GROWING POTATOES : FIELD PREPARATION AND FERTILIZATION
Once a site for growing potatoes has been selected it is essential that the soil be tested. You should know that height level of pH can result in disease problem from scab.
If soil is required to raise the pH, it is better to apply the lime before the rotation or cover crop is planned.
If need apply the lime in small amounts on a regular basis, to maintain the pH in range of 0.5 to 5.5 if common scab is a problem.
Follow recommendation from the soil test archive height yield.
Usually crop requires 125 to 150 pounds of nitrogen per acre, with 50 pounds being broadcast and disked in prior to planting and the rest being band-places with the planter.
It is very important that nitrogen not be over applied because excessive rates can depress yields, delay maturity, and decrease of quality of the tubers.
Phosphorus, potassium and magnesium are also important nutrients and should be applied based on soil test.
Crowers with lighter soil should reduce the application rate at planting and apply the balance of the fertilizer as an early side dress before plants are 8 inches tall.
Prior to planning, the fields should be plowed, disked and harrowed, leaving the surface fairly smooth, yet loose.
Be sure to check field records for previous use of residual herbicides that could harm the potato crop.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=e0599389-fead-4d39-b3ae-88f6765c07f2)
