Parana, one of the largest producers in the country. Due to market and technological changes, many potato growers went out of this activity. Curitiba metropolitan area was in charge of most of the called “common potato” production, which was in hands of small farmers. Yet, there has been a great deal of land use legal restrictions due to the increased demand for quality water basins. Therefore, there is an urge for the small farmers to gradually convert their production systems into alternatives with minimum agrichemical inputs. Biodynamics offers possibilities for production under the presented scenario; however, there is no data for potato production in this system in Parana. The objective of this work was to compare the biodynamic production system with another two organic systems in potatoes, taking in consideration yield, tuber quality and disease parameters, in Curitiba region. There was a significant increase in disease severity (P=0,13) and decrease in plant growth in the biodynamic system, but without reflection in yield. This allows concluding that biodynamic production system seems to be one more option for small potato growers in water basin areas.