COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF THE GERMINATION PERFORMANCE OF POTATO CULTIVARS XS1, XS4, XS5 AND GALA IN THE DRY SOIL CONDITIONS OF ABAI REGION

Abstract

This article examines potato cultivars XS1, XS4, and XS5 imported from China, as well as the “Gala” cultivar The “Gala” cultivar is a high-yielding, medium-early variety that demonstrates good adaptability to various soil and climatic conditions, including arid regions, provided that appropriate agronomic practices are followed. Under the dry soil conditions of the Abai region, the germination parameters of the studied potato cultivars were analyzed and compared. The study was conducted during the spring planting season of 2025 and included the determination of the germination percentage of seed tubers, the timing of seedling emergence, and the height of initial plant growth. During the research, standard agronomic methods and control indicators were applied, and the obtained data were subjected to statistical analysis. According to the results, the “Gala” cultivar exhibited the highest germination rate (91%) and a high intensity of early growth. The XS4 cultivar also demonstrated good adaptive capacity (86%). In contrast, the XS1 and XS5 cultivars showed relatively lower results. These differences were found to be associated with the genetic characteristics of the cultivars and their degree of adaptation to local climatic conditions. Based on the research findings, it is recommended to introduce the “Gala” and XS4 cultivars into large-scale production in regions with arid climates, such as the Abai region. The results of this scientific study have practical significance for future efforts aimed at improving the efficiency of potato cultivation and the adaptation of new cultivars. In addition, from a methodological perspective, this study may serve as a basis for forthcoming trials to be conducted in cooperation with the Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University. Overall, the obtained results will be used in further scientific research for a comprehensive and objective assessment of the studied material.