Key Field Management Techniques for Potato Cultivation
The potato is an underground-growing 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 step by step, and many people have set their sights on the potato market and begun large-scale cultivation. However, after sowing potatoes, good field management is still needed. So today I bring you the field management methods for potatoes. Let's take a look together.
1. Soil and Water Management
During the growth process of potatoes, the water demand is very high at every stage from sowing to maturity. The soil must be kept moist, and the soil moisture content must be kept at at least 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 temperatures 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 the 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, attention should be paid to field drainage during rainy weather.
2. Intertillage and Fertilization
The potato is not only a crop with high water demand, but also high-yielding, 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, spreading a mixture of urea and potassium chloride on the soil. When flower buds appear, begin the second intertillage, spreading compound fertilizer and urea, etc., into each potato hill, but when using chemical fertilizers, be careful not to let the stems of the potatoes come into contact with 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 even all crops, so during the growth process of potatoes, pest and disease prevention and control must be done well. The diseases that harm potatoes include early and late blight, dry rot, and a series of other diseases. First, when selecting varieties, we can choose disease-free varieties and appropriately advance the sowing time. If fungal diseases are found, pesticides should be used promptly for prevention and control to prevent further aggravation. Chemicals such as Anke Mancozeb can be sprayed once a week for about a 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 harvest. One week before harvest, 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 should be taken when digging to avoid damaging the potatoes. In addition, the dug-out potatoes should be protected from prolonged exposure to the sun; if the potato skin is exposed to the sun for too long, it will turn green, affecting appearance and quality.
The above is the field management that needs attention after sowing potatoes. If the field management of potatoes is done well, it will be easier to obtain high-yield and high-quality potatoes. Many growers are still stuck in their old cultivation habits, paying no attention after planting, but now, by following scientific management methods, potatoes can become your source of income.