Anticorrosive properties of the BORAM fertilizer and its effect on the potato yield

Metal surfaces of agricultural machinery are exposed to aggressive environmental influences and agrochemicals. A fertilizer with anti-corrosion properties, in addition to improving agronomic indicators and increasing crop yields, is also expected to reduce the corrosive impact on machinery. The study aimed to evaluate the anti-corrosion properties of the BORAM fertilizer containing nitrogen, boron and copper, which is used in potato growing. Corrosion laboratory tests were carried out for ten days on steel samples of grade St3 according to GOST R9.905-2007. The samples were treated with an aqueous solution of the BORAM fertilizer of various concentrations (1:1000, 1:500 and 1:125); distilled water was used as a control. After the tests, the authors calculated the corrosion rate was and confirmed the protective effect. As a composition for foliar treatment of the Gulliver, Vympel and Matushka potato varieties, the fertilizer was used in the same concentrations as in the corrosion test options. The product was applied three times: upon emergence, during the budding phase and at the end of flowering. A significant decrease in corrosion activity was found on the samples treated with an aqueous solution of fertilizer in a proportion of 1:500 - the corrosion rate was 0.0008 g/m2 ∙ h, the protective effect was 99.44%. The use of the test product also showed an increase in the gross yield of the studied potato varieties. The maximum yield was achieved at an aqueous solution concentration of 1:125: for the Gulliver variety, the indicator was 27.9 to 31.0 t/ha, which is 1.5 to 4.6 t/ha (5.3 to 17.0%) higher than the control values; for the Vympel variety - 29.3 to 31.6 t/ha, which also exceeds the control by 2.2 to 4.5 t/ha (7.7 to 16.2%); for the Matushka variety - 22.1 to 24.0 t/ha, which is 1.4 to 3.3 t/ha (6.3 to 15.4%) higher than the control. The study has confirmed the hypothesis: in addition to increasing potato yields, the use of the BORAM fertilizer with anti-corrosion properties reduces the corrosive effect on the machinery.