How To Get Potatoes To Sprout Eyes Faster

How To Get Potatoes To Sprout Eyes Faster

Potato 

Botanical Name    :  Solanum tuberosum

Family                  : Solanaceae 

Chromosome No. : 2n = 24 

                                                                                

Potato has a prominent and special place among vegetables, because it is used throughout the year and by different classes in various ways. Potato is an important food as a food item. It has been considered the leader of vegetables till now. But it can also be used as a complete diet in place of grains. In many western countries, potato is used as a staple food. In our country too, there is a need to increase the use of potato in the diet to save grains. Potato contains abundant nutrients. Along with this, vitamins 'B' and 'C' are also found. It is a good source of vitamin C. Daily requirement of vitamin C is fulfilled by half a kilo of potato. Essential amino acids such as leucine, isoleucine, tryptophan etc. are found in sufficient quantities in potato. The calorie value of 100 grams of potato flour is 349, while that of wheat is 334. Daily requirement of protein and energy can be fulfilled by eating about 3 kg of potato in a day. Potato is mainly eaten as a vegetable. It is also eaten mixed with other vegetables. It is eaten as a vegetable every day. Along with this, halwa, papad, chips, barfi etc. are also made from it. Industrially, glucose, dextrin, starch, alcohol, citric acid etc. are also prepared from potato. Potato production in India is much less than that of Netherlands and Germany. The yield per hectare in Netherlands is 415 quintals and in Germany it is 358 quintals, whereas in India it is only 158 quintals. Tests have shown that in some parts of our country, up to 500 quintals per hectare yield can be easily obtained. In Gujarat and Lahaul Spiti Himachal Pradesh, 400 quintals per hectare yield can be easily obtained. There are a lot of possibilities of increasing potato production in our country. Central Potato Research Institute Shimla and farmers have contributed a lot in increasing potato production. Nowadays, potatoes are also being grown from true potato seeds. Today, India ranks fifth in the world in potato production and area.

         How To Get Potatoes To Grow Eyes Quickly

Origin and Distribution - The origin of potatoes is believed to be the Andes and Chilean plateaus of South America, from where it spread to Europe and other countries. The people of Peru and Chile had started cultivating potatoes about 2000 years ago. When Columbus discovered the New World in 1492, he saw this new crop there like sweet potatoes. Potato arrived in India in the beginning of the 17th century. The Portuguese brought this new crop with them while coming to India via Europe. The first mention of the consumption of potatoes in India comes in the context of a banquet given by Asaf Jahan in Ajmer in honor of Sir Thomas Roe in 1615. By 1675, potatoes flourished in the gardens of Surat and Karnataka and gradually began to be grown in all parts of India.

Nutritive value - Potato as a food item is a complete diet. In India it is currently grown as a vegetable, but it can also be used as a complete diet in place of food grain. In western countries potato is used as a staple food. In India also there is a need to use it in the diet to save grains. According to Dr. Pushkarnath "Potato is our second bread". Potato contains vitamin C in abundance. The calorie value of 100 grams of potato flour is 34, while that of wheat is 3 or 4. By eating about 3 kg of potatoes in a day, the daily requirement of protein and energy can be easily fulfilled. The food value table of potato is shown -

                                                  

                                               (Nutrition Value of Potato per 100 gm) 

Moisture                          : 74.70 g Protein                             : 1.60 g Fat                                    : 0.10 g Minerals                          : 0.60 g Fiber                                : 0.40 g Other Carbohydrates    : 22.60 g Calcium                           : 10.00 mg Magnesium                     : 20.00 mg Oxalic Acid                     : 20.00 mg Nicotinic Acid                 : 1.20 mg Iron                                  : 0.70 mg Sodium                            : 11.00 mg Potassium                        : 247.00 mg Copper                             : 0.20 mg Sulfur                               : 37.00 mg Chlorine                           : 16.00 mg Thiamine                         : 0.10 mg  gm Riboflavin                       : 0.01 mg Vitamin C                       : 17.00 mg Vitamin A                       : 40.00 I30 Phosphorus                     : 40.00 mg Calories                           : 90.00

                          

Climate  - A cool climate is required for successful production of potatoes. Low temperature is required to get a good yield of potatoes. This temperature lasts from mid-March in the plains and from February to September in the mountains. The aerial parts of most varieties grow well at a temperature of 15-250°C. Tuber formation and growth is found to be highest at 20°C. At temperatures higher than this, it decreases and above 29°C, the formation of tubers almost stops. The process of tuber formation starts early in conditions of low temperature, medium light duration and nitrogen deficiency. Due to frost in potato, some leaves or the entire plant may die. Different varieties of potatoes show different reactions to light duration. Long light duration is suitable for aerial growth and short light duration is suitable for tuber formation. Kufri Alankar, Kufri Jyoti, Kufri Lavkar are some of the varieties developed which are insensitive to photoperiod.

      How To Grow Potatoes Eyes

Potato can be easily cultivated in areas receiving 120 cm annual rainfall. Potato can be successfully grown up to a height of 2700 m above sea level. In different parts of India, potato is cultivated throughout the year in some or the other part depending upon the availability of suitable climate.

Soil & its preparation - Although potato can be grown in different types of soils, but organic sandy loam or silty loam soil is considered best for its cultivation. In heavy soil, tubers do not develop properly and grow. Proper drainage in the soil is absolutely necessary. Otherwise, the formation of tubers is adversely affected. Also, the tubers remain deformed and undeveloped and cracks appear in them. The pH value of the soil is considered to be 5-7. As the pH value increases, the yield is adversely affected.

The potato tubers develop and grow inside the soil. Therefore, the preparation of the soil is of special importance. It means that it is very important for the soil to be friable. The first plowing should be done with a soil turning plow. The second and third plowing should be done with a harrow or a local plow. If there are lumps in the field, then the soil should be made friable by using a plow. It is very important to have adequate moisture in the field at the time of sowing. If there is a lack of moisture, then plowing should be done after pre-irrigation.

Improved varieties

Improved and commercial varieties of potatoes are given in the following table-

                             

Serial No.	Variety	Year of development	Adaptability
1.	Kufri Sinduri	1967	Medium duration variety, very popular in the plains of northern India. Round, pink coloured variety, maturing in 120-140 days. Yield 300-400 quintals per hectare.
2.	Kufri Chandramukhi	1973	Early variety, gets ready in 80-90 days, tubers are oval shaped with white skin. Suitable for plain areas of North India, yield 200-250 quintals per hectare.
3.	Kuiri Jyoti	1968	Medium duration, gets ready in 100 days in plains and 120 days in hills, popular in West Bengal and hilly areas.
4.	Kufri Muthu	1971	Medium duration, gets ready in 90-120 days, suitable for growing in hills in three seasons.
5.	Kufri Lauvkar	1972	Early variety, ready in 100 days in plains and 120 days in hills, suitable variety for plateau areas of Maharashtra, it is suitable for growing in both Kharif and Rabi seasons.
6.	Kufri Dewa	1973	Late maturing variety, ready in 120 days, suitable variety for Terai areas of Uttaranchal.
7.	Kufri Badshah	1979	Medium duration maturing, for plains and hilly areas of northern India, resistant to diseases called early and late blight and virus X.
8.	Kufri Bahar	1980	Medium duration maturing variety, suitable for northern India, resistant to blight, charcoal rot and Vati diseases, 90-135 days for maturing as per the Suma photoperiod.
9.	Kufri Lalima	1982	Medium duration maturing variety, suitable for north eastern plains, moderately resistant to early blight, red tuber.
10.	Kufri Swarna	1985	Medium duration maturing variety, white tuber, developed for Nilgiri areas prone to cyst nematode and late blight, resistant to late blight and cyst nematode.
11,	Kufri Megha .	1988	Medium duration maturing variety, suitable for Meghalaya.
12.	Kufri Ashoka	1996	Early duration variety, suitable for central and eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal.
13.	Kufri Jawahar	1996	Early variety, suitable for Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Karnataka.
14.	Kufri Satlaj	1996	Medium duration variety, suitable for Punjab, Haryana, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, replacing Kufri Badshah and Kufri Bahar.
15.	Kufri Pukhraj	1998	Moderately resistant to late blight.
16.	Kufri Giriraj	1998	It is ripe in 130-135 days, resistant to late blight, immune to wart disease.
17.	Kufri Chipsona-1	1998	Best for chips and powder production.
18.	Kufri Chipsona-2	1999	Resistant to late blight.
19.	Kufri Kanchan	1999	High yielding variety.

 

       How To Sprout Potatoes

Sowing – The time of sowing potatoes depends on its variety and climate. In the plains of northern India, the optimum time for sowing the main crop is considered to be from the end of September to the second week of November. However, the appropriate time for sowing potatoes is when the maximum temperature is 30-32°C and the minimum temperature is 18-20°C. There is so much difference in the climate of different regions of India that no one time can be said to be suitable for all regions.

The following table shows the appropriate time of sowing for different regions-

Suitable time for sowing and digging of potatoes in different regions - 

             

Serial No.	Region	Sowing time	Harvesting time
1.	Northern-Plain region	September-October October-November December-January	December-January February-March March-April
2.	North-Eastern-Hill region	January-February	July-August
3.	North-Western-Hill region	March-April	September-October
4.	Southern-Hill region  Region	March-April August-September January-February	August-September December-January May-June
5.	Plateau	June October-November	September-October February-March

 

 

Seeds – Potato crop is produced through tubers which are sown either whole or by cutting them. Pure and healthy seeds are the most important requirement for good yield. It is not possible to identify and sort out the virus infected tubers. Hence, seeds (tubers) should be taken from such a crop which is virus free, the tubers are not shriveled and their shoots are in the right stage of germination. Generally, 1 cm long shoots are considered suitable.

More yield is obtained from bigger tubers but on the basis of cost-yield balance, tubers of 2.5-5:5 cm diameter and 75-125 grams weight are considered best for production. According to the size of the tuber, 12 to 15 quintals of seeds are sufficient for one hectare. Pieces of big tubers are cut and sown. Whose weight is kept at 50-80 grams. To protect the pieces of tuber from rotting, they are treated with a solution of Dithane M 45 (1 kg chemical in 450 liters of water).

Potatoes should be sown in rows at a distance of 55-60 cm and the distance between plants in the rows should be 20-25 cm. If for some reason large sized potatoes have to be sown, then the distance between plants should be increased to 30 cm. Tests have shown that the highest yield is obtained by sowing large sized tubers (4.5-5.5 cm) at 60 x 25 cm and medium sized tubers (3.5-4.5 cm). Keeping a distance of 60 x 15 cm for small sized tubers (2.5-3.5 cm) has been found to be suitable.

      How Deep To Plant Potatoes Eyes

Method of Sowing

Several methods of sowing potatoes are used which depend on the type of land, amount of moisture in the field, availability of labour and machinery etc. Generally, potatoes are sown in the following three ways—

1. Sowing potatoes in flat land – In this method, the field is prepared well and straight rows are drawn in the field with the help of rope. After this, shallow furrows are made on these rows with the help of 'hand hoe' or planet junior. After sowing potatoes in these furrows, the field is levelled by covering it with soil from above.

2. Sowing potatoes on ridges – In this method, after preparing the field, ridges are made at appropriate distances. After this, the seeds of azu are sown at a distance of 20-25 cm and at a depth of about 8-10 cm.

3. Earthing up after sowing potatoes - In this method, lines are drawn at a distance of 60 cm in the prepared field. After this, potato seeds are placed at a distance of 20-25 cm in these rows. After this, with the help of a spade, the tubers are covered with soil from both sides.

For the last few years, experiments have been conducted in Modipuram, Patna and Ootacamund (Tamil Nadu) to grow crops from seeds produced in potato fruits. These are called true potato seeds. Availability of high quality healthy seeds (tubers) for sowing has always been a problem for the producers. Keeping in mind the unavailability of good varieties, their high price, the presence of viruses in tubers and difficulties in transporting the tubers, agricultural scientists have now focused their attention on the technology from true seeds. The following benefits are available to the growers by using this seed:

- Production cost comes down to 50% by producing through seed tubers whereas the production cost by using real seeds is reduced considerably.

- Seed tubers are protected from diseases (scab, rhizoctalia black scurf), viruses and tuber moth insects.

- Storage and transportation of real seeds is much less expensive than tubers.

- Real potato seed can be easily prepared all over India.

- About 20 quintals of tubers used in seeds are obtained for eating.

- Only 100 grams of seed is sufficient for one hectare. Commercial crop can be obtained the next year from 40% of the tubers obtained from them. Their number in one gram seed is about 1500 to 1750.

The following two methods of crop production from true seed are used-

1. Sowing of seeds in nursery and then transplant in field - In this method, the nursery area is dug/ploughed and the soil is made soft. Adequate amount of cow dung manure and compost manure is added to it. These seeds are mixed with 10 times sand and sown in rows at a distance of 20 cm in the nursery. When the plants come out of the soil, 0.1% urea solution is sprayed on the plants at an interval of 4-5 days till the time of planting. 25 days after sowing the seeds, the seedlings become 8-12 cm. These seedlings are planted in the field at a distance of 40 x 10 cm. Soil is applied on the plants 15 days after planting. At this time, fertilizers of nitrogen, phosphorus and potash (100 kg each) are given. The crop is ready in 100 to 125 days. In experiments, 231 to 238 quintals were obtained in Modipuram (Uttar Pradesh) and 330-349 quintals in Patna (Bihar) per hectare.

2. Growing Seedling Tubers – In this method, seeds are sown in the nursery like the first method. Then 20-25 day old seedlings are planted at a distance of 10 x 10 cm. After three weeks, a 5-7 cm thick layer of cow dung manure is spread over the entire area. To prepare seed tubers for one hectare, a secondary nursery of 30 square meters is required. After about 100 to 115 days, the vines are cut and after 10 days the tubers are uprooted. Small tubers obtained from one hectare of secondary nursery are sufficient for sowing 15-20 hectares next year. In the experiments conducted in Modipuram, 6-03-6-57 kg/square meter of tubers were obtained. The number of which was between 602 to 721. By sowing these, the highest yield of 366.5 quintals per hectare was obtained from a variety called Kufri Bahar.

Manure and Fertilizers - To get a rich yield of potatoes, the use of manure and fertilizers in balanced quantity and at the right time is absolutely necessary. Tests have shown that a potato crop yielding 250 quintals per hectare draws 110 kg nitrogen, 50 kg phosphate and 225 kg potassium from the soil. Nitrogen is essential for the growth and development of plants, whereas, along with nitrogen, phosphorus and potash also play an important role in the growth and development of tubers. The quantity of manure and fertilizers depends on factors like climate, type of soil, type of potato etc.

Fertilizers should always be applied on the basis of soil testing. If due to some reason, soil testing is not possible, then in that case, manure and fertilizers should be used in normal soil as per the quantities given in the following table-

            How To Sprout Potatoes For Planting

Use of manure and fertilizers in potato crop

                                                           

Ingredients	Quantity per hectare		Time and method of application
	Plain area	Hilly area
Farm Yard Manure or compost	300 quintals	200 quintals	About 1 month before sowing
Nitrogen	100-150 kg	80-100 kg	Two third quantity at the time of sowing and the remaining one third 30-35 days after sowing at the time of earthing.
Phosphorus	60-80 kg	80-100 kg	At the time of sowing, along with nitrogen
Potash	80-160 kg	60-80 kg	At the time of sowing, along with nitrogen and phosphorus

  

Note: 800-1000 liters of water is required for spraying.

The use of micronutrients in potatoes has been observed to have a favorable effect. By adding 20 kg of zinc to the soil and spraying 0.2 percent zinc sulfate 40 and 60 days after sowing the seeds, the yield of tubers increases. By spraying 0.2 percent manganese sulfate and copper sulfate on the tubers before sowing, the yield of tubers increases. By dipping the tubers in a solution of 0.2 percent manganese sulfate and copper sulfate (0.05 percent) before sowing, the yield also increases.

Irrigation and Drainage - Potatoes should be sown after ploughing. The first irrigation is done 25 days after sowing the potatoes, when the plants become about 7-10 cm high. If there is a lack of moisture in the field, the first irrigation can be done earlier. The first irrigation is done lightly and the quantity of water is increased in subsequent irrigations, but special care should be taken that the ridges do not get completely submerged, after this irrigation should be done at an interval of 8 to 15 days. In each irrigation, only that much water should be given, so that only two-thirds of the ridges get submerged in water because the ridges become hard due to submergence in water and air circulation is hindered, resulting in a huge reduction in the yield. 6-10 irrigations are required in light soil and 3-4 irrigations in heavy soil.

If excess irrigation or rain water accumulates in the field, then arrangements should be made to drain it, otherwise the crop turns yellow and dies.

Plant Protection

Weed Control

Many weeds grow along with the potato crop, which compete with the crop for moisture, nutrients, sunlight etc. As a result, the crop yield is adversely affected, and it also provides shelter to weeds, insects and microbes. Generally, weeds like Bathua, Motha, Clover, Krishnaneel, Kateli etc. grow in potato crop. Weeding is required only once in potato crop, which should be done after the first irrigation.

The use of weedicides has also proved successful for controlling potato weeds. The following weedicides can be used for their prevention—

                                               

                                              

Herbicide	Dosage	Time of treatment
1. Simazine	2-5-5-0 kg	Pre-emergence treatment
2. tamp F-34	2.5 liters	Pre-emergence treatment
3. Gramaxone	2.5 liters	Post-emergence treatment When only 5 percent of potato plants have germinated, the medicine should not fall on the plants.

 

 Earthing - When the plants grow 15-20 cm tall, earthing should be done so that all the tubers remain buried inside the soil. The tubers that come out of the soil become green due to exposure to light and are not suitable for eating because a poisonous substance called Solanin is produced in them. This work should be done while weeding. The remaining amount of nitrogen should be top dressed and earthed.

Insect Control

Various types of insects damage the potato crop and tubers. The main ones among them are potato aphid, cutter insect, Epilachna beetle, green oil mite and golden cyst nematode.

Aphid - This insect is green or black in colour. In the adult stage, it is of two types, winged and wingless. Their size is 2 mm. This is an insect that damages potatoes. Both its minor and adult insects cause damage by sucking the juice of leaves and branches. Due to heavy infestation, leaves turn downwards and turn yellow and dry up. Winged insects help in spreading viral diseases.

For prevention, 10 kg of Phorate per hectare should be added in the furrows while sowing. A week after germination, spray 1.2 liters of Dimethoate or Monocrotophos EC 40 per hectare.

Cut worms - Many insects of this class attack the potato crop, but among these, Agratis ipsilorn in the plains and Agrotis segatum in the mountainous regions mainly cause damage. The female moth lays eggs on the lower surface of the leaves or on the soil of the potato from which brown or grey coloured caterpillars emerge and cut the plants near the ground. Later they enter the tubers and eat the pulp.

For prevention, a solution of Chlorpyrifas EC 25 (2 kg/hectare) is sprayed.

Epilachana beetle - It has two main species, out of which Vigitticti punctata is found in plain areas and Ocellata is found in hilly areas 1700 meters above sea level. First the caterpillars eat the leaves and later the adults also eat the rest of the leaves except the venation. The children of Epilechna stick to the leaves and gradually scrape and eat the leaves and the leaves dry up.

The following measures should be taken for prevention of this insect -

- The adults and beetles should be caught by hand and destroyed. - The pests die by sprinkling 10% Sevin dust at the rate of 30 kg per hectare.

- This pest can also be controlled by spraying 0.2% solution of Sevin 50% soluble.

Green Jassid - All the pests that harm potatoes come under Jassid and Empoasca. Both its nymphs and adults suck the juice from the potato plant. The leaves of the plant turn yellow. Due to the rapid attack, the edges of the leaves of the damaged plant get burnt.

To control this pest, 0.03% solution of Monocrotophos should be sprayed.

White grub - This pest is white or gray in color. Its body is curved and head is brown in color. It has 6 developed legs. Its size is 2 cm when it comes out of the eggs, which increases to 6 cm when it is fully developed. It is a polyphagous pest. It damages the roots of the plants by living inside the ground. Apart from this, it makes shallow circular holes in the potatoes due to which the market price of the tubers decreases.

The following measures should be taken to prevent this pest -

- Before sowing, Heptachlor should be mixed in the soil at the rate of 45-60 kg per hectare.

- This pest can be prevented by mixing Carbofuran at the rate of 30 kg per hectare.

Golden Cyst Nematodes - Its infestation is mainly found on Nilgiri and Kodai hills. Due to its infestation, the first symptom is seen in the form of reduction in the growth of plants in the field. In the second stage, the leaves start falling due to which the plants become palm-like in shape and later sometimes they also die. These insects make very small knots of golden color, which stick to the roots.

For its control, Carbofuran 60-75 kg / hectare is given twice. First dose at the time of sowing and second dose at the time of soiling.

In areas where this problem exists, a variety called Kufri Swarna should be grown.

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Disease Control

Potato diseases are caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses (including mycoplasma). Apart from these, some physiological disorders are also found. Which have also been mentioned -

Fungal Diseases

Early blight – This disease is caused by a fungus called “Alternaria solani”. The lower leaves are infected first from where this disease later progresses upwards where small light spots emerge on the leaves which later turn brownish black and form raised circles on the dead tissues. As a result, the lower leaves start drying and falling. This disease occurs before the formation of tubers.

For prevention, spraying of Dithane Z-78 (2 kg/hectare) should be done before the likely time of attack of the disease. If necessary, second spraying should be done after 15 days.

Disease resistant varieties like Kufri Sindoori, Kufri Naveen, Kufri Jeevan, Kufri Badshah should be grown.

Late Blight – This disease is caused by a fungus called “Phytophthora infestans”. It is a major disease of the hilly region. It is also found in the plains of Northern India and Karnataka (Mysore). Due to this disease, first of all, brownish black moist and regular shaped spots appear on the leaves. White growth is seen around the spots on the lower surface of the leaves. In case of severe outbreak of the disease, the diseased stems die. The spores of the fungus dissolve in the rain and reach the tuber and produce brown or purple spots on them.

The following measures should be taken to prevent this disease-

- In the affected plain areas, varieties named Kufri Sutlej, Kufri Jawahar and Kufri Badshah should be grown, whereas in the hilly areas, varieties named Kufri Jyoti, Kufri Giriraj, Kufri Kanchan should be grown.

- For prevention, Dithane Z-78 (2 kg/hectare) should be sprayed in the plain areas and Mancizev (0.21 percent) in the hills. Apart from this, Phycol 8, (3 liters/hectare), Difolton 4A (2.5 liters/hectare) and Deuter 800 grams/hectare have also proved to be good. For prevention, any one of these should be sprayed before the attack.

Dry rot - This occurs during storage due to a fungus called Fusarium caeruleum. In the initial stage of the disease, small brown spots appear on the tuber. These later grow and appear flattened. The peel shrinks in the form of irregular concentric rings. The tubers become hard. Later, their internal fibers also rot. White or pink colored fungus is visible.

If the tubers are to be used for seeds, they are treated with Agalol 3 (0.5 percent) for 10 minutes.

Wart disease - This disease is caused by a fungus called Synchytrium endobioticum. This disease is limited to Darjeeling district in India till now. Small protrusions appear on the eyes of the tubers, which later grow in size. These warts are white at first but later become brown or black.

Varieties resistant to this disease; Like - Kufri Jyoti, Kufri Naveen, Kufri Kanchan, Kufri Jeevan and Kufri Sherpa should be grown.

Bacterial Disease 

Brown rot – In this disease, the bacteria Pseudomonas solanacearum enters the injured roots and blocks the vascular area, as a result of which the whole plant withers and falls. When cut, brownish color is seen in the tubers and when pressed, bacterial ooze comes out. In the plains, due to intense heat, they are not able to survive in the soil.

Taking seeds from disease-free areas provides good protection from this disease.

Bacterial soft rot – In the plains, this disease is mostly caused by Bacillus polymyxa and Bacillus subtilis. These bacteria enter the fields and storages through injured parts of the tubers and through patches of other diseases. The tissues of the infected tubers become soft, which later rot so much that the tuber appears like only pulp.

For prevention, tubers are dried before storing them in the storage. Before sowing, the pieces of tubers are treated with 3% boric acid or benomyl (500 ppm) for 30 minutes or mancozeb (0.2%) for 10 minutes.

Common Scab - This disease is caused by a bacterium called Streptomyces scabies. Due to this disease, wounds of about 3 mm deep and less than 1 cm diameter appear on the tubers. The skin of the tuber becomes brown and rough. The disease also spreads through the tuber.

Before sowing, tubers are treated with 3% boric acid for 30 minutes. Long crop cycle and sowing of healthy tubers are good means of prevention.

Viral & Mycoplasmal Diseases

Leaf roll - This is a viral disease. Due to this disease, first the upper leaves and then the lower leaves curl. The upper curled leaves become brittle like leather and pink or hazelnut in colour at the edges. The plants remain dwarf. The tubers in them are small and in less number. This virus spreads through aphids.

By keeping the infected tubers at 29.4-35.6°C temperature for 6 months, the virus becomes inactive.

Purple top roll - This is a mycoplasma-borne disease, due to which the top leaves of the plant become light yellow and curl towards the base. This curled part sometimes turns blue or pink. The plant remains dwarf. The node of the stem swells and external tubers are formed on it. This disease is spread by jassid or leaf hopper.

Rugose mosaic - This disease is caused by the combined attack of virus X and Y. Symptoms of severe spots appear on the plant. The leaves become wrinkled and curl downwards. Due to this disease, the growth of the plant stops. In north-western India, farmers change the seeds after 4-5 years.

Latent or Mild Mosaic - This disease is caused by virus X and S. Due to this disease, light and dark spots appear on the leaves. The plants remain dwarf and later start dying. The disease can be prevented by sowing certified seeds.

Super Mild mosaic - This disease is caused by virus A which produces different symptoms in different varieties of potato plants. Along with mosaic, the leaves also start curling.

Necrosis starts on the upper part of the plant and later the plant dies. This disease spreads through acid.

1

The following measures should be taken to prevent the above diseases-

- Disease free seeds should be sown. Because diseased plants are again obtained from the tubers obtained from diseased plants.

- Plants affected by viral diseases should be uprooted and destroyed.

- To destroy the insects (acid and leaf hopper) spreading viral diseases, Thimet should be used at the time of sowing at the rate of 26 kg per hectare. After this, 0-02-0-05 percent Monocrotophos 40 EC should be sprayed on the plants.

Physiological disorders 

Greening in tubers - Sometimes the tubers of the crop turn green when they come above the ground and sunlight falls on them. Similarly, tubers dug in immature state turn green if they come in direct contact with the sun. The taste of such tubers becomes bitter due to a chemical called solanine.

Prevention is possible by applying good soil on the plants and keeping the freshly dug tubers covered.

Black Heart - Tubers affected by this disease look normal from the outside, but on cutting, black or brown colour is visible inside them. If the tubers are more affected, they become hollow. This condition occurs in tubers stored above 38°C grade but below 60°C grade.

For prevention and control, tubers are kept at low temperature and proper arrangement of air circulation should be made in the storage.

Hollow Heart - This disorder is mostly found in large sized tubers. This disorder is also seen in case of rapid growth of tubers. An irregular cavity is formed between the affected tubers, whose surface is brown.

To prevent this disorder, providing favourable conditions for uniform growth of tubers and sowing them close to each other has proved to be good.

Harvesting - When the leaves of the potato plants start drying, the branches of the plants should be cut from the ground level about two weeks before digging the potatoes. By doing this, the skin of the tubers becomes hard and there is no risk of peeling off the potato at the time of digging. Digging can be done by hoe, spade or potato digger.

Yield- By cultivating potatoes with advanced methods, one hectare in plain areas can yield 200-250 quintals from early and mid-season crops and 300-400 quintals from late varieties. In mountain valleys, 150-250 quintals and on high mountains, about 200 quintals of yield is obtained per hectare.

Seed Production- Potato is mainly produced through tubers. Therefore, healthy tubers are especially important for higher yield. The basic requirement for seed production is a place where there is no acid attack at all or very little. From this point of view, areas with an altitude of 2500 meters above sea level on the hills of Himachal Pradesh are considered very suitable. But this area is very small. Due to which it is unable to fulfill the entire requirement of seeds. Therefore, it becomes necessary to produce seeds in plain areas also. For this purpose, the crop is not allowed to grow after December in the plains, because experiments have shown that the presence of aphids is lowest from October to December. The second important thing to be kept in mind while selecting the site is that potatoes should not be grown for seed production in the field where potatoes were grown in the past.

Healthy and pure variety of tubers should be used for seed production. The distance between one variety and another is kept at 20 meters. Keep inspecting the crop from time to time. Plants affected by diseases like mosaic root knot nematode, golden nematode, wart disease, scab etc. should be uprooted and their tubers should also be removed.

How To Get Potatoes To Sprout Eyes Faster

Seed Plot Technique

The Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla has developed a method for obtaining disease-free seeds in the plains of North India, the main components of which are mentioned below -

- Virus-free seeds must be sown by the third week of October. - At the time of sowing, put 15 kg of Thimet granules in the soil. This will destroy the white fly and jassid that attack the crop.

- The seed tubers should be treated with 0.5% solution of Egelol-3 for 5 minutes.

- Tubers of 4-6 cm diameter are sown because tubers of this size are usually obtained from virus infected plants.

- Immediately after sowing, earthing up is done and weedicides are used to destroy the weeds so that the outbreak of viruses during weeding is minimized.

- The first inspection of the crop is done 20 days after sowing and the second before harvesting the stalks. Diseased and other variety plants should be uprooted.

- Due to difference in weather conditions, there is a difference in the time of aphid infestation. Hence, Metasystox (0.5%) solution should be sprayed in the first week of December.

- Irrigation of the crop is stopped in the third week of December.

- At the end of December or the first week of January, the stalks are cut and later the shoots emerging from them are also cut so that the acid does not transmit the viruses to the plants.

- 10-15 days after cutting the stalks, the tubers are uprooted and cured for 10 days.

- The tubers are packed in sacks and kept in cold storage.