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Research paper

Nitrates content and herbicide residues in edible potato tubers under biostimulants and herbicide application conditions

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/as.2026.5683
Submitted: March 20, 2026
Published: 19.08.2026

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess nitrate content and residues of the herbicide Avatar 293 ZC (clomazone and metribuzin) in table potato tubers under conditions involving an application of biostimulants and a herbicide. Tubers were sourced from a three-year field experiment. The experiment examined two factors: (I) cultivar (Oberon and Malaga) and (II) five treatments comprising herbicide and/or biostimulants: (1) untreated control (mechanical weeding only), (2) Avatar 293 ZC alone, (clomazone + metribuzin), (3) Avatar 293 ZC + PlonoStart, (4) Avatar 293 ZC + Aminoplant, and (5) Avatar 293 ZC + Agro-Sorb Folium. Nitrate content in tubers was significantly influenced by cultivar, the cultivar × year interaction, and the treatment × year interaction. However, neither the herbicide nor the  biostimulants affected nitrate accumulation. Residues of Avatar 293 ZC were present only at trace levels, with  clomazone and metribuzin concentrations well below the maximum residue limits (MRL).

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