Optimising Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Cultivation by Selection of Proper Soils

In Zambia, potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivation is ranked the third most important among root and tuber crops after cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) and sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.). In spite of its importance, the productivity and cultivation of potato remain low. In the light of this, a survey was conducted in Mbala district to obtain and document farmers’ knowledge on potato cultivation and understand the constraints associated with potato cultivation and management. Four agricultural camps in Mbala district were purposefully sampled due to the high potato cultivation activity. Data were collected from 116 potato farmers through structured questionnaires and focus group discussions. Results showed that three major constraints in potato cultivation were white grub (Phyllophaga spp.), foliar wilts (Ralstonia spp. and Verticillium spp.) and seed source, with a farmer-ranked mean-derived score of 3.75, 3.5 and 2.75, respectively. Farmers ascribed 70% crop damage to white grub (Phyllophaga spp.) and 60% crop damage to foliar wilts (Ralstonia spp. and Verticillium spp.). Other information obtained indicated that the majority of the farmers (>85%) were married, above 35 years and had at least primary education. The majority of the farmers involved in the study had less than 0.25 ha under potato production. To reduce the cultivation constraints for increased potato production in Mbala, direct breeding efforts, potato crop protection and other measures need to be employed.

Organic farming is an alternative system to conventional agriculture. Organic farming tries to produce enough food with high quality, while maintaining stability and sustainability in long term in the entire world. Among other crops, potato has one of the most extensive distributions in food consumption after wheat, barley and rice in the world, and has been in core attention for improving quality and quantity of its production. Cultivation of organic potato is becoming one of the most important goals of agricultural policy. But statistics shows that farmers are facing many challenges to expand area under cultivation of organic products, especially cultivation of organic potato. Thus the main objective of this research is to study the development and acceptance of cultivation of organic potato in Iran using a descriptive survey. The statistical population of this study consisted of all potato planters in Friedan township (N = 14,000). Two hundred farmers have been selected based on Cochran formula. Q Data was collected by questionnaires, which validity was confirmed by expert opinion of the professors of the department of Agricultural Extension and Education of the University of Tehran. Reliability was confirmed by Cronbach’s alpha (0.77–0.91). SPSS statistical software has also been used for data analysis. Based on the results of factor analysis, effective variables on development and acceptance cultivation of organic potato are grouped in six general factors such as technical-training, marketing, creditability, supervision, training and participation; and these variables determine 66/56 % of total variance. Data show that potato cannot be cultivated organically in the studied region (Freidan township). Consumption fertilizer and pesticide for producing potato amounts to about three times the allowable rate. However organic cultivation of potato is feasible.

Plant-parasitic nematodes are one of the causes of yield loss in potato cultivation. Currently, information on the diversity, abundance, and dominance of potato parasitic nematode genera is not available. This research aimed to determine the pattern of distribution, abundance, and dominance of parasitic nematode genera on potato plant (Solanum tuberosum) in Wonosobo and Banjarnegara Districts at various altitudes i.e.: 1,250--1,500; 1,500--1,750; 1,750--2,000; and 2,000--2,250 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.). Soil rhizosphere and root samples were collected, and nematodes were extracted using the Whitehead tray modification technique. The nematodes were adjusted with Formalin Acetic acid Alchohol (FAA), mounted, and identified based on morphological characters. The diversity index was determined to distinguish plant-parasitic nematode diversity. Six genera of potato plant-parasitic nematodes were found, namely Meloidogyne, Hirschmanniella, Globodera, Criconemoides, Helicotylenchus, and Xiphinema. The highest population of plant-parasitic nematodes was found at 1,250–1,500 m.a.s.l. from both root and soil samples. The nematode populations were 56.67 nematodes/5 g root and 103.33 nematodes/100 g of soil. The abundance of parasitic nematodes did not differ significantly among different altitudes in both districts. The dominant parasitic nematodes in soil samples were Meloidogyne with 16.78%, while Globodera was 13.98%. The Shannon-Wiener index implied that the diversity of parasitic nematodes of potato plants and stability of community in Wonosobo and Banjarnegara Districts were categorized as low.

Land capability is governed by the different land attributes such as the types of soil, underlying geology, topography, hydrology, and etc. This study was conducted in order to study of soil genesis of Anarak region in Fars province. Using the findings of the semi-detailed soil studies for this area, 8 land units were selected. Results showed that climate and topography are two important soil forming factors affecting genesis, characteristics, and classification of soils. Soils of study area were classified as Calcixerepts, Haploxerepts (Inceptisols) and Xerorthents (Entisols). Moreover, land suitability evaluation study for some crops including irrigated wheat, barley and potato was carried out in the study area. Qualitative evaluation was carried out by means of parametric methods (Storie and Square root) and comparing land and climate characteristics with crop needs. Results of this investigation showed that the most important limiting factors in wheat and barley productions in study area included physical properties. Limiting factors in potato yield in the region along included soil physical properties and fertility. The land indices obtained for Barley was higher in comparison to irrigated wheat and potato. Minimum values of land indices observed in potato crop. It can be showed that the cultivation of potato cannot be recommended for this area.

Global climate change is causing notable shifts in the environmental suitability of the main regions involved in potato cultivation and has, thus, changed the production potential of potatoes. These shifts can be mapped at fine scales to better understand climate change within areas of potato cultivation and to find infrastructural- and breeding-based solutions. As a case study, we have identified and mapped the structural and spatial shifts that occurred in areas suitable for potato cultivation in Jilin Province, China. We identified a discontinuity in climate change trends between 1961 and 2018 based on data for Jilin Province, and analyzed the averages and linear trends for six important climatic parameters. We used the averages of these climatic parameters to establish climate models for the province and determined cultivation using a multi-criteria, decision-based model that integrates Analytical Hierarchy Process Weighted Principal Component Analysis (AHP-PCA) and Geographic Information System (GIS). We mapped the environmentally suitable areas for potato cultivation at a 3-km resolution based on the geo-climate model for each time period and analyzed differences between them. We found that "Most suitable” areas for potato cultivation were mainly distributed in the central area of Jilin Province, “Suitable” areas were located in the northwestern plains, and “Sub-suitable” areas were located in the eastern mountainous areas. In contrast, “Not suitable” areas occur mainly in the high-altitude areas in the east. The areas of “Most suitable” and “Suitable” areas for potato cultivation in Jilin Province were increasing, with increasing rates of 0.37 × 1,000 km2 decade−1 (R2 = 0.58, P < 0.01) and 0.20 × 1,000 km2 decade−1 (R2 = 0.28, P < 0.01), respectively, while the extent of “Sub-suitable” areas is decreasing, with a decreasing rate of 0.58 × 1,000 km2 decade−1 (R2 = 0.53, P < 0.05). The area of “Not suitable” areas had undergone little change. “Most suitable” and “Suitable” areas for potato cultivation showed a trend towards northward expansion. Overall, our results suggest that global climate change has had a positive impact on potato cultivation in Jilin Province over the past 58 years.

Contract farming has become an essential institution for modern value chains but with controversies. Hence, the present study sought to understand whether contract farming is a boon or a bane for farmers. To unravel this, 120 farmers were sampled from the Moga district of Punjab state, India. The data was subjected to inferential analysis, profitability analysis, and qualitative discussion. It was found that areas under potato cultivation, potato farming experience, and having a secondary school education positively affect farmers’ decision to participate in contract farming. The profitability estimates revealed that potato cultivation under no contract is more profitable than cultivation under a contract. Likewise, the impact assessment revealed that contract farming negatively affects farmer’s gross returns. The qualitative discussion revealed myriad terms and conditions followed by the potato farmers under contract, including pre-price fixation, written contract, farm size requirement, quality and quantity requirement, input supply, no credit, farm visits, and cheque payment. Therefore, compensation in the event of crop failures, the provision of crop insurance, credit facilities, and advance payments needs immediate attention from policymakers.

ABSTRACTIn this paper, a comprehensive overview was conducted on machine vision in potato cultivation, harvesting, and storage. Common weeds and diseases encountered during potato cultivation were summarized, and the advantages and disadvantages of various detection methods were compared. Additionally, methods for soil clod separation and tuber damage detection during harvesting were reviewed, along with a comparative analysis of their strengths and weaknesses. Furthermore, the defect grading and sprouting detection methods during storage were discussed. While machine vision technology shows good detection ability in potato cultivation, harvesting, and storage, further research is still needed to enhance the accuracy and adaptability of these methods, ultimately promoting the development of the potato industry.

Adaptation red potato planted on medium altitude in Bengkulu upland in order to correct land suitability classification based on criteria of land characteristics/quality. The research was conducted from July to October 2009, Kepahiang, Bengkulu located in 4 (four) experimental stations; medium altitude which located in Kelobak 525 m (up sea level, usl) and Pematang Donok, 650 m usl comparing location in Tugu Rejo 1135 m usl and Bandung Baru 1346 usl. Temperature in high altitude on Bengkulu upland was 22.3 oC in Bandung Baru and 23.5 oC in Tugu Rejo. In highland Bengkulu, land suitability class was Marginally Suitable (S3t) around Bandung Baru, while around Tugu Rejo, and medium altitude of upland Bengkulu around Kelobak and Pematang Donok with average temperature 24.8 oC categorized Permanently Non Suitable (N2t). Following the result of red potato adaptation research, there was no significantly diference among 4 (four) experimental location of potato yields in which yield of potato in Bandung Baru was 16.7 tons ha-1, Tugu Rejo was 15.5 ton ha-1, and yield of red potato in medium altitude of Bengkulu upland in Kelobak was 15.4 tons ha-1 and Pematang Donok was 19.3 tons ha-1. Based on those, temperature as a limiting factor for potato growth was the same suitable for red potato cultivation in the high and medium altitude of Bengkulu upland. Criteria of land sutability classification for potato cultivation in medium altitude of Bengkulu upland categorized N2t, Permanently Unsuitable should be corrected because of medium altitude of upland in Bengkulu high potential to develop as area for red potato cultivation. Key words: temperature, land suitability classification, red potato.

A condução de cultivos em condições de baixa previsibilidade da variabilidade climática pode ser considerado como um elemento de redução expressiva dos resultados de produção. A batata é definida como uma cultura sensível ao frio intenso, e no Sul do Brasil o ciclo de cultivo pode ocorrer em período de risco de eventos de geada. O estudo objetivou avaliar os riscos de ocorrência de geadas de diferentes intensidades durante o ciclo de desenvolvimento da cultura da batata em Guarapuava-PR, em diferentes períodos de cultivo nas distintas fases do ENOS. Utilizou-se série histórica de dados climáticos de 43 anos, entre 1976 e 2018. As análises foram realizadas com estatística descritiva utilizando-se índices de porcentagem e normalização de conjunto de dados. Os dados foram agrupados em períodos decendiais para os meses de agosto a outubro e março a maio, em que existe frequência de geadas e possibilidade de lavouras de batata em desenvolvimento no campo. Dentre os principais resultados verificou-se que o período de plantio, com minimização dos riscos de ocorrência de geadas para a cultura na região de Guarapuava, é compreendido entre 21 de setembro e 31 de janeiro em ambas as fases do ENOS, El Niño e La Niña e neutralidade climática. De forma geral o cultivo de batata em anos de neutralidade está sujeito à maiores riscos de perdas por ocorrência de geadas quando comparados com o plantio em anos de fenômeno El Niño e La Niña.

Potato is one of the most important food crops in the world. Cultivation of potatoes is an important segment of the agriculture and economy as a whole in Ukraine. Bacterial diseases such as ring rot caused by Clavibacter sepedonicus, as well as soft rot and blackleg caused by Pectobacterium atrosepticum evoke tremendous losses of the potato crop. Stored seed tubers are the main source of accumulating pathogens in latent form. In addition, potato crop yield and quality are significantly affected by weather conditions. Along with affecting potatoes directly, meteorological factors such as air temperature and humidity can also impact tuber infestation with bacterial pathogens. The aim of the study was to monitor the prevalence of bacterial ring rot pathogen C. sepedonicus and soft rot pathogen P. atrosepticum in potato tubers on the territory of Ukraine in 2020 and 2021 years and assess its association with different weather conditions. Methods. Potato seed lots from newly harvested crops in eight regions of Ukraine (Odesa, Kyiv, Donetsk, Kherson, Cherkasy, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zhytomyr regions) without visual symptoms of diseases were used for the experiments. The detection of C. sepedonicus and P. atrosepticum was conducted by the immunochemical method DAS ELISA. Basal meteorological data (the sum of precipitation (mm/month) and average air temperature (°C) were obtained from the local meteorological stations. The amplitude of air temperature and the sum of precipitation during potato planting, growing, and harvesting seasons, as well as Sielianinov’s hydrothermal coefficient (K) were additionally calculated. The Spearman correlation coefficient was used for the analysis of the correlation between pathogen prevalence and weather parameters. Results. Both ring rot pathogen C. sepedonicus and soft rot pathogen P. atrosepticum were detected in potato lots from all surveyed regions, but the prevalence of latent infestation varied between 2020 and 2021. In 2020, the highest soft rot pathogen prevalence values were registered for Mykolaiv, Kyiv, and Cherkasy regions (21.7, 10.5, and 10% respectively), where high rainfall levels in May and June were observed. In 2021, potato planting, growing, and harvesting seasons were marked by significantly higher precipitation levels, as compared to 2020, in all regions. Average occurrence values for P. atrosepticum in potato lots were 1.7 times higher than that in 2020. The highest prevalence (40%) was observed in the Donetsk region with extremely high air humidity during the potato growing period. Strong positive correlation (r = 0.721) was found between soft rot pathogen prevalence and K coefficients during the potato growing season, as well as between P. atrosepticum prevalence and the sum of precipitation during planting and early growing seasons. Prevalence of ring rot pathogen didn’t differ significantly in 2020 and 2021. The highest C. sepedonicus prevalence was observed in 2020 in the Kyiv region (18.9%), and in 2021 — in the Donetsk region (20%). A moderate positive correlation (r = 0.591) was found between pathogen prevalence and air temperature during planting and early growing season. Conclusions. Weather factors such as air temperature and humidity over the planting and early growing potato season can influence progeny tuber infestation with P. atrosepticum and C. sepedonicus. Knowledge of the effect of the changing weather conditions on the susceptibility of potato varieties with different genetic features to infestation with soft rot and ring rot pathogens warrants future investigation since it is crucially important for developing measures for disease control by potato producers.

In Africa, cultivation of potato (Solanum tuberosum) represents an important food source and income generation. However, its productivity is constrained by biotic and abiotic stresses. Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is an important constraint to the world potato industry. In Kenya, the disease affects 77% of potato farms causing yield losses of up to 100%. Control methods are limited mainly due to the broad diversity and wide spread of its pathogen. Understanding the population structure and geographical distribution of this pathogen is an important starting point in the development of effective control strategies. In this study, R. solanacearum strains affecting potato cultivation in Nakuru county were successfully isolated and characterized. Kelman’s triphenyl tetrazolium chloride media were used to isolate the pathogen and 20 isolates were selected based on their virulence for further characterization and confirmation of their status at the molecular level through polymerase chain reaction using 759/760 primers and sequencing of partial endoglucanase (egl) gene. The phylogenetic assay was done using specific primers and it was found that the phylogenetic diversity was highly heterogeneous, since all the four phylotypes of R. solanacearum were identified. Phylotype I was the most prevalent phylotype and represented 50% of the collection. Based on their ability to utilize sugars and alcohols, all the isolates were grouped as biovar III except 2 (Rs18 and Rs49). The aggressiveness of isolated bacteria was then evaluated using a hypersensitive reaction test on tobacco and their virulence was further confirmed on a susceptible potato variety Shangi under greenhouse conditions. All isolates elicited a reaction in tobacco with different grades. They also showed varying levels of virulence with Rs6 isolate being the most virulent. Taken together, these findings provide baseline information for improvement programs targeting host-based resistance to multiple strains causing bacterial wilt of potato in this region. Keywords: Bacterial wilt, Biovar, hypersensitive reaction, pathogenicity, phylotype, potato, Ralstonia solanacearum.

Degradation of harvested tubers due to water loss, sprouting, and disease can cause severe economic difficulties in the cultivation of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum). This study evaluated the storage losses of new varieties of potato and determined the sprouting dates of potatoes stored at different temperatures. Additionally, this study evaluated the influence of weather conditions during the vegetative growth period on the date of sprouting in storage. After storage at three different temperatures (3, 5, and 8 °C), we estimated natural losses and losses caused by sprouting or the development of disease. The potato varieties stored at 3 °C, and 5 °C had similar weight losses (8.8% and 9.3%, respectively), but the potatoes stored at 8 °C had higher losses (10.8%). The average potato losses caused by disease ranged from 0.6% to 10%. The onset of sprouting of potatoes stored at 8 °C depended on the variety and began in the 20 day of December. Storage at 5 °C delayed sprouting by about 50 days compared with storage at 8 °C. Weather conditions (hot and rainy) during vegetative growth of the plants also influenced sprouting date, natural losses, and the amount of disease during storage. Our data showed a significant correlation between the hydrothermal coefficient during the vegetative period and the date of sprouting of potatoes during storage.

The soil suitability grades are classifying as soil series by judging the potential productivity of the soil based on the yield of crops. The soil suitability grade is divided into four grades, which are very suitable, suitable, possible, and not suitable areas. The reason for classifying the grades is to help farmers in selecting crops to grow in consideration of the characteristics of the soil. Among the soil characteristics used previously to set the soil suitability grade of 66 crops, the five most common characteristics selected. As for the crop it applied as the determinant, the bracken with the largest number of plots selected among the crops excluding the crops with the crop exclusion criteria registered with the agricultural business. The relationship between yield and soil characteristics confirmed by examining the cultivated yield of local bracken and the soil characteristics of the plots. For subsoil, the highest yield was shown when the sub-soil texture were loam and silty loam with a clay content of 15 - 35%, the drainage grade was slightly poor, the available soil depth was >100 cm, the gravel content was 15 - 35%, and the slope was >30%. Based on this, the partial correlation coefficient was calculated. As a result, the drainage grade was the highest at 0.22, indicating the greatest influence. The corresponding soil suitability grade was applied to the soil characteristics of 1,361 phases in Korea to obtain the predicted value for the soil specific factors. The predicted values ​​ranged from 35 - 73 kg ha-1, with 92 very suitable areas, 487 suitable areas, 421 possible areas, and 361 not suitable areas.The soil suitability grades map of bracken in Korea. Based on the relationship value between the detailed soil characteristics and yield of bracken through a soil survey on the yield and the bracken cultivation fields.

Field trials were conducted on sandy loam soil of Adisaptagram Block Seed Farm, Hooghly, West Bengal, India during three consecutive winter seasons of 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2012-13 to study the possibilities of calcium application in different proportions with primary nutrients in potato cultivation under irrigated conditions. The results indicated that all the biometrical parameters showed higher values when the potato crop received recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) (200:66:124 kg N, P and K ha-1 respectively) plus 120 kg Ca ha-1 at planting which differed significantly from all other treatments tried in this investigation. Average yield of tuber was maximum (26.25 t ha-1) with RDF + 120 kg calcium application per ha at planting followed by RDF + 80 kg Ca (25.01 t ha-1). Higher dry matter content (15.14%) was obtained with RDF plus split application of Ca i.e. 40 kg at planting and remaining 40 kg at earthing up at par to 80 and 120 kg Ca at planting. On the other hand, yield of skin damaged tuber was higher (1.24 t ha-1) under the treatment having RDF + 40 kg calcium in two equal splits i.e. 20 kg at planting and 20 kg ha-1 at earthing up closely followed by RDF + 80 kg Ca ha-1, either single or split application (1.22 t ha-1). Therefore, combined application of RDF + Calcium (80-120 kg ha-1) has been proved to be the best option to get higher tuber yield of potato with good quality characteristics and higher monetary advantage. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/sja.v12i1.21119 SAARC J. Agri., 12(1): 127-138 (2014)

Protecting groundwater against pollution from agricultural sources is a key aspect of sustainable management of soil and water resources. Implementation of sustainable strategies for agricultural production can be supported by modeling tools, which allow us to quantify the effects of different agricultural practices in the context of groundwater vulnerability to contamination. In this study we present a method to assess groundwater vulnerability to nitrate pollution based on a combination of the SWAT agro-hydrological model and the DRASTIC index method. SWAT modeling was applied to assess different scenarios of agricultural practices and identify solutions for sustainable management of soil and groundwater and reduction of nitrate pollution. The developed method was implemented for groundwater resources in a study area (Puck Bay region, southern Baltic coast), which represented a complex multi-aquifer system formed in Quaternary fluvioglacial deposits (sand and gravel) separated by moraine tills. In order to investigate the effects of different agricultural practices, 12 scenarios have been defined, which were grouped into four classes: crop type, fertilizer management, tillage, and grazing. An overlay index structure was applied, and ratings and weights to several factors were assigned. All analyses were processed using GIS tools, and the results are presented in the form of maps, which categorize groundwater vulnerability to nitrate pollution into five classes, ranging from very low to very high. The results reveal significant variability in groundwater vulnerability to nitrate pollution in the study area. Agricultural practices have a very strong influence on groundwater vulnerability by controlling both recharge rates and nitrogen losses from the soil profile. The most pronounced increases in vulnerability were associated with scenarios involving excessive fertilization and intensive grazing. Among crop types, potato cultivation appears to pose the greatest risk to groundwater quality.