Potato and Tuber Crops

Harvesting

• Depends on variety and its maturity period 120 to 180 days
• Harvested when leaves turn yellow and begin to shed.
• Maturity can be ascertained by cutting tubers and latex from mature tuber dries up without turning black.
• Irrigate 4-6 days prior to harvesting when soil is compact
• Before harvesting, vines are cut and tubers are dug up by using spade or fork. Avoid mechanical injuries while digging.
• Bulking rate is a reliable parameter for fixing the maturity period and it vary with cultivar i.e. H-633 (75th days), H-268 (120 days), etc.

Harvest

• Harvesting is done by digging out tuber with pick-axe when leaves turn yellow in colour.
• Tubers are cleaned and packed in gunny bags for marketing.

Yield

• 6-9 t/ ha for rainfed crop & 12-15 t/ ha under average management.
• 35-40 t/ha irrigated condition
• 8-10 t/ha rainfed
• Indian average: 6 to 7 t/ha
• UASD Package: 25 to 30 t/ha