Means of improwing potato growing conditions in puddled soils

Abstract

In order to improve conditions for potato bush formation and growing a timely good preparation of soil by a potato planter is not enough.A suitable fertilization and good care of the crop is needed at the same time ensuring the least possible compaction of the soil in the zone of bush formation. In order to avoid soil compaction, first of all manure fertilization should be abandoned as this technological operation is carried out in autumn after harvesting and at that moment soil moisture differs greatly from the optimum condition. Nevertheless, due to fertilizing with only mineral fertilizers humus amount in soils decreases, therefore, soil coherence and stickiness increase and at the same time the so called period of physical maturity during which the prepared soil crumbles best becomes shorter. Due to this reason it is difficult to prepare soil adequately for planting in time, if the year is rainy. Abroad more advanced technical means have been started to be used for potato planting in loamy soils and taking care of the crop ensuring more favourable conditions both for bush formation and harvesting with minimum losses and minimum costs. When using rotary implements in puddled soils it is loosened more intensely and it can be fertilized through chopping and incorporating catch crops.