Detailed Explanation of Key Techniques for Autumn Potato Cultivation

Potato is a dual-purpose crop for both grain and vegetables, with a short plant and a short growing period, and can be intercropped or relay-cropped with many other crops.

Site selection and land preparation: Choose sandy loam plots with deep soil, loose and fertile texture, good drainage, good aeration, and no solanaceous vegetables grown in the past 3 years. After deep ploughing 20-25 cm, make ridges with a ridge surface width of 60 cm, a furrow width of 50 cm, and a ridge height of 15-20 cm.

Select good varieties: Choose early-maturing varieties such as Zhongshu No. 2, Zhongshu No. 3, and Zhongshu No. 4, which set tubers early, have rapid early tuber enlargement, and a short dormancy period. Autumn cultivation generally yields 1000-1500 kg per mu.

Seed potato treatment: Autumn sowing coincides with a hot and rainy season, making seed potatoes prone to rotting, so whole tubers should be sown. Select tubers of about 50 g as seed potatoes. One week before sowing, soak the seed potatoes in a 5 mg/L gibberellin solution for 5 minutes, then remove and place them on a sand bed to sprout. When sprouts reach 2 cm, take them out and place them in a cool place with scattered light to green up, then sow after 2-3 days.

Sow at the right time: Sow appropriately early to extend the potato growing period as much as possible. In early to mid-August, sow the seed potatoes deeply on the ridges, with 2 rows per ridge, a row spacing of 35 cm, and a plant spacing of 23-25 cm. After sowing, pay attention to drainage and reducing humidity.

Field management: For autumn potato cultivation, use plenty of water and fertilizer, promote growth throughout, and fertilize and manage early. During the germination period, keep the soil loose and aerated, and generally do not water before emergence. When watering, use light irrigation with small to moderate amounts, and loosen the soil immediately after watering. After emergence, apply topdressing early, water early, and carry out deep intertillage. During the branching stage, do not water unless there is drought, and combine watering with intertillage; intertillage should only loosen the soil in the furrows, while also hilling lightly. When plants are 20 cm tall, combine watering with heavy hilling, and at the bud stage hill and weed. Do not let the soil lack water at the bud stage, and prevent flooding irrigation during the tuber-setting stage. During the tuber-setting and tuber-bulking stages, keep the soil moist and loose.

Pest and disease control: The main pests and diseases of autumn potato are mites and soil-dwelling pests. In mid to late September, use 20% Mirel to control soil-dwelling pests, and use propargite and similar products to control mites. After that, spray once every 1 week for 3 consecutive sprays, and promptly remove diseased plants.

Harvest at the right time: According to market demand, harvest in batches according to tuber size.