Potato Crop Care Complete Guide  Diseases,Pests, Nutrition & High-Yield Farming System

Potato is a shallow-rooted, high-starch, cold-season crop.
It responds dramatically to soil structure, seed quality, disease pressure and temperature.
A small mistake in irrigation, seed treatment or blight management can destroy 60–100% yield within days.

This guide provides world-standard potato crop care from soil to storage.

1. Climate & Temperature Requirements

Potato performs best when:

Day temperature: 18–22°C

Night temperature: 10–15°C

Humidity: 60–70%

Soil temperature: 15–20°C for tuber formation

If temperature rises above 28°C, tuber formation slows or stops.
If temperature drops below 8°C, vegetative growth becomes slow.

High humidity → Late Blight outbreak
High rainfall → Tuber rot + Black scurf

2. Soil Preparation & Bed Design

Potato needs loose, well-drained, aerated soil.
Hard soil = deformed tubers + poor size.
Wet soil = rotting + fungal attack.

Ideal Soil Structure

Sandy loam / loam

Good organic matter

pH 5.5–6.5

Zero waterlogging

Recommended Soil Boost

Per acre:

3–4 tons FYM

200–300 kg neem cake

25–30 kg gypsum (for uniform tuber shape)

Trichoderma compost mixture

40–50 kg biochar

Raised beds give the best results as they:

Prevent waterlogging

Increase aeration

Improve tuber expansion

Reduce scab infection

3. Seed Tuber Treatment: MOST IMPORTANT STEP

Potato me disease seed ke through hi aata hai, isliye healthy seed tuber is everything.

Select only:

30–45 mm size

Uniform skin

No cracks

No disease spots

Sprout 0.5–1.0 cm long

Seed Treatment (World Standard)

Wash seed tubers

Air dry

Treat with:

Trichoderma powder

Pseudomonas fluorescens

Light fungicide dip (if allowed in region)

Cure seeds for 24 hours

This step alone saves 50% disease risk.

4. Planting & Spacing

Spacing:

60 cm × 20 cm

For large tubers: 60 × 25 cm

Depth:
5–7 cm only.
Too deep = delayed emergence + weak growth.

Mulching:
Organic mulch reduces weeds, moisture stress and early blight spread.

5. Irrigation Management

Potato hates:

Excess water

Irregular irrigation

Irrigation schedule:

1. Emergence stage:
   Light irrigation only.
2. Vegetative stage:
   Regular moisture, no stress.
3. Tuber initiation stage:
   This is the MOST IMPORTANT stage.
   Water shortage here → very small tubers.
4. Tuber development:
   Stable moisture, no flooding.
5. Maturity stage:
   Reduce irrigation to harden tubers before harvest.

Overwatering signs:

Yellowing

Stem rotting

Late blight outbreak

Hollow heart in tubers

6. Nutrient Management (Potato Nutrition Science)

Potato absorbs nutrients fast because it has shallow roots.

Basal Dose:

NPK (12:32:16 or equivalent)

FYM + neem cake

Gypsum for shape uniformity

Vegetative Stage:

Nitrogen for canopy

Micronutrients: Mg, Zn, B

Tuber Initiation:

Potassium-heavy feeding

Calcium + Boron prevent cracking

Tuber Development:

Potassium is KING for size

Magnesium improves starch quality

Deficiency Symptoms:

N deficiency = pale yellow

K deficiency = brown edges

Ca deficiency = tuber cracks

B deficiency = misshaped tubers

Mg deficiency = yellow veins

7. Major Potato Diseases (A–Z)

Potato is extremely disease-sensitive.
Here are the world’s main killers:

7.1 Late Blight (Most Dangerous Potato Disease)

Pathogen: Phytophthora infestans

Symptoms:

Water-soaked dark spots

White fungal growth underside

Rapid leaf death

Tuber rot

Spread:
Cold + humid + wet leaves

Care:

Perfect drainage

Morning irrigation only

Preventive fungicide rotation

Remove infected leaves immediately

Late blight can wipe out a field in 48 hours.

7.2 Early Blight (Alternaria)

Symptoms:

Concentric ring spots

Premature leaf drop

Smaller tubers

Care:

Mulching

Balanced nitrogen

Remove old lower leaves

7.3 Black Scurf (Rhizoctonia)

Symptoms:

Black crust on tubers

Poor sprouting

Weak plant growth

Care:

Seed treatment

Soil Trichoderma

Crop rotation

7.4 Common Scab (Streptomyces)

Symptoms:

Rough scabby tuber skin

No yield loss but poor market value

Care:

Maintain soil moisture

Lower soil pH

Avoid fresh manure

7.5 Bacterial Soft Rot

Symptoms:

Mushy tubers

Foul smell

Care:

Proper curing

Dry, cool storage

Avoid mechanical injury

8. Potato Pests (A–Z Complete Guide)

8.1 Potato Tuber Moth (PTM)

Damage:

Larvae bore tubers

Holes + internal rotting

Can attack storage too

Care:

Deep earthing up

Remove exposed tubers

Good storage aeration

8.2 Aphids

Primary virus carriers.

Symptoms:

Curling

Sticky leaves

Virus outbreak

Care:

Neem oil

Yellow traps

Keep field weed-free

8.3 Whiteflies

Carry potato apical leaf curl virus.

Care:

Reflective mulch

Neem

Vector-specific spray if needed

8.4 Cutworms

Cut seedlings at the base.

Care:

Deep ploughing

Night monitoring

Neem cake

8.5 Wireworms

Damage tubers inside soil.

Care:

Crop rotation

Soil solarization

Light traps

9. Earthing Up: Potato’s Most Important Field Operation

Earthing up does 5 major things:

Protects tubers from sunlight

Stops greening

Prevents tuber moth damage

Helps tuber enlargement

Improves soil aeration

Do earthing up twice:

20–25 days

40–45 days

10. Weed Control & Soil Protection

Weeds host:

Aphids

Whiteflies

Mites

Therefore:

Keep borders clean

Use mulch

Manual weeding early

11. Harvest & Storage Care

Harvest timing:

When 60–70% tops dry

Tubers skin should be firm

After harvest:

Dry in shade for 1–2 days

Grade properly

Store at 8–14°C

Zero moisture storage

12. FAQ
13. Why potato leaves suddenly blacken?
    Late blight outbreak due to moisture + humidity.
14. Why tubers crack?
    Uneven watering or calcium deficiency.
15. Why potato becomes small?
    Poor irrigation during tuber initiation.
16. Why potato rots in soil?
    Waterlogging + fungal infection.
17. Why sprouts become weak?
    Old tubers or black scurf.
18. How to get big-size tubers?
    High potassium + stable moisture.
19. Why tubers become green?
    Sun exposure (lack of earthing up).
20. Best organic spray?
    Neem + garlic fermented extract.
21. Best disease prevention?
    Mulching + weekly scouting + airflow.
22. Best yield booster?
    Perfect irrigation + potassium feeding + early blight control.

Conclusion

Potato is a sensitive crop but highly rewarding when managed scientifically.
Correct seed selection, proper soil preparation, ideal irrigation, balanced nutrition,
and preventive pest–disease care ensure maximum yield and best tuber quality.
This guide provides every major global technique a farmer needs.

✍️Farming Writers Team
Love farming Love Farmers.

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