IMPROVING MINI TUBER POTATO GROWTH AND YIELD BY SOME PLANTS AQUEOUS EXTRACT AND EARTH WORM COMPOST

The research was conducted at Research Station B of the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences - University of Baghdad in the spring season 2022-2023 with the aim of studying the growth and yield of potato tubers when planted in earthworm fertilizer and spraying with plant extracts. It was implemented as a factorial experiment 3*5 within a completely randomized block design. RCBD with three replicates. The factors included cultivating the tubers under levels of earthworm fertilizer Vermicompost at concentrations of 0.5 and 1%, which are symbol V1 and V2, respectively, as well as the control treatment without the addition of V0. Then the plants were sprayed with the extracts, namely the aqueous extract of the roots of Cypreus Rotundus, at concentrations of 5 and 10 g L-1. It has symbols T1 and T2, respectively, and the aqueous extract of Silybum marianum leaves at concentrations of 5 and 10 g L-1 has symbols T3 and T4, respectively. In addition to the Control treatment (spraying with distilled water only), which has symbol T0, the results showed a significant superiority for treating the planting with earthworm fertilizer and spraying with leaf extract. Silybum marianum (V2T4) in the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the leaves, their Chlorophyll content, plant height, number of branches, total leaves, leaf area, and dry weight of branch. The weight of tubers, plant yield, and total yield 3.87, 0.380, 3.130%, 64.80 spad, 54.00 cm, 3.83 branch. plant-1, 43.00 leaf.plant-1, 94.85 dm2.plant-1, 38.50 g .plant-1, 134.25 g.tuber-1, 939.75 g. plant-1, and 125.29 tons. ha-1, respectively compared to the Control treatment (V0T0) which recorded the lowest values in all measured traits. Therefore, we recommend planting potatoes. Under a sustainable agriculture system, using 1% earthworm fertilizer and spraying with Silybum marianum leaf extract 10 g L-1 as a means of recycling and preserving the environment.