Detailed Explanation of Mechanized Potato Production Technology Throughout the Entire Process

Shawan County has an annual potato planting area of 2,250 hectares, which has become a new highlight for increasing the income of farmers and herders in cool and cold regions. Because the traditional manual planting and harvesting methods are backward, labor-intensive, and low in efficiency, it is difficult to achieve large-scale operation. Through practice, advanced potato seeders and harvesters were introduced, and a mechanized technology for the entire potato production process was summarized. At present, this technology has been fully promoted.

1. Pre-planting preparation

1. Soil conditions

Choose loam or sandy loam with deep soil layers, high organic matter content, loose and easily crumbled texture, good permeability, and medium or higher fertility.

2. Base fertilizer and deep plowing

Potato is a high-yield and fertilizer-loving crop and is extremely sensitive to fertilizer response. For every 1 ton of potato tubers produced, it needs to absorb 5.5 kg of nitrogen, 2.2 kg of phosphorus, and 10.2 kg of potassium from the soil. The absorption ratio of the three is 1:0.4:2, and among the three major fertilizer elements, potassium is required in the largest amount. Fertilization should be based mainly on farmyard manure, supplemented by chemical fertilizer. The base fertilizer is preferably applied at 3 tons per 667 sq m. The fertilizer should be deep-plowed into the soil, with autumn plowing and winter irrigation, so as to enhance the soil's water storage and moisture conservation capacity and create a good soil environment for potato tuber expansion and root growth.

3. Land preparation standards

Use a combined land preparation machine or a 41-blade disc harrow for land preparation, with a harrowing depth of 10-15 cm. The surface should be level, loose on top and firm below, the missed harrowing area <1%, the coefficient of variation of harrowing depth <=15%, and the soil breaking rate >80%, meeting the six-character standard of "level, neat, loose, fine, clean, and moist."

2. Mechanical sowing

Mechanical potato sowing can complete multiple operations in one pass, including furrowing, sowing, fertilizing, ridging, soil covering, and compacting. This technology has the advantages of uniform seed dropping, consistent plant and row spacing, firm compaction, and uniform emergence. Using a 2CM-2 type potato fertilizing seeder, the sowing depth is 10-15 cm, soil covering is 15 cm, ridge spacing is 70 cm, plant spacing is 25 cm, the seedling stand is about 57,000 plants/hectare, and the sowing rate is about 2,250 kg/hectare. At sowing, apply 450-600 kg of Sakafu per hectare or 750 kg of potato special fertilizer, with fertilizer placed 2-4 cm below and to the side of the seed sprouts.

3. Field management

1. Cultivation

Generally, two operations are carried out. The first is done when about 50% of seedlings have emerged to promote the growth and development of young seedlings. The second is done when the seedlings are 15-20 cm tall. Each time, hill up soil to a thickness of 5 cm.

2. Topdressing

At the first cultivation, apply 100-150 kg/hectare of urea as topdressing. When cultivating and hilling, adjust the angle, depth, and width of the plowshare and moldboard so as not to damage the seedlings.

4. Mechanical harvesting

1. About 10 days before harvest, first roll or cut the vines so that the potato skin ages, thereby reducing losses during harvest. Before the mechanical harvester enters the field, adjust the depth of the plowshare entering the soil. Too shallow entering the soil easily damages the tubers and does not harvest cleanly; too deep entering the soil wastes labor and easily loses potatoes.

2. Use a 4UX-500 type side-delivery potato digger, with matching power of 18-30 horsepower, operating efficiency of 0.3 hectares, digging cleanliness rate >=98%, exposed potato rate >=97%, and potato damage rate <=3%.

3. Commonly used harvesters are single-row or double-row potato harvesters matched with tractors, with an operating speed of 3-4 km/h and a digging depth of 20 cm. The dug tubers are not buried by soil, so they can be picked up cleanly by hand.

5. Benefit analysis

1. Implementing mechanized operations throughout the entire potato process significantly increases the income of farmers and herders. Manual sowing originally required 900 yuan/hectare, while current mechanical sowing requires 300 yuan/hectare, increasing income by 600 yuan/hectare; manual harvesting originally cost 800 yuan/hectare, while current mechanical harvesting costs 375 yuan/hectare, increasing income by 425 yuan/hectare; the original yield was 30 tons/hectare, and now it is increased by 4.5 tons/hectare. Calculated at 0.5 yuan/kg, this increases income by 2,250 yuan/hectare. With 2,250 hectares planted, the three items together increase income by 7.366 million yuan.

2. Make rational use of mountainous land, create maximum value, improve land output rate, and form a new channel for increasing farmers' and herders' income.

3. Promote the use of highly efficient, residue-free, pollution-free, and hazard-free pesticides to create green industry and brand benefits.