Soil factors affecting the germination of potatoes left on the field after harvest.

Abstract

Laboratory tests simulating field conditions with potato cv. Bintje showed that damaged tubers were more susceptible to rotting than healthy tubers and rotting occurred most readily in wetter soils. Crushing tubers resulted in a higher number of sprouts/tuber particularly when tubers were not buried deeply and the ability of uncrushed tubers to grow in loose soil decreased only slowly after 6 weeks. With increased soil compaction, germination decreased and growth of sprouts in the soil was impeded. In well-drained soils with good structure, deeper burial did not reduce germination although the later emergence resulted in weaker plants. It was concluded that soil temperature, soil water content, degree of tuber crushing, tillage operations and weather conditions all influenced tuber survival and that the soil environment immediately around the tuber was more important than overall soil structure. The success of crushing in inhibiting tuber survival was dependent on other factors and it was suggested that increasing the chances of simultaneous rotting and freezing was most promising. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)