Potato Production and Precision
Agriculture
By: Courtney Whitacre
What we discuss
 History of Potatoes
 Types of Potatoes
 Cultivation
 Planting
 Fertilization
 Diseases
 Insects
 Harvesting
 Storage
 Benefits of Precision Agriculture
History of Potatoes
 Cool-season crop, requiring at least 180 frost free days
 Require fertile, well-drained, sandy-loam soils
 Grown in 36 states: Most profitable are Idaho,
Washington, and Wisconsin**
 Although Oklahoma does not grow a large amount of
potatoes they do grow some in the panhandle.
Types of Potatoes
 Red Skinned
 Red Skinned
 Viking
 White Skin
Kennedec
 Superior
 Russet
 Norgold
 Burbank
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Cultivation
 The soil should be loose, friable (which improves soil tuber
set and development of smooth, well-shaped and even
colored potatoes)
 The only reason to be in the field should be to maintain
weeds, keep soil hilled-up and aid in water penetration and
soil aeration.
Planting
 Planting usually starts in late April and ends in September.
 The soil should be about 45 degress
 Rows are usually 36 inches part and 4 inches deep**
 It is very important the seed is placed properly to insure
optimal tuber set.
 The planter also needs to be cleaned and disinfected
periodically to decrease disease potential.
Fertilizer Application
 Rather than soil sampling petal samples are taken (Leaf
samples)
 pH can be as low as 5.0
 Heavy amounts of nitrogen are necessary
 Plants uptake about 200-240 lbs during tuber bulking stage
 Once the potato vines get to full bloom the fertilizer must be
distributed through the irrigation pivots or sprinklers
 Nutrient uptake usually is slow during the early growth
stages, but increase rapidly as the tubers bulk in size, then
slow again during plant maturity.
Disease
 Most common-Early Blight
 Verticillium wilt
 Common Scab
 Black leg
 Root Knot Nematode
 Most of the diseases can be
managed by crop rotation
and checking the crop
often for early diagnoses.
Insects
 Colorado Potato Beetle- attacks young foliage causeing
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defoliation
Cutworms- Feed on the seed tubers
Flea beetles- Feed on the leaves and quickly cause defoliation
Leaf Hoppers- Feed on underside of leaves and with toxic
saliva cause leaf spotting
Blister Beetles- Feed on the tips of plants causing leaf ragging
Green Peach Aphid- cause high damage by removing sap
Wireworms- hard slender bodies that feed on tuber seeds
and underground stems during the spring
Insects Cont.
 In order to reduce insect resistance it is important to keep
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good records of insect populations and insecticide application
Rotate insecticides used
Use insecticides at labeled rate
Use some of the new insecticidal chemistries
Scouting and make insecticide applications only when needed
Its very important to identify each insect and control it at
each life stage.
Harvesting
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DFTmi8SZZc
 Before the harvester goes in the vines are usually dead and
sometimes they can be cut off to make it easier for the
harvester.
 The harvester digs and loads the potatoes onto trucks for
transport to where the tubers are washed, graded, and sized
for bulk marketing.
 It is very important that the tubers are handled carefully in
order to minimize bruising, rots, cracks, and skinning.
Storage
 Tubers are living, respiring, biologically active organisms that
require proper storing to preserve the same quality as
harvested.
 A proper storage facility has a lateral wall that can support
that weight of a pile
 A good insulation and moisture barrier
 Air circulation system
 Equipment to supply moisture if needed
 Sensors and controllers to allow maintance while no one is
present.
Precision Agriculture
 One item that could be very beneficial would be a tractor
that not only cut the tubers to proper and symmetrical shape,
but then planted them. This would cut back on handling
which would lower the level of disease.
 By making it one solid motion from cutting to planting the
seeds have a better chance of optimal germination and fight
against diseases that are active in the soil.
 With the GPS available it is necessary for the grower to drive
the field before planting and take accurate nutrient
measurements and apply appropriate amounts where needed.
Questions?????