Detailed Explanation of No-Till Potato Cultivation with Rice Straw Mulching

First, selecting the field and preparing the beds. Choose a neutral or slightly acidic paddy field. When harvesting rice, it is best to leave stubble 15-20 cm high. Before sowing, first mark out beds and open furrows, with a bed width of 1.4-1.6 m, a furrow width of 20-30 cm, and a furrow depth of 15-20 cm. When opening the furrows, scatter the excavated soil evenly in the middle of the bed, and shape the bed surface into an arched back to facilitate drainage.

Second, seed potato treatment. Select virus-free seed potatoes that are free of pests and diseases, have smooth and fresh skin, and weigh more than 20 g each. Before sowing, cut the seed potatoes into 2-4 pieces according to the distribution of the buds and the size of the tubers. Soak the cut pieces in a carbendazim solution for 3-5 minutes, remove them, spread them out to air-dry the surface moisture, and dress the seed pieces with plant ash.

Third, sowing and fertilization. Generally, place 4-5 rows of seed per bed, with a row spacing of 30-40 cm and a plant spacing of 20-30 cm, sowing 4500-5500 plants per mu. When sowing, press the seed potatoes down slightly with force so that the buds make full contact with the soil.

After sowing, cover the seed potatoes with decomposed farmyard manure, and broadcast a nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer between the rows. Chemical fertilizer should be applied in the rows 6-8 cm away from the seed potatoes to prevent direct contact between the fertilizer and the seed potatoes, which can damage the seedlings. Fourth, straw covering and water management. After sowing, evenly cover the bed surface with rice straw, generally to a thickness of 8-10 cm. After covering with straw, clean the furrows and press the soil evenly onto the rice straw. During the growth and development period of potatoes, sufficient water must be ensured. In drought, irrigate gently along the furrows so that the water slowly seeps into the beds; do not use flood irrigation. In rainy seasons or low-lying plots, pay attention to drainage to prevent waterlogging. Fifth, pest and disease control. Potatoes are prone to late blight, bacterial wilt, ring rot, early blight, aphids, and other pests and diseases, so attention should be paid to their control. Sixth, timely harvest. When the stems and leaves turn yellow, it indicates that the tubers are mature and can be harvested. Push aside the rice straw and pick up the potatoes.