Farming Talk: Key decisions before planting

Creating optimum planting conditions helps potato growers achieve maximum yields, improve crop uniformity and maintain the competitiveness of their business.

Key actions and decisions growers take before planting can impact on quality and saleable yield so it's worthwhile considering the following points:

• Optimise fertiliser use: Variety determinacy impacts on fertiliser requirements. The Potato Council guide, alongside the eighth edition of RB209, contains a comprehensive list of determinacy ratings (length of growing season) needed to calculate nitrogen requirements. To ensure efficient nitrogen use, apply fertiliser within 50 days of emergence.

• Take soil conditions into account: When conditions are very dry or very wet, it is important to manage the soil according to type. In good conditions, light soils are naturally free-draining and do not remain wet for long. However, their structure is weak because of the low clay and organic matter content and the surface is easily broken up by rain and forms a cap when it dries. When it dries out, the topsoil may fall apart, causing the soil to slump and then set solid.

Heavy soils have low permeability, making them prone to waterlogging and ponding on the surface. In addition, they can lie wet for long periods and are susceptible to compaction. Consequently, all operations should be timed to ensure soil structure is not damaged by wheelings or machinery.

• Ensure abstraction licenses are up-to-date: The Environment Agency (EA) used to be lenient in accepting applications for renewal right up to expiry and considered applications submitted after the expiry date. However, licence holders must now send applications to the EA at least three months before the old licence expires for processing, and for them to continue abstracting while their application is being considered. Late applications will be treated as new ones, resulting in details being advertised and the possibility of the licence not being renewed under the same terms and conditions, or even being revoked.

• Check irrigation equipment is well-maintained: Once planting is under way, it is possible that irrigation of early planted potatoes will overlap with later planting. Although it seems like a long way off, it is a good idea to consider servicing and calibrating before planting starts.

For further information go to www.potato.org or for storage queries call the Sutton Bridge Crop Storage Research advice line free on 0800 02 82 111.

Chris Steele is a Potato Council technical executive.