Potato and Tuber Crops

Cultivation Practices

1. After one or two ploughings, pits of size 60 x 60 x 45 cm are made at a spacing of 90 x 90 cm during February.
2. For harvesting small to medium sized tubers, distance between pits is reduced to 60 x 60 cm.
3. Pits are half filled with top soil and well dried farmyard manure @ 2.0-2.5 kg/pit and wood ash.
4. Planting material is placed vertically in the pit.
5. After compacting the planted tubers, pits are covered with organic mulches like green leaves or paddy straw.
6. Apply fertilizer @ 40 kg N, 60 kg P2O5 and 50 kg K2O / ha 45 days after plating along with mulching and application of cow dung or compost after receipt of rains.
7. This is followed by digging interspaces and light earthing up.
8. Top dressing is done with 40 kg N, 50 kg K2O again one month after, along with shallow intercultural operations like weeding, light digging and earthing up.
9. Apply fertilizer @ 40 kg N, 60 kg P2O5 and 50 kg K2O / ha 45 days after plating along with mulching and application of cow dung or compost after receipt of rains.
10. This is followed by digging interspaces and light earthing up.
11. Top dressing is done with 40 kg N, 50 kg K2O again one month after, along with shallow intercultural operations like weeding, light digging and earthing up.
12. Amorphophallus is mainly grown as a rainfed crop.
13. During periods of late receipt of monsoon, a light irrigation is given during early stages of crop.
14. Crop is susceptible to water stagnation.
15. Mulching immediately after planting is the most important operation in Amorphophallus.
16. It not only conserves soil moisture and regulates soil temperature, but also suppresses weed growth.
17. A plant usually produces a single “stem”.
18. Amorphophallus is mainly grown as a rainfed crop.
19. During periods of late receipt of monsoon, a light irrigation is given during early stages of crop.
20. Crop is susceptible to water stagnation.
21. Mulching immediately after planting is the most important operation in Amorphophallus.
22. It not only conserves soil moisture and regulates soil temperature, but also suppresses weed growth.
23. A plant usually produces a single “stem”.
24. In case of more numbers, it is advisable to remove it retaining only one healthy one.