Journal of Energy Bioscience 2025, Vol.16, No.3, 128-138 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/jeb 130 2.3 Pesticide and fertilizer use: impact on ecosystems and human health Traditional potato farming relies heavily on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and using too much will naturally cause trouble. Fertilizer application is the most serious step in affecting the environment, especially nitrogen fertilizer. Applying too much is not only inefficient, but also releases greenhouse gases and disrupts the ecology of microorganisms in the soil (Kumar et al., 2023a; Wei et al., 2024; Holka and Kowalska, 2025). Excess nitrogen fertilizer will also flow into rivers and lakes, making the water eutrophic and the ecology unbalanced (Economou et al., 2023). Excessive use of pesticides is also harmful, increasing the toxicity of soil and water, affecting the survival of insects, birds and microorganisms. The ecological toxicity and health risks of traditional farming methods are significantly higher than those of organic farming (Kumar et al., 2023a). Pesticide residues may also affect human health through the food chain, possibly causing poisoning or chronic diseases (Kumar et al., 2023a; Holka and Kowalska, 2025). The manufacture, transportation and use of fertilizers and pesticides also require a lot of energy, increasing carbon emissions and more environmental costs (Zhang et al., 2024b). 2.4 Greenhouse gas emissions: contribution of agricultural machinery, fertilizers and transportation In the process of potato cultivation, greenhouse gases mainly come from three aspects: agricultural machinery use, fertilizer application and product transportation. Among them, fertilizers, especially nitrogen fertilizers, release a lot of CO2 and N2O during manufacture and application, and are the main source of emissions (Li et al., 2022; Economou et al., 2023; Kumar et al., 2023a; Zhang et al., 2024b). In major producing areas such as China and India, greenhouse gas emissions from potatoes are about 2 000 to 2 800 kg CO2 equivalent per hectare, which is much higher than organic or optimized cultivation (Li et al., 2022; Kumar et al., 2023a). In addition, machines used for field cultivation and transportation also use a lot of diesel, which not only increases carbon emissions, but also may acidify the soil and harm the ecological environment (Economou et al., 2023; Zhang et al., 2024b). Transportation and refrigeration also increase carbon footprint, especially in the case of long-distance transportation. Promoting energy-saving equipment, local sales and scientific fertilizer use can reduce emissions and make potato cultivation more environmentally friendly (Li et al., 2022; Zhang et al., 2024b). 2.5 Biodiversity loss: the impact of monoculture on local flora and fauna Traditional potato farming generally only grows one crop, which reduces the number of plant species around it, making the ecosystem unstable and more vulnerable to natural disasters (Câmara-Salim et al., 2021; Holka and Kowalska, 2025). When biodiversity decreases, ecological functions such as pollination and pest control will also deteriorate, and farmers will rely more on fertilizers and pesticides, which will become more and more serious. Excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides will also harm beneficial insects, birds and good bacteria in the soil. When water and soil deteriorate, the living environment of many organisms will also be affected, and the number Adopting crop rotation, diversified planting and ecological agricultural methods can help restore biodiversity and enhance the adaptive capacity of ecosystems. 3 Sustainable Potato Farming Practices 3.1 Soil management Potatoes can be grown by planting cover crops, crop rotation, and less tillage. Planting cover crops and crop rotation can add more organic matter to the soil, reduce pests and diseases, and prevent soil from being washed away or compacted (Morugán-Coronado et al., 2024). Less tillage can protect soil structure and increase the variety and activity of microorganisms in the soil.
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