Potato and Tuber Crops

Propagation

• Potato is propagated through tubers which have a dormancy of 8-10 weeks.
• Eyes on surface of tubers have axillary buds. Sprouted tubers when used for planting put up fast and vigorous growth.
• To increase sprouting, tubers are taken out from cold storage 10-15 days before planting and kept in pre-cooling chamber for 24 hours. It is then spread in cool and shady places to sprout.
• 30 main stems/m2 is optimum for maximum yield in potato.
• This is achieved by adjusting size of tubers and spacing.
• Planting of tubers of 40 g size at 60 x 20 cm spacing results in optimum stem number.
• If higher size is increased or decreased, intra-row spacing is adjusted accordingly.
• Seed accounts for nearly 40% cost of potato cultivation. Use of large tubers is more expensive and hence, tubers are cut into pieces, each containing at least one eye.
• Use of cut tubers is not recommended as it enhances chance of transmitting viral and bacterial diseases.
• When cut tubers are used, it is kept at 10-15°C and 85-90% RH for 4-6 days to allow tuberisation and wound periderm formation before planting.