Detailed Explanation of High-Yield Cultivation Techniques for Autumn Potatoes with Rice Straw Mulching

Potatoes have the characteristic of preferring cool conditions and fearing heat, making them perfectly suited for no-till planting in idle winter fields. This method requires no plowing or soil covering, saving labor and effort, and is simple to operate. Harvest can be achieved after 3 months, with an average yield of over 1,500 kg per 667 sq m, a 30% increase compared to traditional cultivation methods. At 0.8 yuan per kg, this yields a gross profit of 1,200 yuan. This is a quick and effective project for improving land utilization and increasing farmers' income.

1. Selecting improved varieties and soaking seeds for sprouting

Select varieties with high quality and yield, a relatively short growth period, relatively high tolerance to high temperature and drought, storage-tolerant tubers, and good economic returns for planting. 7 to 10 days before sowing, soak the seed potatoes in a "920" solution at a concentration of 4 mg/L for 0.5 to 1 hour, then remove them and place them in a ventilated, shady area. Spread a 5 to 6 cm thick layer of wet sand over them, then cover with rice straw. After 6 to 8 days, the seed potatoes will sprout.

2. Timely sowing and rational close planting

Sow from late October to mid-November. Before sowing, dig furrows and open trenches in the paddy field. The bed width is 150 cm, the trench width is 20 cm, and the depth is 15 cm. The excavated soil must not be piled on the edges of the trenches. The bed surface should be slightly arched. Make 4 rows per bed, with a row spacing of 30 cm and a plant spacing of 25 cm, leaving 20 cm at the bed edges. Place the seed potatoes with the eyes angled toward and close to the soil surface. Sow 4,500 to 5,000 plants per 667 sq m.

3. Applying sufficient base fertilizer and mulching with rice straw

Based on the fertility of the paddy field, apply all the base fertilizer at once during sowing. Apply 50 kg of 45% ternary potassium sulfate compound fertilizer and 1,500 kg of decomposed barnyard manure per 667 sq m as base fertilizer. Farmyard manure can be placed directly on the seed potatoes as covering fertilizer, while compound fertilizer should be placed between two plants. After applying the base fertilizer, promptly use pre-prepared rice straw to evenly cover the entire bed surface, with the straw perpendicular to the bed surface and tips facing tips. The straw mulching thickness should be 8 to 10 cm. Gently press down or cover with a small amount of fine soil. The straw mulch must be uniform with no light leakage and no exposed soil to avoid "seedling trapping" and green potato occurrence. The key is that the straw layer must not allow light to leak through. First, when mulching with rice straw, it should be spread flat across the entire bed surface without leaving gaps; second, the straw mulch should not be too thin, as too thin a layer easily allows light leakage and increases the rate of green potatoes. A thickness of 8 to 10 cm is appropriate.

4. Fertilizer and water management and pest and disease control

If special drought weather occurs, irrigate timely and appropriately through the high-yield trenches. The water layer should be shallow, reaching 2/3 as the limit, and drain promptly. In the later stage, the decomposing rice straw has strong water retention and is not easy to dry out. During rainy days, clear the trenches promptly for drainage. During the tuber formation stage, apply 10 kg of compound fertilizer diluted in water per 667 sq m, which can effectively increase tuber yield. Since full-course rice straw mulching can suppress weed growth, no weeding is needed. Pests and diseases are relatively mild in winter and spring, so pesticides may not be used.

5. Harvest

By using no-till and rice straw mulching techniques, potato tubers are relatively concentrated, with over 70% of tubers on the soil surface. They can be collected by simply brushing aside the straw. The few tubers growing in cracks or pores are also very shallow in the soil and easy to dig out. This technique saves labor, time, and effort, and even frail elderly people in rural areas can complete the operation.