Introduction

Potato cultivation is a vital agricultural practice globally, thriving in diverse climates but requiring careful management to address challenges like climate change and soil degradation. Advanced techniques, such as precision irrigation and disease-resistant varieties developed through genetic research, enhance yields and sustainability. Efficient cultivation involves well-drained, fertile soils and crop rotation to prevent pest buildup, with innovations like AI monitoring optimizing resource use. Scaling these practices globally supports food security while minimizing environmental impact.

Site Selection and Soil Preparation  

• Potatoes can grow in sandy loam, silt loam or clay soils, but they perform best in well drained, organic matter rich, granular soils. Sandy and medium loams are ideal as they provide good aeration and drainage, supporting healthy root and tuber development. Light textured soils are preferred for easier tuber formation and harvesting, whereas heavy clays may need amendments to improve structure.

• The optimum soil pH is 5.0–6.5, as slightly acidic conditions enhance nutrient availability and reduce diseases like common scab. In contrast, alkaline (pH >7.5) or saline soils are unsuitable, as they cause nutrient imbalances, toxicity and reduce yield.

Land Preparation 

• Deep tillage to a depth of 20–30 cm, carried out several weeks before planting, loosens the soil, improves aeration and enhances root penetration. Incorporating organic matter such as compost or well rotted manure during tillage enriches fertility, improves soil structure and boosts water retention.

• In poorly drained soils, raised beds (20–30 cm high) are recommended to prevent waterlogging, promote drainage and support healthy tuber development. Preparing the land 2–4 weeks in advance also allows organic matter to decompose and ensures a crumbly, nutrient rich seedbed for planting.

Climate and Growing Conditions

• Potatoes are grown from sea level to 4,000 m, particularly in the Andes, where fertile, well-drained soil and sufficient moisture (500–800 mm rainfall or irrigation) are available. In temperate regions like Europe and North America, they are planted in spring–summer under long day conditions (12–18 hours), while in subtropical plains of India and China, they are cultivated as a winter crop under shorter days. In highland tropics, such as East Africa and South America, they can be grown year round as a cool season crop.

• Potatoes are naturally long day plants, but many cultivars are day neutral and adapted to short days (10–12 hours) for tuberization. Optimal tuberization requires night temperatures below 20°C, with maximum tuberization at 15–20°C. It declines above 25°C and ceases at 30°C or higher. Heat tolerant varieties, however, permit production in warmer conditions.

• The crop tolerates brief frost (down to –2°C) but is sensitive to prolonged heat, especially if night temperatures exceed 23°C. Soil temperatures of 15–20°C favor germination, with young plants growing best at 20–24°C and later growth at 15–18°C. Planting is ideal when soil temperatures are 10–15°C, with air temperatures of 20–25°C (day) and 10–15°C (night).

Seed Rate
 

• Seed Rate: 25–35 quintals per hectare.

• Propagation: Potatoes are traditionally propagated using tubers.

• Tuber Characteristics: Tubers have eyes on their surface containing axillary buds, with a dormancy period of about 8–10 weeks.

• Sprouting Process: Axillary buds begin to germinate after the dormancy period, producing sprouts.

• Growth Advantage: Sprouted tubers, when planted, exhibit rapid and vigorous growth.

• Pre-Sprouting Benefits: Pre-sprouting seed tubers promotes quick, uniform, and complete germination, increasing the number of main stems and ultimately boosting yield.

Methods of sowing and spacing

• The ridges and furrow method is the most popular system for potato planting and it can be performed either manually or mechanically. Ridges are prepared with lengths suited to the plots slope to ensure effective irrigation, as excessively long ridges and furrows hinder the convenient supply of water. Potato tubers are planted on the ridges, while irrigation water is supplied through the furrows.

• In the manual method fertilizer is placed in shallow furrows with the help of hand tools and the tubers are then placed on the ridges and covered with soil, taking care to avoid direct contact with the fertilizer to prevent damage. 

• In the mechanical method furrows are created with a tractor drawn two  to four row marker cum fertilizer drill, which allows for simultaneous fertilizer application, while the tubers are planted using a two row planter cum ridger that ensures efficient ridge formation. Ridges and Furrow Method

Flat Bed Method

In the flat bed method, the plot is divided into beds of suitable length and width for planting. Shallow furrows are prepared, and potato tubers are planted at the recommended spacing before being covered with soil from the furrows. Once germination is complete and the plants reach a height of about 10–12 cm, earthing is carried out to support healthy growth

Seed Size and Spacing

• A proper combination of seed size and spacing is crucial to achieve the desired number of stems per unit area. The best results are obtained by planting tubers weighing 40–50 g and 40–50 mm in diameter, at a spacing of 45–60 cm between rows and 20–25 cm between tubers within rows.

• Since tubers are sold by weight, using large tubers is more costly. Although large tubers can be cut into pieces with at least 1–2 eyes, this practice is not recommended for seed production due to the risk of virus and bacterial transmission. When cut tubers are used, special care is required to prevent decay.

Dormancy

Potato mini tubers cannot be planted immediately after harvest because of their natural dormancy. The duration of dormancy varies depending on the cultivar, maturity at harvest, growth conditions, storage environment and tuber size, it generally lasts longer than in normal seed tubers. Breaking dormancy is therefore essential for timely planting. This can be achieved by treating the tubers with a 1–2% thiourea solution for 1–1.5 hours or by dipping them in a 5 ppm gibberellic acid (GA₃) solution for about 10 seconds. Another method is gas treatment, where the tubers are soaked in a mixture of ethylene chlorohydrin and water (in a ratio of 4:6) and kept in an airtight chamber at 21–27°C for five days. Cold-stored tubers should be warmed at about 15°C for 10–14 days before planting to promote quick and uniform sprouting.

Treatment of cut seed tubers

Cut seed tubers should be treated with a 0.2% Dithane Z-78 (Mancozeb) solution to protect against fungal diseases, thereby supporting improved tuber size and overall crop yield. After treatment, the cut pieces are allowed to heal at 18–21 °C with 85–90% relative humidity for 2–3 days to promote suberization and reduce the risk of rotting. Chemical treatments should not be applied if sprouts have already emerged. For the control of scab disease, tubers can also be treated with a 0.5% agricultural lime solution for 5–10 minutes before planting.

Nutritional Requirements and Their Management

• Soil poor in organic matter content should be supplied with 250–500 q/ha of farmyard manure or compost during land preparation.

• When it is grown in medium-type soils, it needs 100–150 kg/ha nitrogen, 80–100 kg each of phosphorus and potash per hectare.

• Two-thirds to three-fourths of the quantity of nitrogen, along with the whole quantity of phosphorus and potash, is applied at the time of planting.

• The remaining one-fourth to one-third of nitrogen is applied 30–35 days after planting

Intercultural Operations

• Mulching helps conserve soil moisture, reduce soil temperature and promote quick germination. Locally available materials such as pine needles or leaf litter are effective in controlling runoff and conserving moisture.

• Weeds can be managed through cultural practices (hoeing, weeding and earthing up) or chemical methods. Hoeing and weeding at about one month after planting followed by earthing up effectively control most weeds.

• Pre-emergence application of herbicides such as fluchloralin (1.0 kg a.i./ha), alachlor (1.0 kg a.i./ha), pendimethalin (1.8 kg a.i./ha) or atrazine (1.0 kg a.i./ha) provides effective weed control.

• Post-emergence options include paraquat (0.36 kg a.i./ha at 5–10% crop emergence), Tok-E-25 (2.5 kg a.i./ha at 2–3 leaf stage), nitrofen (1.0 kg a.i./ha) or propanil (1.0 kg a.i./ha in 800–1000 L water).

• In general, extensive use of herbicides is not required in potato, as earthing-up operations eliminate most weeds. Any weeds growing on ridges can be removed manually.

Water Management

• Adequate soil moisture before planting is essential for proper sprouting. Hence, pre-planting irrigation ensures uniform germination. During the first 30–35 days, the crop needs relatively little water. The second irrigation is given about a week after the first, followed by light and frequent irrigations as required, which are more effective than heavy, infrequent ones.

• The critical irrigation stages are stolon formation, tuber initiation and tuber development. Where water must be supplied efficiently and economically. The total water requirement of potato is 350–500 mm, depending on soil, climate and crop duration. Irrigation is stopped about 10 days before harvest to allow proper skin firming of tubers.

"Potato farming is a complex system where soil, water, climate and plant health must be carefully managed. By applying advanced techniques and good agricultural practices, growers can maximize productivity while meeting both nutritional needs and market expectations worldwide.."