In arid mountainous areas, the choice of grain crops for cultivation is limited. However, the climate and soil conditions in these regions are suitable for growing potatoes. To achieve high potato yields, proper cultivation and management are essential. Below, we introduce the cultivation and field management techniques for potatoes in arid mountainous areas.
1. Site Selection
Choose flat terrain with deep, loose topsoil, preferably sandy loam. After harvesting the previous crop, plow deeply and finely till the soil. In the field, mark two ridges with a total width of 110cm, with widths of 70cm and 40cm, respectively. In the 70cm ridge, create a shallow trench 10cm wide, then apply fertilizer to the bottom of the ridge according to a fixed per-acre amount. Recommended fertilizers include urea (30-40kg/acre), calcium superphosphate (40-50kg/acre), and potassium sulfate (20kg/acre).
2. Variety Selection
For potato cultivation in arid mountainous areas, select high-quality, virus-free seed potato varieties such as Qingshu No. 9, Lesu No. 1, and Xiazhai 65. Choose well-shaped seeds with many eyes, bright color, smooth skin, and a weight of 30-50g. Before planting, facilitate sprouting by soaking the seed potatoes in a solution of 0.5-1ppm gibberellin or 0.1%-0.2% potassium iodide for 10-15 minutes, or soaking them in a 20% sulfuric acid solution for 20 minutes.
3. Planting
Plant rows with a spacing of 45-50cm and plant spacing of about 20cm. Cover with soil to a depth of about 8cm to prevent frost or sun damage to the tubers. Then, cover with 120cm plastic film. After about seven days of covering, perforate the film at intervals of half a meter in the ridges to facilitate water infiltration into the soil.
4. Field Management
Perform inter-row cultivation to remove weeds and increase soil temperature, promoting root and tuber development. Potatoes have rapid growth and high nutrient requirements. In addition to applying sufficient basal fertilizer, timely topdressing is important. Nitrogen fertilizer should be applied primarily during the first topdressing, using urea at a rate of 10kg/acre. For the second topdressing, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers should be used, with phosphate fertilizer applied at a rate of 20-25kg/acre and potassium fertilizer at a rate of 5-10kg/acre. Potatoes have strong branching tendencies. If planted too densely or fertilized excessively with nitrogen, excessive vegetative growth and density may hinder underground development. Pruning should be done promptly to remove diseased or weak branches, improve ventilation and light penetration, and reduce disease incidence. During the bud formation stage, remove flower buds promptly to prevent nutrient depletion and promote nutrient accumulation in tubers, thereby increasing yield.
5. Pest Control
Underground pests pose significant threats to potatoes. To control them, prepare "toxic soil" by mixing 0.5kg of 40% methyl isothiocyanate emulsifiable concentrate with 15kg of fine sand, or use 200g of Lesoben mixed with 15kg of fine sand. Apply the mixture to the soil to control underground pests at their source.
Above are the introduction and management techniques for potato cultivation in arid mountainous areas. With proper variety selection and field management, high yields can be achieved.
