Latest Key Management Points for Potatoes in the Mid-to-Late Stage
The potato is what we commonly call the potato in our daily lives. The potato is a very important food crop in our country, with a very wide planting area. When growing potatoes, attention should be paid to adjusting management methods according to the potato's growth stage. Especially in the mid-to-late stage, how should potatoes be managed? Below, the editor brings you the key management points for potatoes in the mid-to-late stage. Let's take a look!
1. Water and Fertilizer Management
The mid-to-late stage of the potato is the critical period for tuber expansion. Therefore, the demand for water and fertilizer during this period also increases greatly, so we must do a good job in water and fertilizer management. To meet the water and fertilizer needs of potato growth, watering and fertilizing should begin when the potato tubers grow to about the size of a walnut. Because potatoes have a relatively large demand for potassium, attention should be paid to increasing the proportion of potassium fertilizer. When watering, nitrogen and potassium fertilizer can be applied as a top dressing, generally once every ten days or so, about two times in a row. When the soil is too dry, water in time; similarly, when there is too much water, drainage work should also be done well.
2. Cultivation and Weeding
After potatoes enter the mid-to-late stage, their growth volume is relatively large. Therefore, we also need to do a good job in cultivation and weeding. Cultivation is mainly to improve soil permeability, promote normal respiration of potato roots, improve soil structure, and ensure normal tuber expansion. Then weeds should also be removed in time to avoid too many weeds robbing potatoes of nutrients. Soil should also be hilled up around the potato roots. Reasonable cultivation and weeding work is a key measure to increase potato yield, so everyone must pay more attention.
3. Pest and Disease Control
There are also relatively many pests and diseases in the mid-to-late stage of potatoes, among which common pests include aphids, white grubs, and others. Pests harm the roots and leaves of potatoes, suck the plant's sap, and so on, seriously affecting the normal growth of potatoes. Moreover, aphids are also very likely to carry virus disease pathogens, causing potato diseases and thereby reducing yield. Therefore, we should strengthen prevention, regularly disinfect the field, and promptly handle plants with pests and diseases. Remove the affected parts, check the specific pests and diseases, and then take corresponding measures, using the corresponding agents for disinfection.
4. Timely Harvesting
The potato's growth period is not very long, generally around 4 months. And in the late stage of potatoes, harvesting work should naturally also be done well. When the stems and leaves of the aboveground part of the potato turn yellow and withered and the tubers are easy to separate, they can be harvested in a timely manner. When harvesting, do not do it on rainy days, to avoid reducing the storage performance of potatoes. During harvesting, be careful not to cause wounds to potatoes, to avoid triggering post-harvest diseases. At the same time, also pay attention to the harvesting time; do not harvest too early or too late, otherwise it will have a great impact on both the yield and quality of potatoes.
The above is a brief introduction to the key management points for potatoes in the mid-to-late stage. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and we hope it can help everyone!