The right time to grow potatoes is the months of Kartik and Agrahayan, the late-autumn season of Hemanta. Light sandy loam soil suits the crop, and a good variety and good seed potatoes are vital. Now is the time to plant. This article sets out how much fertiliser a bigha (33 decimals) of potato land needs, when to apply it, and what else farmers must do for a high yield.

Applying the right amount of fertiliser at the right time is essential for a good potato yield; without the correct doses you will not get a good harvest. Timely irrigation is just as important. Fertiliser is usually applied to potato land in two to three stages.

• First stage: the fertilisers are mixed into the soil while the land is ploughed before planting, and the potatoes are then planted.
• Second stage: at 24 to 25 days after planting, when the plants are earthed up (tied up again with soil).

For farmers growing Diamond and Cardinal potatoes commercially, the doses to mix into the soil while ploughing, before planting, are as follows. Per bigha (33 decimals): urea 25 kg, potash 75 kg, TSP 75 kg, gypsum 30 kg, zinc 1 kg, boron 1 kg and magnesium sulphate 8 to 10 kg. A liquid insecticide may also be applied to destroy soil insects and pathogens, but it is advisable to take advice from the local agriculture office. These fertilisers can be mixed together and broadcast over the field.

After planting, the plants are usually earthed up after two irrigations, depending on the strength of the soil. Within 24 to 25 days of planting, the soil on both sides of the plants is cut, weeds are cleared, and the second-stage fertiliser is applied. Per bigha (33 decimals): urea 25 kg, potash 25 kg, TSP 25 kg, Thiovit 1 kg, boron 1 kg and zinc 1 kg. A liquid insecticide may be applied with it, again on the advice of the local agriculture office.

These fertilisers can be mixed together and broadcast over the field. After broadcasting, the plants must be earthed up with soil from both sides, a job done with a hoe of a set size. One point needs great care: as soon as the earthing up is finished, the field must be irrigated quickly. Growers must remember that timely irrigation is essential for a good potato yield.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.