Latest Key Technical Points for Potato Field Management
Potato is an underground-grown plant and one of the four most important food crops in the world, and China is also the country that produces the most potatoes. In recent years, the market price of potatoes has been rising steadily, and many people have set their sights on the potato market and begun large-scale planting, but after potatoes are sown, good field management is still needed. So today I have brought you the field management methods for potatoes. Let us take a look.
1. Water and Soil Management
During the growth process of potatoes, from sowing to maturity, the water demand at every stage is very high. The soil must be kept moist, and the soil moisture content must be kept at least at 60%. After sowing, water each furrow thoroughly to moisten the soil, and at the same time use herbicide after sowing to clear the weeds in the field. During the seedling stage, if high temperature and drought occur, the water in each furrow must be replenished again. The seedling stage is the period when potatoes need water the most, so the soil must be kept fully moist. However, during the final maturity stage of potatoes, water should not be excessive, because too much water will worsen the aeration of the soil, and the potatoes will be unable to breathe, resulting in rotten tubers. Therefore, during rainy weather, attention must be paid to field drainage.
2. Intertillage and Fertilization
⟦NL>Potato is not only a crop with high water demand, but also has high yield, so it also requires a large amount of fertilizer. During the seedling stage of potatoes, quick-acting seedling-promoting fertilizer should be applied heavily, in order to increase the growth speed and health of the seedlings. Half a month after emergence, the first intertillage and soil turning should be carried out, scattering a mixture of urea and potassium chloride on the soil. When flower buds appear, begin the second intertillage, scattering compound fertilizer and urea etc. into each potato hill, but when using chemical fertilizer, care must be taken not to let the stems of the potatoes touch the fertilizer. This prevents the stems from being burned by contact with the fertilizer.
3. Disease Prevention and Control
Pests and diseases have always been factors affecting the yield and quality of potatoes and indeed all crops, so during the growth process of potatoes, the pests and diseases of potatoes must be well prevented and controlled. The diseases that harm potatoes include early and late blight, dry rot and a series of other diseases. First of all, when selecting varieties, we can choose disease-free varieties and appropriately advance the sowing time. If fungal diseases are found to have occurred, pesticides should be used promptly for prevention and control to prevent further worsening. Agents such as Anke mancozeb can be sprayed once a week for about one month.
4. Timely Harvesting
When the stems and leaves of the potatoes are found to begin turning withered and yellow, it means the potatoes are basically mature and can be harvested. Watering should be stopped 1-2 weeks before harvesting. One week before harvesting, cut off part of the stems and leaves in the field to let the potatoes undergo their final maturation in the ground. Harvesting is best done on sunny days, and care must be taken when digging to avoid damaging the potatoes. Also, the dug-out potatoes must avoid prolonged exposure to the sun; if the potato skin is exposed to sunlight for too long, it will turn green, affecting appearance and quality.
The above are the field management points that need attention after potatoes are sown. If potato field management is done well, it will be easier to obtain high-yield and high-quality potatoes. Many growers still remain stuck in their old planting habits and leave the crop alone after planting, but now, by following scientific management methods, potatoes can become your source of income.