How to Grow High-Yielding Plastic-Mulched Potatoes? A Full Breakdown of the Planting Technique

Plastic-mulched potatoes are a new high-efficiency planting method that has emerged recently, with very considerable returns. Most of the growth period of plastic-mulched potatoes falls in the winter fallow stage, and plastic film mulching has the effects of raising temperature and preserving moisture, producing uniform seedlings, promoting early tuber enlargement, and increasing yield and income, making it a high-efficiency method for growing potatoes in winter and spring. So what should be done to achieve high yields?

In fact, potato cultivation with plastic film mulching can effectively raise ground temperature and promote early ripening of potatoes. Generally, it can increase yield by 20%-50% per mu, and the rate of large tubers increases by about 25%, with significant efficiency gains. Below is a detailed explanation of the methods for high-yield plastic-mulched potato technology. Friends who want to achieve high yields should read carefully!

1. Select good varieties and plastic film.

Prepare the soil finely and apply sufficient base fertilizer. Choose disease-resistant, high-yielding, high-quality varieties such as Lishu No. 6 and Lishu No. 7, and promote sowing of small whole seed potatoes. Use plastic film 90-100 cm wide and 0.008 mm thick. Choose flat terrain with deep soil and relatively high fertility, prepare the soil finely, and avoid continuous cropping; the previous crop is best as legumes. Apply 3000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure, 25 kg of urea, 20 kg of diammonium phosphate, and 15-20 kg of potassium sulfate per mu as base fertilizer.

2. Cut seed potatoes and sterilize.

Cut the seed potatoes 1-2 days before sowing. Dip the knife in 75% alcohol or 0.3% potassium permanganate solution for sterilization. Cut the seed potatoes into blocks 25-50 g in size, keeping 1-2 buds per cut piece, retaining the top bud as much as possible, and cutting lengthwise. For 100 kg of potato blocks, use 100 g of 25% metalaxyl-mancozeb plus a small amount of water to dip or spray, then dry in the shade before sowing, which can kill some pathogens inside and outside the seed potatoes.

3. Sow at the right time.

Generally in mid-to-late April. Two methods can be used. One is to mulch first and then sow: make holes on the ridge at a row spacing of 30-40 cm and a plant spacing of 15-25 cm and drop in the seed potatoes, with 5500-6500 plants per mu for early and mid-maturing varieties, then cover with soil. The second is to sow first and then mulch: mark lines according to plant and row spacing, drop in the seed potatoes, then form ridges and cover with film. One week before the seeds germinate, cover the film with 3-5 cm of soil to avoid high-temperature damage to the seedlings.

4. Strengthen field management.

1. For those mulched after sowing, break the film and release the seedlings at the right time. Potatoes begin to emerge successively 25-30 days after sowing, so the film should be broken promptly to release the seedlings. After releasing the seedlings, cover with soil promptly to press down the film and prevent strong winds from lifting it. For those sown after mulching, lead the seedlings out of the film to prevent seedling damage, and seal the film holes with wet soil to prevent moisture loss. After most seedlings have emerged, replant or transplant into the holes where no seedlings have emerged, to cultivate strong seedlings.

2. Carry out intertillage, weeding, and hilling. After emergence, carry out the first intertillage and hilling, with a thickness suitable for exposing 3-4 top leaves of the potato. Carry out the second hilling 10 days later; at this time, the hilling ridge should be high and the soil should be thick. Strengthen fertilizer and water management. For early and mid-maturing varieties, irrigate the seedlings promptly when 60% have emerged. Before budding, according to field growth, apply topdressing as early as possible.

3. Remove flowers and apply timely chemical control. For varieties that set a lot of fruit, remove the flower buds to save nutrients and promote underground tuber formation. Mid-to-late-maturing varieties tend to grow excessively. At the budding stage of potatoes, when plant height exceeds 30 cm, spray with 15% paclobutrazol wettable powder at 90-120 ppm mixed with water to control the increase in plant height.

5. Harvest.

Begin harvesting when most of the stems and leaves of the plants have withered and yellowed. After harvesting, remove diseased potatoes, damaged potatoes, and deformed potatoes, and pile them in a cool, ventilated place so the tubers can dissipate heat and moisture, mechanical injuries can heal, and the skin can thicken. After harvesting, promptly remove waste film from the field to prevent white pollution.

Also note the issue of watering after mulching potatoes with plastic film:

1. Before emergence: do not apply topdressing or water; the focus is to increase light and prevent wind, snow, and rain from damaging the arched shed.

2. Emergence stage: for those covered with plastic film, promptly provide manual assistance to break the film; for open-field cultivation, after rain or watering, promptly hoe shallowly to break the hard crust so the seedlings can emerge smoothly and promote uniform, complete, and strong seedlings. Watering at the seedling stage should depend on soil moisture; if moisture is good, watering can be omitted to avoid lowering ground temperature.

3. Vine growth stage: after potatoes have fully emerged, the main goal is to promote robust vine growth and build a good high-yield framework. The key management points are not to water unless dry, not to let water flow over the top of the ridge when watering, and to carry out intertillage and hilling. Finally, before the plants close the rows and seal the ridges, build square-shouldered large ridges to create good conditions for tuber formation. When hilling, be careful not to damage functional leaves. If fertilizer is deficient, apply topdressing promptly, either by hole application or by flushing with irrigation water. For large, medium, and small arched sheds, gradually increase ventilation time, and after "Grain Rain," protective facilities can be removed depending on weather conditions.

4. Tuber formation stage: after potatoes close the rows and bud, tuber formation begins. By the flowering stage, the tubers expand rapidly. At this time, increase the amount of watering. If there is no rain, water three times consecutively, with an interval of 5-7 days between waterings. Water lightly, and never flood the ridges with large amounts of water. The watering principle is to keep the soil moist while not causing waterlogging in the field. During this period, also pay attention to pest and disease control, especially potato late blight. Prevention should be based on early prevention, with prevention as the main approach; once the disease occurs, it is difficult to control.

5. Harvest period: watering should stop 7-10 days before potato harvest.