Molecular Soil Biology 2025, Vol.16, No.3, 137-149 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/msb 138 al., 2024; Siamalube et al., 2025). In recent years, as climate and land issues have become increasingly prominent, people have paid more and more attention to the environmental adaptability and resource conservation advantages of potatoes (Tunio et al., 2020; Aksoy et al., 2021; Siamalube et al., 2025). The potato industry can also extend downstream, such as developing by-products and recycling, providing new opportunities for green agriculture and circular economy (Khanal et al., 2024). In promoting sustainable agriculture and ecological agriculture, potatoes can not only help solve food problems, but also drive ecological protection and rural development (Aloo et al., 2020; Vilvert et al., 2022; Khanal et al., 2024; Siamalube et al., 2025). This study sorts out the multifaceted role of potatoes in sustainable agriculture and agricultural ecology, and analyzes its performance and potential in global food security, ecological protection and rural development. We will evaluate the nutritional value of potatoes and see how they can help solve malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies; we will also analyze their performance in various environments and how to enhance the risk resistance of agricultural systems. In addition, we will introduce some new sustainable planting methods, including the impact of pest and disease control, water-saving irrigation, and waste utilization on the environment. We will also combine actual cases to see the application effects and problems of potatoes in different regions, and propose future research directions and policy recommendations to provide reference for the green development of global agriculture. 2 Agroecological Characteristics of Potato Cultivation 2.1 Short growth cycle and adaptability to diverse climates The growing period of potato (Solanum tuberosum) is relatively short, generally 70 to 120 days to mature, which is faster than many cereal crops (;et al., 2021; Nasir and Toth, 2022). Therefore, it can be planted several times a year, which can make more efficient use of land. Potatoes can also adapt to various climates, whether it is high-latitude temperate zones or low-latitude subtropical zones, and even some arid and semi-arid areas (Jennings et al., 2020; Nasir and Toth, 2022). In the context of global climate change, this adaptability is even more important. Studies have found that if the planting time is adjusted reasonably and suitable varieties are selected, the yield of potatoes may increase by 9% to 20% in the future, and its greenhouse gas emissions are not high, so it is regarded as a "climate-friendly" crop (Jennings et al., 2020). There are also new planting methods such as hydroponics and aeroponics, which allow potatoes to produce high yields in places with poor soil or extreme weather (Rajendran et al., 2024). 2.2 Low water and fertilizer requirements compared to cereal crops Potatoes use less water and fertilizer than many traditional cereals, such as wheat and corn, which are more waterand fertilizer-intensive than them (Jennings et al., 2020; Nasir and Toth, 2022). Although potatoes are afraid of drought, their water efficiency is still quite high if combined with drip irrigation, cover crops and organic fertilizers (Nyawade et al., 2020; Ierna and Distefano, 2024). In places with drought or unstable rainfall, potatoes can also grow well by choosing the right variety, watering properly and maintaining good soil (Nyawade et al., 2020; Hill et al., 2021). In addition, the variety of microorganisms in its roots is strong, which can also help it adapt to the environment better when water and fertilizer are insufficient (Faist et al., 2023). In organic farming, the use of animal manure, green manure and biostimulants can not only provide nutrients, but also make the soil healthier and more biological (Ierna and Distefano, 2024). 2.3 Soil conservation and anti-erosion function Potato planting can also help protect the soil, especially on slopes or in places that are easily washed away by rain. Traditional potato planting methods often turn the soil, leaving the soil exposed, prone to erosion and nutrient loss (Nyawade et al., 2019b). However, if intercropped with legumes, cover crops, or conservation tillage are used, these problems can be reduced (Nyawade et al., 2019b; Nyawade et al., 2020; Junge and Finckh, 2024). For example, in the East African highlands, after potatoes and beans were planted together, soil loss per hectare was reduced by more than half from 169 tons to 50 to 83 tons (Nyawade et al., 2019b) (Figure 1). Such a system can also reduce the loss of nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and improve soil fertility and yield
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