What is the yield of potatoes from 1 hectare and how to increase it

Potatoes are one of the most common crops. It is used in cooking, for fattening livestock, for obtaining technical raw materials. And therefore, the yield of potatoes is one of its most important characteristics. We will tell you what it depends on and whether it can be increased.

What is the yield of potatoes from 1 hectare

First, let's determine what the average potato yield is.

Average indicators in Russia

For Russia, the yield indicator is considered to be about 150-200 c / ha.... However, this is an extremely average data. Depending on the variety, climatic conditions in the region, soil composition, indicators can vary greatly.

We are talking about industrial cultivation with inevitable losses and reduced labor intensity of operations for economic reasons. How many potatoes can you pick from a regular garden plot? Gardeners who spare no effort sometimes get a harvest on their acres, which is 600-650 c / ha per hectare.

In other countries

The average potato yield across the world is approximately:

• in the USA and New Zealand - 490 kg / ha;
• in Germany and Denmark - 440 c / ha;
• in Holland - 420 c / ha;
• in Australia - 400-404 c / ha.

Leaders in the post-Soviet space:

• Uzbekistan - 225 c / ha;
• Latvia - 213 c / ha;
• Armenia - 211 c / ha;
• Turkmenistan - 206 c / ha.

However, there are countries where the yield is much lower than in Russia. For example, from the post-Soviet countries, Moldova belongs to them - there, on average, it is possible to grow only 104 c / ha. In non-CIS countries, potato-growing "poor" are:

• China - 170 c / ha;
• Canada - 126 c / ha;
• Tanzania - 81 kg / ha;
• Bolivia - 60 c / ha;
• Nigeria - 38 c / ha.

However, low yields do not mean low production. For example, although China is inferior to Russia in terms of the number of potatoes per hectare, it confidently holds about 25% of the world production of this crop.

Record indicators

An absolute record for the yield of potatoes for large-scale cultivation in Europe was recorded in 2011 in Belgium. There this figure was 501 c / ha. The world record was recorded in 2010 in New Zealand: there, in several farms, it was possible to achieve a yield of 880 c / ha. As of 2019, this record has not yet been broken.

What does it depend on

What factors affect the yield of potatoes?

Planting material

For any crop, the quality and quantity of the crop depends on the seeds, and in the case of potatoes, on the tubers. When planting potatoes, consider the following points related to seed:

1. Grade. Breeders have already bred about 8 thousand varieties of potatoes. Many of them are capable of producing very high yields.
2. Seed quality. In cases where a part of the harvest is used for sowing, sooner or later the potatoes degenerate, and the yield falls. For record yields, tubers of no more than a third reproduction should be used.

Compliance with the rules of crop rotation

Getting a good harvest is unthinkable without observing crop rotation. When growing "potatoes after potatoes" in just 3-4 years, the soil will be depleted, and yields will drop to a minimum.

For industrial cultivation, the following crop rotation scheme is usually used:

1. Steam.
2. Winter rye.
3. Potatoes.
4. Wheat.
5. Green mass (oats plus vetch) for two crops.
6. Oats for grain.

In the simplest case, it is necessary to interrupt the cycles of planting potatoes with green manure: furry vetch, white mustard, winter rye, oil radish, etc.

When growing on a personal plot, it is important to ensure that the predecessors of potatoes are:

• cabbage;
• cucumbers;
• pumpkin and other melons;
• onion or garlic;
• legumes (peas, beans, etc.);
• celery;
• spinach.

Acceptable crops:

• beet;
• carrot;
• coriander and other herbs;
• radish;
• turnip.

Unacceptable predecessors are the potatoes themselves and their relatives (tomatoes, peppers, eggplants), as well as strawberries.

Correct care

High yields of potatoes are achieved with proper care. It includes the following measures:

1. Weeding regularly.
2. Hilling at least 2-3 times per season.
3. Watering at least once a week, except during the rainy season.
4. Pest control and chemical treatment of seedlings.
5. Top dressing (both pre-winter and spring), as well as summer during the growth of tubers.

Soil quality

Potatoes love loose, well-aerated soil... On heavy clay and loamy soils, it is unlikely to achieve high yields. The situation can be remedied by using fine river sand to structure the soil, as well as growing green manure as precursors. But these are half measures.

It is also important to monitor the acidity of the soil for good yields. Potatoes prefer neutral soils. If the site is acidified, liming should be carried out before planting.

Important! Decaying wood residues increase soil acidity, so sawdust should not be used for mulching.

Finally, like any crop, potatoes are responsive to soil nutrient enrichment. Therefore, for a good harvest, you should use the pre-winter introduction of organic matter (manure, peat, humus, compost) and fertilizing with mineral fertilizers.

How to increase the yield of potatoes from 1 hectare

You can increase the yield of potatoes if you use the following measures.

Agricultural rules

It is important to follow a few rules:

1. Landing on time. Potatoes should not be planted before the ground warms up to + 8 ... + 10 °. Planting dates for early, middle or late-ripening varieties depend on their biological characteristics.
2. Provide regular watering. The soil on the site should be moistened, but not wet: potatoes grow equally poorly both in dry and waterlogged areas. During the germination period, the culture needs little additional moisture - here one should beware of waterlogging. But from the appearance of buds to the end of flowering, the need for watering is acute.
3. Loosen the soil regularly by weeding and hilling.
4. Timely use herbicides and pest drugs.
5. Observe the crop rotation.

Secrets of Experienced Farmers

When growing potatoes, the following methods of obtaining a high yield are useful:

1. Increase in the number of soil bacteria. To do this, only the top layer of soil with a thickness of no more than 5 cm is dug up. Everything that is below is only loosened without turning the layer.
2. Application of fertilizers not to the area of ​​bacteria, but to the area of ​​the roots. To do this, humus, humus and minerals should be applied to the bottom of the hole or groove, and not scattered over the top in the hope that from there something will penetrate deep into the water.
3. Hilling potatoes only in heavy soils, and in loose ones, on the contrary, the formation of ridges.
4. Planting tubers in a checkerboard pattern. In this case, the bushes will not shade each other, but at the same time they all have enough room for development.

The use of any technology is important to correlate with local conditions: climate, soil type, the most common pests, etc.

Special growing technologies

There are interesting and non-standard methods of potato cultivation.

Dutch method

This method is mainly used in the cultivation of table varieties of potatoes on farms, but the technology is generally universal and can be successfully applied on household plots.

The method is as follows:

1. Only highly productive varieties are used, usually of Dutch selection (this method was developed for them).
2. Only healthy planting material is used. Tubers are selected with a size of at least 3-5 cm in diameter and with 100% germination, previously checked during pre-planting potato germination. Each tuber must have at least five eyes.
3. Before planting, the seed is treated with special preparations - first of all, with fungicides for the prevention of late blight.
4. They are planted in ridges of loose soil 25 cm high, the row spacing is made at least 65-70 cm wide. The filling is no deeper than 10-15 cm.The distance between the tubers is 30-35 cm.
5. Vermicompost or humus is added to the holes - 1-2 tbsp. l. on the tuber.
6. The beds should be as perfectly flat as possible, without depressions in which water could stagnate, but also without a slope, in order to avoid premature drainage of the site.
7. The tubers are placed in the holes with their eyes up.
8. When shoots appear, hilling is carried out, raising the ridges to 10-12 cm. At the same time, all weeds are carefully destroyed in the aisles and in the beds. After another four weeks, the ridges are brought to their full height - about 25 cm. Additional weeding is carried out as weeds appear, additional hilling is not required.
9. During the season, the site is watered at least three times: before flowering, on the 10th day after the appearance of flowers and after the end of flowering, when the growth of tubers begins.

In Holland itself, drip irrigation systems are used. In their absence, a sprinkler can be used, but very carefully, watering the potatoes only at sunrise or sunset, in order to avoid focusing drops of sunlight and burns on the leaves.

Gülich method

Gülich's method is very peculiar:

1. The site where potatoes are planned to be planted is divided into squares 1 × 1 m.
2. In the center of each of the squares, a humus roller is made, in which potatoes are planted in the hole, sprouts down.
3. When sprouts appear, soil is poured into the center of the bush so that the sprouts move apart and bent over.
4. The procedure is repeated, as a result of which a series of "pyramids" of potatoes appear on the site. Bushes grow to the sides, giving a large number of shoots and underground roots with ovaries of future tubers.
5. During growth, the site is abundantly watered and fed.

Gülich's method began to be popularized back in 1909, but it has not yet won mass recognition. The fact is that, despite its high efficiency, it is so laborious that it makes sense to use it only in small areas.

Mittlider method

This technology, developed by the American plant breeder Jacob Mittlider, was originally used for the mass cultivation of flower seedlings. However, it was quickly adapted for high-yielding potato cultivation.

The essence of the method is as follows:

1. The site is divided into ridges, each of which is cultivated for several years. Redevelopment of the site is not carried out, the paths between the ridges are not dug up. The quality of the soil in the garden is not important, the main thing is that the thickness of the soil is at least 15 cm, and it itself holds moisture well and warms up evenly. The width of the ridges is about 50 cm, the distance between them is up to 1 m.
2. Earthen bumpers are made around the ridges to retain moisture. They should be about 10 cm high.
3. Potatoes are planted in the beds. The holes are made in a checkerboard pattern in two rows. The embedment depth is 10-15 cm, the distance between the holes is about 30 cm.
4. When planting, 1 tablespoon of vermicompost is added to each hole. Potatoes are stacked with their eyes up. It is highly advisable to use sprouted potatoes.
5. When growing, the aisles are not dug up, the bushes are not spud. Mulching is acceptable.
6. Water either a little daily or using drip irrigation.

The point of Mittlider cultivation is that the plants compete with each other, but each bush has sufficient shrub light and enriched soil.

The advantage of this method is its high yield, reaching 590-600 c / ha. The disadvantage is common for similar methods: labor intensity, the need for a large amount of fertilizers and careful control over their balance.

Also, growing according to the Mittlider method requires very even beds. Otherwise, water will flow to one side, carrying dissolved nutrients with it. This can lead to both soil depletion and an oversupply of fertilizer at the bottom edge, which can be detrimental to plants.

Conclusion

There are many ways to increase the yield of potatoes. But when using any of them, you must monitor the correct crop rotation and soil composition, as well as regularly care for the plants. As a result, the spent labor will pay off in full, rewarding with a high yield.