Influence of growth regulators based on natural humic substances on the competitiveness of plants of different potato varieties in the forest-steppe zone of the Chechnya Republic

The objective of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of using plant growth regulators based on natural humic substances to reduce the critical period of weed damage as a reservoir of non-target species in the agrocenosis of various potato varieties in the forest-steppe zone of the Chechen Republic. The study was conducted in 2025 in the Gudermes district. The experiment involved domestic early-ripening table potato varieties Red Lady and Rosanna, zoned in the Chechen Republic. Humate+7, a preparation based on natural humic derivatives (produced in Irkutsk), was used as a growth regulator in the experiment. The field experiment was modeled against a background of mixed weed infestation with a predominance of annual weeds. The study demonstrated a positive effect on the competitiveness of pre-planting potato tubers treated with a 0.1% solution of a growth regulator based on natural humic substances. A decrease in weed species was observed, indicating increased competitiveness of potato plants and the potential for reducing the need for protection against non-target pests. The critical period for weed damage in potato agrocenoses was 25 days for the Red Lady variety and 29 days for the Rozanna variety. The use of a plant growth regulator for pre-planting tuber treatment reduced the critical period to 20 days for the Red Lady variety and 27 days for the Rozanna variety. The use of Humate+7 for pre-planting treatment of early-ripening Red Lady potato tubers is undisputed.