What are the efficient cultivation techniques for spring potatoes?

1. Land preparation and fertilization. After the autumn crop is harvested, deep winter plowing must be carried out; in a dry winter with no rain, overwintering water should be applied. The following year, 4000-5000 kg, ammonium bicarbonate 50-70 kg, and plant ash 100-200 kg should be used as base fertilizer. The base fertilizer should be spread evenly, followed by shallow plowing and turning, then harrowing fine and leveling.

2. Early sprouting for strong buds. In the Lunan area, sand culture sprouting should be carried out around the Spring Festival in cold frames or plastic greenhouses. During sprouting, whole tubers can be sprouted, or they can be cut into pieces first and then sprouted. When the sprouts reach 5-7 cm, pull them out of the sand, air-dry the sprouts for 2-3 days, and once the young sprouts turn from white (purple) to green, they can be planted.

3. Planting and film mulching. Experiments have shown that in the Lunan area, 10-15 days after the Spring Festival, as long as the surface layer thaws 10-15 cm (mid-February), planting can begin. For fertile land, row spacing 70 cm and plant spacing 20 cm; for plots with poor fertility, row spacing 60 cm and plant spacing 20 cm, and about 100 kg of seed potatoes are needed per mu. When planting, if soil moisture is suitable, plant while the moisture holds; if the bottom soil moisture is insufficient, build up moisture in advance, or pour water into the furrow first before planting, and never plant dry and wait for rain. After arranging the potato pieces, 30-50 kg of NPK compound fertilizer must be applied between the potato pieces per mu. After planting, build up the ridges well and then cover each single ridge with plastic film.

4. Scientific management and care. From sowing to emergence, hoe between the ridges frequently. When the seedlings are 10-15 cm tall, depending on soil moisture, apply 1 "horse-running water" irrigation, and hoe while moisture is suitable. When the seedlings are 20-25 cm tall, open a furrow on one side of the ridge, apply 25-30 kg urea per mu as topdressing, and then irrigate once. From late budding to early flowering, the "Luyin No. 1" potato variety should be watered once, and after that the ground should be kept moist. After the flowering water, water again as appropriate depending on soil moisture, and do not water 7-10 days before harvest.

5. Pest and disease control. The main pests and diseases of potato include late blight, aphids, white grubs, and others. When planting, apply 1-1.5 kg phoxim per mu, mix with poisoned soil and apply in furrows to control white grubs and other underground pests. In the early stage of aphid occurrence, spray with 2.5% deltamethrin diluted 2500 times with water, which gives a good effect. Late blight occurs severely when there is excessive rain or around the flowering period, so spray early with 25% ridomil or metalaxyl 800 times solution.

6. Intercropping and relay cropping. According to many years of experiments, spring-planted virus-free potatoes with plastic film mulching in the Lunan area can be intercropped or relay-cropped with Welsh onion, cabbage, peanut, tomato, pepper, watermelon, melon, cotton, sorghum, and other crops.