Farming (Agronomy)
Pre-Planting / Pre-Sowing Guidance
5 December 2025
Pre-Planting / Pre-Sowing Care
This stage is crucial for ensuring a healthy start by preparing the soil and seed material.
Soil Testing and Correction:
Conduct a soil test to determine nutrient (N, P, K) and pH levels. Potatoes prefer slightly acidic soil pH (5.2 to 6.4).
Apply Well-Decomposed Farm Yard Manure (FYM) or compost during the final ploughing for improved soil structure and fertility.
Deep Land Preparation:
Plough the land deeply (20-25 cm) to ensure a loose, friable seedbed free of clods.This allows for unrestricted tuber development and proper aeration.
Crop Rotation:
Ensure the field has not grown potatoes or related crops (tomato, brinjal) for at least 2-3 years. This is essential to suppress soil-borne pests like Nematodes (especially Potato Cyst Nematode) and White Grubs.
Seed Preparation and Treatment:
Use only disease-free seed tubers, ideal size 30-45 mm).
De-sprout (remove long, weak sprouts) and keep tubers in a well-lit, cool area (diffused light) for chitting (developing short, robust sprouts) 10-15 days before planting.
Treat seed tubers with a recommended fungicides before sowing to protect against soil and tuber-borne diseases like Black Scurf and Dry Rot.
Fertilizer Application:
Apply the full dose of Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) and a portion of Nitrogen (N) as a basal dose during the final land preparation or at planting.
This stage is crucial for ensuring a healthy start by preparing the soil and seed material.
Soil Testing and Correction:
Conduct a soil test to determine nutrient (N, P, K) and pH levels. Potatoes prefer slightly acidic soil pH (5.2 to 6.4).
Apply Well-Decomposed Farm Yard Manure (FYM) or compost during the final ploughing for improved soil structure and fertility.
Deep Land Preparation:
Plough the land deeply (20-25 cm) to ensure a loose, friable seedbed free of clods.This allows for unrestricted tuber development and proper aeration.
Crop Rotation:
Ensure the field has not grown potatoes or related crops (tomato, brinjal) for at least 2-3 years. This is essential to suppress soil-borne pests like Nematodes (especially Potato Cyst Nematode) and White Grubs.
Seed Preparation and Treatment:
Use only disease-free seed tubers, ideal size 30-45 mm).
De-sprout (remove long, weak sprouts) and keep tubers in a well-lit, cool area (diffused light) for chitting (developing short, robust sprouts) 10-15 days before planting.
Treat seed tubers with a recommended fungicides before sowing to protect against soil and tuber-borne diseases like Black Scurf and Dry Rot.
Fertilizer Application:
Apply the full dose of Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) and a portion of Nitrogen (N) as a basal dose during the final land preparation or at planting.
Tags
Potato Planting Potato Sowing
