Effects of nutrient management practices on the economic and energy efficiency of potato production

Abstract

Aim. To evaluate the economic efficiency of cultivating early-maturing potato cultivars using novel seaweed-based growth stimulants and micronutrient fertilizers in combination with the recommended mineral fertilizer rate under the conditions of the southern part of the Western Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Methods. The study was conducted during 2024–2026 in the fields of ABC-AGRO, a private enterprise located in Khmelnytskyi Oblast, on deep low-humus chernozem. Two seed tuber size fractions (28–40 and 40–60 mm) were evaluated for two early-maturing potato cultivars under four fertilization treatments: an unfertilized control; N₉₀P₉₀K₁₂₀ (the recommended mineral fertilizer rate); N₉₀P₉₀K₁₂₀ combined with the growth stimulant Nova-Marin; and N₉₀P₉₀K₁₂₀ combined with Nova-Marin and the micronutrient fertilizer Nova-Macro. Economic and energy efficiency were assessed using key indicators, including production costs, gross output value, unit production cost, estimated net profit, and profitability, based on 2026 prices. Field, laboratory, analytical, and mathematical-statistical methods were employed to assess the effects of the experimental factors on potato yield and production efficiency. Results. The highest economic returns were achieved with the early-maturing potato cultivar ‘Spas’ when planted using seed tubers of the 28–40 mm fraction and fertilized with N₉₀P₉₀K₁₂₀ in combination with the growth stimulant Nova-Marin. This treatment produced a tuber yield of 38.8 t/ha, with a unit production cost of UAH 7,074/t, an estimated net profit of UAH 307.52 thousand/ha, and a profitability level of 43.5%. For the cultivar ‘Slauta’, the combination of N₉₀P₉₀K₁₂₀, Nova-Marin, and the micronutrient fertilizer Nova-Macro, together with the use of seed tubers of the 40–60 mm fraction, resulted in a tuber yield of 37.0 t/ha, a unit production cost of UAH 7,479/t, an estimated net profit of UAH 280.20 thousand/ha, and a profitability level of 37.7%. The highest energy efficiency ratios were obtained under the most intensive fertilization treatment. For ‘Spas’, the maximum ratio of 1.65 was recorded when planting seed tubers of the 40–60 mm fraction, whereas for ‘Slauta’, the highest ratio of 1.67 was achieved using seed tubers of the 28–40 mm fraction. Conclusions. The assessment of economic and energy efficiency in the early-maturing potato cultivars ‘Spas’ and ‘Slauta’ demonstrated that the combined application of the investigated fertilizers and growth stimulant increased the energy efficiency ratio across the experimental treatments, irrespective of the other factors studied. The findings have practical implications for potato production planning, the optimization and refinement of crop management protocols for specific soil and climatic conditions, and the development of economically justified potato cultivation systems under current production conditions.