How to grow potatoes to get high yield?

Potatoes have become a favorite crop for many farmers due to their rich nutritional value and wide range of uses. Compared to other vegetables, potatoes are harvested not from their branches and leaves, but from the underground tubers. In the growth cycle of potatoes, the early stage is mainly focused on the growth of the upper vines, while potatoes begin to form in the middle and late stages. So how can we grow potatoes to achieve high yields?

1. Deeply till the soil

As an underground tuber crop, potatoes require a good soil environment, including loose, breathable and fertile soil. Before planting, the soil needs to be turned at least 20 cm deep. This helps improve the soil structure, promotes healthy growth of roots and tubers, and ensures there are enough nutrients in the soil.

2. Select seeds

Choose virus-free potato seeds and make sure each piece has 2-3 eyes when cutting. For smaller potatoes, use the whole potato for seed, just slightly chopping off the tail. Doing so will help ensure uniform emergence and stronger growth of the seedlings, thus promoting full tuber development.

3. Apply base fertilizer

Base fertilizer is essential for high potato yield. You can choose fermented organic fertilizers , such as pig manure, sheep manure, bean cake, etc., or compound fertilizers , calcium magnesium phosphorus, etc. When applying base fertilizer, first apply the organic fertilizer into the planting furrow, then sow potatoes, or apply it when turning the soil. If chemical fertilizers are used, they should be applied below the organic fertilizer or between two potato seeds , avoiding direct contact with the seeds to prevent sprout burn.

4. Pay attention to the sowing depth and spacing

Planting depth is critical to potato development. Sowing too deep will affect germination and emergence time. Usually the sowing depth should be 5-7 cm. The row spacing of potatoes should be kept at 50-60 cm, and the distance between plants should be about 25 cm. Too dense or too sparse will affect the growth and yield of potatoes.

5. Cover the ground with plastic film after sowing

When planting potatoes in spring, due to the low temperature, using mulch to cover the ground can increase the ground temperature and accelerate germination, thereby increasing the growing days and increasing yields. After all the potatoes have sprouted, as the temperature rises, you can remove the plastic film and allow the seedlings to grow normally.

6. Thinning and foliar fertilization

After the potatoes emerge, select 1-2 strong seedlings to keep and remove the rest to reduce nutrient competition. During the tuber development stage, that is, the early stage of potato flowering, first pinch off the flower buds and tips, and then add nutrients to the leaves, such as potassium dihydrogen phosphate, brassinolide or trace elements, and choose to spray in the morning and evening. This is crucial for the enlargement of potato tubers and the increase of yield.

The above are the precautions for high-yield potato cultivation. Mastering these techniques can significantly increase potato yields, so field management of sugarcane must be in place at ordinary times.