Potato yield per 1 ha. Potato production technology. Varieties (photo)

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

The importance of this plant for Russia is difficult to overestimate. Potato is the most consumed vegetable in our country. 120-130 kg per person per year is a significant figure, and we are second only to China in potato production. It is a strategic culture that successfully ensures the food security of the country.

Potato growing in Russia

One of the characteristics of our potato production is the predominance of private farms, traditionally characterized by their low efficiency due to the high proportion of manual labor.

In recent years, large-scale potato production has been developing more and more actively, demonstrating much higher yields due to the possibility of applying technologies and scientifically based soil fertilization rates.

Another characteristic feature of recent years is the reduction in the area allocated for growing potatoes. But the increase in yield so far allows you to fully compensate for the decrease in planting area.

However, in order to catch up with developed countries, we will have to increase the current yield by more thantwice. This is not easy as competition intensifies in agricultural markets and fuel prices rise rapidly.

In addition, as usual, the technical support of the industry is lagging behind. All this has led to the fact that the weakest producers leave, unable to withstand competition, and the remaining ones are forced to constantly think about increasing production efficiency.

Russia is the traditional leader in gross potato production, producing 11% of the world harvest. At the same time, 70-80% of the raw product is used for personal consumption.

Industrial processing in Russia is very poorly developed, not exceeding a few percent. According to forecasts, the next redistribution of the potato market in Russia will be associated with the development of processing of this vegetable.

Main potato pests

The Colorado potato beetle is one of the main potato pests. In small areas, they fight it manually, collecting beetles, pupae and larvae in a container with kerosene, formalin or a strong saline solution. In large areas, 80% dilor or chlorophos is used. The best time for chemical treatment is when the second or third instar larvae begin breeding.

Potato nematode often attacks potatoes. Its larvae harm both the roots and tubers of the plant. Nematode cysts are found in the ground, on the roots of potatoes, and contain 200-1000 eggs each. Outwardly, the plant looks sick, the lower leaves die off, the rest quickly wither. Cysts can remain viable for up to 10 years or more. On the infectedplots usually comply with quarantine measures, do not cultivate leguminous, grain and vegetable crops for up to four years. Pest control also prevents the use of contaminated seeds and tillage tools.

Wireworm - larvae of click beetles that damage roots and tubers. To combat it, they set up traps, creating small herbal piles in the garden. Beetles are collected in them, which are subsequently destroyed. Weeding also helps, especially the eradication of wheatgrass.

Medvedka is a large brown parasite that nests at a depth of 10-15 cm. This pest gnaws everything: roots, stems, tubers, as well as seeds and other root crops. To combat it, it is necessary to dig up the soil in the fall to a depth of at least 25 cm. Manure baits also help. In cases of intense soil damage, benzophosphate is used.

Potato pest control should be the focus of anyone who grows potatoes, otherwise the entire crop could be lost.

Profitability of potato business

If you invest 80,000 rubles in production, you can get a potato yield of 20 tons from 1 hectare. At the same time, only 7-8 tons can be harvested from the same area of wheat, which will provide about 60-65 thousand rubles. arrived. In the case of using new technologies, the potato yield per 1 ha can reach 80 t/ha, and the income, respectively, will be 800 thousand rubles!

Experts have calculated what it takes to grow 100-240% profitable potatoes. Business plan forits production should take into account a field area of at least 250 hectares, and financial investments - at the level of $ 7 million, and even working capital in the amount of $ 0.5-1 million. Over the past year, the profitability of this business in Russia amounted to 40-60%.

According to the same experts, a potato growing project pays off in an average of 5-7 years, and the intermediate results are not always indicative. Throughout the entire period of activity, systematic and serious investments are needed. For example, the cost of a harvester is about 300 thousand euros, a planter costs 80 thousand euros, etc. Soviet technology is already outdated and can lead to crop damage.

But it's all about industrial production. For individual farms, there are schemes with a low level of investment, but also with a lower profitability.

Business plan for home plot

The technology of potato production on a personal plot has its own characteristics. To begin with, let's try to calculate at least an approximate profitability of the potato business in these conditions. To do this, you need to analyze the estimated costs. Then it makes sense to calculate the amount of profit, taking into account the average potato yield per 1 ha and wholesale prices. After that, to obtain the value of net income, it is necessary to subtract the first from the second figure. An approximate calculation for a plot of 0.5 hectares will look like this.

Motoblock: plow, cultivator, hiller, potato digger	$700
Planting material	$600
Fertilizers and remedies	$150
Transportation	$50
Total:	$1500

Thus, all upfront costs fit into the amount of 1.5 thousand dollars. With an average yield of 200 kg per hundred square meters and an average wholesale purchase price for potatoes of $0.2 per 1 kg, you can get $2,000 from sales in the first year. Since the equipment is not purchased for one year, then in subsequent years it is possible to have much more profitable potatoes. The price for it, as practice shows, is only growing.

Industrial methods of potato production

Potato production technology using modern methods has already made it possible today to significantly increase the efficiency of the potato production industry. Now the next step is the use of industrial methods of its cultivation. This concept means the following principles.

1. The volume of production is planned in advance, and the calculations justify themselves.
2. All quality indicators are calculated and set before landing.
3. The harvest is received in strict accordance with the planned dates.

All this is achieved by applying industrial methods, consisting of the following elements.

1. Various organizational and technical improvements ensure high productivity, which as a result minimizes production costs.
2. Active use of various technologic altricks almost cancel out the influence of adverse weather conditions.
3. Minimizing the impact of the human factor on the result of the production process through the use of technical means and methods.
4. High average potato yields are achieved through the introduction of management and operational controls. Technological methods also play an important role, allowing to ensure the planned amount of production.

Right now there is every opportunity to switch to industrial methods in potato growing. The following factors contribute to this:

• market needs for a quality product are constantly growing;
• the number of workers in agriculture, as well as their skill level, is declining;
• the machinery market enables the household to purchase machinery capable of realizing the application of the industrial method;
• The availability of the world's cutting-edge technical achievements allows for a transition to a completely new level of potato cultivation.

The effectiveness of technical solutions should not depend on the size of the farm and its specifics. The solution of the complex task of switching to industrial methods should be implemented on the basis of the best domestic and foreign experience, as well as highly professional recommendations from specialists.

How to increase potato yields

There are many factors that affect the yield of potatoes. Some of them are listed below.

1. The quality of planting material should be high.
2. The potato has always presentedhigh demands on the soil, especially on its air regime. That is why, in order to increase productivity, it is so important to spud it in a timely manner. If you hill and loosen the plantings several times during the summer, then even loamy soils are not a hindrance. At the same time, one should not forget that the best time for hilling is at a plant height of 5 to 20 cm. When hilling, crop growth occurs due to an increase in the number and size of tubers. If we miss the favorable period for this, then the increase in yield will become possible only due to an increase in the mass of tubers.
3. When planting potatoes, the row spacing should be at least 90 cm.



4. During the period of flowering and vigorous growth of tubers, it is important to provide a large amount of water, 10-15 liters per bush.
5. During flowering and budding, it is good to feed. Norms per bush: 3-6 g of superphosphate, 3-4 g of potassium sulfate, 1-3 g of s altpeter or urea, wood or peat ash. It is good to feed with bird droppings or mullein to guarantee quality potatoes. The price of these fertilizers is low. For example, you can buy mullein for 40 rubles for 5 liters.
6. For healing during the flowering period, it is recommended to remove diseased bushes, as well as impurities of non-varietal potatoes. This will increase yields by 10-20% per year.
7. In the budding phase, it is useful to remove all flower stalks, this also increases the yield.

Using fertilizer for potatoes

First of all, it is important to remember that during growth, potatoes draw from the ground about 50 kg of nitrogen, 20 kg of phosphorus and 90kg of potassium based on 10 tons of product. Therefore, it is these mineral fertilizers that should be regularly applied to the soil so that it does not become depleted and can provide the potatoes with the nutrition they need.

Nitrogen helps the active growth of the plant, the entry of carbohydrates into the tubers.

Phosphorus increases resistance to drought, develops the root system and accumulates starch in tubers, contributes to their early ripening.

Potassium causes an increase in carbohydrates in tubers, increases resistance to weather conditions.

When fertilizing the soil, it is important to maintain the right balance. With a lack of potassium, for example, nitrogen is poorly absorbed. In addition, an excess of any fertilizer can be as harmful as a deficiency.

In terms of timing, it is recommended to fertilize in the central regions in July, in the northern regions in July-August, and in the south in June.

Use organic fertilizers, although they double the yield, agronomists do not recommend because of the risk of infection with scab or ingestion of the cockchafer larvae. It is better to use peat-dung composts.

Double superphosphate (1 kg per hundred square meters) and potassium sulphate (2 kg per hundred square meters) are recommended as a fertilizer for potatoes in autumn.

In the spring it is good to fertilize potatoes with urea and s altpeter (1 kg per hundred square meters). You can also use complex fertilizers: nitrophoska 5 kg per hundred square meters and nitroammophoska - 3 kg each.

Bonemeal is an excellent type of fertilizer for potatoes in the fall, and it also improves the taste of the product. And at this time it is useful to fertilize the earth with superphosphate and potato kemira,with this all-purpose potato fertilizer.

Wood ash should be mentioned as a natural nutrient ideal for potatoes. In addition to feeding, it also protects against many diseases and decay. So it is best to start with ash and nitrophoska, and then look at the results. Too much fertilizer is bad for plants.

The best varieties of potatoes

For planting it is better to take varietal tubers. They are more expensive than random ones, but they guarantee good taste and a he althy harvest.

At any summer cottage there are always early ripening potato bushes, which can be dug up from the middle of summer. Among the early varieties can be distinguished, such as Timo, Ariel, Lark, Bullfinch, Luck, as well as medium-early ones - Madam and Prizewinner.

Sineglazka, once a popular white-fleshed cultivar, has low potential and is considered fodder in Europe.

For those who care about their he alth, we can safely recommend varieties such as Dutch Mona Lisa, Fresco, Romano, German Arosa, Rosara, Felox, Finnish Timo, Asterix. These varieties are rich in carotene, which improves eyesight.

And you can also safely focus on your taste. Scientists have found that tasty varieties contain much more amino acids, nucleotides and fatty acids!

In the competition for the best taste, the championship is held by such varieties as Borodyansky pink, Bullfinch, Adretta, Aurora, Blueberry, Vesnyanka, Temp.

The variety Zhukovsky is especially worth highlighting. Potatoes are classified as early varieties,grows well at low temperatures. It is resistant to many diseases, has a smooth skin, has a long shelf life and tastes great.

Bellarosa potatoes, bred by German breeders, are recommended for cultivation in Eastern Europe. This is an early variety, it can be dug up already on the 45th day. It is very profitable: the yield of potatoes from 1 hectare is 400 centners!

Variety Bellarosa is almost not susceptible to pests, not picky about moisture, resistant to drought, grows on any soil except heavy clay, no loss during storage (93%). It has large even tubers, excellent taste and high friability.

How to properly store potatoes

When storing potatoes, it is very important not to let the tubers rot or begin to sprout. Therefore, it is better to store it in a cold and dry room, which is well ventilated.

Especially you need to be careful in the spring, when the tubers lose their mass, their appearance worsens and the amount of vitamins decreases. During this period, potatoes should be monitored and regularly checked for spoilage.

The process of storing potatoes can be conditionally divided into 3 stages.

1. Keep in storage for two weeks at t^o +15^{o. In this case, the tubers heal, and moisture partially leaves them.}
2. Until the end of winter, potatoes seem to “sleep”, the best t^o for storage - from 3 to 5^oС.
3. With the onset of spring, the tubers begin to prepare for germination. At that timestorage temperature can be increased by several degrees.

Potato is the breadwinner

There are a number of steps that cannot be eliminated when growing potatoes. A business plan for its production on a small area (about 0.3 hectares) for your farm and sales on the market involves several stages.

First of all, you need to prepare material for planting. Then you need to carry out all the necessary preparatory work with the soil, only after that you can proceed to planting potatoes.

Then follow the stages of hilling and fertilization. It is also necessary to take care of protection against diseases and pests. Harvesting is also a difficult stage of work, after which there are two last steps: packaging and ensuring storage.

To do this, you must have at least minimal equipment. This minimum includes, first of all, a mini-tractor. The kit must necessarily include a hiller and a plow. Of course, there must be a body for the tractor. Don't forget to get a digging device. It will need to be attached to a mini tractor.

It's good to consider one interesting detail: washed, dried and neatly packaged potatoes are sold on the market for about twice as much as dirty, hastily loaded into ordinary gray and unattractive bags.

Given this circumstance, you can seriously increase your income not only due to the packaging of your own potatoes. It is quite possible to organize packaging of beautifully prepared potatoes from other producers. You can, in principle, build your ownbusiness.

This will require certain conditions to be met:

• availability of permanent water supply;
• large containers for washing potatoes;
• room where it can be dried;
• large scales;
• bags for packaging and labels for them.

Thus, you can organize your own potato business from scratch and make it profitable.