Improving potato cultivation practices: an overview

Description

Environmental and food safety concerns are driving potato research towards the development of sustainable practices. Soil and planting management, as well as cultivation practices, are directly related to increased marketable yield and quality and are of great importance for quick crop emergence, better growth and quality. Based on research and development in India and abroad, this chapter explores the adoption of production technologies by potato growers in the Indo-Gangetic plains. The chapter provides an overview of potato cultivation in India before considering techniques of soil management, seed bed preparation and planting, and potato cultivation. The chapter then moves on to consider the contribution of green manures and cover crops to potato nutrient management, as well as the impact of irrigation, mechanisation and conservation agriculture.

Table of contents

1 Introduction 2 Potato cultivation in India 3 Soil management 4 Seed bed preparation and planting 5 Cultivation 6 Nutrient management: green manures and cover crops 7 Irrigation 8 Mechanisation 9 Conservation agriculture 10 Conclusion 11 Where to look for further information 12 References