Potato Farming Guide With All Important Details

All About Potato farming, Planting, Care & Harvesting Of Potatoes 

Hello friends, welcome to our new blog on our website/app rabi crops. Today we want to introduce the farming procedure of the most loving vegetable on the earth. We also call it by different names like “Poor man’s friend and the most common name is ‘The king of vegetables’ these names are called by different people in different regions of the world, and that is our favorite potato. 

Actually, the potato crop refers to the root and tuber crop, which is one of the most important staple food that is consumed in most parts of the world since it is rich in carbohydrates, protein, fat, and fibers. They also provide some minerals and essential required vitamins to the human body. We consider root and tuber crops the second most important source of carbohydrates after the cereals.

Here we are going to list some other root and tuber crops that are rich in carbohydrates, minerals, and other essential vitamins like cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), yam (Dioscorea spp.), and sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.), potato (Solanum spp.) and edible aroids (Colocasia spp. and Xanthosoma sagittifolium). These crops are widely grown and consumed all over the world as subsistence staples also in many parts of Africa, Latin America, the Pacific Islands, and Asia.

Owing to this high demand for potatoes, it is one of the best cash crops that is grown by farmers all over the world. Farmers look upon it as a profitable business.

Those farmers have less land. They can grow in their homes if they have tiny space, as we know potato farming doesn’t need much attention. In this blog on potato farming, you will get all the important knowledge required for it, scroll down to the entire blog where you will find its origin, growth phase, maintenance, irrigation facilities, fertilizer requirements, propagation, and varieties.

Health Benefits & Uses Of Potatoes 

 Use of potatoes in our daily life:

• Potatoes are high in vitamins and minerals. It contains calories: 161grams, Fat: 0.2 grams in 100 grams of potato, Protein: 4.3 grams in 100 grams of potato, Carbs: 36.6 grams in 100 grams of potato, and Fiber: 3.8 grams in 100 grams of potato.
  
• Raw potatoes contain a lot of water and starch.
• We use potatoes in a variety of cuisines and chips.
• For industrial use such as the manufacturing of starch and alcohol from the potato.
• Persons with neurotic and liver dyspepsia can also consume potatoes and digest them well.
• Potatoes are ground into a paste and applied as a plaster to fire burns.
• In different dishes like making halwa, hour gulab jamun, kheer, etc.

Health Benefits of potatoes in our daily life:

• The best thing about potatoes is their gluten-free properties.
• Potato is best for digestion-related problems.
• In many research, they said potato is very rich in antioxidants and protects the human body from different diseases.
• Potato helps in Reducing Inflammation of the human body.
• Nowadays the busy life’s problem of sleepiness is very common and for this problem, potato can be a solution because it promotes sleep.
• Potato provides vitamin B6 to the human body and we all know vitamin B6 is very essential for carbohydrate and protein metabolism.
• Potato is rich in antioxidants. It provides a good amount of Vitamin C that protects the human body from different diseases. 

Potato farming In Short

Botanical Name Of Potato:-	Solanum tuberosum
Potato Family:-	Solanaceae
Origin Place Of Potato:-	The Andes in South America
Varieties:-	Kufri Jyoti Kufri Sindhuri Kufri Lalima  Kufri Chipsona Kufri Chandramukhi Kufri Lavkar Kufri Badshah Kufri Jawahar Kufri Ashoka Kufri Surya Kufri Bahar
Soil Requirement Of Potato:-	Well-drained loamy soils with pH of 5.0 to 6.5.
Temperature Requirement:-	cool-weather crop vegetative growth at 24ºC and tuber growth at 20ºC.
Rainfall:-	annual rainfall ranging from 100 to 150 cm.
Seed requirement:-	3000–3500 kg/ha of seeds.
Fertilizer Requirements:-	N-120-160 kg/ha, P-80-120 kg/ha ,  K-80-120 kg/ha ,  250-400 g/ha Farm Yard Manure
Propagation:-	Seed tubers.
Harvesting:-	We can harvest multiple times if we do proper cultivation.

 

Potato Farming In Detail:

Potato is an economical, wholesome food consumed by over one billion people all over the world. We know it for its nutritionally superior vegetable, its edible protein content, and low-cost energy source for the human diet.

Because of its popularity, potatoes emerged as the fourth most important food crop after rice, wheat, and maize. Potato is one of the main commercial crops grown in the country.

Potato is a major food crop, grown in over 100 countries around the world. The native South Americans brought Potato under cultivation, possibly 2000 years before the Spanish conquest in one village of the Andes. In Europe, they introduced it in 1580. A.D. to 1585 A.D. in Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Belgium, and Germany. At present, China, Russia, India, Poland, and the U.S.A. contribute a major share of the total world in growing potatoes.

India is a major producer of potatoes. majorly farmers do potato farming as a rabi crop,zaid crops They do potato farming in 23 states. Major potato farming states in India are Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Punjab, and Gujarat, accounting for a lion’s share in total production.

India has achieved tremendous growth in potato production during the last four to five decades. The annual compound growth rate of potatoes is higher than other major food crops in the area, production, and productivity.

We are listing some important varieties of potatoes that farmers used to cultivate potatoes in India.

Potato Variety In India	Detail of Potato variety
Kufri Jyoti	Kufri Jyoti is a medium-maturing variety in 90-100 days. It is resistant to potato cyst nematode and late blight It is immune to wart disease and has a slow rate of degeneration.
Kufri Sindhuri	Kufri Sindhuri is a late-maturing variety of 100-110 days. Tubers are medium red and round with medium deep eyes and dull white flesh. It is also tolerant to temperature, early blight, tolerant to PLRV, and water stress to some extent.  These types are suitable for dehydrated instant flakes and canning. It yields 35-40 tonnes/ha tubers.
Kufri Lalima	Kufri Lalima is a medium-maturing variety in 90-100 days. It is popular in north-eastern plains, preferring red-skinned tubers. This variety is moderately resistant to early blight and resistant to PVY. It yields 30-35 tonnes/ha tubers.
Kufri Chipsona	Kufri Chipsona matures from 90- days from maturity onwards. The crop keeps well at 10-12°C for 4-5 months regarding chipping quality Its tubers have an average dry-matter content of 21-24%.
Kufri Chandramukhi	Kufri Chandramukhi is an early maturing variety in 80-90 days.  These types of potatoes are suitable for preparations of flakes, flour, chips, French fries and dehydrated products. It produces around 20-25 tons/ha tubers.
Kufri Lavkar	Kufri Lavkar is a very short duration and early bulking variety matures in 75-80 days. We can grow it in Kharif and rabi seasons. These types of potato are suitable for preparing flakes, flour, chips and dehydrated products. It produces 25-30 tonnes/ha tubers.
Kufri Badshah	Kufri Badshah matures in 100-110 days.  The tubers are large, white, and oval, with fleeting eyes and dull white flesh. The variety possesses moderate resistance to late blight, early blight, and potato virus X. It produces 35-40 tonnes/ha tubers.
Kufri Jawahar	Kufri Jawahar is an early maturing variety in 80-90 days. The tubers are medium, white, round- oval with fleet eyes and pale-yellow flesh. It can produce 25-30 tonnes/ha tubers.
Kufri Ashoka	Kufri Ashoka is an early maturing variety in 70-80 days. The variety is susceptible to late blight, but escapes late blight because of early maturity. It produces around 20-25 tonnes/ha tubers.
Kufri Surya	Kufri Surya is an early maturing variety in 70-80 days. Because of its large oblong tubers and high dry-matter content, we can use it for preparing French fries.  These types are suitable for north-western plains during both rabi and Kharif seasons. This is a heat-tolerant variety and can be grown in areas having night temperatures above 20°C and is field resistant to hoppers. It can produce about 20-25 tonnes/ha tubers.
Kufri Bahar	Kufri Bahar is a medium-maturing variety in 90-100 days. We can also grow it in the early planting season. It can produce about 30-35 tonnes/ha tubers.

 

We are listing some important types of potatoes that farmers used to do potato farming all over the world.

International Potato Types	Detail Of potato.
Idaho Potatoes:-	we also know it as Russian Banana Fingerling, an exorbitant amount of solid content makes it ideal for filling, the shape and the size of the potato are long and the skin is rough, it has very few eyes for propagation. The origin place of the Idaho Potatoes is IDAHO, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, from this only name, Idaho Potato comes.
Yukon Gold:-	They make this potato in Canada by doing the cross of American white potatoes and the yellow-fleshed South American potatoes. They release the first time Yukon Gold in the market for the year 1980. After this, it is easily available in the market.
Chuño:-	BOLIVIA is the origin place of the variety Chuño, we know this potato for its long self-life, this potato is mainly consumed in the soup. Before cooking, it is necessary to soak in Luke’s warm water.
Daisy Gold:-	Daisy gold is a large size potato, with a perfectly round shape. We mainly know this potato variety for its virus-resistant property. The yield of the Daisy Gold potato is 50 to 80 pounds per hectare.
Kennebec:-	It is a very popular variety; we consume it in salads, curries, soups, and many cuisines. It is a very early maturing variety; it gets ready to harvest in 80 to 90 days.
Red Gold:-	If you are searching for a unique potato, then red gold is going to end your search. It is a very delicious variety consumed as mashed, roasted, baked, or fried. It is a very short-term variety with proper potato cultivation practice. Red Gold is ready to harvest in 90 days.
Rio Grande Russet:-	This is the best variety that is loaded with antioxidants. The size of the potato is 4 to 5 inches in the length makes it very perfect for fries and other cuisines.
Princess Laratte:-	This variety of potato is in outrageous demand in European countries and in France also because of its unique taste, the flavor of the potato is a little sweet. Those farmers who are going do potato cultivation of this variety should know it is a late-maturing variety, it is ready to harvest in 90-110 days.
Yukon Gold:-	It is a trendy variety. The color of the variety is golden yellow. They develop this variety in Canada in the year the 1960s. It is a very early maturing variety ready to harvest only 65 to 70 days after showing.

Land preparation for Potato Farming:

To start potato farming, land preparation is a very necessary component. If we avoid this, it will cause the deformation of potato tubers and soil should be free from stones and clods.

To remove the unwanted materials from the soil and provide good aeration, we should plough the soil to a depth of 20-25 cm and then harrow it. Before seeding, make sure the soil has enough moisture.

We will suggest farmers, after plowing, leave the field for 2 to 3 days for proper exposure to the sun. It will make field weed-free and harmful soil-borne insects will also die.

The planting distance preferred for the potato crops should be 50*20 cm and 60*25 cm. And seed rate of 1.40 kg for 10 meter square of area.

Earthing up operation is a key operation for tuber operation. In this, we draw the soil up around the base of the plant for proper tuber formation; We did it when the plant attains a height of 15-20 cm. We can perform the second earthing operation two weeks after the first one if required.

During the land preparation, farmers can show green manure and incorporate it before sowing potato seeds in the field. This will increase the production of the potato. 

Soil requirements for Potato Farming:

We can cultivate potatoes on well-drained loamy soils, ranging from sandy loam, silt loam, loam, and clay soil.

Soil requirement for potato farming is between pH ranging of 5.0 to 6.5 it is best suitable for growing potatoes.

For doing the potato cultivation, we will prefer Light soil, which is acidic in nature rather than Alkaline or saline soils.

because they limit scab diseases and promote more uniform soil temperatures and make harvesting of the crop easier.

Deep, well-drained alluvial soils with almost neutral reactions are the best for potato cultivation.

If the farmer is cultivating potatoes for commercial purposes in the hilly areas, they should notice soil should be loose, firm, and without a compacted layer, which should not hinder root penetration.

We will recommend farmers to do potato farming in the naturally loose soil. This will promote the size of the tuber and we will get wonderful production of potatoes.

Manure and Fertilizer Requirement in potato farming:

Fertilizer application plays a major role in producing good yields. We prefer to apply fertilizers that are organic that don’t harm yield, soil, and environment.

We also enlisted the details of various farm manures which are good for soil and crop. Organic fertilizers are fertilizers that are got from everyday waste or unwanted material like vermicompost, animal manure, soya meal, bone meal, blood meal.. etc.,

Now regarding potato cultivation, we applied fertilizers at different stages of the crop growth period. For any crop, nitrogen, phosphorus and Potassium are life survivors. Now here we will let you know how we applied different ratios.

(i) We will suggest applying 250-400 g/ha Farm Yard Manure and for fulfilling nutrient requirements, 120-160 kg/ha Nitrogen, 80-120 kg/ha Phosphorus, and 80-120 kg/ha Potassium. All these should apply to the soil 2-3 weeks before plantation. 

(ii) At the time of sowing, we will suggest applying a 3/4th dose of nitrogen, and a full dose of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer.

(iii) Remaining, 1/4th dose of Nitrogen fertilizer at the time of earthing up operation, after 30-40 days of sowing.

If farmers have enough time before sowing, we suggest they grow green manure and incorporate it before sowing the seed of the potato. There are many advantages of green manure it will increase the production of potatoes.

Propagation of Potato:

We can do propagation of potatoes by two different methods:-

• Propagation through seed tuber.
• Propagation through true potato seed.

Propagation through seed tuber:-

Propagation through seed tuber is a very common method of propagation. got popularity in ancient times and it is very popular till now.

The main basic requirement for a healthy potato yield is the parent crop from which we are taking tubers should be healthy and disease-free.

The ideal weight for the seed tuber that we are going to use in potato farming should be between 30 to 40 grams. Tuber weight of over 45 grams is not ideal for propagation. For a big-size tuber, we will suggest cutting it carefully into small pieces by keeping an eye. It will decrease the cost of propagation.

The instrument you are using for cutting the seed tubers, like a knife, should be disinfected before using. It will stop the spreading of fungal infections in tubers.

We propagate potatoes through tubers that have a dormancy of 8-10 weeks.

We normally do planting during October–November.

Eyes on the surface of tubers have axillary buds that help potato propagation. For fast and vigorous growth of potatoes, we use sprouted tubers for planting.

We also used carbon disulphide 30 g/100 kg of seeds for breaking the dormancy and inducing the sprouting of tubers.

About 3000–3500 kg/ha of seeds are required for potato cultivation.

To develop sprouting, we placed tubers in cold storage for 10-15 days before planting and kept them in a pre-cooling chamber for 24 hours. We then spread it in cool and shady places to sprout.

Mini tubers whole or cut are used as planting materials. Larger seed potatoes are generally cut down into multiple pieces. Each tuber, however, must contain eyes for the development of the plant.

But it is not advisable to use cut tubers as it enhances the chance of transmitting viral and bacterial diseases.

The seeds must be treated with 0.3% mancozeb before sowing. This is to avoid soil and tuber-borne diseases.

Propagation By True Potato seed

Propagation through true potato seed is not very popular but in the coming time, it is going to be a game-changer because day by day this propagation method is becoming easy and popular among the farmers of Asian and European countries.

There are many advantages of true potato seed that every potato-growing farmer should understand:-

• There are very few pathogens in the TPS.
• As compared to potato tubers, it is very easy to carry from one place to another, making it very ideal for hilly areas.
• Farmers can grow it according to their time. There is no hurry or any time bound for sowing time.
• The cost of true potato seed is very less compared to potato tubers.

For Doing potato farming with true potato seed farmers need to grow a nursery first then they can transplant the plant in the major field, we will suggest growers grow a nursery in a raised bed, and after the seedling grows 8 to 10 cm in height transplant it to the main field. 

We will not recommend farmers for sowing directly in the field. It will not give wonderful production and farmers need to remove the unwanted plant, in this condition weed management will also become tough.

For commercial purposes, we used True potato seeds, which help in minimizing the spread of viral diseases.

The hybrids developed by the Central Potato Research Institute viz., HPS 1/13, HPS 11/13, and HPS 24/111 are suitable for true potato seed production.

The seeds are raised in nursery beds like other vegetables and seedlings are transplanted 30 days after sowing. For raising one hectare of the crop, a quantity of 100 g of seed is required.

Weeds Management in Potato farming :-

Major weeds of Potato

Scientific name Of Weed:-	Common name Of Weed:-
Amaranthus viridis L:-	Pigweed.
Anagallis arvensis L:-	Pimpemel.
Avena fatua L:-	Wild oat.
Chenopodium album L:-	Lambsquarters.
Convolvulus arvensis L:-	Field bindweed.
Cyperus iria L:-	Yellow nutsedge.
Cyperus rotundus L:-	Purple nutsedge.
Melilotus alba Desr:-	White sweet clover.
Melilotus indica L All:-	Yellow sweet clover.
Phalaris minor Retz:-	Canary grass.
Pea annua L:-	Blue grass.
Setaria place (L) Beauv:-	Fox tails Carpet weed.
Trianthana monogyna L:-	Carpet weed.

The critical period of weed competition is up to 60 days, and it is essential to keep the field weed-free during that period.

Take up the first hoeing after 25days of planting in plain areas and 40-45days in hilly areas when the crop attained the height of 8-10cm without disturbing stolons. We can take second hoeing and earthing up on the 60th day to keep weeds away.

Alternatively, pre-emergence spraying of weedicides such as Flucholralin (0.70-1.0 kg a.i./ha) or Pendimethalin (0.50 kg/ha) is recommended for controlling annual grass weeds and broadleaf weeds.

Common weedicides that are used in potato farming are:-

• Basalin (Fluchloralin):- we will recommend farmers before planting and mix it with the soil. After this weed plant will slowly observe these weedicides and translocate in the whole plant.
• Pendimethalin (Stomp):- we apply these weedicides for controlling small broad leaf weeds
• Linuron (Afalon):- we apply this weedicide for the broadleaf and grassy weeds in our potato farm.
• Atrazine:-we apply this weedicide for the monocot and dicot weeds when we do potato cultivation after growing wheat.
• Alachlor:- this weedicide takes action on the weed it will stops the early seedling of weed and root growth of the weed. It also stopped the inhibited and also weed seedlings from falling in the field.

Pest & Disease Management In Potato

Various pests, diseases, and also weeds, which incorporate crop growth, can attack potato crops. So proper measures should be taken and pesticides or fungicides should be incorporated.

Let us also go through the pests and diseases that attack potatoes and their Biological Measures:

Pest/Disease	Biological Measures
Nematodes:-	Application of Carbofuran 3 G  33 kg/ha in furrows while seeding.  Application of Pseudomonas fluorescens at 10 kg/ha will control the nematode population. Avoid growing potatoes year after year in the same field.  Follow rotation with vegetables and green manure.
Aphids:-	Aphids can be controlled by spraying Methyl demeton 25 EC or Dimethoate 30 EC 2 ml/lit.
Cutworms:-	Drench the collar region of the plants in the evening hours with Chlorpyrifos or Quinalphos 2 ml/lit a day after planting. Install light traps during summer to attract adult moths.
Potato tuber moth:-	To control foliar damage spray NSKE 5% or Quinalphos 20 EC 2 ml/lit (ETL 5% leaf damage). Treat the seed tubers with Quinalphos dust @ 1 kg/100 kg of tubers. Avoid shallow planting of tubers. Plant the tubers to a depth of 10 – 15 cm deep. Install pheromone traps at 20 No/ha.
White grub:-	In endemic areas apply Phorate 10 G at 25 kg/ha during autumn season  Hand pick the adult beetles in the morning. Summer ploughing to expose the pupae and adults. Dust Quinalphos 5 D at 25 kg/ha 10 days after first summer rains.
Late blight:-	Spray Mancozeb 2 g/lit or Chlorothalonil 2 g/lit on 45, 60 and 75 days after planting. Remove ground creepers which serve as a source of infection. Grow late blight resistant varieties like Kufri Jyothi, Kufri Malar and Kufri Thangam.
Early blight:-	Necrotic spots are observed on lower leaves. Early blight can be controlled by spraying Mancozeb 2 g/lit or Chlorothalonil 2 g/lit at 45, 60 and 75 days after planting.
Brown rot:-	Give proper drainage facilities. Remove and destroy the affected plants.
Black scurf:-	Seed treatment with mercury is required to defend against Black scurf. Also, implement crop rotation to avoid monoculture. Brassicol should be applied to the soil.
Common Scab:-	This disease spreads rapidly in low moisture conditions.  To protect crops from Common Scab, avoid the deep planting of tubers, and follow crop rotation.

 

Irrigation Practices for Potato:

For a better yield of the crop, we must do immediate irrigation after sowing. This allows for proper seed germination. 

The irrigation frequency varies from place to place. 

For example, we irrigate once in a week in cool weather areas whereas in tropical climates it needs frequent irrigation.

On average, they need 4-5 mm water per day- just enough to maintain the moisture level and temperature and thus promote uniform tuber formation. 

We did the last irrigation, about fifteen days prior to harvesting. This promotes the hardening of tuber skin before harvesting potatoes.

Critical Stages for Irrigation During Potato Farming:-

• Germination
• Stolonization
• Tuberization

Germination:-

During the period of germination, potato needs more water. If we don’t irrigate the potato, the production of the potato will decrease and germination will be also very less.

Stolonization:- 

Stolon formation starts after 30 to 35 days after planting the potato. In this stage, potato needs irrigation for good stolon formation, it will increase the production of the potato.

Tuberization:-

The process of tuberization starts after 10-15 days of Stolonization. We also known it as early tuber development. It is a very important phase of the production of potatoes.

Harvesting of Potato:

Before harvesting, make sure the soil is completely dry to keep soil and potatoes moisture-free.

We used Gramoxone Extra to kill the vines to ensure a good skin set for the tubers. The treatment is done a week before harvesting.

In order to avoid bruising or any other damage to the tubers, they are carefully dug using a potato digger manually.

It is better to do harvesting before the temperature rises to 30⁰C and the time of harvesting differs from place to place.

For example, in eastern plains by the end of January and in western plains by the middle of February to avoid the rotting of tubers because of high temperature.

Yield Of Potato:

Under good crop management, 350-450 quintals of marketable potatoes of good quality can be produced from one-hectare of land.

The average yield of early maturing varieties is 20 t/ha while that of late-maturing varieties is 30 t/ha.