In order to receive good, stable potato harvests every year, an intensive technology for growing potatoes is needed, which could optimally reduce the effect of all negative factors. By its biology, potato is a temperate crop. Short daylight hours, temperature in the range of 18-25 degrees, light sandy or sandy loamy soils are the optimal conditions for its growth and development. This suggests that the conditions of the Krasnodar Territory are unfavorable for the cultivation of this crop. In addition, Kuban chernozems, heavy in structure, heat, drought, and intense lighting contribute to a sharp decrease in productivity, the rapid degeneration of varieties.
In the Kuban region, a method of the so-called smooth planting of potatoes under a shovel or pitchfork has traditionally been used for a long time. This technology has a number of significant disadvantages:
- this method drags on the emergence period for almost a month;
- the soil with this method of cultivation is strongly compacted, and this adversely affects, like the germination of tubers, growth, plant development;
- plantings are heavily overgrown with weeds, against which it is then difficult to wage an effective fight.
All these negative factors lead to significant losses in yield, as well as to a decrease in the marketability of tubers.
According to many years of research for our local soil and climatic conditions, it is best to use comb technology for growing potatoes for potato cultivation.
On the one hand, even when using manual tools (chopper and shovel), this technology is quite simple. On the other hand, it significantly increases the yield of potato varieties, the marketability of tubers.
Elements of intensive technology for growing potatoes
Fertilizer application
As with conventional technology, in the autumn, organic fertilizer (rotted manure) is applied to the potato field at the rate of 40-100 kg per 1 hundredth, and soil is plowed up to 30 cm deep
In spring, as soon as the soil ripens well, additional inorganic fertilizers are added - nitroammophoska at the rate of 4-5 kg per 1 hundredth.
In the absence of complex fertilizer, you can first, before planting, add nitrogen (ammonium nitrate), and then, during the growing season, after 3 weeks, as soon as the seedlings appear, feed them with potassium sulfate, superphosphate in doses of 1.5-2 kg per 1 hundred parts .
An excellent effect is given directly in the wells of wood ash. The yield of wood ash increases by at least 40%, improves the friability of potatoes by 1-1.5%. Complex application of organic, mineral fertilizers improves plant growth and development.
Processing of tubers before planting
Whatever potato varieties you plant for planting, it is very useful to spray the tubers with a solution of copper sulfate, boric acid, potassium permanganate (0.01-0.03%) and dust the tubers with ash (20 kg / t or 20 g per kilogram of tubers) before planting - 2 matchboxes). Copper sulfate accelerates tuberization and increases resistance to fungal diseases. Boron increases productivity, as well as starchiness of tubers, resistance to rhizoctonia. Manganese plays a large role in the accumulation of starch and vitamin C in tubers.
A month and a half before planting, seed tubers are laid out in layers on boxes (3-4 layers), germinated in a bright, warm room, where the temperature is 15-20 degrees. At the same time, thick green sprouts 1-1.5 cm long appear on the tubers, which, when planted, sprout quickly, germinate together.
Like soil, seed must be prepared. First, sorting is carried out, at the same time selecting tubers with signs of diseases, injuries, outwardly bad ones as marriage. Small tubers with a diameter of 5-6 cm are the best for planting. Of course, larger tubers can be used, but first they must be cut with a sharp, sanitized knife along so that each part has at least 2 kidneys. After that, it is recommended to dip the slices into dry cement or ash. Slices dry out, a dense crust forms on them, protecting the tuber from various diseases.
Potato planting dates
When using intensive technology, it is very important to determine the optimal timing of planting seeds in the soil. It also heavily depends on whether a good or bad crop will be obtained.
In the Kuban spring is peculiar. At first it’s warm, the sun is shining, and then cold days suddenly return, often with frosts at night. Therefore, there is always a risk of freezing of seedlings if the vegetables are planted early. And later planted, the heat and drought in June-July will greatly reduce productivity. It can decrease by 2-3 times. Many years of experience suggests that for potatoes the best planting dates in the Kuban is the last decade of March. By this time, the soil has time to ripen - it is ready for cultivation. By the same time, stable warm days are established, which contributes to the emergence of sprouts and good growth and development of potatoes.
Preparing a potato field
On the day of planting, first using a chopper or a hand mill, loosen the area to the depth of soil maturity (up to 12 cm). Then cut shallow (up to 8-10 cm) furrows. The distance between the furrows is 60-70 cm.
Sprouted tubers are carefully placed in these furrows every 30 cm so as not to break off the sprouts. Using a chopper, they are covered with their upper loose soil layer - a small ridge (up to 12-14 cm) is formed. Then, every 7-10 days, as the soil ripens by loosening and hilling, the height of the ridge is brought to 20-30 cm.
These simple technological operations provide several advantages:
- seedlings appear at least 2 weeks earlier;
- until the end of the growing season, the loose structure of the soil is preserved, which contributes to better aeration and protection of moisture from evaporation;
- Effective weed control.
All this contributes to an increase in productivity by 60%.
Watering
Finally, the most important element of comb technology for growing potatoes is watering. Traditionally, in the Krasnodar Territory, potatoes are grown on dry land without watering. In this case, all the hard work of the gardener-potato grower is dependent on chance. It will take rains in May-June - there will be a crop. There will be no rain - the harvest will not wait. And if we take into account that from year to year the heat and drought in our region are more and more intensified, then with a frivolous approach to technology, you can generally be left without a crop.
Potato is a crop with high demands on moisture supply. Optimum growth and development of plants are observed at 70% soil moisture during the entire growing season - before harvesting. Potato is especially demanding in moisture during the laying, growth and development of tubers. The lack of moisture during this period reduces or completely destroys the positive effects of all other agricultural practices, which affects a sharp decrease in both the yield and marketability of tubers.
Therefore, following the recommendations of the intensive technology of growing potatoes, so as not to risk, but to get good, stable crops every year in hot, dry seasons, especially starting from the budding stage, which in most varieties coincides with the beginning of tuberization, it is necessary to carry out at least 2-3 watering. The best way to water is sprinkling. In the absence of sprinklers, inter-row irrigation can be successfully used.
Harvest
The last agribusiness of intensive technology for growing potatoes is harvesting. In our region, as a rule, potato growers begin harvesting in the first half of August. It is not right. Potatoes need to be harvested when 60-70% of the leaves dry at the tops. This usually happens in the first half of July. At this time, the tops are mowed first, and after 10-14 days, when a dense peel forms on the tubers, they immediately start harvesting.
In our climatic conditions, in no case should you be late for cleaning, transfer it to August-September. Under the influence of high temperatures in July-August, the tubers warm up very much, dry out, lose their marketable appearance, begin to germinate very early, which greatly complicates their storage in the winter.
Preparing potatoes for storage
The dug out crop must be laid out in boxes, put them in the shade under a canopy, where direct sunlight does not fall. Ideally, a place with harvested potatoes should be purged, for example, with a draft. After 20-25 days, the surface of the tubers will be roughened, the peel will no longer be easily scraped off, everything can be transferred to storage in a ventilated cellar. The best temperature during storage is 3-5 degrees. Higher temperatures lead to earlier germination of tubers, which is highly undesirable.
Thus, it should be remembered that the conditions of the Kuban are unfavorable for growth and development of potatoes. In order to count on good harvests every year, it is necessary to strictly, consistently fulfill all the requirements of agricultural technology of intensive technology for growing potatoes. It is better to grow potatoes on smaller areas, but apply good technology than on large ones to put all your work in dependence on chance.