Toward Enhanced Seed Potato Yield: Ultrasonication Techniques for Sustainable Agricultural Development

The study aimed to explore the potential of ultrasonication techniques in seed potato production as a sustainable agricultural innovation. By improving seed potato efficiency and promoting resource optimization, this research aligns with the goals of sustainable agricultural and rural development, addressing challenges such as food security, environmental preservation, and economic viability in rural farming communities. The study was conducted over three years in the central–eastern region of Poland, utilizing a randomized block design with a split-split-plot approach. The main experimental factor was the cultivation technology, which included (a) an innovative ultrasonic pre-sowing treatment method and (b) a traditional cultivation method without such treatment. The secondary factor was the potato varieties. The ultrasonic treatment of tubers was performed using an ultrasonic tub-type device equipped with piezoelectric transducers. Cultivation technology, potato varieties, and weather conditions had a significant impact on the yield of tubers in the seed potato fraction size, the number of tubers in this fraction, and the multiplication coefficient. Additionally, the genetic characteristics of the studied varieties and random environmental factors significantly influenced the weight of a single seed potato tuber and the number of shoots produced by each plant.