What are the technical advantages of dense planting cultivation of potatoes in wide ridges?

China has a history of more than 400 years of potato cultivation, but what continues to this day is still the 65cm narrow-ridge potato planting method, with an average yield of 26,000 kg/hm. This planting method results in shallow hilling, insufficient soil storage capacity, tubers that are easily exposed, and an increase in deformed tubers. At the same time, because the ridge spacing is small and the plants are large, the spaces between ridges become congested, which is unfavorable for ventilation, makes humidity too high, and forms a field microclimate, making it extremely easy for the devastating disease -- potato late blight -- to occur and spread, producing large numbers of diseased tubers and even causing total crop failure. Major potato-producing countries abroad generally adopt dense planting cultivation with wide ridges of 80cm-90cm, with an average of 60,000 kg/hm. Since 1997, based on actual production conditions, we have demonstrated and promoted mechanized dense planting cultivation technology for potatoes in wide ridges. After several years of technical refinement, this technology has become mature and stable, increasing yield by more than 20% compared with conventional planting methods.

I. Technical innovation points

1. Established a tillage model integrating deep loosening tillage as the main body, with harrowing, ridging, intertillage management, and mechanical harvesting, which not only improved efficiency but also saved a large amount of manpower and material resources.

2. Changed the traditional planting method. This uses a ridge spacing of 80 centimeters and a plant spacing of 17 centimeters. After the ridge spacing is increased, it facilitates field operations by high-horsepower machinery throughout the entire crop growth period.

II. Main advantages of the technology

The main advantages of this technology are the "three highs and one low": (1) A high degree of standardization. Because the ridge spacing is large, it is suitable for large-scale mechanical operations and facilitates cultivation technicalization, production standardization, and operation standardization. (2) High soil moisture. It resists drought and prevents waterlogging, preserves moisture and raises moisture. Because the ridges are large, the soil storage capacity of the ridge body is increased, enabling the ridge body to resist drought and reduce rainwater erosion. (3) High yield and quality. Because the ridges are large, mechanical operations can be carried out throughout the entire production period, facilitating layered hilling and deep hilling, avoiding exposure of potato tubers and improving potato quality and yield. (4) Low disease. The disease prevention effect is good. Because the ridge spacing is increased, the spaces between ridges are ventilated and exposed to light, reducing congestion, lowering the air humidity between ridges, and effectively alleviating and reducing the occurrence of diseases such as potato late blight, reducing losses and increasing yield.