Potato

Common name: potato

Scientific name: Solanum tuberosum L.

Family: Solanaceae

Varieties: Kufri Jyoti, Kufri Muthu, Kufri Swarna, Kufri Thangam, Kufri Malar, Kufri Soga and Kufri Giriraj are commonly cultivated.

Soil: The soil should be friable, porous and well drained. The optimum soil pH range is 4.8 to 5.4. It prefers a cool weather. Potato is mostly grown as a rainfed crop in regions receiving a rainfall of 1200 – 2000 mm per annum.

Plains: Planting is done during October – November in plains.

Seed rate: About 3000 – 3500 kg/ha of seeds is required.

Seed treatment: Use Carbon disulphide 30 g/100 kg of seeds for breaking the dormancy and inducing sprouting of tubers.

Planting: Use disease free, well spouted tubers weighing 40 – 50 grams for planting. Plant the tubers at 20 cm apart.

Pests: Cutworms, Nematodes, Aphids, White grub, Potato tuber moth