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Potato
Botanical Name – Solanum tubersome L.
Family- Solanaceae

Importance

• Potato is most important food crop of the world.
• It is economical crop and referred as Poor man friend.
• Its origin is in South America. It is rich source of starch and vitamin.
• It is used as vegetable also used for making of chips. It is used for several industrial purposes for production of starch and alcohol.
• Potato is grown almost in all states. Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Punjab, Karnataka, Assam and Madhya Pradesh are major potato growing states.
• In Punjab, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana and Patiala are major potato producing belts.

Varieties

1)Kufri Alankar: It is recommended for cultivation of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Plants are tall with thick stem. It matures in 75 days in plains and 140 days in hills. Tubers are of oblong shape. It gives yield of 120 qtl/acre.

2)Kufri Ashoka: Plant is of medium height with medium thick stem. It gets mature in 70-80 days. Tubers are of large oval shape, white color with smooth skin. It is susceptible to late blight.  

3)Kufri Badshah: Plants are tall with 4-5 stems per plant. Tubers are of large to medium, oval shape with dull white flesh. Tubers are tasty with good flavour. It matures in 90-100 days. It is tolerant to frost, resistant to late blight, early blight. It gives yield of 130 qtl/acre.

4)Kufri Bahar: Plants are tall with thick stem, 4-5 stem per plant. Tubers are of large, white, round to oval shape and flesh is of white color. It mature in 90-100 days and gives yield of 100-120 qtl/acre. Its keeping quality is average. It is resistant to late blight, early blight and leaf roll etc.

5)Kufri Chamatkar: Plants are medium and spreading with dark green foliage and more stems. It matures in 110-120 days in plains whereas 150 days in hills. Tubers are of round shape with yellow flesh. It gives yield of 100 qtl/acre in plains and 30 qtl/acre in hills. It is resistant to late blight, brown rot, charcoal rot and wilt.

6)Kufri Chipsona 2: Plants are of medium tall with few stems. Foliage is of dark green and flowers are of white color. Tubers are of white, medium size, round, oval shape with smooth skin. Gives average yield of 140 qtl/acre. It is resistant to late blight. It is highly suitable for making chips and french fries.

7)Kufri Chandramukhi: Plants are medium tall. Tubers are of oval, white with dull white flesh. It keeping quality is good. It matures in 80-90 days in Plains and 120 days in hill areas. Gives average yield of 100 qtl/acre in plains and 30 qtl/acre in hills. It is susceptible to late blight, brown rot, charcoal rot and wilt.

8)Kufri Jawahar: Plants are short, erect and compact with few stems, stem is thick. Foliage is of light green color. Tubers are of medium sized, round-oval shape with smooth skin. It is early maturing variety and ready to harvest in 80-90 days. It gives yield of 160 qtl/acre. It is not suitable for processing. It is resistant to late blight.

9)Kufri Pukhraj: Plant are tall with medium thick stems, stem are few. Tubers are of white, large and oval shape with smooth skin. It matures in 70-90 days and gives average yield of 160 qtl/acre. It is resistant to early blight and not suitable for processing.

10)Kufri Sutlej: Plants are medium compact and thick stem. Foliage is of grey green color. Tubers are large size with oval shape and smooth skin. It matures in 90-100 days with average yield is 160 qtl/acre. It has good consumer quality, it easy for cooking with mild flavour. It is not suitable for processing.   

11)Kufri Sindhuri: Plants are tall with thick stems. Tubers are round, light red in appearance. Its flesh is of dull white color. Its keeping quality is good. It gets mature in 120 days in plains and 145 days in hills. It gives yield of 120 qtl/acre in plain areas. It is resistant to frost, late blight, charcoal rot and wilts.

12)Kufri Surya: The variety is resistant to summer season and is resistant to wilt disease. The variety matures in 90-100 days and it gives an average yield of 100-125qtl/acre. 

13)Kufri pushkar: It is moderate maturing variety which matures in 90-100 days. The late wilt disease doesn’t occur in this variety and its potatoes are stored in normal conditions. It gives an average yield of 160-170qtl/acre.  14)Kufri Jyoti: The variety is resistant to late wilt disease. It gives an average yield of 80-120qtl/acre.  15)Kufri Chipsona 1: Late wilt disease doesn’t occur in this variety. It gives an average yield of 170-180qtl/acre. The variety is suitable for making chips.  16)Kufri Chipsona 3: Late wilt disease doesn’t occur in this variety. The variety has less sucrose content. The variety is suitable for making chips. It gives an average yield of 165-175qtl/acre. 18)Kufri Frysona: The potatoes are 75mm in size which is suitable for making French fries. It gives an average yield of 160-170qtl/acre.

Other states variety

Kufri Giriraj, Kufri Himalini, Kufri Himsona, Kufri Giridhari, kufri Jyoti, Kufri Shailja.

Kufri Garima, Kufri Gaurav, Kufri Sadabahar, Kufri Surya, Kufri Khyati

Kufri Alankar: It is recommended for cultivation of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Plants are tall with thick stem. It matures in 75 days in plains and 140 days in hills. Tubers are of oblong shape. It gives yield of 120 qtl/acre.

Soil and Climate

Soil –

• It can grow on wide range of soil, ranging from sandy loam, silt loam, loam and clay soils.
• It gives best yield when grown under well drained sandy loam and medium loam soils with rich in organic content.
• They  are well suited to acidic soils (pH 5.0 to 6.5) as acidic conditions tend to limit scab diseases. 
• They can grow in acidic soil. It cannot grow under waterlogged soil also saline, alkaline soils are not suitable for potato cultivation.

Climate- 

• It is grown only under such conditions where the temperature during the growing seasons is moderately cool. 
• The vegetative growth of the plant is best at a temperature of 24°C while tuber development is favoured at 20°C.

Season and Planting

Time of sowing
Accurate planting time is necessary for obtaining good yield.

• Best time of planting is when maximum and minimum temperature is from 30-32 °C and 18-20 °C respectively.
• For early season crop complete sowing from 25th September to 10th October.
• For medium duration crop, sowing should be done in first week of October to third week of October.
• While for late duration crop, complete sowing from third week of October to first week of November.
• For spring season, second fortnight of January is best time planting.

Seed Rate

Seed rate-

• Use seed rate of 8-10 qtl/acre for small size tuber, 10-12 qtl/acre
• Medium size and 12-18qtl/acre for large size tubers.
• Use whole seeds for disease free quality seed production

Seed Treatment-

• Select seed/tuber from reliable source. Choose medium size tuber of 25-125 gm weight for plantation purpose.
• For plantation purpose potato tuber after removing from cold storage are kept in cool and shady place for one to two weeks to allow emergence of sprouts.
• To get uniform sprouting, Treat tubers with Gibberellic acid@1 gm/10 ltr water for 1 hour then dry in shade and keep in aerated dim room for 10 days. Dip cut tubers in solution of 0.5% Mancozeb solution (5 gm/ltr of water) for ten minutes.
• It will prevent rotting of tuber in early plantation stage. To protect crop from rotting and black scurf disease treat whole and cut tubers with 6% Mercury solution (Tafasan)@0.25% (2.5 gm/ltr of water).

Preparation of Land

1. Ridge and Furrow Method In this method, the ridges are prepared. The length of the ridges depends on slope of the plot. Too long ridges and furrows arc not supplied with irrigation water  conveniently. The potato tubers are planted on is let into furrows. 
2. Flat Bed Method: In this method, the whole plot is divided into beds of convenient length and  width. The shallow furrows are opened and potato tubers are planted at recommended distance.  The tubers are covered with the original soil of furrows. When the germination is completed and  plants become 10 to 12 cm height, earthing should be done. Suitable plant spacing in relation to  potato seed grades are given below.

Spacing

• Spacing
  For planting, use distance of 20 cm between tubers and 60 cm between ridges manually or mechanically. Planting distance vary with size of tubers.
• If diameter of tuber ranges from 2.5-3.5 cm, use planting distance of 60×15 cm where as if diameter of tuber is of 5-6 cm, use spacing of 60×40 cm.
• Sowing Depth
  Dig a trench of 6-8 inch deep and plant piece of potato with eye pointing up.

Method of sowing
For sowing, use tractor operated semi-automatic or automatic planter.

Fertilizer

Fertilizer Requirement(kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

• Apply 200 qtl/acre of Farm Yard Manure or well decomposed cow dung at time of land preparation two weeks before planting.
• For optimum growth, it required Nitrogen@75 kg per acre in form of Urea@165 kg/acre, Phosphorus@25 kg/acre in form of SSP@155 kg/acre and Potash@25 kg/acre in form of MOP@40 kg/acre.
• Apply 3/4th of nitrogen fertilizer and whole dose of phosphorus and potash at time of sowing.
• Remaining 1/4th dose of nitrogen should be applied after 30-40 days after planting at time of earthing up operation.
• In case of light soil apply half dose of nitrogen and full dose of P and K at time of sowing and remaining half should be apply as top dressing in two time in equal splits at time of earthing up operation.

Earthing up: 

• It is necessary to maintain proper aeration, proper soil temperature and moisture in soil for good growth of crop and proper development of tubers.
• In earthing up soil is drawn up around base of plant to encourage better tuber formation.
• It should be done when plant attained height of 15-20 cm.
• If required carry out second earthing up two weeks after first earthing up.
• It can be done manually with hoe or mould board plough or ridger for large areas.

WSF: To promote bulking in Potato, Spray 13:0:45@ 2 kg and 100gm Magnesium EDTA per acre. Add fungicide Propineb@3 gm/ltr of water as prophylactic. To increase number of tubers and size, spray with Humic acid (12%) @ 3 ml+ MAP 12:61:00 @ 8 gm/DAP @ 15 gm/ltr of water in vegetative stage. 

 
Weed control

• Apply Metribuzin 70 WP@200 gm per acre or Alachlor@2 ltr per Acre before sprouts emergence.
• Remove weeds with hand in case of low infestation 25days after planting in plain areas and 40-45 days in hilly areas when crop attained height of 8-10cm.
• Usually weedicide in potato plant are not required as earthing up operation destroyed almost all weeds.
• Mulching is also an effective way to minimized weed infestation along with it helps to conserve soil moisture.
• Paddy straw or farm remains can be used for mulching. Remove mulch 20-25days after planting.

Irrigation

• Depending soil moisture present in soil, irrigate field immediately or 2-3 days after planting.
• Light and frequent irrigation gives best result, avoid flood irrigation as it will cause rot disease.
• For medium to heavy soils, three to four irrigation is required whereas for sandy soils, 8-12 irrigation are necessary.
• Second irrigation should be done within 30-35days after planting depending on soil moisture.
• Remaining irrigation should be given as per requirement of soil and crop need. Stop irrigation 10-12days before harvesting.

Drip Irrigation

• Install drip system with main and sub-main and place the inline laterals at the interval of 1.5.
• Place the drippers at the interval of 60 cm for 4 LPH or 50 cm for 3.5 LPH in the lateral system.
• Form the raised beds at 120 cm width at an interval of 30cm and place the laterals at the centre of each bed.

Nutritional Deficiency

Diseases

1)Early blight:

Symptoms-

• Necrotic spots observed on lower leaves.
• The fungus due which infestation occurred lies in soil.
• It rapidly spread in high moisture and low temperature.

Management-

• Avoid mono cropping of crop and follow crop rotation.
• If infestation is observed, spraying of Mancozeb@30gm or Copper oxychloride@30gm/10ltr water at 45 days 2-3 times at 10 days interval should be done.

2) Black scurf:

Symptoms-

• Black speck observed on tubers.
• Affected plants show drying up.
• In infected tubers, at time of sprouting, black, brown color appear on eyes.

Management-

• For planting use diseased free tubers.
• Before sowing, seed treatment with Mercury is essential.
• Avoid mono cropping and follow crop rotation.
• If land kept fallow for two years then severity of disease is reduced.

3)Late Blight: 

Symptoms-

• Infestation is observed on lower part of leaves and tip of leaves.
• Irregular water spots are seen on infected leaves.
• Around the spot white powdery growth is observed.
• In severe condition, white powdery growth is seen on nearby soil surface of infected plants.

Management-

• This disease is rapidly spread in cloudy weather and after rains. If not controlled, it can cause loss up to 50%.
• For sowing, use healthy and disease free seeds. If infestation is observed, take spray of Propineb@40gm/15Ltr of water.

4)Common scab:

Symptoms-

• It survives in field as well as in storage.
• Disease is spread rapidly in low moisture condition.
• Light brown to dark brown lesion are appeared on infected tubers.

Management-

• Use only well rotten cow dung for application in field.
• Use diseased free seeds for planting.
• Avoid deep planting of tubers.
• Follow crop rotation and avoid mono cropping in same field.
• Before sowing, treat seeds with Emisan [email protected]% (2.5gm/ltr of water) for five minutes.

5)Bacterial soft rot: 

Symptoms-

• At base of plant black leg appears along with browning of infected tubers also plant give yellow appearance.
• In severe condition plant wilt and get died.
• On infected tubers soft, reddish spot appear on infected tubers.

Management-

• For sowing, use healthy and disease free tubers.
• Before sowing treat seed with Boric Acid@3% (300gm/10Ltr of water) for 30minutes and then dried in shades.
• Before storage of tubers repeat the treatment with Boric Acid.
• In plains areas, treat seed with Carbendazim@1% (100gm/10Ltr of water) for 15minutes for effective control of disease.

6)Mosaic:

Symptoms-

• Mosaic affected plants give faint yellow appearance along with stunted growth.
• Size and number of tuber get reduced.

Management-

• For sowing use healthy and diseased free seeds.
• Inspect field regularly and destroyed infected plant and parts immediately.
• Take spray of Metasystox or Rogor@300ml in 200 litres of water per acre.

Plant Protection

1. Aphid: Myzus persicae

Symptoms-

• Adult and nymphs, both suck the sap thus weaken the plant.
• In severe infestation, they cause curling and deformation of young leaves.
• They secrete honey dew like substance and sooty, black mould is developed on affected parts.

Management-

• Cut the foliage according region timing, to check infestation of aphid.
• If infestation of aphid and jassid observed take spray of Imidacloprid@50ml or Thiamethoxam@40 gm/acre/150ltr water.

2) Cut worms: (Agrotis spp, Euxoa spp)

Symptoms-

• They damage crop by cutting sprout at ground level.
• They feed at night so control becomes difficult.

Management-

• Use only well rotten cow dung.
• If infestation is observed, spray crop with Chlorpyrifos 20% EC@ 2.5ml per ltr of water.
• Apply Phorate 10G@4 kg/acre around plants and they cover with soil.
• If infestation of tobacco caterpillar is observed then spraying with Quinalphos 25EC@ 20ml/10Ltr of water is done to control cut worms.

3) Epilanchna Beetle: 

• Larva and adults damages crop by feeding on leaves.
• In initial phase of infestation, collect egg of beetle manually and then destroyed it away from the field.
• Take spray of Carbaryl@1gm per ltr of water.

4) White Grub: 

Symptoms-

• They remain in soil and damage crop by feeding on roots, stem and tubers. Infected plants show drying up.
• Grubs make holes in tubers.

Management-

• As preventive measures, broadcasting with Carbofuran 3G@12kg or Thimet 10G@7kg/acre should be done at the time of sowing.

5) Potato Tuber Moth: Phthorimaea operculella

Symptoms-

• It is major pest in field as well as in storage.
• It make tunnel in potato and feeds on flesh.

Management-

• Use healthy and diseased free seeds for sowing.
• Use only well decomposed cow dung.
• If infestation is observed take spray of Carbaryl@1gm per Ltr of water.

Root Knot Nematode

Root Knot Nematodes (Meloidogne incognita and M. javanica) 

• Affected plants are stunted, sickly and may show premature and sudden drying. Tiny  galls are formed on tubers.
• The nematodes survive as egg masses in diseased root and tuber in  soil.

Management-

• Avoid growing potato year after year in the same field; seed treatment with P. fluorescens @ 20g/kg followed by soil application of P. fluorescens or Purpureocillium lilacinum @ 5kg/ha mixed with 250 kg FYM.

Yield

15 – 20 t/ha in a duration of 120 days.