Potato yield from 1 ha. Technology for the production of potatoes. Varieties (photo)

The value of this plant for Russia is difficult to overestimate. Potato is the most consumed vegetable in our country. 120-130 kg per person per year is a significant figure, and we are second only to China in potato production. This is a strategic culture that successfully ensures the country's food security .

Potato growing in Russia

One of the features of our potato production is the predominance of private farms, traditionally characterized by their low efficiency due to the high share of manual labor.

In recent years, large-scale potato production has been developing more and more actively, demonstrating a much higher yield due to the possibility of applying technologies and scientifically based norms of soil fertilizer.

Another characteristic feature of recent years is the reduction in the area allocated for growing potatoes. But the increase in yield so far allows you to fully compensate for the decrease in planting area.

However, in order to catch up with developed countries, we have to double the current yield indicator. This is not easy, as competition has intensified in agricultural markets, and fuel prices are rising rapidly.

In addition, as usual, technical support for the industry lags. All this led to the fact that the weakest manufacturers leave, unable to withstand competition, and the remaining ones are forced to constantly think about improving production efficiency.

Russia is a traditional leader in gross potato production, accounting for 11% of the world's harvest. At the same time, 70-80% of the product in its raw form goes to personal consumption.

Industrial processing in Russia is very poorly developed, not exceeding a few percent. According to forecasts, the next redistribution of the potato market in Russia will be associated with the development of processing of this vegetable.

The main potato pests

The Colorado potato beetle is one of the main pests of potatoes. In small areas it is fought manually, collecting beetles, pupae and larvae in a container with kerosene, formalin or strong saline. In large areas, an 80% dealer or chlorophos is used. The best time for chemical treatment is the beginning of the reproduction of the second or third age of the larvae.

Potato nematodes often attack potatoes. Her larvae harm both the roots and tubers of the plant. Nematode cysts are located in the ground, on the roots of potatoes, and contain 200-1000 eggs in each. Outwardly, the plant at the same time looks sick, the lower leaves die off, the rest quickly wither. Cysts can survive for up to 10 years or more. In infected areas, quarantine measures are usually followed; legumes, grains and vegetables are not cultivated for up to four years. Pest control also prevents the use of contaminated seeds and implements that cultivate the soil.

Wireworm - the larvae of nutcracker beetles that damage roots and tubers. To combat it, they set up traps, creating small grassy heaps in the garden. They gather bugs, which are subsequently destroyed. Weeding of weeds also helps, it is especially important to destroy wheat grass.

Medvedka is a large brown parasite that arranges nests at a depth of 10-15 cm. This pest nibbles everything: roots, stems, and tubers, as well as seeds and other root crops. To combat it, it is necessary to dig the soil in the autumn to a depth of at least 25 cm. Bait from manure also helps. In cases of intense soil damage, benzophosphate is used.

The control of potato pests should be the focus of attention of anyone who grows it, otherwise you can lose the entire crop.

Potato business profitability

If you invest 80,000 rubles in production, you can get potato yields from 1 ha in the amount of 20 tons. At the same time, only 7-8 tons can be harvested from the same area of ​​wheat, which will provide about 60-65 thousand rubles. arrived. If new technologies are applied, the potato yield from 1 hectare can reach 80 t / ha, and the income, respectively, can reach 800 thousand rubles!

Experts have calculated that it is necessary to grow profitable potatoes by 100-240%. A business plan for its production should take into account a field area of ​​at least 250 hectares, and financial investments - at the level of $ 7 million, and even working capital in the amount of $ 0.5-1 million. Last year, the profitability of this business in Russia amounted to 40-60 %

According to the same experts, a project for growing potatoes pays off on average in 5-7 years, and interim results are not always indicative. Throughout the entire period of activity, systematic and serious investments are required. For example, the cost of the harvester is about 300 thousand euros, a planter costs 80 thousand euros, etc. Soviet technology is already outdated and may lead to damage to the crop.

But all this applies to industrial production. For an individual economy, there are schemes with a low level of investment, but also with lower profitability.

Home Plan Business Plan

The technology for producing potatoes on a personal plot has its own characteristics. First, let's try to calculate at least an approximate profitability of the potato business in these conditions. For this, it is necessary to analyze the estimated costs. Then it makes sense to calculate the profit margins, taking into account the average yield of potatoes from 1 ha and wholesale prices. After that, to obtain the amount of net income, you must subtract the first from the second digit. An approximate calculation for a plot of 0.5 ha will be as follows.

Thus, all preliminary costs fit into the amount of 1.5 thousand dollars. With an average yield of 200 kg per hundred square meters and an average wholesale purchase price for potatoes of $ 0.2 per 1 kg from sales, you can get 2 thousand dollars in the first year. Since the equipment is acquired for more than one year, then in subsequent years you can already have much more profitable potatoes. The price for it, as practice shows, is only growing.

Industrial Potato Production Methods

The technology of potato production using modern methods has already made it possible to significantly increase the efficiency of the potato industry. Now the next step is the application of industrial methods of growing it. This concept means the following principles.

1. The volume of production is planned in advance, and the calculations justify themselves.
2. All quality indicators are calculated and set before landing.
3. Harvested in strict accordance with the planned dates.

All this is achieved by applying industrial methods consisting of the following elements.

1. Various organizational and technical improvements provide high productivity, which minimizes production costs as a result.
2. The active use of a variety of technological methods can almost eliminate the influence of adverse weather conditions.
3. Minimizing the impact of the human factor on the result of the production process through the use of technical means and methods.
4. High average potato yields are achieved through the introduction of controls and operational control. An important role is also played by technological methods that make it possible to ensure the planned quantity of products.

Right now there is every opportunity to switch to industrial methods in potato growing. The following factors contribute to this:

• market demand for a quality product is constantly growing;
• the number of workers in agriculture, as well as their skill level, is declining;
• the technology market enables the economy to acquire machines capable of implementing the application of the industrial method;
• the availability of advanced world technical achievements allows us to make the transition to a whole new level of potato cultivation.

The effectiveness of technical solutions should not depend on the size of the economy and its specifics. The solution of the complex task of switching to industrial methods should be implemented on the basis of the best domestic and foreign experience, as well as highly professional recommendations of specialists.

How to increase potato yield

There are many factors that influence potato yields. Listed below are some of them.

1. The quality of the material for planting should be high.
2. Potatoes have always made high demands on the soil, especially on its air regime. That is why in order to increase productivity, it is so important to hitch it in a timely manner. If you spud and loosen plantings several times during the summer, then even loamy soils are not a hindrance. It should not be forgotten that the best time for hilling is when plants are 5 to 20 cm tall. When hilling, crop growth occurs due to an increase in the number and size of tubers. If we miss the favorable period for this, then an increase in productivity will be possible only due to an increase in the mass of tubers.
3. When planting potatoes, row-spacings should be at least 90 cm.
   
4. During the flowering and vigorous growth of tubers, it is important to provide a large amount of water, 10-15 liters per bush.
5. During flowering and budding, it is good to fertilize. Standards per bush: 3-6 g of superphosphate, 3-4 g of potassium sulfate, 1-3 g of nitrate or urea, wood or peat ash. It is good to feed with bird droppings or mullein to ensure guaranteed quality potatoes. The price of these fertilizers is low. For example, mullein can be bought at 40 rubles for 5 liters.
6. For healing during the flowering period, it is recommended to remove diseased bushes, as well as impurities of non-varietal potatoes. This will increase productivity by 10-20% per year.
7. In the budding phase, it is useful to remove all flower stalks, this also increases the yield.

Fertilizer for potatoes

First of all, it is important to remember that during growth, potatoes pull about 50 kg of nitrogen, 20 kg of phosphorus and 90 kg of potassium from the earth per 10 tons of product. Therefore, it is these mineral fertilizers that should be regularly applied to the soil so that it does not deplete and can provide the potato with the nutrition it needs.

Nitrogen helps the active growth of the plant, the intake of carbohydrates in the tubers.

Phosphorus increases resistance to drought, develops the root system and accumulates starch in tubers, contributes to their early ripening.

Potassium causes an increase in carbohydrates in tubers, increases resistance to weather conditions.

Fertilizing the soil, it is important to maintain the right balance. With a lack of potassium, for example, nitrogen is poorly absorbed. In addition, an excess of any fertilizer can harm no less than a disadvantage.

In terms of timing, fertilizers are recommended to be applied in the central regions in July, in the north in July-August, and in the south in June.

To apply organic fertilizers, although they increase the yield by a factor of two, agronomists do not recommend because of the danger of infection with scab or ingestion of larvae of the May beetle. Better to use peat compost.

As a fertilizer for potatoes in the fall, double superphosphate (1 kg per hundredth) and potassium sulfate (2 kg per hundredth) are recommended.

In spring, it is good to fertilize the potatoes with urea and nitrate (1 kg per hundredth). You can also use complex fertilizers: nitrofoska 5 kg per hundred square meters and nitroammofoska - 3 kg.

Bone meal is a great fertilizer for potatoes in the fall, and it also improves the taste of the product. And even at this time it is useful to fertilize the earth with superphosphate and potato kemira, this versatile potato fertilizer.

Of the natural supplements that are ideal for potatoes, you should call wood ash. In addition to nourishment, it also protects against many diseases and decay. So it’s best to start with ash and nitrophoska, and then look at the results. Excessive fertilizer has a bad effect on plants.

The best varieties of potatoes

For planting, it is better to take varietal tubers. They are more expensive than accidentally turned up, but guarantee a good taste and a healthy harvest.

In any suburban area, there are always early ripening potato bushes that can be dug up already from mid-summer. Among the early varieties can be distinguished, such as Timo, Ariel, Lark, Bullfinch, Luck, as well as mid-early - Madam and Prizewinner.

The popular once boiling variety with white pulp Sineglazka has low potential and is considered fodder in Europe.

For those who monitor their health, we can safely recommend such varieties as the Dutch Mona Lisa, Fresca, Romano, German Arosa, Rosara, Felox, Finnish Timo, Asterix. These varieties have a lot of carotene that improves vision.

And you can safely focus on your taste. Scientists have found that tasty varieties contain much more amino acids, nucleotides and fatty acids!

In the competition for the best taste, championship is held by such varieties as Borodyansky pink, Bullfinch, Adretta, Aurora, Blue, Vesnyanka, Temp.

Of particular note is the Zhukovsky variety. Potatoes are classified as early varieties that grow well at low temperatures. It is resistant to many diseases, has a smooth peel, is stored for a long time and has a great taste.

Potato Bellarosa, bred by German breeders, is recommended for cultivation in Eastern Europe. This is an early variety, it can be dug up already on the 45th day. It is very profitable: the yield of potatoes from 1 hectare is 400 centners!

The Bellarosa variety is almost not susceptible to pests, is not demanding on moisture, is resistant to drought, grows on any soil except heavy clay, is lossless during storage (93%). It has large smooth tubers, excellent taste and high friability.

How to store potatoes

When storing potatoes, it is very important to prevent the tubers from rotting or sprouting. Therefore, it is better to store it in a cool and dry room, which is well ventilated.

It is especially necessary to be careful in the spring, when the tubers lose their mass, their appearance worsens and the amount of vitamins decreases. During this period, potatoes should be monitored and regularly checked for spoilage.

The process of storing potatoes can be divided into 3 stages.

1. For two weeks, keep in storage at t ^about +15 ^about . In this case, the tubers heal and the moisture partially leaves them.
2. Until the end of winter, the potato “sleeps”, the best t for storage - from 3 to 5 .
3. With the onset of spring, tubers begin to prepare for germination. At this time, the storage temperature can be increased by several degrees.

Potato - breadwinner

There are a number of steps that cannot be excluded by growing potatoes. A business plan for its production on a small area (approximately 0.3 ha) for its economy and sales in the market involves several stages.

First of all, it is necessary to prepare material for planting. Then you need to carry out all the necessary preparatory work with the soil, only after that you can proceed to the planting of potatoes.

Then follow the steps of hilling and fertilizing. Care must also be taken to protect against diseases and pests. Harvesting is also a difficult stage of work, after which there are the last two actions: packaging and ensuring storage.

To do this, you must have at least minimal equipment. First of all, a mini-tractor belongs to this minimum. The kit must include a hiller and a plow. Of course, there should be a body for a tractor. Remember to purchase a digging device. It will need to be attached to the mini-tractor.

It’s good to take into account one interesting detail: washed, dried and neatly packaged potatoes are sold at the market about two times more expensive than dirty potatoes, hastily loaded into ordinary gray and unattractive bags.

Given this circumstance, you can seriously increase your income not only due to the commodity packaging of your own potatoes. It is quite possible to arrange packaging of beautifully prepared potatoes from other producers as well. You can, in principle, build your business on this.

To do this, you will need to comply with some conditions:

• availability of permanent water supply;
• large containers for washing potatoes;
• a room where it can be dried;
• large scales;
• bags for packaging and labels for them.

Thus, you can organize your own potato business from scratch and make it profitable.