First, seed piece preparation and sprouting.
Twenty days before sowing, which usually falls around early March, the sprouting process begins. When cutting potato tubers, each piece should have at least one eye to ensure proper growth. A reasonable size is about 10-15 pieces per kilogram. After cutting, it's important to disinfect the seed pieces using a dry mix of fine soil or carbendazim powder diluted at a ratio of 1:200. Once the cut pieces are dry, they can be sprouted using two main methods. The first method involves placing them in layers of sand in a room with a temperature above 15°C. The second method is to dig shallow pits facing east, about 25 cm deep, and layer the seeds with sand, typically three layers. Cover the pit with a plastic film and add straw curtains at night for insulation. During the sprouting period, it’s recommended to spray the seeds 1-2 times to maintain moisture. When the sprouts reach 0.5 to 1.0 cm in length, it's time to sow.
Second, site preparation and furrow digging.
Before planting, assess the land condition. If the soil isn’t ideal, consider improving it by adding organic matter 7-10 days before planting. Potatoes are commonly planted in double furrows, with large rows spaced 50 cm apart and small rows 40 cm apart. This arrangement helps with drainage and air circulation.
Third, seed covering and mulching.
The best time to plant is between the Spring Equinox and Qingming Festival. Virus-free potatoes can be sown earlier, even before the Spring Equinox. Sow them with a spacing of 20 cm between plants. Before planting, spray the furrows with a 1:10,000 dilution of sulfuric acid to prevent underground pests. Organic fertilizers can be directly placed into the furrows or mixed into the soil as it settles. Chemical fertilizers should be placed in the furrows or between the seed pieces, but not in direct contact with them. There are two planting methods: one where the eyes face downward, leading to longer roots and larger tubers but slightly delayed emergence, and another where the eyes face upward, resulting in shorter roots, smaller tubers, but earlier sprouting. After planting, cover the furrows with soil from both sides of the large rows and secure the mulch tightly.
Fourth, seedling emergence and management.
About 20 days after sowing, around the Qingming Festival, seedlings will start to emerge. At this point, carefully remove the mulch around the seedlings to allow air circulation and prevent heat damage. It's best to do this in the afternoon, once a day, and continue until the seedlings are fully established. When the seedlings reach 10 cm in height, press the soil tightly around them to retain moisture.
In the early growth stage, watering should be avoided unless there is no rain. In that case, water once every 10 days. Typically, 2-3 waterings are sufficient, and irrigation should stop 10 days before harvest. For pest control during the seedling stage, such as aphids or thrips, use 40% omethoate diluted at 1:1000.
Potatoes thrive with farmyard manure, ideally 4,000 to 5,000 pounds per 666 square meters. Combining this with balanced chemical fertilizers is essential. A scientifically sound N-P-K ratio is 1.85:1:2.1, whereas many farmers use a 1:1:1 ratio, which leads to excess nitrogen and phosphorus and insufficient potassium. Potatoes prefer ammonium nitrogen and benefit from sulfur. According to experiments, adding 1 kg of potassium sulfate can increase yield by 100-150 kg.
Finally, timely prevention of late blight is crucial. Late blight is hard to control, especially in high humidity environments like greenhouses. Remove the plastic film promptly after the first signs of disease and apply fungicides. Spray every 15 days, and if it rains, reapply immediately. Effective treatments include 40% etridiazole wettable powder (200x), 25% trichoderma wettable powder (600x), 58% metalaxyl-MnZn wettable powder (400–500x), 50% oxadixyl fungicide (500–600x), and 72.2% propamocarb hydrochloride (600x). Alternate these fungicides regularly to ensure effective disease control and a high-quality harvest.
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