Autumn potato planting takes place during a hot and rainy season, which can lead to poor seedlings and negatively affect both yield and quality. To achieve high-quality and high-yield results, the following key points should be carefully considered in the cultivation process.
First, selecting the right variety is crucial. For autumn planting, choose varieties with short dormancy periods, early tuber formation, rapid growth, and high quality and yield. Varieties like Yuyu No.1 Detoxification Potato and Yushu No.2 are highly recommended due to their quick maturation and disease resistance.
The seed potatoes used for germination are usually newly harvested spring potatoes from the seed field. They should be selected from healthy, disease-free, non-cracked, and bright-skinned tubers weighing around 50 grams each. Before sowing, they should be stored in a cool, well-ventilated area for about 25 days. A sand germination bed, approximately 100–120 cm wide, should be prepared with 5 cm of sand covering the soil. The potatoes are then placed on a moist sand bed, spaced about 20 cm apart, and covered with 5–6 cm of moist sand. Water should be sprayed every two days to maintain moisture. When the sprouts reach 2–3 cm in length, the seedlings are ready for planting.
For fertilization, potatoes require a rich base fertilizer. Combine well-rotted farmyard manure (about 5,000 kg per mu) with chemical fertilizers such as 50 kg of ammonium bicarbonate, 50 kg of superphosphate, and 30 kg of potassium sulfate. Alternatively, 50 kg of compound fertilizer with 15% NPK and 15 kg of potassium sulfate can also be used.
The ideal planting time for autumn potatoes is around August 20th. Planting too early may result in excessive heat and rain, leading to weak seedlings, while planting too late reduces the growing period and lowers yield. It's best to plant on cloudy days, or if sunny, do so before 10 am or after 3 pm. Ditches should be prepared, and seeds planted at a depth of 10 cm, followed by soil coverage.
Proper spacing is essential for optimal yield. In autumn, a spacing of 60 cm between rows and 4,500–5,000 plants per mu is commonly used.
Field management should be timely. After seedlings emerge, apply a top dressing with ammonium bicarbonate at about 40 kg per mu. When the plants reach 20 cm in height, apply another round of fertilizer with urea at 10 kg per mu, combined with watering to ensure quick dissolution.
Soil cultivation should be done regularly. After heavy rains, loosen the topsoil promptly. The first cultivation should occur when seedlings are about 20 cm tall, the second during the early flowering stage, and the third before frost in late October to protect the tubers.
Watering should be done promptly during dry periods to keep the soil moist and support healthy growth.
Pest control is important. For underground pests, apply 2–3 kg of 3% phoxim granules mixed with 15–20 kg of fine soil along the furrows. Aphids can be controlled using 20% diclofenac emulsifiable concentrate or 50% chlorpyrifos wettable powder. For late blight, spray 25% cyprodinil WP at 800 times dilution or 72% kresoxim-methyl WP at 700 times, repeating every 7–10 days.
Harvesting should be timely. Potatoes continue to grow as long as the stems and leaves remain green. Harvest after the first frost (around mid-November) to maximize yield. If market prices are favorable, an earlier harvest can be considered. Handle the tubers carefully during harvesting to avoid damage for better storage.
By following these practices, farmers can significantly improve the quality and yield of their autumn potato crops.
â–¡ Huaiyang County Bureau of Agriculture Wu Tianming
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