| Root Crops
Growing
potatoes?
The fluctuations of the potato market and the inherent vulnerability of the potato crop to disease and defects have
forced some growers to move away from growing potatoes. The estimated reduction from 2014-2015 was
c. 8% and this trend may continue this year. That could be good news for growers as it may stabilise the prices further.
otatoes coming
out of stores are
generally in good
condition with low
wastage due to
mostly Black Dot
and Silver Scurf. Breakdown and
sprouting are also typical in
ambient stores but levels of waste
are low. This year’s early planting
already started in the south and it
will continue as the weather
improves. The weather is still the
major influence on quality and
yield; little can be predicted on
how this season will develop. The
mild winter will certainly bring
some issues such as disease but
not without solutions. Good
preparation and planning is key to
P
avoid such effects.
Typically, expenses in soil
preparation, seed and inputs
cannot be avoided. It is however
essential to aim at reducing the
costs where possible to ensure a
profitable crop. The combination
of choosing the variety and
producing good quality will
determine profitability. Good skin
finish and narrow size distribution
with more bakers is key to
achieving higher prices. Nutrition
plays a major role in both quality
and quantity. By no means will
nutrition solve all issues. If
anything, it is a large expense, and
where not applied correctly it can
cause more problems than
benefits.
22 | Farming Monthly | April 2016
Foliar application of
micronutrients is still the most
efficient way for uptake avoiding
complications by root uptake and
lock ups occurring in the soil.
Several years of research on
potato nutrition at Crop Intellect
have demonstrated that the more
complex the tank mix the less the
effect. Where a program is
followed, which is common, it
works best when treatments are
applied separately. For instance,
one product is applied with the
fungicide and another (or more
than one) with the following. It
becomes more complex when
varieties, soil type and irrigation
are taken into consideration but in
general, this recommendation
provides good results. This is due
to the response by the plants for
every product applied. Plants
become overwhelmed with several
activations internally resulting in a
drawback rather than a benefit particularly where products claim
to have several benefits to the crop
by affecting the plants immune
and other systems.
Results from experimental trials
across the country have shown
that a well-balanced multi-nutrient
package product is adequate to
provide the desirable results for
correcting deficiencies and
supporting a continuous growth.
One of such products is PotiZon®
by Crop Intellect which was
developed specifically for the
potato crop. It satisfies the nutrient
requirements and it contains
amino acids associated with tuber
formation and uniform
development. Furthermore, it
contains a patented technology
that increases chlorophyll content
and plant productivity resulting in
increased tuber number and
quality. External efficacy results
confirmed consistency in higher
tuber numbers and a narrow size
distribution. This is the result of a
continuous growth rather than
stop-start. Applying this product or
others early is appropriate, with
the first fungicide application, even
when the canopy is small as 10cm
above ground is actually 30cm of
stem all together. At that stage
many of the decisions of the plant
as to how many tubers and how its
development will be shaped later
are made.
Due to the high inputs typically
applied in the soil at planting,
feeding the plant with the
appropriate micronutrients foliarly
is key to ensure robust early
development. PotiZon® has also
demonstrated better nitrogen
uptake efficiency.
Calcium is another essential
element associated with reducing
defects and improving the crop
physiological characteristics.
Applications of calcium nitrate in
the soil are not recommended as
at the typical level the nitrogen
content is high and causes the
opposite effect than expected.
There is no adequate calcium to
strengthen the plant compared to
the effect of canopy growth by the
nitrogen. A foliar product such as
TECAL® incorporates an activator
system that increases the calcium
uptake and cell wall content
applied at 1-2lt/ha. Foliar
applications do little for increasing
the calcium content of the tubers
but they significantly support the
development of the tubers and
their quality characteristics
through a more robust foliage (see
previous publications for details).
Although early, it is appropriate
to consider the crop following
potatoes with emphasis on the soil
sustainability. Growing potatoes
has a significant negative effect on
soil structure, organic matter and
soil biology. Choosing a crop that
supports soil structural
development will not be a good
economic choice in the short term
but it will certainly sustain the
productivity of that field. Any
management practices to reduce
the effect on soil structure when
growing potatoes should be
evaluated and implemented.
Our experienced team at Crop
Intellect will be happy to answer
enquiries and provide more details
on the topic particularly for the
application of nutrition on
potatoes.
For mor information visit
www.cropintellect.co.uk
www.farmingmonthly.co.uk