Potato and Tuber Crops

Soil

• Sweet potato requires well drained fertile soil rich in humus.
• Best soil is sandy loam with clay subsoil and it can also be grown on loamy to clay loam soils.
• Heavy clay soils which become hard after drying are not suited.
• Highly sandy soils cause development of long, cylindrical and thin tubers.
• In compact soils, tuber yield is low due to poor aeration.
• Ideal soil pH is 5.8 to 6.7. If pH is below 5.2, liming is necessary.
• Acidic and saline soils reduce growth of stem and roots.
• Neutral and high pH may cause pox and scarf diseases.
• Sweet potatoes are relatively sensitive to saline and alkaline soil conditions.