Potatoe Production

8/9/2019 Potatoe Production

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Table of Contents

Potato Production........................................................................................................................................1

1.0 The potato plant.................................................................................................................................... 1

3.0 Soil and Land Preparation...................................................................................................................... 2

4.0 Sprouting of Potatoes............................................................................................................................2

4.1 Chitting Trays............................................................................................................................. ........2

4.2 Forced sprouting ...............................................................................................................................2

5.0 Planting ties........................................................................................................................................ 3

!.0 "rrigation................................................................................................................................................ 3

#.0 Fertili$ation............................................................................................................................................4

%.0 &arthing up............................................................................................................................................ 4

'.0 Tu(er de)elopent in potatoes.............................................................................................................5

10.0 *eed *inter Crop...............................................................................................................................5

11.0 +aul ,estruction...............................................................................................................................5

12.0 -ield and Lifting........................................................................................................................ ...........5

13.0 Potato Pest...........................................................................................................................................5

13.1 eatodes............................................................................................................................... .......5

13.2 Potato tu(er oth .......................................................................................................................... 5

13.3 /phids..............................................................................................................................................5

13.4 Cutors /grotis spp........................................................................................................... ........5

14.0 ,isease control.................................................................................................................................. ..5

14.1 Late light Phytophtora infestans..................................................................................................5

14.2 &arly light....................................................................................................................................... !

14.3 Coon Sca( Streptoyces sca(ies.............................................................................................!

15.0 Storage of +ar)ested Potatoes.............................................................................................................!

15.1 Curing and *ound +ealing......................................................................................................... .....!

15.2 Final +olding Conditions..................................................................................................................!

15.4.3 Sprout Control...........................................................................................................................!

15.4.4 Storing Pro(les in Potatoes....................................................................................................!

1!.0 areting of Potatoes........................................................................................................................ .#

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FACT SHEET

Potato Production

Scientific nae6 Solanum tuberosum Faily6 Solanaceae

1.0 The potato plant

Figure 6 Structure of a Potato plant

/ potato plant Solanum tuberosum) is a lo7groing8 (ranching perennial plant ith ea stes. it is a

her(aceous annual plant that gros up to 100 c tall and produces a tu(er hich is coonly non

as potato. Potatoes are rich in starch and is raned fourth after ai$e8 heat and rice. The crop (elongs

to the Solanaceae 7 or 9nightshade97 faily of floering plants8 and shares the genus Solanum ith at

least 18000 other species8 including toato8 eggplant and to(acco.

2.0 Culti)ars: ost coon )arieties gron in :i(a(e include P"8 /ythest8 ont Claire8 ;pal8

&erald and


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Variety Summer First Winter Second winter

Yield (t/a! "ays to

#aturity

Yield "ays to

#aturity

Yield

=arnet 23.2 '% 2%.4 120 25.%

Pipernel 12.4 '% 7 7 12.4

/ethyst 1'.5 '# 11.% 10% 15.#

P" 22.3 7 20.% 10% 21.5

tured loay soils ith good organic atter

are (est. ,eep ploughing !00 depth is recoended8 ith discing and harroing done to create a

fine tilth. The soils should (e fine8 loose and ithout copacted layers that hinder root penetration.

Clods and stones should (e a)oided as they reduce root contact ith soils and cause tu(er deforation.

+ea)y clays and soe icaceous soils should (e a)oided especially hen they dry off (ecause they

produce isshapen tu(ers. Soils ust (e ell drained8 especially for the suer crop hen rainfall is

high. *ell aerated soils ensure sufficient o>ygen for root8 stolon and tu(er groth. ;ptiu p+ is 5.07

5.5. Liing should not (e done iediately (efore planting (ecause the resultant high p+ le)els can

predispose the crop to coon sca(.

4.0 Sprouting of Potatoes

Potato seed is norally supplied in 30 g pocets containing si$es fro 25 to 5! in diaeter and

an a)erage of 400 tu(ers are found in a pocet. Fig 26 Sprouted potatoes

Sprouting is the de)elopent of shoots in potatoes. &ach tu(er has fro to to as any as 10 (uds or

9eyes98 arranged in a spiral pattern around its surface. The (uds generate shoots that gro into ne

plants hen conditions are fa)oura(le. Pre7sprouting of tu(ers helps to increase the nu(er of ain

ste8 and conse?uently the crop@s final yield. Sprouting also ensures ?uic8 unifor and full gerination.

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Sprouting is done (y storing the tu(ers in diffuse light. Tu(ers saller than 25 should not (e used

for seed.

Farers ay sprout the tu(ers (y chitting trays or (y force sprouting ethod. These ethods are

e>plained (elo.

4.1 Chitting Trays

Potato tu(ers are e>posed to sunlight (ut protected fro strong sun. /pply suita(le pesticides to the

tu(ers to protect the fro tu(er oth8 and nely de)eloping sprouts fro aphids. "f cut tu(ers are

used8 cure the for 10714 days at #7% 0c and 100 A relati)e huidity. ,ipping of tu(ers in fungicide

drench is recoended.

4.2 Forced sprouting

This can (e done hen dealing ith large potato ?uantities. The ethod in)ol)es use of heat or

acetylene.

• +eat6 co)er potatoes in tarpaulin in oderate sunshine. Teperature of 30735 0c ill initiate

sprouting.

• /cetyline6 0.1 A of acetylene gas in an airtight roo (eteen 2172# 0c ill initiate sprouting. 30 g

of calciu car(ide ill generate sufficient gas for 2 3.

• "erse the tu(ers in an acetylene solution for 47! hours. The i>ture should (e 45 liters of

ater to 230 g of calciu car(ide added sloly.

• =i(erelic acid can also (e applied to stiulate sprouting in potatoes.

$lantin% of $otatoes in te field

Sprouted Potato tu(ers

10c

15 c

120 c

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Figure 36 Planting and spacing of potatoes

ely7sprouted seed (eteen 5 and 15 long is suita(le for planting. ,uring planting8 potato tu(ers

are echanically or anually placed in the ros8 20 c to 30 c apart8 ith a ro to ro spacing

aintained at (eteen !0 to 120 c. Spacing is influenced (y seed si$e and soil fertility. Tu(ers can (e

planted # c710c deep under irrigation faring and can (e slightly deeper up to 15 c hen dryland

faring is eployed. Soon after planting8 a ridger is run to co)er the potato tu(ers (y throing the soil

fro (oth the sides and ridges pressed. The first irrigation ust (e applied to a depth of !00.

5.0 Planting times

a. Summer Cro&s

The potato suer crop is planted in o)e(er and har)ested (efore the end of the rainy

season. Crops suffer fro disease pressure8 (ut gerination is good. Prolonged rains ay pose

pro(les at har)esting due to increased sprouting.

(. First Winter Cro&

The first inter crop is planted (eteen Fe(ruary and /pril so that it atures (efore the frost

period. Later planting in lo)eld is recoended to tae ad)antage of cooler eather. oth

crops are affected (y late (light8 therefore groing resistant )arieties is recoended.

c. Second Winter Cro&

The second inter crop is planted (eteen late


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Figure 4 "rrigation of potatoes using a atering can source6 F/; fact sheet8 Land and *ater di)ision

Pre7plant irrigation is iportant to ensure unifor gerination. First irrigation ust (e applied to a

depth of !00. / second irrigation is gi)en a(out a ee later. Su(se?uent irrigation is applied hen

re?uired. Light and fre?uent irrigations are (etter than hea)y8 less fre?uent irrigations. The critical stages

re?uiring ater are stolon foration8 tu(er initiation and de)elopent. Stop irrigation a(out 10 days

(efore har)est to allo for firing of tu(ers.

7.0 ertili!ation

/ (asal application of copound S at a rate of 130072100 gBha or Copound C at a rate of 1300 to1500 gBha is recoended. Top dressing of / at a rate of 2'0 gBha should (e applied once8 3 ees

after eergence. "n addition8 top dressing of 4007500 gBha of Sulphate of Potash8 splitting it into to

e?ual applications8 one at floering and the other to ees after floering. The top dressing of /

should (e applied (eteen ros or per plant (efore the final earthing up. / ta(le (elo shos nutrient

re?uireent as recoended (y /="T&D.

$lant 'utrient (%/a! Soil 'utrient status

)ood nutrient soils #edium nutrient soils $oor nutrient soils

itrogen Ep to #0 #07110 11071!0

Phosphorus Ep to 350 3507400 4007450

Potash Ep to #0 #07100 1007150

6 /ll P and ust (e applied at planting. P increases yield (y increasing the nu(er of ediu si$ed

tu(ers.

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increases the nu(er of large si$ed tu(ers. 30 tBha of organic anure supplies ade?uate P and

needed (y the crop.

+alf to to third is applied at planting and the reainder8 273 ees after eergence

Fertili$er ust (e (anded slightly (elo and at the side of the seed to a)oid contact ith the seed.

".0 #arthing upThe &arthing up in potatoes is an iportant agronoic process. "t in)ol)es draing ounds of soil up

around the plant to pre)ent ne tu(ers fro groing and turning green and poisonous. /lso any ties

ore potatoes ill for fro the (uried stes. "t also helps to pre)ent greening8 tu(er oth and (light

infection. Potatoes are a shallo rooted cropG hence care is needed to a)oid e>cessi)e culti)ation. /fter

applying the top dressing8 potatoes should (e ridged up to 20730 c high. The first ridging ill (e the

first eed control. The second ridging should (e done after potato tu(ers ha)e started to (rea the soil.

&arthing up should (e done and copleted (y the tie hen the crop is 25 c tall.

$.0 Tu%er de&elopment in potatoes

Figure 56 Tu(er de)elopent in potatoes

/s the potato plant gros8 its copound lea)es anufacture starch that is transferred to the ends of its

underground stes non as stolons. The stes ill thicen to for a fe or as any as 20 tu(ers close

to the soil surface. The nu(er of tu(ers that actually reach aturity depends on a)aila(le oisture and

soil nutrients. Tu(ers ay )ary in shape and si$e8 and norally eigh up to 300 g each.

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10.0 'eed 'inter (rop*eeds can cause significant yield loss. They copete ith crop for ater8 nutrients8 light and groing

space. They also ha(our pests and pathogens. *eed8 control is (y use of cultural8 cheical and

echanical eans. Coonly used her(icides includes6 Topogard Te(utryne8 ,ual8 Sencor and &PTC.

11.0 )aulm *estruction/t the end of the groing season8 the plantHs lea)es and stes die don to the soil le)el and its ne

tu(ers detach fro their stolons. The crop ill (e ready for har)esting hen '5 A of the lea)es ha)e

died off. "n soe cases and in seed production8 the crop canopy is destroyed preatualy for early

har)esting or seed production or hen se)ere attac of late (light is feared. *here cheical destruction

is eployed8 it is ad)isa(le to lift the crop ithin 10 days to a)oid attac (y (lac scurff.

1+.0 ,ield and LiftingPotatoes are har)ested hen the potato sin has hardened sufficiently to reduce physical daage during

lifting. &>pected yield ranges fro 1#720 tonsBha in suer8 inter crop ranges fro 25740 tons.

13.0 Potato Pest

13.1 Nematodes

There are three iportant neatodes species that affects potatoes. These species are6 eloidogyne spp8

Pratylenchus spp and adopholus siils. Control is (y fuigation here possi(le. otation ith grass

species that is resistant to neatodes eg ata(ora8 hodes8 Sa(i and Panucu is a recoended

control ethod.

13.2 Potato tuber moth

The tu(er oth lar)ae ae tunnels in plant tissue8 there (y cutting off nutrients flo and causing the

plant to ilt and dry off. Control is (y cultural ethods hich includes ridging the plants up to 250 .

cheical ethods in)ol)es /$odrin 408 at 15 lB 10 litres of ater8 hen syptos apper. ;r na)acron

40 at 50 l per 10 litres of ater.

13.3 Aphids

/phids are sall greenish sucing pests hich causes syptos of ilting and curling of lea)es. Control

is (y spraying /$odrin 40 at 15 lB10 litres of ater. ;ther cheicals such as thione>8 and alation ay

also (e used.

13.4 Cutworms (Agrotis spp

The pest is )ery serious at the (eginning of the eergence of young stes. The lar)ae che the plant at

surface le)el8 and they appear as plup darish greasy grey caterpillars that norally feed at night.

Cheical control is (y use of arate8 car(aryl %5 A8 Thiodan 50 *P.

14.0 *isease control

14.1 !ate "#ight (Phytophtora in$estans

;ccurs hen the relati)e huidity is ore than #0 A and teperature is around 227 25 0C. The disease

spreads )ery ?uicly during the et season. The syptos include (ron patches at the end of lea)es

ith hite yceliu on under side and (ron spots on stes. Control is (y spraying ith dithane 45

and idoil : #2 co(ined. To sprays of dithane alternated ith to sprays of idoil : #2 at 50 g

B 10 litres of ater is recoended.

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14.2 %ar#y "#ight

The disease slo spreading at teperature around 25 0C. otto lea)es sho dar (ron to (lac spots

ith typical concentric rings. Control is (y using the sae cheicals that are used in controlling late

(light.

14.3 Common &cab (&treptomyces scabies

Signs and syptos appear as rough circular (lac sca((y lesions hich can enlarge and co)er

considera(le part of the tu(er. "t is associated ith soils that ha)e high degree of aeration caused (y

underploughing of high undecoposed organic atter and high teperatures. o cheical control is

a)aila(le. /)oid liing the field during the period hen the crop is to (e gron.

15.0 Storage of )ar&ested PotatoesThe purpose of potato storage is to aintain tu(er ?uality and pro)ide a unifor flo of tu(ers to fresh

aret and processing plants throughout the year. =ood storage should pre)ent e>cessi)e dehydration8

decay and sprouting. "t should also pre)ent high sugar concentrations hich result in dar colored fried

products. / potato storage structure should ha)e ade?uate insulation8 outside aterproofing8 inside

)apor proofing8 )entilation8 air distri(ution8 ade?uate huidification8 and properly designed controls forprecisely aintaining the storage atosphere.

Teperature8 huidity8 and air o)eent are the ost iportant en)ironental factors affecting

stora(ility. Teperature re?uireents are deterined (y the intended use of the potatoes. Tu(ers

should alays (e ept in the dar since )ery sall aounts of light ill gradually cause greening. Lights

should not (e used ore than a(solutely necessary. Surface greening is due to chlorophyll foration and

is harless. +oe)er8 its presence in potatoes is undesira(le (ecause of areting restrictions and the

fact that at ties an alaloid called solanine increases ith the chlorophyll. Solanine and other

glycoalaloids cause potatoes to ha)e a (itter8 undesira(le fla)or. =reening de)elops sloly in the light at

4 0C or (elo (ut de)elops rapidly at 20 0C.

Potatoes are usually held in (ul piles 2.4 to ! deep. Soe are stored in pallet (o>es for short

periods. Pressure (ruise and internal (lac spot are su(stantially loer ith pallet storage (ut decay is

often increased (ecause of poor air circulation ithin (o>es. Long7ter pallet storage is not

recoended. ecause of the large nu(er of culti)ars gron8 only general storage recoendations

can (e gi)en here. =roing and har)esting conditions influence the (eha)ior of potatoes in storage See

9Storing Pro(le Potatoes89 (elo.

&arly har)ested potatoes are usually stored only (riefly if at all. Such tu(ers are ?uite perisha(le and

daage easily (ecause of iature sins. &arly potatoes free fro serious (ruising and decay can

soeties (e held 4 to 5 onths at 40

C for ta(le use if they are cured 4 or 5 days at 120

C to 1%0

C toheal ounds (efore storage. +oe)er8 early crops should usually (e sold iediately (ecause of poor

stora(ility and typically high early season prices.

Part of ;regonHs early crop potatoes are chipped directly for the field. +olding these potatoes in cold

storage e)en at oderate teperatures of 10 0C to 12.5 0C for only a fe days can cause e>cessi)e

reducing sugar and undesira(le dar chips.

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ost late potatoes are stored. Storage teperature depends on crop use see te>t (elo. / relati)e

huidity of '0 to '5A is typically recoended regardless of teperature regies. ost of the crop is

held in non7 refrigerated8 coon8 and air )entilated far storages. "n general8 coents offered (elo

relate specifically to coon storage.

1'.1 Curing and ound )ea#ing"ediately after har)est8 healthy potatoes should typically (e cured (y holding at 10 0C to 15.50C and

high relati)e huidity ith good air o)eent for 10 to 14 days to perit su(eri$ation and ound

perider foration healing of cuts and (ruises. /lthough ound perider foration is ost rapid at

a(out 21 0C8 loer teperatures are recoended to reduce decay. Curing reduces su(se?uent eight

loss and decay (y pre)enting the entry of Fusarium, soft rot and other decay organiss. The relati)e

huidity should (e a(out '5A.

1'.2 Fina# )o#ding Conditions

For ta(le potato8 Storage at a(out 4 0C to 5 0C8 ith '5A relati)e huidity is recoended. For seed

potatoes storage at 3

0

C to 4

0

C is considered optiu for a>iu storage life (ecause sprout grothis a(sent or negligi(le8 decay and shrinage are lo8 and other losses are usually inii$ed. /t

teperatures (elo 3 0C8 potatoes are chilled and tend to (ecoe too seet for ost uses. Storage at 00C for 20 ees or longer causes soe culti)ars to sho ahogany (roning8 a sypto of chilling

inIury. Potatoes are easily daaged (y free$ingG therefore8 lo teperature storage perits little leeay

if air circulation is inade?uate to aintain unifor teperatures throughout the storage.

1'.4.3 &prout Contro#

Potatoes usually do not sprout until 2 to 3 onths after har)est e)en at 100C to 150C. +oe)er8 after 2 to

3 onths of storage8 sprouting can (e e>pected in potatoes stored as cold as 4 0C and uch ore so at

10 0C. /lthough liited sprouting does not seriously daage potatoes for food purposes8 (adly sprouted

tu(ers shri)el and are difficult to aret.

1'.4.4 &toring Prob#ems in Potatoes

lighted8 fro$en8 et or otherise coproised potatoes call for e>traordinary storage easures.

Coon storage rules ust soeties (e (ypassed in order to sa)e the crop. The folloing suggestions

ay help you ae the (est of a (ad storage situation.

aret straight fro the field if feasi(leG if not8 sell at the earliest reasona(le opportunity.

/)oid pro(les (y har)esting dry8 sound potatoes ith a pulp teperature (eteen # 0C and

a(out 1% 0C.

For fro$en or (lighted potatoes8 if possi(le ait a fe days for syptos to fully de)elop (eforehar)est.

Lea)e rotten8 fro$en potatoes and de(ris in the field insofar as possi(le. This ay call for

additional people on the har)ester.

Sort into storage. Pro)ide sufficient light8 people and tie to do the Io( properly.

+a)e your storage ready and at the proper teperature ith the air deli)ery and control

systes in good order. e certain you pro)ide ade?uate flo rates in all areas of the storage. /dd

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porta(le systes to otherise airless storages. =ood air o)eent is a(solutely essential for

storing pro(le potatoes.

;it the traditional curing period. Since pro(le potatoes are usually et and infected ith

decay organiss8 your goal is to cool and dry the crop as ?uicly as possi(le.

un fans continuously until the crop is dry and decay is under control. ear in ind that running

fans does not necessarily call for )entilation. ecirculate air through the potatoes at all tiesduring the pro(le period8 e)en hen you are not pulling in outside air.

eep the pile as shallo as possi(le to proote air o)eent and easy reo)al of pro(le

hotspots. otting potatoes and dirt soeties for (arriers to air o)eent.

onitor the storage daily. Theroeters suspended at )arious depths in the pile pro)ide a good

indication of the a)erage teperature. "nfrared 9guns9 are helpful in locating hot spots (efore

they (egin to sin and spread.

,o not e>pose cold potatoes to ar outside air. / layer of free ater ill condense on the

tu(ers. *ater on the tu(ers tends to suffocate the tu(ers hile at the sae tie fa)oring soft

rot (acteria.

,o not e>pose tu(ers to air at or (elo free$ing.

*hen unloading the storage8 do not ash dry seed potatoes unless they are co)ered ith dried

slie. *ashing ill pro(a(ly help et8 sliy seed. "f you do ash seed8 use sprays as opposed to

a dip tan. Try to use ultiple no$$les so that all surfaces are ashed clean. isting ashed

potatoes ith a 10A sodiu hypochlorite solution is recoended chec the la(eling for your

area. /dd one gallon of (leach to ' gallons of ater and i> ell (efore applying in a ell

)entilated area. Pro(le seed hich re?uires ashing should (e planted as soon as possi(le

pro)ided soil conditions are suita(le.

16.0 -areting of Potatoes

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Potatoe Production

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