Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a key food crop in Kazakhstan, though its productivity is low due to inefficient utilization of nutrients in Southeastern Kazakhstan. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of biological products and biostimulants on potato growth and development, tuber yield and quality, and economic efficiency. A potato field experiment with seven treatments (T1–T7), including an untreated control (T1), completed its conduct in 2024–2025. The results revealed foliar application of biostimulants accelerated phenological development and improved plant biometric traits. The most pronounced improvement was visible in the growth and yield of treatments T2 (Oboki), T3 (Celobacirin AS-24K + Phosphobacirin-S), T4 (BioSok Energy+), and T6 (Fitolaza + Nano-sulfur). The highest tuber yield resulted in T2 (27.4 t/ha) and excelled control by 46.08% (8.65 t/ha). Biochemical analysis displayed increased dry matter, sugar, and starch contents (up to 17.2%); however, nitrate level was below permissible limits. Economic analysis showed the highest profitability with T4 (257%), with a net return of USD 1590.84/ha, followed by T3, T6, and T2 with high economic efficiency (203%, 188%, and 176%, respectively). The results suggested that integrated application of biological products in potato cultivation under semi-arid conditions could effectively improve plant growth, tuber yield and quality, and profitability.
Potato (S. tuberosum L.), biostimulants, biological products, productivity, tuber quality, profitability, the foothill zone of Southeast Kazakhstan
The foliar and root-applied biological products significantly improved potato (S. tuberosum L.) growth, yield, and tuber quality. The results confirmed biostimulants and biological fertilizers enhance resource-use efficiency, productivity, and economic returns while reducing dependency on chemical inputs.