General Introduction
 |
| Image Source - Google | Image by - Pixabay |
* Botanical name :- Solanum tuberosum
* Family :- Solanaceae
* Chromosome no :- 2n=4x=48
* Origin :- Peru (South America)
* Type of fruit :- Berry
* Inflorescence:- Racemose
* Edible Part :- Tuber
A) Some Important Fact of Potato
- Potato was introduced in India from Europe in the beginning of 17th century, by the Portuguese.
- Potato is a cash crop which has high market value per unit area.
- Potato is also known as "King of Vegetables" And "Poor mans Friend".
- 2008 is international year of Potato.
- Tuberization point of view potato is Short Day Plant (SDP)
- Flowering point of view potato is Long Day Plant.
a) Medicinal Uses
 |
| Image Source - Google | Image by - Pixabay |
- The Potato tuber contain an Alkaloid (solanin) when it is exposed to light.
- Solanin is toxic compound found in Potato, but 70% of it's removed when potatoes are peeled.
- solanin content in potato is about 5mg/100g.
- Green color of Potato is due to Solanin (when Potato is exposed to sunlight)
- This alkaloid may cause sickness or death both livestock and the human beings.
- Potato grind in to paste is applied as plasters to burn caused by fires.
* China rank 1st in production of potato.
* India rank 2nd in potato production while in India West Bengal has highest Productivity as well as Production.
b) Climate
- Basically, Potato is Cool season crop.
- it is grown in winter in plains of India and in northern hills it is grown as summer season crop.
- About 20°C Temperature is good for tuber formation.
- Tuberization is badly affected at about 30°C.
- At higher temperature, the respiration rate increases and carbohydrates produced by Photosynthesis are consumed instead of stored in tuber.
c) Soil
- Potato can be grown in wide range of soil, ranging from sandy loam, silt loam and clay loam.
- soil for potato should be friable, well aerated and fairly deep.
- well drained sandy loam and medium loam soil is most suitable for potato cultivation.
- Optimum pH should be 5.0 - 6.5
* Varieties
1) Kufri Alankaar
2) Kufri Anand
3) Kufri Ashoka
4) Kufri Badashah
5) Kufri Lalima
6) Kufri Chandramukhi
7) Kufri Swarna
d) Planting Time
 |
| Image Source - Google | Image by - Pixabay |
1) In plane Area
- Early Sowing :- 3rd week of September to 1st week of October.
- Medium Sowing :- 1st week of October to 3rd week of October.
- Late Sowing :- 3rd week of October to 1st week of November.
2) In Hills
- Potato is planted in hills from the 3rd week of Feb to 2nd week of April.
e) Sowing Method
1) Ridge and Furrow method
2) Flat bed Method
- Ridge and Furrow method is most used and most popular method of potato planting.
* Seed Rate
- Tuber required for sowing :- 15-20 q/ha.
- Seed Rate of TPS :- 100-150 q/ha.
f) Spacing
- 60×15 cm or 60×30 cm
Water Management
- water requirement of potato is 500-700 mm.
- Furrow irrigation is the best method of irrigation in potato.
g) Fertilizer Management
- NPK :- 100:80:80 kg/ha or 150:100:100 kg/ha.
h) Earthing Up
- Earthing Up in potato should be done 40-45 DAP.
* Water requirements of potato is 500-700mm
i) Yield and Storage
- Yield :- 350-450 q/ha.
- The sorting operation is most important.
- sorting :- all cut tubers, bruised, injured by insects and disease affected potatoes are removed.
- Potatoes can be stored for 5-10 month at temperature 4-7° C.
j) Plant Protection
1) Diseases Of Potato
a) Early Blight (Alternative solani)
b) Late Blight (Phytopthora infestans)
c) Black scruf ( Rhizoctonia solani)
d) Common scab of Potato ( Streptomyces scabies)
e) Black leg of soft rot ( Erwinia spp)
f) Wilt ( Pseudomonas solanacearum)
g) Wart Disease of Potato ( Synchrytrium endobioticum)
- Late Blight of Potato is the major disease of Potato.
2) Pests
a) Aphids ( Myzus persicae)
b) Potato tuber moth ( Phthorimaea operculella)
3) Physiological Disorder
A) Black Heart of Potato
- Caused by Oxygen Deficiency
B) Hollow Heart
- Due to excessive use of Nitrogen Fertilizer.
C) Streak Necrosis
- Excess of Mg
D) Chilling Injury
- due to prolonged storage of tuber at temperature about 0°C cause chilling injury
- Potato leaf roll virus is transmitted by Aphids.
* Important Note of Potato
- Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI) is located at Shimla (1949)
- Dr. Ramanujan was the first director of CPRI.
-International Potato Center located at Lima, Peru (1971)
- Seed plot technique is discovered by Puskar nath (1967)
- "True Potato Seed" Developed by Dr. Ramanujan.
- "Phulwa" is the first variety of TPS.
- K. Chipsona-1 and K. Chipsona -2 varieties of potato suitable for processing.
- Thiourea + 1PPM GA is used to break potato dormancy.
Thank you 🙏