METHOD FOR COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION OF POTATO MINITUBERS IN ARTIFICIAL CLIMATE OF CULTIVATION CONSTRUCTION (PHYTOTRON) Russian patent published in 2000 - IPC

FIELD: agriculture. SUBSTANCE: method involves providing controlled action upon physiological and photosynthetic processes at all potato vegetation stages by separate regulation of microclimate (moisture content, temperature and gas content of atmosphere) in stem and root zone of phytotron, changing spectral structure of artificial illumination of potato plant stem zone during vegetation process and changing composition of nutrient mineral solution used for plant feeding during vegetation stage; creating temperature gradient within the range of from 2 to 16 C of stem zone atmosphere and root zone atmosphere of phytotron, with temperature gradient at plant vegetation light period being positive in stem zone, and at dark period being positive in root zone. Absolute temperature gradient is increased in the process of plant growing and reaches its maximum value at potato tuberization stage. Method further involves permanent and forced mixing of atmosphere in stem zone of phytotron; at light period, setting carbon dioxide content in atmosphere of stem zone within the range of 0.04-0.03%, and in root zone within the range of 0.04-0.19%; supplying nutrient mineral solution with pH value of 4-7.2 and simultaneously providing multiple short-time sprinkling or aerosol spraying of the whole volume of plant root part for 3-45 s at 1-150 s intervals; gradually reducing pH value of nutrient mineral solution during growing of plant from 7.2 at initial period to 4.2-4.0 at tuberization period. Moisture content in root zone is reduced from 95-100% at initial growth period to 65-80% at tuberization period, with active aeration of root zone being provided. At plant growing stage, lamps with spectrum of 550-650 nm and at tuberization period - lamps with spectrum of 365-700 nm are employed. Light intensity at vegetation stage is 80-100 W/sq.m. EFFECT: improved photosynthesis control and increased efficiency. 6 cl, 1 ex